Featured Post

Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

Image
By Jared E. Decker Many of you have probably noticed that things have been a lot less active on the A Steak in Genomics™   blog, but you probably haven't known why. In January 2021, I was named the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics at Mizzou, and I now focus on research, with a little bit of teaching. I no longer have an extension appointment. But, with exciting news, the blog is about to become a lot more active! Jamie Courter began as the new MU Extension state beef genetics specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences on September 1, 2023. I have known Jamie for several years, meeting her at BIF when she was a Masters student. I have been impressed by Jamie in my interactions with her since that time.  Dr. Courter and I have been working closely together the last 6 weeks, and I am excited to work together to serve the beef industry for years to come! Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in animal
1 comment

17th Annual Missouri Livestock Symposium December 2nd and 3rd

The Missouri Livestock Symposium committee is currently planning their 17th annual Symposium in Kirksville, MO for December 2nd and 3rd. The Missouri Livestock Symposium (MLS) committee works year-round to find the best speakers on timely topics that benefit producers in their respective enterprises.
The MLS began in 1998 with a simple conversation between then University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Bruce Lane (retired) and local Adair County livestock producer and current MLS chair, Garry Mathes. Since those humble beginnings the MLS has grown exponentially and recently had attendees covering a majority of Missouri’s 114 counties plus 16 states, with over 2,000 in attendance.
Attendees have an opportunity to attend the largest agricultural-based trade show in the Midwest, featuring many local, state, and national agricultural businesses. Comments regularly heard include, “my favorite show,” “something for everyone in the field of agriculture,” and “we were made to feel very welcome and were well taken care of.”
The Symposium kicks off Friday afternoon December 2nd at the William Mathew Middle School. Visitors can peruse the sold out trade show before the free beef meal at 6 pm. The evening program begins in the auditorium at 7 pm when the MLS committee will recognize the 2016 Agriculture Educator of the Year and the Livestock Person of the Year. The Friday evening program concludes with a keynote speaker. This year Dr. Scott Brown, University of Missouri extension agricultural economist, will address current domestic and global farm and ranch financial pressures.
The Saturday program is unique and is what has branded the MLS for the last 16 years. Instead of focusing on one particular species of livestock, the MLS holds programs on beef cattle, horses, sheep, meat goats, forages, stock dogs, estate planning and farm management; as well as timely nutrition/food topics, saving the honeybees and backyard poultry production. The MLS features eight different educational tracks and contracts over 30 speakers from across the nation representing universities, governmental agencies, and private industry. Speakers address the timeliest information for producers to take home and improve their operations. A Governor’s Style Luncheon is provided on Saturday and is free to attendees. The meal is sponsored by Missouri’s commodity groups.
Highlights of speakers and topics for 2016 include Richard Winters, Winter’s Horsemanship and Kim Lindsey, AQHA ranching director in the horse section. The beef section will focus on the impending effects of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), highlight some of the latest advances in beef cattle genomics, and feature a panel discussing capturing value when marketing your calf crop.
Additional highlights include Dr. Michael Neary, Purdue University, featured in the sheep and stock dog sections and Dr. Ron Hanson, University of Nebraska, conducting a 3-session estate planning course. Other topic highpoints include land prices, beef economy outlook and climate trends affecting agriculture.
Since the beginning, the MLS remains deeply connected to University of Missouri Extension and their mission of improving the lives of citizens through education. MLS chair, Garry Mathes and current Livestock Specialist Zac Erwin believe this will be the best program to date. Anyone seeking further information on the MLS are encouraged to visit our website at http://www.missourilivestock.com, Like us on Facebook, call the Adair County Extension Center at 660-665-9866 or MLS chair, Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625.

Decker's Take Home Message
I will be speaking at the meeting in Kirksville, and hope to see you there!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Show-Me-Select Board Approves Genomic Testing Requirement for Natural Service Sires

Image
All bulls purchased after February 1st, 2019 for use as natural service sires in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program ™  must be DNA tested to have genomic-enhanced EPDs. All bulls used as natural service sires after February 1st, 2020 must have genomic-enhanced EPDs, regardless of when they were purchased. Seedstock producers classifying bulls as Show-Me-Select qualified in sale books must have genomic-enhanced EPDs on those lots. Bulls purchased prior to February 1st, 2019 will be grandfathered into the program, as is the common practice with all natural service sires. However, this grandfather grace period will end February 1st, 2020. At that time for a bull to qualify for use in the program, it must have genomic-enhanced EPDs. Why the change? The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has the goal of producing premium heifers that perform predictably as 2 year olds. The program has a history of requiring Show-Me-Select producers to go beyond typical cat
Read more

New Show-Me-Select Sire EPD Requirements Announced

Image
At the January 4th Show-Me-Select Board of Directors meeting, new service sire EPD requirements were approved. All sires, artificial insemination and natural service, must meet minimum Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD requirements. In addition to yearly updates, two changes were made. First, no Birth Weight EPD requirement will be published. All commonly used breeds now have CED EPDs available. Second, all breeds in the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) genetic evaluation are now set to a common requirement. In the summer of 2018, breeds within the International Genetic Solutions switched to a single-step BOLT multi-breed genetic evaluation. The EPDs for animals in the IGS genetic evaluation are directly comparable across breeds. In 2017, the Red Angus requirement for CED was a CED of 8, which represents the 30th percentile. Less than 5% percent of heifers breed to a bull with a CED EPD of 8 or larger had calving difficulty. We feel that this require is meeting the need to re
Read more

Bob Hough Comments on Changes at Breed Associations

Bob Hough recently posted the following comment on Facebook (posted with his permission): Early in my career at a breed association, the much beloved American Angus breed executive told me that the secret to success running a breed association was to have a top junior program, keep the books straight, and make sure the numbers (EPDs) don't change. This philosophy meant Angus valued stability in their genetic predictions over keeping them up-to-date with the latest science. The Angus Association also marketed extremely effectively the infallibility of their EPDs because of the size of their database. I will start with the later. Yes, a database needs certain critical mass to make sure the animals are tied, but that can be achieved in a modest size database. After that, data quality far and away outweighs data quantity in assuring the most precise and reliable EPDs possible. On the former point, Angus breeders are simply not use to change. This is not the case in most breed associ
Read more