NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 Vol. 80 | Issue 9
CORPORATE OFFICE P.O. Box 1506 • Great Bend, KS 67530 • 620-793-9200 Jerrod Westfahl, Executive Chairman Bronson Smith, CEO Jerry Kuckelman, President Tyler Spore, Vice President, Cattle Operations Larned, Kansas Chris Burris - Manager 620-285-2183 chris.burris@ilsbeef.com Lexington, Nebraska Brandon Sorensen - Manager 402-469-6313 brandon.sorensen@ilsbeef.com Ellinwood, KS Matthew Vaupel - Manager 620-546-3445 alan.pohlman@ilsbeef.com Macksville, Kansas Adam Stubbs - Manager 620-285-5245 adam.stubbs@ilsbeef.com Great Bend, Kansas Paul Woydziak - Manager 620-792-2508 paul.woydziak@ilsbeef.com Kearney, Nebraska Kurtis VenJohn - Manager 308-234-1874 kurtis.venjohn@ilsbeef.com Holdrege, Nebraska Jesse Landin - Manager 308-995-6136 jesse.landin@ilsbeef.com Professional Cattle Feeders since 1962 Lyons, Kansas Luke Knight - Manager 620-257-8069 luke.knight@ilsbeef.com
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4 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 Scott & Kim Ford (308) 991-2452 • Bertrand, NE 68927 www.crossdiamondcattle.com Powerhouse Red Angus Genetics Coming Your Way… Annual Production Sale Monday, December 9, 2024 At the Ranch, Bertrand, NE 250 Red Angus coming 2-year-old bulls 450 commercial bred females Contact us for more information! 3 SOUNDNESS 3 FERTILITY 3 DISPOSITION
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6 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 THE ONLY PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO THE NEBRASKA CATTLE INDUSTRY. NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 Vol. 80 | Issue 9 REGULARS Insights ........................................8 Ruminations .............................10 Consider This ...........................38 Nebraska Beef Council ............40 NCIG............................................ 42 NC Dispatch ..............................44 IANR ...........................................46 NC Foundation..........................50 NC Partners ..............................54 Sale & Event Calendar ............56 Advertiser Index ......................58 Membership Application........60 Boots on the Ground ..............62 FEATURES PRODUCTION Cattle E ciency.................................................................. 24 A look at ongoing research related to cattle efficiency. PEOPLE Returning to Nebraska ...................................................... 18 Nebraska native Deb VanOverbeke returns to her home state to serve as head of UNL’s Animal Science Department. PERSPECTIVES Traceability Moving Forward............................................12 Exploring the use of electronic ID tags and the need for a more robust, industry-wide cattle disease traceability system. SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE 2024 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit..................................30 2024 Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Convention & Trade Show Highlights ......................................................34 2024 Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Convention & Trade Show Registration...................................................36 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 O ce 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: This flaming sunset is the perfect day’s end to a branding at Diamond Bar Ranch, north of Stapleton. Photo courtesy of Sam Raetz, samraetz.com.
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 7 CAT T L E ALMA, NEBRASKA - DECEMBER 14, 2024 OFFERING 60 STABILIZER BULLS CENTRAL PLAINS STABILIZER SALE WWW.LEACHMAN.COM | (970) 568-3983 JERROD WATSON (CO) - 303-827-1156 AARON RASMUSSEN (NE) - 308- 763-1361 KURT SCHENKEL (OH) - 740-503-6270 SCAN TO VIEW CATALOGS ALL BULLS SELL WITH A BREEDING SEASON GUARANTEE GERING, NEBRASKA - NOVEMBER 16, 2024 OFFERING 60 STABILIZER BULLS PANHANDLE STABILIZER SALE FERTILE. GOOD DOING. SOUND. EXTRA LONGEVITY. BULLS THAT BUILD BETTER COW HERDS
8 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 NC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Jerry Kuenning*, Lemoyne, (308) 883-8382 PRESIDENT-ELECT: Dick Pierce*, Miller, (308) 440-2489 VICE PRESIDENT: Craig Uden*, (308) 325-0285 TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 475-2333 SECRETARY: Melody Benjamin, Lakeside, (308) 760-6464 PAST PRESIDENT: Steve Hanson*, Elsie, (308) 289-0225 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Jaclyn Wilson, Lakeside, (308) 762-3196 2 – Kat Kennedy, Purdum, (308) 645-7036 3 – Allan Louthan, Stanton, (402) 841-6601 4 – John Ecklund, Atkinson, (408) 602-5905 5 – Scott Reynolds, Berwyn, (308) 870-0970 6 – Chuck Graff, Ogallala, (308) 289-5841 7 – Heath Clausen, Leigh, (402) 750-4433 8 – Allen Bruntz, Friend, (402) 525-2651 9 – Shannon Peterson, Gothenburg, (308) 529-2116 COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR: Travis Chrisman, Wauneta, (308) 883-6781 VICE CHAIR: Jake Johnson, Hastings, (402) 984-8824 FARMER-STOCKMAN COUNCIL CHAIR: Marc Hanson, Morrowville, Kan., (402) 729-7174 VICE CHAIR: Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 FEEDLOT COUNCIL CHAIR: Ryan Danehey, Manhattan, Kan., (308) 440-8267 VICE CHAIR: Daron Huyser, Lexington, (308) 233-4368 SEEDSTOCK COUNCIL CHAIR: Reiss Bruning, Bruning, (402) 768-3332 VICE CHAIR: James Felt, Wakefield, (402) 287-2488 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL Jake Pullen, Aurora, (308) 380-9040 ~ COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ~ ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR: Jared Walahoski*, Overton, (308) 746-1965 CHAIR-ELECT: Jeff Heldt, Scottsbluff, (308) 641-5781 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS CHAIR: Brock Terrell, Hay Springs, (308) 430-1213 CHAIR-ELECT: Matt Blackford, Brownlee, (402) 322-1377 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CHAIR: Marcus Urban, Leigh, (402) 276-3830 CHAIR-ELECT: Suzanne Jagels, Davenport, (402) 469-3374 MARKETING AND COMMERCE CHAIR: Joe Eisenmenger, Humphrey, (402) 920-0665 CHAIR-ELECT: Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CHAIR: Eric Hansen*, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 CHAIR-ELECT: Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 TAXATION CHAIR: Scott Peterson, Valentine, (402) 322-0225 CHAIR-ELECT: Steve Sunderman, Norfolk, (402) 750-0149 MEMBER SERVICES CHAIR: Jim Edwards, Ord, (308) 750-0881 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 DON’T JUST WRITE THE CHECK ALLAN LOUTHAN | STANTON NC MEMBER SERVICES REGION 3 VICE CHAIR Scattered across Nebraska are many small cow-calf producers with fewer than 50 cows who also have jobs off the farm. These producers spend their evenings and weekends busy on the farm because of their time spent away at their off-the-farm jobs. Some of these producers have recently downsized while others can’t expand because of the lack of pasture. Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) membership dues for these producers is an expense that might not be at the top of their wish list, but it should be at the top of their need list. Beef cattle producers face many challenges, including changes in weather, input prices, animal performance, technology and marketing opportunities. Sharing information with like-minded individuals can come from attending NC affiliate meetings as well as regional and state meetings. To help producers make sound business decisions, Nebraska Cattlemen shares valuable information via email, social media and the NC website. NC webinars ensure producers are aware of cutting-edge production practices and that they understand government regulations. NC staff work to help producers improve their efficiency and profitability in today’s challenging beef industry. As a small producer who works off the farm during the week, I have to decide if I want to continue to support the Nebraska Cattlemen by renewing my membership each year. Has my operation benefited by being an NC member? Have I used the available resources to be more involved in the industry? What new strategies have I developed to overcome production struggles? I take the decision to renew my dues seriously, and I make sure that with my renewal I am not just writing a check. I make sure that I am reading the NC Chronicle when it hits my email inbox and opening the Membership Matters and Call to Action emails that are filled with important information. I follow along with the Nebraska legislative updates that are sent CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 Make sure you are taking advantage of all that Nebraska Cattlemen offers. Find a way to get engaged. See the Nebraska Cattlemen Membership Application on page 60.
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 9
10 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 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 ASSOCIATION ENGAGEMENT | Melody Benjamin 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 MEMBERSHIP-RETENTION | Jessica Rudolph DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | Matthew Melchor ACCOUNTANT/BOOKKEEPER | Kathy Abel OFFICE MANAGER | Ashley McClinton 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: BLUEPRINT MEDIA LLC www.blueprintma.com | ncmag@necattlemen.org EDITOR | Lisa Bard MANAGING EDITOR | Jessie Topp-Becker COPY EDITOR | Larisa Willrett DESIGNER & MATERIALS COORDINATOR | Megan Sajbel 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. KEEP BUILDING LAURA FIELD | NC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT I’m a gift giver. I love reasons to celebrate, and if that involves a gift, I love it even more! Thinking about the receiver and something unique and perfect for them gives me great joy. When buying gifts for my kids, I usually add a criteria that if it’s a game or a puzzle, I buy something that I will enjoy playing or building or doing with them based on my love for puzzles and games. When our whole crew is together, we need a big table, lots of room, a large dose of patience and reminders about how much we love each other. We have quite a few birthdays in our family during the summer months, and as I was shopping, I became fixated with Lego 3-in-1 Creator sets. These fun collabs come with one set of Legos and three different creation booklets. I stocked up on multiple sets, fully prepared to give them to the recipient they best fit. After getting home one night, I needed a distraction and one of the sets caught my eye. This particular trio included a butterfly, a dragonfly and a peacock. I opened the box and started building. I found myself completely fixated on the set (I started with the peacock) and could not put it down until I was done a couple of hours later. Since putting that first one together, I’ve taken apart and created the butterfly and dragonfly. The experience and process of building those sets left me thinking of the larger life lessons that apply to my work and life. 1. If you follow the steps, you can finish the project. 2. Building takes time – finding the right pieces, getting them to click and keeping them together takes patience and determination. 3. Building has both ups and downs. 4. Slowing down and using precision helps the building process. 5. Blocking out the discouragement and listening to the encouragement keeps you on track. 6. If you make a mistake, back up a few steps and try again. 7. The finished project will make you smile. The timing of these realizations was eye-opening for me as my focus on relaxation collided with my reality of being executive vice president of Nebraska Cattlemen. While building a Lego set may have only taken a couple of hours, building a talented team to work together to support the members of the association has taken a bit more time. It is so rewarding to have the chance to be on the same team with tremendously bright, thoughtful, dedicated men and women. As we challenge each other and grow as a team, they make me better every day. I encourage you to reach out and get to know them – from communications to membership to policy to education to market reporting, we have an elite group of team members ready to answer your questions and help enhance your membership experience. By searching for the pieces, taking time, being creative and discerning the needs, it all fits! Turnover and change are challenging, but the team working on your behalf at Nebraska Cattlemen is top notch. I’m incredibly thankful to have the chance to learn and grow with them. And to keep building! ~NC~
BENOIT ANGUS RANCH 621 Hwy. 36//Esbon, KS 66941 Everett & Bonnie Benoit (785) 725-3231 Doug Benoit (785) 545-6806 Chad Benoit (785) 545-8095 www.BenoitAngus.com • Email: dmbenoit@ruraltel.net RANCE LONG PO Box 2 • Adair, OK 74330 918-510-3464 RLong@RanceLong.com • www.RanceLong.com Sale Managed By RANCE LONG, INC 918.510.3464 cell rlong@rancelong.com www.rancelong.com PO Box 2, Adair, OK 74330 Sale Managed By INC E&B LADY RIVAL 438 CED +6, BW +2.6, WW +80, YW +149, Milk +34, Claw +.44, Angle +.47, Marb +1.13, RE +1.02, $M +79, $C +325 20 fancy spring heifer calves sell! Included will be this outstanding heifer by E&B Rival 175! E&B LADY PLUS 1021 CED +8, BW +.9, WW +65, YW +116, Milk +26, Claw +.39, Angle +.41, Marb +1.19, RE +1.05, $M +81, $C +320 One of the breeds most powerful daughters of “Plus” and from one of Everetts all-time favorite 7229 daughters - This proven donor sells with a fall calf at side! E&B LADY RAINFALL 030 Highlighting the sale will be 20 Spring Pair splits – all with tremendous Heifer Calves! Plus, a set of 20 pairs sell together and there will be many 3-in-1’s! E&B LADY EXPONENTIAL 299 CED +12, BW +1.3, WW +94, YW +162, Milk +36, Claw +.55, Angle +.48, Marb +.71, RE +1.15, $M +62, $C +312 This impressive donor will be selling along with more proven donors! She has one of the 20 split-off Heifer calves at side, sired by Connealy Guard Rail. BENOIT ANGUS RANCH ANNUAL FALL FEMALE SALE FEMALE SALE 1:00 PM • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2024 OVER 100 HEAD SELL! H20 Pairs with Heifer Calf Splits H20 Pairs as 3–in–1’s H40 Spring Bred Heifers H10 Fall Pairs with Heifer Calves H12 Fall Yearling Replacement Heifers FROM THE HEART OF THE BENOIT PROGRAM – 40 SPRING BRED HEIFERS SELL! Many of the females selling are confirmed to be carrying HEIFER CALVES!
12 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 PERSPECTIVES TRACEABILITY MOVING FORWARD JESSIE TOPP BECKER, NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN MANAGING EDITOR Most beef cattle producers in the United States are familiar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) traceability rule, which went into effect in 2013. Under that rule, sexually intact cattle 18 months or older, rodeo and exhibition cattle, and dairy cattle moving interstate are required to have an official form of animal identification. Previously, those forms of identification included an 840 tag, metal bangs clip tags and, in some instances, breed tattoos if accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. USDA’s final traceability rule, which goes into effect Nov. 5, updates the existing requirement of animal identification to the use of only electronic identification (EID) tags. “Over the last few years, USDA has continued to evolve this concept of transitioning the use of metal ear tags to a tag that USDA is referring to as both visually and electronically readable,” said Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), on the Oct. 2, 2024, episode of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on YouTube. The final rule does not require producers to tag any other classes of cattle – feeder cattle are still excluded – it simply transitions the form of identification. “Electronic identification is certainly not new to our industry,” says Jared Walahoski, DVM, chairman of the Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Animal Health and Nutrition Committee. “The recent changes to our national identification process are long overdue, and do not add any additional requirements for the movement of beef cattle that were not already in place. “Utilization of electronic tags instead of the metal clips will minimize the stress on animals to comply with interstate transport requirements and can greatly enhance the speed with which these animals can be tracked in a disease investigation,” adds Walahoski, who is also a practicing veterinarian at Overton Veterinary Services in Lexington. “An EID tag is not going to prevent a disease outbreak from occurring, but what it will do is help us respond so much quicker and [more] accurately in a disease event,” says Callahan Grund, U.S. CattleTrace executive director. With the growing use of technology in all aspects of daily life, concerns related to privacy and data security are more prevalent. One of the biggest concerns with the transition to EID tags as required under the updated rule is data security. “This rule does not create the ability for USDA to aggregate information on your larger farm and ranch operations. It does not give them the ability to ascertain emissions data or build some kind of a database to use for other purposes,” Lane said. “This is basically a new way of transferring the same information animal health officials are already using to monitor that class of cattle intact over 18 months moving interstate as well as rodeo cattle, show cattle and bison when they’re moving throughout the supply chain.” In addition to transitioning the form of identification, the final rule also clarifies that cattle born in a dairy environment, regardless of breed, must be treated as dairy cattle in the 2013 rule.
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 13 THE NEED FOR CHANGE The United States has not experienced a foreign animal disease outbreak since a foot and mouth disease outbreak in 1929. Since producers have not had to deal with an outbreak in almost a century, it can be difficult for the formation of a traceability system to feel like a priority. “Having not suffered the consequences of a disease outbreak, it can be hard for producers to feel the need for a nationally significant traceability system because it would change the way we have operated for many years,” Grund says. However, in recent years, many industry stakeholders have expressed the need for a more robust, industry-wide cattle disease traceability system. “The diseases that we currently have dealt with in the past within the U.S. – whether it’s brucellosis or tuberculosis – we have a very good animal disease traceability system currently in place for those cattle it affects,” Grund says. “Our system works well within that regard.” However, when it comes to highly contagious diseases like foot and mouth disease, which is prevalent in other countries and is highly contagious, Grund says that is where the country’s current traceability system is lacking. “When we think about prepping for those types of diseases, that’s where it becomes very important to have a speed-ofcommerce, a more contact-tracing system type, rather than an individual identification traceability system, which we currently have today in the U.S.,” Grund says. Walahoski agrees. “I believe that our industry is not prepared to deal with a foreign animal disease event, and improving the ability to track individual animals across the United States is vital to minimizing the devastating effects that such an event would have on all cattle producers.” To ensure the United States is adequately prepared to manage a disease outbreak, industry partners from across the country, including Nebraska Cattlemen, have worked together to develop a national infrastructure for disease traceability – U.S. CattleTrace. A producer-led initiative, U.S. CattleTrace is aimed at building a voluntary, nationally significant animal disease traceability system that works for producers and works collaboratively with animal health officials. It isn’t possible to prevent a disease outbreak from occurring, but the response to a potential outbreak can be controlled. Ensuring that state and federal animal health officials are prepared to respond to a disease outbreak is critical. “Today, the tools in [animal health officials’] toolbox to respond to a disease will severely affect and hinder our ability within the beef cattle industry to respond and get back to business continuity quicker,” Grund says. “We’re talking about stop movements for an indefinite period of time; we’re talking about movement permits; we’re talking about quarantines within certain areas. These are the current tools they have to respond to best keep the diseases under wraps within the U.S. “We’re hoping that if we could more quickly and accurately look at these diseases, we’d be able to respond much quicker and get back to normal business continuity in the face of diseases outbreak,” he adds. “Our current system has each state in charge of managing the shipment data for incoming cattle to their state. In a disease investigation, each potential state involved would have to be contacted separately to determine if any of the animals in question are included in their records,” Walahoski explains. “This process takes time, and in the event of a disease outbreak, timely tracking and isolation of animals will be critical to decreasing the severity and the duration of the disease. The development of a central database for housing the individual animal data would be a huge step forward for our industry to minimize the effects of an outbreak.” Protecting producer data is a priority for U.S. CattleTrace, and the organization only utilizes four data points: animal ID, date, time and GPS coordinates of where an animal is read. “No producer information is collected or contained in the U.S. CattleTrace database,” Grund says. “Further, we have taken every known security precaution further fortifying data security.” The diversity among industry segments makes the U.S. beef industry unique, and also creates a bit of a challenge to develop a traceability system that fits the specific needs of producers in each segment. That’s why producer buy-in is critical. “It is no surprise that some producers may have some concerns with traceability, but when it comes to disease traceability, every producer should be invested,” says Jesse Fulton, Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance director. Grund agrees, “Without unity and consensus on how to build a system that works for each segment of the industry, a system will not exist.” ~NC~ 2024 U.S. CATTLETRACE SYMPOSIUM Individuals interested in what the nation’s current traceability and response systems look like or how traceability and response could look like with a nationally significant system are encouraged to attend the 2024 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 18-19, 2024. This year’s symposium will feature an immersive experience with a tabletop exercise where attendees will witness the country’s current foreign animal disease outbreak response efforts, followed by a demonstration showcasing how an enhanced animal disease traceability system, such as U.S. CattleTrace, can assist current response plans. Symposium attendees include producers, animal health officials, meat processors, retailers and allied industry members who are passionate about propelling voluntary animal disease traceability into the future. Event registration is $25. For more information, visit www.uscattletrace.org/2024symposium.
14 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 Follow us: NC Trade Show Exhibitor
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 15 OTTER CREEK RANCH Otter Creek Ranch is in Keith County, Nebraska, and consists of 15,117± deeded acres of rolling sandhills and two and a half miles of Otter Creek. Featuring two sets of improvements and proximity to Lake McConaughy. $16,00,000 WWW.HALLANDHALL.COM SALES | AUCTIONS | FINANCE | APPRAISALS | MANAGEMENT VIEW MORE REGIONAL LISTINGS ONLINE WHITETAIL FARM Whitetail Farm is located in McPherson County, Nebraska, and consists of 2,080± deeded acres offering ten irrigated center-pivots covering 1,309± irrigated acres and is supported by the world’s second-largest aquifer. $6,900,000 NEBRASKA IRRIGATED FARM Nebraska Irrigated Farm is located in the Nebraska Sandhills and consists of 4,599± deeded acres with 21 center-pivots irrigating 2,744± acres. Newer center pivots and wells produce 2,000± GPM with no pumping restrictions. $16,750,000 NIOBRARA RIVER EXECUTIVE RETREAT Nestled in the pine-covered canyons along the Niobrara River in Cherry County, the retreat is exclusively private and consists of 277± deeded acres with a quarter mile river frontage and features a luxurious log home. $2,300,000 SPRING CREEK CANYON RANCH Highly diversified 3,007± acre agricultural operation highlighted with excellent recreational amenities located forty-two miles south of North Platte, Nebraska. Great property for the outdoor enthusiast while still providing solid investment. $4,500,000 HILSEWECK RANCH Waterfront property on the Canadian River, encompassing 10,218± acres. Located in Pittsburgh County, west of McAlester and 165 miles north of Dallas. Great access with interior gravel roads and an abundance of surface water. $19,925,100 NC Trade Show Exhibitor Get top performance and durability in dry hay with a rugged New Holland Roll-Belt™ 450 or 460 Hay Special round baler. The 71-inch-wide pickup carefully gathers all your hay as the ActiveSweep™ feeding system relentlessly moves it from the pickup into the chamber. That’s where perfect square-shouldered bales are built consistently with the proven combination of steel rolls and Mini-Rough-Top laced belts. Get no-frills baling without compromising performance. Add legendary Roll-Belt Hay Special productivity to your haymaking operation. Stop in today or visit newholland.com to learn more. BUILT TO BALE WITHOUT COMPROMISE. OMPROMIS © 2022 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. 330 17th St., Syracuse (402) 269-2310 ♦ KanEquip.com NC Trade Show Exhibitor THE SPIRIT OF DEDICATION. Commitment that’s one of a kind. Agribusiness solutions you trust. Member FDIC /agribusiness
16 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 17 NC Trade Show Exhibitor
18 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 Returning to Nebraska JESSICA WESSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER Deb VanOverbeke has come full circle. From growing up on a small family farm and cattle feeding operation in southeast Nebraska, to her current position as department head of the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the journey back to Nebraska has been a good one – filled with great experiences, valuable work, accomplishments, friendships, professional relationships and family. Nebraska Beginnings – Then to Colorado The family operation she grew up on was run by her father and two uncles and is still in operation today, more than 100 years after it began. There, she fell in love with the agricultural industry, specifically beef cattle. “I was active in 4-H and FFA, and I decided to pursue an animal science degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL),” VanOverbeke says. “I had three older brothers who also got degrees in animal science.” Eventually, she worked for the meat scientist research group on campus to help make ends meet. “I started by collecting carcass data for them as an undergraduate student worker, which led to a keen interest in meat science,” VanOverbeke says. “I also had an internship with Nebraska Cattlemen (NC), focusing on producer education. I got to work on everything from environmental stewardship to assisting with writing Nebraska’s first Beef Quality Assurance Manual.” She left that internship thinking she would pursue a career in breed association work. VanOverbeke started her full-time career with NC as the first Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) coordinator. She also assisted with the Nebraska Corn-Fed Beef Program. “Through my work with Nebraska Cattlemen, I met Dr. Gary Smith, who was at Colorado State University then,” VanOverbeke says. “He asked me if I’d ever considered pursuing a graduate degree. I took him up on that opportunity and went to do a master’s degree and Ph.D. in meat science at Colorado State University.” Through her graduate education, VanOverbeke was able to work with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) National Beef Quality Audits. “I coordinated the 1999 National Market Cow and Bull Quality Audit and the 2000 Fed Audit from Colorado State University’s perspective as a graduate student,” VanOverbeke says. “I also got to work with NCBA on the Injection Site Lesion Audits. That experience built on what I had learned and done at Nebraska Cattlemen.” VanOverbeke continued to strengthen her experience in quality assurance by helping the Colorado Livestock Association write its BQA Manual and assisting the American Sheep Industry Association with its Safety and Quality Assurance Manual. VanOverbeke (fourth from right) with other dignitaries from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at the ribbon cutting of the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, which provides hands-on education for animal science students and research opportunities for faculty. PEOPLE VanOverbeke, left, wtih her daughter Esther, center, and nephew Max VanOverbeke, right, at the 2023 National FFA Convention.
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 19 Academic Pursuits After graduating from Colorado State University, she started her career in academia with a position at the University of Minnesota. There, she served as the pre-harvest meat quality and safety specialist for three years. “I worked in the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, and there were a lot of veterinarians, one food scientist and myself who worked on a team,” VanOverbeke says. “We got to work on all kinds of issues, including BSE. I helped navigate that issue and assisted with programming efforts centered around it.” She was recruited by Oklahoma State University, where she spent 18 years of her career. She started as a faculty member in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences before transitioning to serving as the assistant dean of academic programs for the Ferguson College of Agriculture. “As assistant dean, I worked directly with undergraduate and graduate students to navigate their challenges and efforts,” VanOverbeke says. “I also supported faculty as they worked with students. I worked through various situations, from scholarships to student council.” She also guided students and faculty through difficult situations. “Unfortunately, we had students pass away from suicide and another student that passed away from an aggressive form of cancer,” VanOverbeke says. “It made me appreciate many things concerning working with students and helping them get to the next step of their academic journey.” Returning Home As an undergraduate student at UNL, she had no idea that her path would lead her right back to Nebraska in July 2023 to be the head of the department where she was once a student. “I took the opportunity to come back to Nebraska as the [Animal Science] department head because it allowed me to do a lot of the things I was doing as assistant dean,” VanOverbeke says. “I got to expand that effort in teaching, research and Extension in my home department, where I was trained. I love giving back and re-engaging with the industry in which I researched and worked.” She enjoys impacting her students and fellow faculty through her role as the department head. “I am always looking for a way to make a difference, whether through high school visits, having a presence at the state fair or navigating research challenges,” VanOverbeke says. “When I worked for Nebraska Cattlemen, I had a lot of people who impacted me to help me grow professionally. I want to give back to the university that made me who I am today.” For the first six months of her new role, VanOverbeke focused on getting her feet under her. “I was just trying to figure out what was going on, so we were having a lot of meetings,” VanOverbeke says. “The Department of Animal Science has approximately 40 faculty members, but not all are in Lincoln. I spent the first few months here meeting with them in the different groups they had formed, such as the ruminant nutrition group.” She took time to learn about the projects they were working on and what they needed assistance with. VanOverbeke also met with an external advisory board that had been established before her arrival. “It was all about getting connected to everyone who contributed to the department’s success and getting familiar with the VanOverbeke, right, serves on a career pathway panel at the American Meat Science Association Student Leadership Conference with Don Moss of Instinct Pet Food, left, and Jennifer Dibern of American Foods Group, center. VanOverbeke, UNL Head Coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Women’s Volleyball team John Cook, UNL volleyball team member Bergan Reilly, Esther VanOverbeke and UNL volleyball team members Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick, left to right, at a Beef Quality Assurance event, sponsored by Certified Angus Beef. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
20 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 NC Trade Show Exhibitor day-to-day operations,” VanOverbeke says. “I also serve as an ex-officio on all of our livestock industry boards, so I prioritize those meetings. I already had strong ties to the beef industry, so I focused on getting connected to the pork, dairy, poultry and other industries in Nebraska.” Another area she focused on included bringing visibility to her department. She visited places like the state fair to raise awareness about the department. “Being seen and being active is important,” VanOverbeke says. “We need to ensure Nebraska students know that we’re here for them, so we are always finding ways to reach out to them to let them know that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the place to come for an animal science degree. We’re in the process of developing a new strategic plan on how to be more visible.” She has also hired new faculty within the Department of Animal Science to bolster its reputation and impact. “I was able to hire a rodeo coach and a ruminant nutrition associate research professor,” VanOverbeke says. “A new livestock judging coach will join us in December. We’re focusing on where the holes are and who we need to hire to fill those capacities. We’re looking forward to what the future holds.” The University of Nebraska Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center opened earlier this year. It provides hands-on education for animal science students and research opportunities for faculty. “I refer to the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center as the largest classroom to ever engage students,” VanOverbeke says. “It also allows us to do applied research for industry knowledge. Whether we’re researching, teaching current college students or hosting 4-H or FFA members, it is a great asset for our future.” Not only does the Department of Animal Science focus on livestock, but there are also those dedicated to companion and zoo animals. “We are researching exotic birds, cheetahs and other animals that you wouldn’t see on a farm or ranch,” VanOverbeke says. “We also have partnerships with the zoos at Lincoln and Omaha and companion animal owners around the state. Whether students want to go into meat science, companion animal management, veterinary medicine or something else, we can offer many opportunities for our students.” She says the future is bright for the department, and there are plans to improve continuously. “We are going to start rolling out our brand-new strategic plan, and we’re going to have an academic program review to help us review that strategic plan and provide additional guidance,” VanOverbeke says. “It’ll help us identify our priorities moving forward, and we’re excited to start that process.” Twenty-five years in the making, it’s good to have VanOverbeke back in Nebraska! ~NC~ RETURNING TO NEBRASKA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
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24 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 Cattle Efficiency TRESSA LAWRENCE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER What That Means Economically and Biologically The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) held its annual convention June 10-13 in Knoxville, Tenn., with presenters from across the United States and Canada coming together to present on current hot topics in the beef industry. Throughout the convention, the theme of cow efficiency was prevalent in many discussions. Cattle Efficiency With so many conversations surrounding “cattle efficiency,” there can be different interpretations of the term. Many of those interpretations can be filed into the categories of biological efficiency or economic efficiency, which are intrinsically intertwined. David Lalman, Ph.D., Extension beef cattle specialist and professor at Oklahoma State University, gave a presentation titled “Full Picture of Cow Efficiency.” “There are a lot of ways to define or look at cow efficiency, and it depends largely on the market endpoint,” Lalman said. “Are we talking about a production system as a whole, a ranch or herd level efficiency, or for the individual to try and improve upon? Are we talking about biological or economic efficiency? We try to apply economics as much as we can in terms of determining ways to improve. All of these definitions will have some agreement that what we need is a low level of inputs.” Production Cattle efficiency is often associated with increasing production, but Lalman emphasized that it is more than just boosting outputs. “Improving production or output is important, but in most operations, controlling costs trumps increasing output,” Lalman said. Lalman reported that in many commercial cow-calf operations, cow cost impacted the variation in profitability by 60 to 65 percent, as opposed to increasing either the number of calves sold or This graph from David Lalman’s presentation shows trends in carcass weights for steers, heifers, bulls and cows since 1960. This graph from David Lalman’s presentation shows the increase in beef production in pounds per cow since 1950. PRODUCTION
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 25 Call 800-778-6014 Full range online shearwell.com Excellent retention High quality products Multiple print layouts We have a full line of management & USDA approved HDX electronic tags NEW XL BOS Tag WORLD FIRST MET Tag FREE applicator o er with your first tag order T&Cs apply NC Trade Show Exhibitor calf weaning weight, which accounted for about 35 to 40 percent of the variability in profitability. To help manage cow cost in operations, Lalman recommended “building a better cow.” Designing cattle that are genetically predisposed for characteristics such as performance, feed intake and efficiency can improve production efficiency during the post-weaning phase. Weaning weight, post-weaning growth and carcass weight are all indicators that many producers rely heavily upon when selecting genetics. “The big picture is that our industry has improved tremendously in terms of beef production per cow, and that comes from two general categories,” Lalman said. “The improvement of genetics over time and the improvement or adoption of technology in all segments of the industry, but with a more intense focus on the post-weaning phase of the business are those categories.” It is important to take into consideration the ideal cow size for your operation when selecting these growth traits. Lalman warned that by continuing to aggressively select for growth genetics, mature cattle size may affect your stocking rates as larger framed cattle requiring more resources may actually take away from your production or output in the long run. “Over a 30-year career, assuming a ranch manager used herd sires representing only industry average growth and carcass weight, the operation’s cows would weigh about 230 pounds more today,” Lalman explained. “That increase in mature cow body weight relates to about a 13 percent reduction in stocking capacity to apply the same grazing pressure on a given land base.” Many breed associations publish mature cow weight in their EPDs, which can be useful to producers when selecting their genetics for the upcoming breeding season. Lalman shared data that feed intake EPDs collected by some breed associations are a helpful indicator to control feed intake in cow herds. Some of the data that he shared looked specifically at 353 proven Angus CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
26 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 sires that demonstrated there are multiple proven Angus sires whose female offspring are predicted to have above-average mature cow weight and below-average feed intake. Lalman said the ultimate goal of “building a better cow” is to create a cost-effective and sustainable operation. “One of the biggest improvements most ranching operations can make in building a better cow or improving cow efficiency is harvesting more of what they grow and growing it more efficiently,” Lalman said. “What we’re really talking about is improving upon this aspect – converting sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into a nutritious, delicious, human food source.” Genomics Christine Baes, Ph.D., is a professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and serves as the Canada Research Chair in Livestock Genomics. Her presentation, “Have Your Cake and Eat It Too: Breeding Cows for Fertility, Disease Tolerance and Efficiency” took a deeper look at genomic selection in cattle and how the research behind it is enhancing cattle efficiency and sustainability. Baes’ research is based on dairy cattle in Canada and is called the Resilient Dairy Genome Project. The study collected methane production data daily from 496 dairy cows. “What we found is that we could accurately predict the amount of methane produced by these cows with an accuracy of .7, which kind of blew our minds because that was pretty good,” she said. “Then we looked at the genetic correlation between these traits and we saw that it was .92. Therefore, with this data set, we’re pretty confident that we can select for reduced methane production.” The research first found cattle with good phenotypes associated with “closer-to-biology” fertility. The next activities focused on disease resistance, and the final aspect focused on improving feed efficiency and reducing methane production. Baes said it is important to remember that methane production and methane emissions are not the same thing. Methane efficiency is a new trait that has been developed to be independent of production traits. Through the data collected, Baes reported that methane efficiency has not been found to have any negative correlations to other evaluated traits. The correlations to health and fertility data were positive. This, tied with current production trends, will hopefully lead to cattle that are more adaptable and therefore sustainable in the future. Although this data has been collected in dairy cattle, there are high hopes for the correlations to be similar in beef cattle. The project is looking into the genomic and environmental relationships across multiple generations and its longterm effects. By looking through the lens of genomics, ethics, environmental, economic, legal and societal aspects, the ultimate goal is to create genomic tools that can help producers select for sustainable cows through data translation and implementation. This approach allows for enhancing the health and productivity of the cattle to be at the forefront while addressing environmental concerns and maintaining the focus This table from Christine Baes’ presentation compares the economic deliverables before, during and after the adoption of genomics from 2004 to today and the addition of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. This table from David Lalman’s presentation compares weaning percentage and weights across 20 years. CATTLE EFFICIENCY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
November 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 27 VAPCONSTRUCTION.COM | 866.492.1978 ACCREDITED TO MEET & EXCEED THE HIGHEST INDUSTRY STANDARDS REBATE $1,000 FOR CONTRACTS SIGNED BY NOVEMBER 30TH Post Frame Buildings OR Steel Frame Buildings! Rebate check will be issued after final payment is received. Customer can select how rebate check is made out: to their company, themselves, or even a charitable organization! Offer valid on new post frame or steel frame building contracts signed on or before November 30, 2024. Some exclusions may apply. of creating a more sustainable industry. “Our goal is to design a resilient animal that is able to adapt rapidly to changing conditions, without compromising its productivity, health or fertility, while becoming more resource-efficient and reducing its environmental burden,” Baes said. Looking to the future, Baes noted that she is excited for the continued cooperation from researchers around the world. She has already utilized data from Italy as well as Canada, and she expressed that by working together we can find a sustainable solution to improving cow efficiency more quickly. As technology continues to evolve and we learn more about genetics, the industry-wide drive to improve production while building better cows that are more efficient and sustainable will continue to be a hot topic. For more information on these presentations and the many others from the Beef Improvement Federation, visit https:// beefimprovement.org/ and click on the “Symposium” tab. ~NC~ “One of the biggest improvements most ranching operations can make in building a better cow or improving cow efficiency is harvesting more of what they grow and growing it more efficiently.” – David Lalman
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30 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2024 2024 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit MATTHEW MELCHOR | NC DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS To the Beef Pit bosses and volunteers, thank you for making my first experience at the Nebraska State Fair and the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit one to remember. Having been barely three months into my time with Nebraska Cattlemen, I was sure to be overwhelmed with the importance and magnitude of what our beef sandwiches mean to Nebraska Cattlemen and state fair attendees. We were able to serve 15,451 Nebraskans and bring our total number of sandwiches served since 1984 to more than 597,000! To our volunteers, on behalf of the Beef Pit Committee, thank you for your hard work and your time serving meals at the state fair. Every person involved is imperative to the successful operation of the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit. Thank you to the following groups and individuals who volunteered to work the Beef Pit during the 2024 State Fair: Dawson County Cattlemen Jon Montgomery Evan Peterson Paul Peterson Savannah Peterson Brandon Sorensen Chase Sorensen Megan Sorensen Rece Sorensen Colin Thompson Dodge County Cattlemen Joan Ruskamp Cory Schlueter Mike Schlueter Cody Weitzenkamp Don Witte Kelly Witte Exeter Feeders & Breeders Allen Bruntz Brody Kresak John Plock Blake Stangel Clifford Votipka Sandra Votipka Ross Weber Chris Woerner Harlan County Cattlemen’s Association Jacob Barwick Jenny Barwick Charles Hosier Clayton Hosier Juliann Hosier Sally Hosier Stacey Howsden Joel Wessels Pam Wessels Douglas Winz Nebraska Cattlemen Allied Industries Council Josh Fries Marshall Hansen Rebecca Kern-Lunberg Jake Pullen Felicia Schuster Cindy Simonson Jeremy Strong John Webster Austin Wolfemath Nebraska Cattlemen Region 6 Chuck Graff Steve Facka Jill Klingman Steve Krab Tweety Krab Jerry Kuenning Chase Mathers Mark Spurgin Eddie Steel Susan Steel Bob Wiseman Nebraska Cattlemen YCC Connor Biehler Quentin Daily David McDonald Steph Nelson Jason Star Kenny Stauffer Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Kaden Day Mallory Hanes Tera Horky Dani Layland Sean Lucas Madison Rush Grace Strong Lily Strong Erin Tempel Dominic Towtman Lydia Ziemba Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Corn Board Carson Blum Andrew Bohlen Brian Brown Denise Brown Kelly Brunkhorst Chris Grams Kevin Harsch Tanner Hohlen Andrew Hollister Brandon Hunnicutt Todd Knoll John Krohn Jason Lewis Blake Merrell David Merrell Tom Nathan Dave Ogden Doyle Rathman Andrew Schlichtmeier Clint Shipman David Utecht Rachel Whitehair Wryan Wright Ethan Zoerb Nebraska Kappa/AGR Alumni Hayden Berg Judson Bonsack Westin Bonsack Jake Burge Keiser Dixon Kaitlyn Dozler Kyle German Lance Jones Joel Katzberg Kenzie Klinginsmith Parker Klinginsmith Austin Knapp Jared McKoerer Thomas Perrin Wesley Wach Easton Weber Jacob Wendell Gunnar Wolfe Northeast Community College Kelton Brahn Karli Bruning Hunter Claycomb Aubrey Dexter Zoey Grwtzfeld Tyler Hanson Samuel Hemenway Joe Miller Connor Nielsen Evan Pankoke Journee Reeson Jaci Scnipper Chloe Spady Daniel Steffen Caden Stokes David Switzer Miles Wright Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen Association Barb Beermann Dave Beermann Darrell Christensen David French Mary French Peyton French Harley Greve Vickie Greve Payton Janke Russ Urbanek Phelps/Gosper County Cattlemen Wayne Ferdinand Lyle Kinnaman Shane Odell Deb Potter Mike Potter Carson Scheele Chaynce Schepker Rob Schmidt Platte Valley Cattlemen Darren Beller Travis Dicke Hallee Held Boyd Hellbusch Liz Hellbusch Joel Kratochvil Jeff Martensen SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE
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