SLABA Newsletter. S o u t h w e s t L o w l i n e A n g u s B r e e d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n

Transcription

1 Summer, 2008 Volume 2, Issue 1 SLABA Newsletter S o u t h w e s t L o w l i n e A n g u s B r e e d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Field Day, August 23 2 Buy/Sell Opportunities 2 Web Perks 3 Brucellosis Free Texas 3 SLABA Steps Up 3 Opinion/Editorial (Op-Ed) 4 Cattle Corner 5 Member Notes 6 Houston Show Remembering Joel 8 SLABA FIELD DAY AUGUST 23 Learn how to give vaccinations and routine injections Learn how to insert ear tags Learn how to apply tattoo identification Learn how to take a DNA sample (See story on page 2) SLABA SPONSORS OPEN LOWLINE A NGUS SHOW IN HOUSTON SLABA sponsored the first showing of Lowlines in the southwest at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 15, Lowlines were shown in two divisions, Fullblood and Percentage/Purebred. In the Fullblood Division, 48 entries were shown in 16 classes. In the Percentage/Purebred Division, 15 entries were shown in 8 classes. Judging the entries was Pasquale Swaner from Marlin, Texas. W ELCOME NEW MEMBER STATES SLABA has it s own version of the Big Eight. By a vote of 6-1, the Executive Board of SLABA voted to amend Article II of the corporation by-laws so Southwest shall include the States of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Grand Champion Bull in the Fullblood Division is RML Top Gun, FM3141, shown by Rick Sekich of Torrington, Wyoming. Reserve Grand Champion Bull is SC Shane, FM5623, shown by Mellott Lowline Cattle, from Carr, Colorado. Grand Champion Female in the Fullblood Division is DJR s Yes, I m Classy, FF 2900, shown by George Jenkins from North Platte, Nebraska. Reserve Grand Champion Female is Double J s Miss 176T, FF6239, also shown by George Jenkins. In the Percentage/Purebred Division, Grand Champion Bull is EBC Sharper Image, XM6641 shown by George Jenkins. Grand Champion Female is Nikki, XF5804, shown by Rick Sekich. SLABA participants included Robert Mason, Patricia Seeley, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. With this change, the breeder s association increases from the five original SLABA states (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) to eight states. We extend a hearty welcome to the great states of Arizona, California SLABA President, Robert Mason giving orders at the Houston Show. William Cabaniss, Larry and Kim Watkins (Texas) and Bruce & Sheri Dennis (Oklahoma). See the American Lowline Register s Ledger, Summer 2008, for a complete list of entries. (More story and photographs on Page 7) and Nevada! This change will bring some challenges as we work with such a large area. SLABA will seek input from these new members on how to best represent their states in the organization.

2 Page 2 SLABA Newsletter F IELD DAY, A UGUST 23, 2008 Patti Seeley demonstrates making compost tea at October 2006 SLABA field day. An important field day and general meeting is planned for Saturday, August 23, at the home of Rex and Sandy Myers near Bastrop in Central Texas. Plan to attend! The meeting will start at 10:00 AM. Lunch will be provided with a suggested donation to cover the expenses. Practical instruction and demonstration on how to give injections and vaccinations, how to insert ear tags and how to apply tattoo identification will be presented. Other general management aspects of Lowlines will be discussed. This should be helpful to new breeders. Contact Bill Cabaniss at: lowlines@pecancreekfarm.com or phone him at about attending this important meeting. We need to know how many are planning to attend. Go to the EVENTS page on the SLABA Web site for a link to a map showing the location of the Myers ranch. SLABA members Robert Mason and Sandy Myers at March 2007 SLABA Field Day. B UY/SELL OPPORTUNITY: GET BACK TO G RASS LOWLINE SALE ON OCT. 11, 2008 There will be a Lowline production sale in East Texas on Oct. 11. The Get Back to Grass sale is sponsored by two SLABA members, Todd Smith (3S Cattle Co.) and Robert Mason (Daniels Switch Cattle Co.). The sale will be held at 1:00 pm at the Rusk County Youth Expo Center, Henderson, TX. Auctioneer will be Neil Effertz from Bismarck, ND. The current offering is 75 lots, including Fullbred and Purebred bulls and females. The auction is not accepting any more bulls for the sale. However, there is a need for additional females, and they may be bred or open. Any SLABA member may consign animals for sale. There will be a fee for each animal entered in the sale. For additional information contact: Todd Smith Robert Mason For a full description of the sale see the American Lowline Registry Ledger, Summer Online bidding is available at: liveauctions.tv B UY/SELL OPPORTUNITY: 2 ND A NNUAL SLABA O NLINE A UCTION, FALL 2008 SLABA is seeking immediate input from its membership regarding a second online auction this fall for Lowlines. The first online auction was held last year in October. SLABA members Mark Hoyle and Bill Cabaniss coordinated the auction. Approximately 70 lots were presented for sale, and 35 lots were sold. The first online auction encountered challenges with technology (especially the software). Online posting and bidding processes were fine tuned throughout the auction. How- ever, a second auction will run more smoothly as SLABA takes advantage of lessons learned. If you are interested in doing a second online auction this fall, contact Mark Hoyle at: rmhmdpa@aol.com

3 Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 3 W EBSITE PERKS FOR SLABA MEMBERS SLABA launched a new website this spring. The site is professionally maintained by EDJE Technologies. SLABA has made a strong commitment to keeping the website visually pleasing and current with all information. Contact information is posted for Officers, Directors, General Members, Associate Members and Junior Members. There are special pages for posting classified advertisements. The process is explained on the web page, and postings on the classified page are free and available to SLABA members only. Also, companies (or ranches) may have banner advertisements placed on the Home page. These ads may be in color, include photos and be animated. There is a fee for this type of ad. Contact info@slaba.us for information on banner ads. Other features of the site include a Calendar of Events (updated monthly), Publications, Information about the Lowline Breed, and the Photo Gallery. Members are encourage to submit articles and photographs that help SLABA recognize, promote and market Lowlines. Check out the page for purchasing promotional items for SLABA. $15.99 on CafePress Website BRUCELLOSIS FREE STATUS FOR T EXAS On February 1, 2008, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially declared Texas free of cattle Brucellosis. The announcement marked the first time in 74 years that all 50 states achieved brucellosisfree status. Brucellosis (also called Bangs Disease) is caused by the Brucella abortus bacteria. The disease can cause cows to abort, deliver weak calves or produce less milk. Brucellosis is highly infectious, and may be transmitted from other domestic animals or wildlife. The only method of control is to identify infected animals and eradicate them. Brucellosis-free status is not a permanent designation. If infections are identified in two herds within two years, the status could be withdrawn. To this end, we must continue testing our cattle at the first-point of concentration and change of ownership for the next couple of years, says Dr. Bob Hillman of the Texas Animal Health Commission. It is highly recommended that replacement heifers be vaccinated between the ages of 4-12 months. tahc.state.tx.us/brucellosis Hearing the words cattle brucellosis-free is music to the industry s ears. Ernie Morales Texas Animal Health Commission SLABA MEMBERS STEP UP TO W ORK WITH A MERICAN LOWLINE REGISTRY The American Lowline Registry is the national organization for Lowline breeders. The ALR is headquartered in North Kansas City, Missouri. Mark Hoyle (Bennington, OK) is serving a two year term on ALR s Board of Directors. Mark will be chairing the new Conflict Resolution Committee that has been recently created to help resolve disputes regarding buy/sell practices among Lowline breeders. The ALR has asked for two volunteers from each regional association (at this time there are six regional associations) to serve on the Conflict Resolution Committee. The first term volunteers representing SLABA are Pat Caviness (Lampasas, TX) and Sandy Myers (Paige, TX). For more information on the ALR and this new Conflict Resolution Committee see the Summer 2008 Ledger on ALR website at: Mark Hoyle, SLABA member from Oklahoma, is serving on the Board of Directors for the American Lowline Registry.

4 Page 4 SLABA Newsletter OP-ED: Is The ( Genetically Modified) Cat out of the ($) Bag??? B Y: P ATRICIA S EELEY Just because scientists now have the ability to splice genes didn t seem to stop them from asking the questions as to whether they should In this period of fast paced technology, our generation has been privileged to see the advent of the Nuclear Age, the Computer Age and the Space Age. These all came in through very few labs and most under intense scientific study. On the other hand, biotechnology has exploded into big business, and genetic modification of plants, animals and insects has proliferated through thousands of unsupervised laboratories throughout the world. Much of the research has been frivolous just because the scientists now have the ability to splice genes didn t seem stop them from asking the question as to whether they should be tampering with years of evolution, breaking the species barrier and creating unknown and therefore never before seen species of plants, animals and insects on this planet. We are being led to believe that genetically modified animals and plants and insects are just an extension of natural breeding, will improve the original greatly, will give us better, cheaper and more copious medicines, will feed the world, are just as safe as the original, and should be passed on to the consumer without their knowledge. We have already seen this attitude with the genetically modified grains sold and fed to us and our animals for many years without our knowledge or consent. We are now entering a time when the genetic base of plants, animals and fish and insects are being spliced together and modified. The introduction of the Polymerase Chain Reaction Machine has made it possible. This machine sits on a desktop and can make millions of copies of a specific DNA in just 45 minutes. DNA, the blueprint of life, protects itself from natural invaders but in nature, viruses and cancer-causing agents can get past it to wreak havoc on the entire organism. It is no different when genes are spliced or modified the DNA is now reprogrammed to produce the new. It does not have to be just one gene that is inserted many can be used from different species. These procedures result in the disruption of the genetic blueprint of the organism with oftentimes totally unpredictable consequences and unidentified damage to native genes. Genetic engineering is generally a hit and miss affair with DNA instability as a common feature. Good examples of this is Starlink, an insecticidal corn which ended up in the human food supply causing widespread allergic reactions, and Flavrsavr tomato (lost most of it s nutrients but would stay on the shelf without rotting for months). The most troubling is the report on the GM pigs from the University of Illinois where as many as 386 potentially transgenetic piglets were sold for slaughter. Can we allow large corporations to gamble with the very future of life on this earth and our own food supply? Micheal Crichton in his book Jurassic Park stated that life will find a way and anyone who has studied the natural world knows that is accurate. The truth is that we simply don t know what will happen when these new species enter our world. Some of these changed life forms have surprised geneticists with genetic functions that didn t exist in the original organisms. Scientists who engineer organisms to create one effect more often than not end up with something altogether different. Many large companies have consistently glossed over or ignored problems so they wouldn t have interference with their bottom line. Can we allow large corporations to gamble with the very future of life on this earth and our own food supply??? Commercial secrecy should never take precedence over human health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put these new biotech lifeforms under the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, and the fact is that the FDA has had a very poor track record with protecting us from drugs so far. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classed these under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide and Toxic Substances Control Acts, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has them covered under the Plant Pest Protection Act; Plant Quarantine Act; and Virus, Serum and ToxinAct. These agencies alone and their attempts at defining the problem of genetic engineering should make us sit up and take notice. It is estimated that 75% of our US processed foods contain some element of a GE organism through soybean protein, cottonseed oil and corn syrup. The world is now geared up to introduce a lot more GM products. We can insist that these foods, etc. undergo rigorous testing and clear labeling. We should have a choice as to whether to buy them or not. This author is a firm believer of grow local, sell local and buy local. As to whether the GM cat is out of the $ bag you betcha-and it s running too fast for us to catch up or run away. Patricia Seeley, BS Animal Science (Excerpted from an article submitted to the Price Pottinger Foundation)

5 Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 5 CATTLE CORNER: T HE MEDICINE CHEST B Y: S ANDY MYERS AND PATTI S EELEY This list contains many items we feel should be a in a cattle person s medicine chest. Problems invariably occur Saturday nights or Sundays when the Vet is not available! PROBIACIN Stomach bugs - to reintroduce stomach flora after stress, antibiotics or diarrhea ELECTROLYTE POWDER for dehydration from heat, diarrhea or stress COLOSTRUM POWDER Have this on hand, and if you can milk a newly freshened cow, save at least 2 quarts and put in the freezer CALF BOTTLE also keep a small lamb nipple in case of a preemie calf. I like a glass bottle that holds 1 1/2 quarts BOTTLE BRUSH to clean bottles and calf stomach tube, Clorox SURGICAL BLADES Clippers, 10% Iodine solution, Betadine scrub, Rubbing Alcohol, to clean and flush abscesses STOMACH TUBE (small) AND/OR ORAL CALF FEEDER to save a weak calf THERMOMETER digital type from the pharmacy is fine LUBRICANT keep on hand PAPER TOWELS you ll always need these! SUPER MAGNESIUM GEL for grass tetany in cloudy rainy springs-you may never need it, but if you do, it ll be an emergency to save the cow s life SYRINGES 3cc, 6cc, 12cc, 20cc ( Luerlocks) at least 10 of each NEEDLES- 20ga x 1, 18ga x 1, 18ga x 1 ½, 16ga Keep a box of each SLAPSHOT -a device that allows the animal to jump all they want with no losing the needle or breaking it when giving an injection PENICILLIN Combi-pen Subcutaneous (under the skin) will last for 2-3 days with one shot for infections i.e. navel ill, joint ill check with vet on dosage (Must be Stored IN THE REFRIGERATOR) BAYTRIL Subcutaneous (under the skin) good for respiratory conditions TETANUS ANTITOXIN- for banding steers and bad puncture wounds (Must be stored IN THE REFRIGERATOR) Problems invariably occur on Saturday nights or Sundays when the Vet is not available! CATTLE CORNER: DNA SAMPLE T O V ERIFY PARENTAGE B Y: BILL CABANISS In order to register your Fullblood Lowline calf in the American Lowline Registry, you must establish the parentage of the calf. All registered animals must be traced back to the original Trangie Research Herd in Australia. The method for establishing parentage is a simple DNA blood test. The ALR will provide (free of charge to members) the sample cards and small gauge needles that are required for the test. The instructions posted on the ALR website direct the technician to draw a small amount of blood from a vein in the animal s ear. I personally have found that to be a difficult exercise particularly on wildly uncooperative calves. I restrain the calf in a working chute and tie his head using rope halters. My veterinarian showed me how to draw the blood from the large (and very visible) vein that runs at the base of the tail on its underside. I use a 1cc (tuberculin) syringe to draw the small amount of blood that is needed. The blood must be placed immediately onto the absorptive sample card. Do not let it sit in the syringe. It will clot very quickly. Allow the card (with the applied blood sample) to air dry completely. Be sure to write the necessary identification on the card. Do not place the samples in plastic bags I will be demonstrating this procedure at the field day on August 23rd. Small syringes and needles work best for DNA test.

6 Page 6 SLABA Newsletter F ULL V OTING RIGHTS GRANTED TO SLABA MEMBERS IN N EW STATES OF A RIZONA, CALIFORNIA & NEVADA From the Great State of Arizona Elk Ridge Ranch Richard and Susan Dickson P.O. Box Tucson, AZ RCdickson@juno.com From the Great State of California Paul & Monica Geiger P.O. Box 1831 Big Bear, CA paulgeiger@verizon.net From the Great State of California Prime Lowline Angus Jim & Amy Crawford P.O. Box 746 Hopland, CA billcrawford@pldi.net From the Great State of California Checkered Past Livestock Curtis and Shelley Gravance 6722 Harrington Ave. Arbuckle, CA Fax curtis@checkeredpastlivestock.com From the Great State of Nevada Chandler Ranch Mark and Esta Chandler 3539 Silverado Dr. Carson City, NV Cell chandlermk@aol.com From the Great State of California Crossroads Ranch Paul and Gwena Coleman P.O. Box Phelan, CA gwenacoleman@yahoo.com SLABA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE! REMINDER: The membership directory on the SLABA web page has been updated to reflect the names of all current members. If your name is not there, that means you haven t paid your 2008 dues. You must be a member to sell any animal at the Fall Production Sale, Online Auction or to post ads on the classified section of the web page.

7 Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 7 Double J s Miss 1KT shown by Robert Mason (TX) in Fullblood Junior Heifer Class. Exhibitors visiting together outside the show ring. SLABA SPONSORS FIRST O PEN LOWLINE SHOW AT H OUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW A ND RODEO Sasha Alexander, owned by Bill Cabaniss (TX), shown in Fullblood Junior Bull Class. Double J s Miss 24 T shown by Sheri Dennis (OK). MAVirginia, owned by Patti Seeley (TX), shown by Rhett Gentry (plaid shirt) in the Fullblood Junior Heifer Class. Program from HLSR 2008 Lowline Show.

8 S o u t h w e s t L o w l i n e A n g u s B r e e d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n Robert Mason President 418 CR 1151 Carthage, TX dscc@tyler.net W E R E O N T H E W E B! W W W. S L A B A. U S SLABA has been organized to promote the recognition, popularity, and marketability of American Lowline Angus cattle in the southwestern United States, including the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. R EMEMBERING JOEL DENNIS ( ) Earlier this summer, SLABA lost a founding member and special friend in Joel Dennis. Joel passed away in Ft. Worth on July 1 following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 68 years old. He is survived by his wife, Benita Irene, two sons, Jay and Mike, a daughter, D Ann, four grandchildren, and a brother, Robert. Joel was retired from Lockheed-Martin, but he was an active cattleman for many years. He and his son, Jay, operated Double J Farms Lowline Angus Cattle in Springtown, Texas. In 2006, Joel was a moving force in organizing the Southwest Lowline Angus Breeders Association (SLABA). His years in the business world, experience in the cattle industry and his soft-spoken and kindly manner worked to bring together a diverse and often inexperienced group of cattle people who shared a common goal of developing and promoting a cattle breed called Lowlines. Double J Farms (Joel and Jay) are visionaries in the Lowline cattle industry. Joel and Jay began breeding Lowlines in That makes them one of the earliest cattle breeders to get actively involved with Lowline Angus in the state of Texas. Double J Farms will continue to operate under the management of Jay Dennis and other members of the Dennis family. The reputation for quality and integrity that Joel helped to build will live on, but he will be terribly missed. His passing leaves a big hole in all our hearts, and we at SLABA extend our deepest condolences to the Dennis family. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.