NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 Vol. 81 | Issue 4
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6 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 THE ONLY PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO THE NEBRASKA CATTLE INDUSTRY. NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 Vol. 81 | Issue 4 REGULARS Insights ....................................8 Ruminations .........................10 Consider This .......................40 BQA..........................................46 NC Dispatch...........................48 NC Partners..........................50 Boots on the Ground............52 Advertiser Index ..................53 Sale & Event Calendar ........54 FEATURES PRODUCTION Research Studies Demonstrate Reduced Cattle Stress With FerAppease................................................................................14 A look at how producers can utilize FerAppease to mitigate the effects of stress on their cattle. Hairy Heel Warts in Feedlot Cattle..................................................24 How to integrate a prevention strategy to mitigate the impacts of digital dermatitis. PEOPLE Nebraska Ag Lender Joins Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame .............44 Tom Jensen receives 2025 Industry Leadership Award. PAST Manifest Destiny...............................................................................30 After securing land from coast to coast, the next task from the U.S. government’s view was to make the Great Plains a productive resource for white settlers. POLICY NC Policy Update................................................................................38 A look at legislation Nebraska Cattlemen continues to monitor. National Policy Update......................................................................42 The Corporate Transparency Act will no longer be enforced for domestic reporting companies. PERSPECTIVES Nebraska Leads the Way in Putting U.S. Beef on the World’s Table .....................................................................................20 USMEF Chair Steve Hanson shares how USMEF works to expand global demand for U.S. beef, pork and lamb. SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE Save the Date for the 2025 NC Midyear Meeting..........................42 Manuscripts and advertisements are welcome. Nebraska Cattlemen reserves the right to edit and refuse advertisements. Readers are welcome to submit letters to the editor. Full name and address of writer must accompany all letters. Letters are accepted with the understanding that they may be condensed to fit the magazine format and edited for accuracy and clarity. Letters contain the opinion of the writer and not that of the Nebraska Cattlemen. You can get Nebraska Cattleman via email. Receive each issue even before the Post Office ships the printed edition. Just send an email to us at NCmag@necattlemen.org and put “Email NC Magazine” in the subject line. We assure you we will not share your email address with anyone! ON THE COVER: The sun sets on feeder cattle at Drinnin West Cattle Company’s Palmer feedyard. Photo courtesy of Drinnin Feedlots, Inc.
April/May 2025 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 7
8 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 NC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Richard (Dick) Pierce*, Miller, (308) 440-2489 PRESIDENT-ELECT: Craig Uden*, Johnson Lake, (308) 325-0285 VICE PRESIDENT: Eric Hansen, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 PAST PRESIDENT: Jerry Kuenning*, Lemoyne, (308) 883-8382 SECRETARY/TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 326-7743 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Jaclyn Wilson, Lakeside, (308) 762-3196 2 – Lydia O’Brien, Whitman, (308) 546-7349 3 – Allan Louthan, Stanton, (402) 841-6601 4 – John Kennedy, Primrose, (308) 920-2828 5 – Jim Edwards, Ord, (308) 750-0881 6 – Bob Wiseman, Hershey, (308) 530-3137 7 – Heath Clausen, Leigh, (402) 750-4433 8 – Becky Funk, DVM, Lawrence, (308) 360-3179 9 – Erica Schluntz, Naponee, (308) 920-3191 COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR: Travis Chrisman, Wauneta, (308) 883-6781 VICE CHAIR: Jake Johnson, Hastings, (402) 984-8824 FARMER-STOCKMAN COUNCIL CHAIR: Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 VICE CHAIR: FEEDLOT COUNCIL CHAIR: Ryan Danehey, Manhattan, Kan., (308) 440-8267 VICE CHAIR: Daron Huyser, Lexington, (308) 233-4368 SEEDSTOCK COUNCIL CHAIR: James Felt, Wakefield, (402) 287-2488 VICE CHAIR: Kristian Rennert, Elm Creek, (308) 440-9463 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL Jake Pullen, Aurora, (308) 380-9040 ~ COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ~ ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR: Jeff Heldt, Scottsbluff, (308) 641-5781 CHAIR-ELECT: Scott Reynolds, DVM, Broken Bow, (308) 870-0970 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS CHAIR: Matt Blackford, Thedford, (402) 322-1377 CHAIR-ELECT: Robert Star, Hershey, (308) 520-3488 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CHAIR: Suzanne Jagels, Davenport, (402) 469-3374 CHAIR-ELECT: Kelly Terrell, Gothenburg, (308) 930-2162 MARKETING AND COMMERCE CHAIR: Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 CHAIR-ELECT: Marshall Hansen, Omaha, (402) 616-4541 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CHAIR: Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 CHAIR-ELECT: Logan Pribbeno, Imperial, (308) 883-7770 TAXATION CHAIR: Stephen Sunderman, Norfolk, (402) 750-0149 CHAIR-ELECT: Steven Wellman, Syracuse, (402) 269-7024 MEMBER SERVICES CHAIR: Quentin Dailey, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 NEBRASKA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION REP. Bryce Dibbern, Interior, S.D., (308) 293-7766 UNL EXTENSION REPRESENATIVE Erin Laborie, Beaver City, (419) 494-3872 UNL REPRESENTATIVE Deb VanOverbeke, Lincoln, (402) 714-5879 * member of the Executive & Finance Committee INSIGHTS THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA! CRAIG UDEN | JOHNSON LAKE NC PRESIDENT-ELECT Nebraska is a unique state when it comes to our Nebraska Cattlemen organization and our one-house legislative system. Our cattlemen deal with five geographical zones across the state where cattle can be raised on as little as 2.5 acres of grass to areas that take as much as 25 acres. Moisture, labor availability, state regulations (i.e., brand areas), population density, transitioning capabilities and market access are just some of the opportunities and challenges that vary throughout the Nebraska beef industry. The 49 representatives in our unicameral also create offsetting advantages in our system. Its smaller and more nimble nature makes it easier to develop relationships and have conversations about the stateʼs No. 1 driver – agriculture. But it also creates challenges contrasting the urban-rural divide on issues like education, taxes and infrastructure. Nebraska Cattlemen has the neat opportunity to try to bring our beef industry and legislative body to common ground. Nebraska is a microcosm of the entire cattle industry from a gate-to-plate systems approach, and therefore, so is the Nebraska Cattlemen organization. We are unlike any other state as we house and involve a leading land-grant university – the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – that lays the research foundation for strong genetic seedstock herds, which in turn, crank out productive cow-calf operations that raise great feeder cattle to run as stockers and then supply our feedlot industry. The animals that run through our system become high-quality beef products that feed another facet of our industry – the processing sector – which is the largest in the United States. So, why do I lay it out like this? Itʼs because this 360-degree viewpoint allows our organization to thoroughly communicate and debate issues that will have a long-lasting impact on our ever-changing industry and the cattle producers who forge our business for future generations. We not only identify the problems, but we find solutions to the issues and advocate them to those who can help strengthen our industry. Circling back to our legislative system and 49 state senators, this group is only comprised of seven to eight agriculturally based legislators who have a general grasp on what our issues are. A current example of an issue we are tackling is the proposed realignment of the cost structure and strengthening of statutes in the modernization of Nebraska Brand Law. This issue is decades old, and many attempts to make changes have failed. This bill only pertains to the western portion of Nebraska, so itʼs not only been a long process for our members to come up with common sense policy, but also a challenge for our senators to find any common ground to make a judgement. When LB 646 (provides for exempt feedlots under the Livestock Brand Act) was introduced in the Agricultural Committee, we heard testimony both for and against the bill. Unfortunately, in this testimony, there were no solutions for how to fix the shortfalls if the bill passed or propositions for how to improve or modernize the current system in a way that maintains its integrity. Nebraska Cattlemen testified opposed as written but presented several amendments to move it forward. We were the only CONTINUED ON PAGE 48
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10 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 LAURA FIELD | NC EVP RUMINATIONS 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 Phone (402) 475-2333 | Fax (402) 475-0822 nc@necattlemen.org | www.nebraskacattlemen.org NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN STAFF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | Laura Field lfield@necattlemen.org VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING | Jeff Stolle DIRECTOR OF MARKETING | John Roberts DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | Libby Schaneman DIRECTOR OF PRODUCER EDUCATION | Bonita Lederer DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | Matthew Melchor ACCOUNTANT/BOOKKEEPER | Kathy Abel OFFICE MANAGER | Ashley McClinton MEMBERSHIP FIELD STAFF | Hannah Pearson Nebraska Cattleman is published monthly, except for May and July, by the Nebraska Cattlemen, 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 – (402) 475-2333. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MAGAZINE PRODUCTION: CINCHED UP LLC ncmag@necattlemen.org EDITOR | Lisa Bard MANAGING EDITOR | Jessie Topp-Becker COPY EDITOR | Larisa Willrett DESIGNER & MATERIALS COORDINATOR | Megan Field ADMINISTRATION | Leslie McKibben CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Coe | Natalie Jones STATE & REGIONAL ADVERTISING Amber Coleman | (402) 340-1588 acoleman@necattlemen.org NATIONAL ADVERTISING Wendy McFarland | (334) 271-6100 mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com Working for Nebraska Beef Producers PASTURE TO PLATE TO PLATE NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN VIEW NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN DIGITAL VERSION BY SCANNING THE QR CODE. TELLING YOUR STORY LAURA FIELD | NC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Since the beginning of this year, I have had the pleasure of attending a number of Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) affiliate meetings. There are many parts of my job I like, and being out with members in their home areas is at the top of the list. Two years into the role of executive vice president, Iʼve been doing quite a bit of thinking. When asked why I wanted to take on this role, I explain it is because I believe so much in the strength of a community of like-minded people using their voices to make a difference and speak truth into things that matter most in the way of life for beef producers. I want to be part of sharing that message. Whenever I have the pleasure of addressing members, I tell them one of the main reasons they need to be a Nebraska Cattlemen member is because of how important it is to tell their story, their beef cattle story from their point of view, in their voice. By getting to hear the stories, my colleagues and I have the pleasure of sharing those stories time and time again. Amplifying Nebraska Cattlemen membersʼ voices is a highlight of serving. The legislative session is a time when membersʼ stories become real as we advocate for change that enhances the lives of agricultural producers. This year, one such story is that of a south-central NC member who had an issue years ago while moving cattle along a mile-and-a-half stretch of county road. An angry passerby drove a vehicle into the herd, putting the livestock and people in a very dangerous and unsafe situation. Charges were filed and, in the process of going through the court system, it was clear there was not adequate guidance in Nebraska law about moving cattle along roadways and how to handle rights-of-way and safety. After initially reaching out to NC staff about their concerns, the member did some research on laws in other states. This December, the NC Brand and Property Rights Committee adopted new policy on the topic of moving cattle on roadways, and that policy was adopted by the entire membership at the annual business meeting. Members then asked a state senator to introduce a bill to clarify Nebraska state law. In January, Sen. Dave Murman introduced LB 496. At the hearing in late February, it was so impactful to listen to the family tell their story, not to fix what happened to them but to advocate for future ranchers who might face the same challenge. It was a full-circle moment for a grassroots process: identify a problem, come up with a way to solve the problem, bring forward policy for discussion and consideration, see the policy be adopted and have a bill introduced to address the challenge. Your membership matters, and telling the story of your lives, your operations, your challenges and your victories is exactly why we do what we do every day. Thank you for the work and dedication you show every day, for honorably caring for your livestock and your operations, and for using your voices and allowing us to come alongside you to tell the most important story – your story! ~NC~ Your membership matters, and telling the story of your lives, your operations, your challenges and your victories is exactly why we do what we do every day.
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14 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 Research Studies Demons ate Reduced Ca le S ess With FerAppease KELSEY POPE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER Acomparatively new animal health product, FerAppease, has likely been a hot topic of discussion among producers from cow-calf operations to feedlots and every stage in between. While word of mouth is spreading about this product, we are going to dive into the published research to give more insight for producers. But for those new to this product, what is it? FerAppease = Ma rnal Bovine Appeasing Subs nce FerAppeaseʼs active ingredient is the maternal bovine appeasing substance (MBAS), which is a synthetic analogue, or equivalent, of the natural pheromone that female cattle produce when they are lactating. Its purpose when given to healthy cattle is to mitigate the detrimental effects of stress by causing a calming effect. The product, launched in 2022 by FERA, does not require a veterinary prescription nor veterinary feed directive, and there are no meat or milk withholding requirements. The dosage for this topical product, for animals weighing more than 200 pounds, is 10 mL (5 mL to the nuchal skin, or behind the head poll, and 5 mL to the skin above the muzzle or nose, given with a pour-on gun). The uses of FerAppease before management and physiological stressors in an animalʼs life can be numerous – weaning, dehorning, castration, branding, transportation, commingling, vaccination, parturition, interruption of lactation (dry off ), breeding, etc. According to its parent company, the stress mitigation starts to take place immediately after FerAppease is applied. Improving Performance and Health “There are several stressful periods in the production system where cattle are exposed, so our hypothesis at the beginning was to see how MBAS could alleviate the consequence of that stress for that animalʼs performance and health,” says Reinaldo F. Cooke, Ph.D., Burkhart Endowed Professor, Beef Cattle Research, Texas A&M University. Cooke has conducted several research projects using MBAS. Cookeʼs first area of work with MBAS was at weaning where they observed calvesʼ growth during the 30 to 45 days PRODUCTION
April/May 2025 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 15 following weaning and being given a MBAS product. Their results showed growth performance improved by nearly a half-pound per day. “The calves just handled the stress of weaning better,” Cooke explains. For producers already using a VAC-45 program or any kind of preconditioning program, Cooke recommends that they also use FerAppease. “Youʼre going to get the return on investment when you sell those calves later; theyʼre going to be heavier.” The second study Cooke completed with MBAS was on receiving 400- to 500-pound high-risk cattle. “With high-risk cattle that received FerAppease, we did not see a decrease in BRD, but we did see those calves that later got sick responded better to antibiotics, and there was less mortality,” Cooke says. The most recent study from Texas A&M University published in the Journal of Animal Science confirmed that FerAppease has several benefits for high-risk cattle during a 60-day feedlot-receiving period. Results indicated that administering FerAppease reduced physiological stress markers in cattle. Compared to the control group, cattle given FerAppease showed lower serum cortisol levels after castration and reduced hair cortisol levels during the first 28 days on feed. “An increase in cortisol levels is the key negative physiological driver resulting from stress that impacts cattle appetite, health and weight gain,” Cooke says. Mortality rates due to BRD were 83 percent lower in cattle treated with FerAppease compared to the control group, according to Cooke. “At 900 pounds, however, we donʼt see a whole lot of morbidity in that kind of cattle as they are placed on feedyards,” Cooke explains. “They still go through the stress of transport, feedlot arrival, new diet, mingling. And even though the stress is less compared to high-risk cattle, thereʼs still stress, and using FerAppease at that initial processing promoted better animal performance.” In this most recent study applying FerAppease to yearlings at initial processing and reimplant, harvest data showed that carcasses were 15 pounds heavier with increased marbling in animals given FerAppease. When the carcasses were graded, 95 percent of the FerAppease carcasses were Choice or Prime, and 88 percent of controls were Choice or Prime. The return on the producerʼs investment was almost 1,541 percent because of heavier carcasses and the increase in quality grade. Cooke reinforced that the types of cattle in the studies ranged from Bos indicus-influenced cattle from central Texas to Angus and Hereford-influenced cattle procured from north of Texas. Because this type of treatment for stress mitigation is such a new approach, Cooke was naturally a little skeptical at first. “But thatʼs why we have to do research,” Cooke says. “Itʼs very substantial, and the results translated to better cattle health and performance.” Using FerAppease on Nebraska Ca le With many research studies focused on southern-raised, higher risk cattle, Jessica Sperber, Ph.D., Nebraska Extension assistant professor and feedlot specialist, wanted to do a study with FerAppease on cattle typical to Nebraska – native, high-quality cattle – with a larger population size to identify if the product had a positive performance impact. “I was getting a lot of questions on FerAppease as a product, and all of the data that I had seen was utilizing the product at receiving or at shipping from the cow-calf or the backgrounder to the feedlot on very high-risk cattle – cattle not typical to Nebraska,” Sperber attests. FerAppease is a synthetic analogue of the natural pheromone that female cattle produce when they are lactating, or maternal bovine appeasing substance. This topical product alleviates stress in cattle and causes a calming effect. Photo credit to FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals. A calf receives a dose of FerAppease to the skin above the muzzle with a pour-on gun. Photo credit to FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
16 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 This led to the initiation of her study that is still in progress. Sperber and her team brought yearling steers into a commercial yard in central Nebraska and administered FerAppease on arrival and at reimplant. Those cattle are being harvested currently, and results will be available in early fall. Nebraska Cattleman magazine plans to post an update from that study in a later issue. “At initial receiving, we collected cortisol hair samples from a subset of cattle to determine base cortisol level and re-sampled those same cattle 14 days later to determine cortisol change,” Sperber explains. “Half of the cattle in the study received the FerAppease dose of 5 mL on their nose and 5 mL on their poll at initial arrival and re-implant; the control cattle got a placebo of a saline solution on their nose and poll.” Sperber is interested in the live and carcass performance of the steers, including growth and feed efficiency parameters in addition to carcass weight, marbling score and fat thickness. “We know that stress negatively impacts cattle,” Sperber says. “What we donʼt know is if FerAppease can offset stress and improve the overall performance of cattle during stressful times, such as during receiving and re-implanting.” What makes this study impactful and will relate with Nebraska producers is the large population size of 1,500 head of high-quality, lower risk cattle on feed. The performance outcomes from this study may differ from Cookeʼs studies exploring high-risk, southern-type cattle that perform differently and have a different stress load in comparison to what a lot of northern, native cattle deal with in terms of stress. “The interest from producers across the country shows that, in our industry, we have a want and a need to alleviate some stress and reduce negative cattle response during stressful times during the marketing period,” Sperber states. “We hope this study, when completed, will give Nebraska producers the answers they are looking for on their pursuit of raising high-quality, healthy cattle.” ~NC~ RESEARCH STUDIES DEMONSTRATE REDUCED CATTLE STRESS WITH FERAPPEASE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 What makes this study impactful and will relate with Nebraska producers is the large population size of 1,500 head of highquality, lower risk cattle on feed. Celebrating 35 Years! OCC - The “Original” Program OHLDE CATTLE CO. Tim, Trudy, Jake & Jordon Ohlde 1362 2nd Rd | Palmer, KS 66962 Tim Cell: 785.630.0523 | Trudy Cell: 785.630.0522 OHLDECATTLE.COM ® Basic Blacks and Angus II are trademarks of Ohlde Cattle Co. OCC PAXTON 730P Progeny proves he’s one of the best bulls in the Angus breed. Reg # 14940735 CED +13 • BW -1.2 • WW +42 • YW +70 $EN +23 Top 2% OCC EMBLAZON 854E An “Industry Standard” for siring predictability and uniformity. Reg # 12514348 CED +12 • BW +.3 WW +44 • YW +71 $EN +19 Top 4% Increase cow Herd ProfIts by rofIts by REDUCING INPUT COSTS - $EN 100Two-Year-Old Bulls 80 Registered & Commercial Females 1pm CST at the Ranch, Palmer, KS APRIL 21, 2025 Selling On more than 30 OCC bulls that are breed-leading sires combining Calving-Ease, Performance, $EN and TRUE fleshing ability. Linebred for Maternal Efficiency, Longevity, Performance, & Predictable Uniformity! 9 Year Old Cow 10 Year Old Cow 6 Year Old Cow Semen Available Basic Blacks SALE BULL & FEMALE Saving America’s Cowherds OHLDE CATTLE CO.
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Less Time More Productivity Two doses of high-performance growth. One simple labor-saving application. That’s the power of X – REVALOR®-XS and -XH (trenbolone acetate and estradiol extended-release implants). REVALOR-XH IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Not approved for repeated implantation (re-implantation) with this or any other cattle ear implant in growing beef heifers fed in confinement for slaughter. Safety and effectiveness following re-implantation have not been evaluated. Do not use in beef calves less than 2 months of age, dairy calves, and veal calves. A withdrawal period has not been established for this product in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in dairy cows or in animals intended for subsequent breeding. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. Implant pellets subcutaneously in ear only. Any other location is a violation of Federal law. Do not attempt salvage of implanted site for human or animal food. Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. For complete safety information, refer to the product label. REVALOR-XS IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Not approved for repeated implantation (re-implantation) with this or any other cattle ear implant in growing beef steers fed in confinement for slaughter. Safety and effectiveness following re-implantation have not been evaluated. Do not use in beef calves less than 2 months of age, dairy calves, and veal calves. A withdrawal period has not been established for this product in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in dairy cows or in animals intended for subsequent breeding. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. Implant pellets subcutaneously in ear only. Any other location is a violation of Federal law. Do not attempt salvage of implanted site for human or animal food. Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. For complete safety information, refer to the product label. MAHCattle.com • 800-521-5767 • ©2025 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. US-RVL-230500003 The performance benefits of re-implanting without the hassle. Scan the QR code to learn more. Stay ahead of new guidelines with the implant that delivers two doses in a single application.
20 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 STEVE HANSON | U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION CHAIR first became familiar with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) several years ago when serving on the Nebraska Beef Council and the Federation of State Beef Councils. Now it is my honor to be USMEF chair where I get a firsthand look at how the organization works every day to expand global demand for U.S. beef, pork and lamb. The U.S. beef industry exports about 15 percent of our total production, so international demand complements our large and robust domestic market. This is essential for maximizing carcass value because much of the product we export is made up of underutilized cuts and variety meat items, including tongues, livers, hearts, kidneys and tripe. My time as a USMEF officer has been a real eye opener on the detailed work required to get each of these products to the destination that values it the most, ensuring the strongest return for producers. Last year, beef and beef variety exports totaled about $10.5 billion, equating to $415 for every fed steer and heifer slaughtered. These results were achieved despite significant headwinds in our largest Asian markets, including South Korea, Japan and China – especially in the first half of the year. Economic conditions in these countries have been slow to recover from the COVID era, and weak currencies have diminished their buying power. However, demand improved in the second half of the year, providing a more optimistic outlook for 2025. Meanwhile, our industry’s efforts to diversify international demand for U.S. beef paid off significantly, as exports set records in Central America and the Caribbean and posted one of the best years on record in Mexico. Demand for U.S. beef also rebounded in the Middle East and strengthened in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. USMEF also plays a critical role in helping U.S. exporters overcome technical obstacles and other barriers to trade. Staff works closely with U.S. agencies each day to minimize disruptions and keep product moving. One recent example is Colombia’s decision to impose restrictions on U.S. beef last year, following detection of avian influenza in dairy cows. The Left to right, USMEF Chair Steve Hanson, AgriTalk Host Chip Flory, AgriTalk Producer Joe Stachler and USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom discuss the latest beef export results and the outlook for 2025 at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention in San Antonio. PERSPECTIVES
April/May 2025 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 21 impasse severely disrupted exports to this promising market, but thankfully was resolved after about six months. It is also important to note that no other trading partner banned or restricted U.S. beef due to avian influenza, which was a victory in its own right. Approval of U.S. packing plants for export can also be a contentious issue, and USMEF is working diligently to ensure that our trading partners’ approval processes are fair, timely and transparent. This is essential for providing opportunities for more U.S. plants – especially new entrants into the export business – to reap the benefits of global demand. Of course, the important promotional and technical work USMEF performs to help expand international opportunities for U.S. red meat would not be possible without strong producer support. I am proud to point out that Nebraska really stands out in this area, as USMEF receives funding not only from our state’s beef, pork and lamb industries, but also from corn and soybean producers. This support helps USMEF qualify for international marketing funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Market Access Program, the Foreign Market Development Program and the newly created Regional Agricultural Promotion Program. Nebraska farmers and ranchers have long understood the importance of serving customers beyond our own borders, and our support for USMEF is a great example of this commitment. I encourage my fellow producers to keep a positive outlook on international trade – something that’s not always easy in the current political environment. While all the talk of tariffs, tensions and trade wars can be deafening, let’s remember the strides our industry made under the first Trump administration. For example, the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement finally gave U.S. beef meaningful access to China, for the first time since the market closed due to BSE back in 2003. The Trump administration also negotiated the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, which provided relief from the highest beef tariffs in the world and put U.S. beef back on a level playing field with Japan’s imports from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and elsewhere. Renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement was also completed during the first Trump administration, resulting in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which maintained duty-free access for U.S. beef exports to our North American neighbors. Even in Europe, where U.S. beef still faces a range of trade barriers, an agreement was reached to allow more U.S. product to enter the market duty-free. So, moving forward, I see many reasons to be optimistic about international trade, especially if we embrace a more aggressive agricultural trade agenda and remain committed to breaking down trade barriers. When given the opportunity to compete, I am confident that U.S. beef will continue to shine – both at home and abroad. ~NC~ Editor’s Note: Steve Hanson, a rancher and cattle feeder from Elsie, is a past president of the Nebraska Cattlemen, a past chair of the Nebraska Beef Council and current chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. nelottery.com Must be 19. Free problem gambling help for Nebraskansat problemgambling.nebraska.gov. Top prize odds 1:336,000 Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Scientific Games, LLC. TRUCKS & BUCKS® & © 2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Play TRUCK$ & BUCK$® and you could win one of eight gray 2025 FORD F-150 XLT Trucks! The vehicle shown is for illustration purposes only and prize awarded may not be represented.
22 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 Brief Summary of Full Prescribing Information Active Ingredients: Zinc 60 mg/mL (as zinc oxide); Copper 15 mg/mL (as copper carbonate); Manganese 10 mg/mL (as manganese carbonate); Selenium 5 mg/mL (as sodium selenite) Inactive Ingredients: Edetic acid 399.74 mg/ mL; Sodium hydroxide 106.9 mg/mL; Benzyl alcohol 10.4 mg/mL (as preservative) CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. INDICATIONS FOR USE To provide a supplemental source of zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium in cattle. Not for use in pregnant cows and heifers during their first trimester because reproductive safety testing has not been done in these animals. Do not use in beef calves less than 2 months of age, dairy calves, and veal calves because safety has not been established. Before using this drug, read package insert for full prescribing information. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Determine accurate body weights prior to treatment. Administer subcutaneously under the loose skin of the middle of the side of the neck per the following dosages depending on age and bodyweight of the cattle: Cattle up to 1 year, 1 mL/100 lb bodyweight Cattle from 1-2 years, 1 mL/150 lb bodyweight Cattle over 2 years, 1 mL/200 lb bodyweight To be administered as a single dose. The maximum volume per injection site is 7 mL. Use standard aseptic procedures during administration to reduce the risk of injection site abscesses or lesions. Ensure there are at least 4 inches between injection sites for MULTIMIN® 90 (zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium injection) and other injection sites. MULTIMIN® 90 is intended as a single dose product. Allow a minimum of 30 days before considering repeat dosing. Additional zinc, copper, manganese, or selenium products should not be administered at the same time. Use within 28 days of first puncture of the vial and puncture a maximum of 15 times. If more than 15 punctures are anticipated, the use of multi-dosing equipment is recommended. When using a draw-off spike or needle with bore diameter larger than 16 gauge, discard any product remaining in the vial immediately after use. CONTRAINDICATIONS Do not use MULTIMIN® 90 concurrently with other injectable selenium and copper products. Do not use MULTIMIN® 90 concurrently with selenium or copper boluses. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS User Safety Warnings Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. Do not allow children access to used or empty syringes. Wash hands after use. This product is highly concentrated in zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. Due to a potential risk of zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium toxicity, care should be taken when handling the product to avoid accidental self-injection. Symptoms of exposure to zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium include aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, epigastric pain, tremors, and irritability. In case of accidental self-injection or ingestion, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION and take the vial with you. To report a suspected adverse drug experience or to obtain a safety data sheet, contact Multimin North America, Inc. at 970-372-2302. ADVERSE REACTIONS Accidental overdose of copper or selenium through misdosing or the use of multiple sources, including the use of injectable products in addition to high dietary levels, can result in adverse events, including death, depression, weakness, ataxia, salivation, and drooling. Animal Safety Warnings and Precautions Selenium and copper are toxic if administered in excess. MULTIMIN® 90 may cause clinical signs associated with copper toxicity or selenium toxicity, including death, if overdosed or used in conjunction with excessive dietary levels of copper and selenium or other selenium or copper products. Additional zinc, copper, manganese, or selenium products should not be administered at the same time. Do not use concurrently with other injectable selenium and copper products. Do not use concurrently with selenium or copper boluses. MULTIMIN® 90 may cause injection site swelling that appears on the day of injection and resolves by 2 days later. MULTIMIN® 90 may cause induration at the injection site that appears the day of injection and may persist for at least 14 days post-injection. These reactions may result in trim loss of edible tissue at slaughter. Do not use in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active ingredients or to any of the excipients. Do not use in emaciated cattle with a body condition score of 1 on a 5-point scale in dairy or 1-3 on a 9-point scale in beef. Do not use during the first trimester of pregnancy because safety has not been evaluated. Do not use in pre-ruminant calves because safety has not been evaluated. TARGET ANIMAL SAFETY Target animal safety was evaluated in cattle less than 10 months of age. Four non-pregnant females and four intact males received saline, 1x, 3x, or 5x the labeled dose for 3 consecutive days. The only treatment-associated findings from the 1x dose group included injection site swelling and a minor, clinically insignificant, dose and time dependent decrease in cholesterol. The treatment-associated findings from the 3x dose group were injection site swelling, a decrease in feed consumption, and a decrease in cholesterol. In the 5x dose group, treatment-associated findings included injection site swelling, a decrease in feed consumption, a decrease in cholesterol, an increase in creatinine kinase, a decrease in calcium, and signs of acute copper toxicity (2 out of 8 animals), including sudden death, depression, weakness, ataxia, salivation, and drooling. Animals in the 5x dose group also had hepatic centrilobular necrosis on necropsy and an increase in serum chemistries associated with liver damage. STORAGE, HANDLING, AND DISPOSAL Store between 15ºC and 30ºC (59ºF and 86ºF) Manufactured for: Multimin North America, Inc., Fort Collins, CO 80528 Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-582 FOI: https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/ adafda/app/search/public/document/ downloadFoi/15347 MULTIMIN® 90 is available in 100 mL and 500 mL vials. Revision date: May 2024 Withdrawal Periods Cattle must not be slaughtered for human food consumption within 14 days of the last treatment. No milk discard time is required when used according to labeling. Animal Health International is a full-service distributor committed to helping beef producers increase production and improve efficiencies. Through our innovative technologies, expert knowledge, expansive product portfolio and fast, customizable delivery options, we help customers manage a sustainable and profitable operation and keep the animals in their care healthy and safe. animalhealthinternational.com 800.854.7664 20AH0030b (11/19)
April/May 2025 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 23 EVERY ANIMAL. EVERY TIME. INJECTION ENSURES WHAT INGESTION ALONE CAN’T. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR MULTIMIN® 90: Not for use in humans, keep out of reach of children. Multimin 90 has a preslaughter withdrawal time of 14 days after injection. Do not use during the first trimester of pregnancy or in pre-ruminant calves as safety has not been established. Selenium and copper are toxic if administered in excess and may lead to sudden death, depression, weakness, ataxia, salivation, and drooling. Do not use concurrently with other selenium or copper injections or boluses. Maximum volume per injection site is 7 mL. Allow a minimum of 30 days before considering repeat dosing. See prescribing information. (zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium injection) Multimin® 90 (zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium injection) delivers essential trace minerals to cattle. Adding it to your oral nutrition program helps prepare your herd when it matters most. DON’T CHANCE IT. LEARN MORE AT AXIOTA.COM. AX-00080-00 © 2025 Axiota® axiota.com SALES JJ Petersen, 402-917-4903 Ken Petersen, 712-870-2247 Kyle Zellmer, 712-870-3391 Council Bluffs, IA, 712-366-5221 Neligh, NE, 402-887-5638 Sioux City, IA, 712-266-3832 www.rueterco.com www.na.hd-hyundaice.com H Y U N D A I W A R R A N T Y VALUE • More Standard Features • Industry-Best Total Coverage Warranty • Hi-mate Remote Management service – FREE for 3 years • Industry-Leading Fuel Economy • Industry-Leading Cycle Times Cash is king – Make more money & spend less, with Hyundai Wheel Loaders. Industry’s Best Total Coverage Warranty: 3-year / 3,000-hour full machine warranty & 5-year / 10,000-hour structural warranty
24 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2025 PRODUCTION Hairy Heel Warts Digital dermatitis, also known as hairy heel warts, takes its toll in growing-finishing feedlot cattle. It reduces market weights and hot carcass weights in infected cattle, according to beef feedlot research conducted in commercial feedlots in Iowa and Illinois, where digital dermatitis is an endemic problem. The disease is a localized infection in the heel and area just above the hoof. It can occur quickly in a large number of animals, even though the initial infection may start several months prior. There are several bacteria that can be involved in this infection, but generally Treponema is the most common. This is a spirochete type of a bacteria that can bore deep into the skin and sets up an infection. The condition is managed or controlled, but I would not say the infection is ever cured. Active infections are usually controlled with the use of foot baths and feeding higher levels of zinc; feeding iodine also helps control the infection. The level of iodine in a cattle ration is highly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Work with your nutritionist to make sure you are following FDA guidelines regarding feeding iodine to feedlot cattle. In a general sense, this is a disease of sanitation. The organism grows in animalsʼ rumen and intestinal digesta and comes out into the environment when the calf defecates. The cleaner the pen, the less issue you will have with this condition. As cattle get heavier, this disease will tend to reappear in cattle that had the disease earlier in the feeding period. As cattle weights continue to increase, you will see more of this disease. Digital Dermatitis Impacts Beef Cattle Nutrition Digital dermatitis is a growing health and animal welfare concern in feedlots located in some geographic regions of the United States and Canada. Digital dermatitis may commonly be misdiagnosed as foot rot; however, treatment and prevention strategies are different. So, it is important that an accurate diagnosis be made as soon as possible to help reduce the diseaseʼs incidence and severity and its adverse effects. Digital dermatitis begins as lesions around the claw. They are raw, bright red or black circular erosions of the skin just above the heel bulbs. The edges form a white margin that surrounds sores or are adjacent to thick, hairy, wart-like growths. There are five stages of digital dermatitis, ranging from M1 (early/ subclinical) to M4.1 (chronically recurring). It starts to impact animal health at the M2 stage, which is the more painful, ulcerated lesion. The pain and chronic lameness from the M2 lesions are such that cattle are very reluctant to move. Theyʼll either stand longer or theyʼll lay down longer than their pen mates without M2 lesions. The result of this suppressed movement is that they do not get to the bunk as much as they normally would. Management Take biosecurity measures to prevent infected animals from being introduced into the feedyard. Animals coming out of a receiving yard should go through a foot bath when they enter the grow yard to reduce the potential of introducing the organism into the feedlot. Foot baths need to contain the correct solution of copper sulphate, and the footbath pH should not CHRIS ASHWORTH, DVM | GLOBAL VETERINARIAN AND
April/May 2025 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 25 in Feedlot Cattle be less than 3.3. If a foot bath is too acidic it can make the feet and lower legs more susceptible to other infections. This is critical to monitor when using a foot bath! One of the biggest risk factors to spreading digital dermatitis is not cleaning pens thoroughly between turns of cattle. Cattle that had infections in the previous use of that pen will leave billions of Treponema bacteria in the soil and manure and will give a larger infective dose quicker to incoming calves. Making sure pens are extremely clean, especially around water tanks and feed aprons, is a critical step to delaying the infection in incoming cattle. Pens need to be as clean as possible. Low areas in the pen that hold rain water, urine and manure need to be eliminated. Pens should drain well, as this too is a large risk factor for new infections. Regularly inspect hind feet for signs of digital dermatitis in pen walks. Digital dermatitis can be seen in the heels of the front feet as well, but it is much more common in the rear feet. Identify M2 lesions early and treat promptly. One of the most important aspects of managing the disease is that as soon as the first clinical case occurs in a pen, ALL the animals in that pen need to be moved through a foot bath for three consecutive days, making certain not to skip a day. This condition is seen less in dry lots that are well drained and open to sunshine and drying; it is much more common in barns, slatted floor barns and free stalls in dairy cattle. As days on feed and calf weights increase, we may have to make a decision to clean pens out in the middle of a feeding period. As impractical as this may sound, we can not allow this condition to break out clinically in 1,600- and 1,800-pound calves, as many times these animals will go down and be unable to rise due to the significant pain seen in these animals. U.S. Department of Agriculture rules prohibiting the slaughter of down cattle means that we have to manage pens and the infectious condition so we donʼt have down cattle late in the feeding program. Nutrition Higher levels of zinc and the inclusion of performance trace minerals like the Availa-Plus Formula in beef cattle nutrition can help prevent digital dermatitis. Zinc helps the condition in several ways. First, it improves the ability of certain white blood cells like neutrophils and macrophages to fight the infection and kill the bacteria. Second, zinc plays a significant role in making skin healthier and thicker, which makes it more difficult for the infectious organism to burrow deeper into the skin and set up an infection. Zinc plays a significant role in making very specific proteins between skin cells that helps to prevent the infection from starting. Unfortunately, the animals may be exposed to a large dose of the infective agent before they are able to make better skin. It is a race against time in some instances. Several studies have evaluated the differences between cattle fed a novel nutritional supplement that included Zinpro Performance Minerals (zinc, manganese, copper) and iodine to a supplement that had a similar profile from predominantly inorganic trace mineral sources (zinc, manganese, copper), which also included iodine. In one study, cattle fed performance trace minerals had an average increase in total final weight gain of 17.6 pounds and a calculated average increase in hot carcass weight of 26 pounds per animal compared to the animals fed an inorganic DISCOVERY RESEARCHER – BEEF, ZINPRO
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