Until We Meet Again

Readers,

Wow! Time sure does fly when you're having fun. It's hard the believe I published my first post nearly two months ago. In case you haven't been following along with my blog, here is a wrap-up of the topics I have discussed:

• Selecting your "Grand Champion" beef, sheep, pig or goat project
• Washing, clipping and presenting your animal 
• Show day preparations
• Showmanship tips
• Livestock sportsmanship 
• Marketing and Advertising
• Current animal agriculture issues

.... and much more!

Although I won't be updating my blog on a regular basis anymore, I would LOVE to direct you to a couple of my favorite livestock industry sources. First, one of my favorite (as mentioned in a previous post) is the  Ranch House Designs blog. Not only do they discuss current advertising and marketing trends in the livestock show industry, but they also share some personal insights and experiences.

Finally, another good resource to continue your journey in the livestock show world is The Showtimes Magazine. This publication includes local and national show results, industry news, livestock articles, and upcoming shows and events.  The Showtimes is published by livestock exhibitors for livestock exhibitors, and is available both in print and online as well.

So, I wish you the best and I will say it one last time...

Until we meet again.

Achieving Sustainability in the Livestock Industry

Happy Tuesday, 

As we continue our discussion about the livestock industry and practices within it, I thought it would be helpful to talk about livestock educational efforts. Initially, a couple questions come to mind: "What types of campaigns exist?" and"Where can I learn more about these efforts?"

As a child, I always dreaded the long, hot summer days that my dad spent cleaning out the cattle lots.  And I especially didn't enjoy riding along in the tractor that pulled the manure spreader. Why did he do this?  All it did was stink up the yard!  Little did I realize he was doing ourselves a favor.  Not only did the cattle lots stay clean, but the fields also got fertilized.  Although I didn't know what this meant as only a five-year-old, my dad was actually practicing sustainability.  

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sustainability as:

"Able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed; involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources."  

Now-a-days, the word sustainability is commonly used within many different fields, especially when focusing on environmental efforts. In particular, this word is heard more and more in the livestock industry. But, how are livestock producers working towards more sustainable practices? One campaign in particular may have the answer to this question.

The Global Roundtable for Sutainable Beef (GRSB) is was developed to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science and stakeholder engagement and collaboration. At the GRSB, they "envision a world in which all aspects of the beef value chain are environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable." Although this particular effort focuses solely on beef, I feel as though their vision and mission applies to any sector of the livestock industry. By providing resources, the GRSB is not only educating the public on livestock industry sustainability efforts, but they are also allowing for transparency of the effort.

Overall, sustainability efforts are "about doing things right, making things more efficient, improving public image, and reducing the cost of doing business." Whether it's choosing a new bull with better performance, improving pastureland, or replacing a piece of equipment with one that is more efficient, all of these practices have the ability to impact sustainability. 

A view of my family farm during during silage harvest.

As a future livestock advocate, it is important to clear up negative perceptions others may have about topics within the industry.  The concept of livestock sustainability isn't new on my family farm or most other operations either.  For those of us who've been in the business for generations, the concept of sustainability simply translates as running our business business in a responsible manner that allows us to pass the operation along to the next generation. Livestock producers want the best for future generations and to leave the land in a better condition than it was.  

If you have any further questions about livestock industry sustainability, I highly encourage you to visit the GRSB website or leave a comment. 

Until next time, folks!

Sources:

• http://www.grsbeef.org 
• http://www.americancattlemen.com/articles/beef-industry-sustainability
•  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable

Farmers Care About Animal Welfare

Welcome Back!
 
What is the first thing most college students do when they wake up in the morning or before they go to bed at night?  Check Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram of course. While browsing through these various social media sites, conflict concerning one topic or another may arise.  It’s inevitable, actually, one person’s opinion may offend another and so on so forth. With advancements in agriculture technology and practices, the field is constantly changing and growing.  One growing topic within the livestock industry, in particular, is the issue of Animal Welfare.

First off, what exactly is Animal Welfare and how can it be defined?  As defined by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, animal welfare is:

"How an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress."

So naturally, it is assumed that all animals are responsibly treated and cared for in a comfortable environment and do not endure unnecessary suffering. One question that arises, however, is do all caretakers practice good Animal Welfare?  What if they were accused of not caring about their livestock anymore?  As previously mentioned, technology and practices within agriculture are constantly growing in order for farmers to increase both production and profits.  Do livestock prodcuers only care about making a lot of money and making it fast?

My personal response to all the questions mentioned above is no.  Being the third generation on my family farm, I have seen the ins and outs of agriculture from day one.  For instance, I have fond memories of helping Dad bottle feed calves and riding along on the Allis Chalmers to feed cows.  Even today I still enjoy halter breaking calves with my brother for the county fair and checking cows out in the pasture with Mom.  Although farming has most definitely changed since the early 90's, I can confidently say that the heart and soul that goes into it has not.  Farmers go above and beyond to ensure their livestock has all freedoms they are entitled to, such as: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, or disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress.

In recent years, however, the number of livestock operations has fallen and production has shifted to larger and more specialized operations.  According to the USDA, changes in livestock production have important implications for economic efficiency, final product prices, water and air pollution, food safety, and rural development.  These changes in livestock production can be explained using basic economics.  When the demand for a certain product increases, in this case livestock, the production of the product must also increase.  In order for farmers to keep up with the demands of a fast-paced world, they must efficiently use their resources to keep up with production. However, along with supply and demand come the “good years” and the “bad years”.  Nothing is ever guaranteed in the world of agriculture.  Like my dad once told me, “Farmers don’t raise livestock for the money; they raise them because it’s their passion.”

I'll leave you with this food for thought, and (as always) if you have any questions or concerns feel free to comment!

Until we meet again. 

Sources:

• https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/AnimalWelfare/Pages/what-is-animal-welfare.aspx
• http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/crop-livestock-practices/livestock-production-practices.aspx

A Blog about a Blog

Welcome back, 

It's time to dive right in to this week's blog topic, and I promise you won't be disappointed! Previously, we have discussed the essentials of showing livestock, but you may have some additional questions: How are show livestock sought out and sold? How do these animals become so valuable? Well, let me introduce you to the world of livestock marketing.

Even in the early 2000s, livestock producers and buyers alike realized the importance of livestock advertising and promotion. A Cattle Today article states that, "the success or failure of marketing efforts depend greatly on the ability to communicate with customers and potential clients." The article then goes on to discuss various advertising and marketing strategies that may motivate customers to purchase show livestock, and one company based out of Wharton, TX knows how to do just that.

Ranch House Designs (RHD) is a multi-service company offering website design, graphic design, print ad management, social media management, and educational opportunities. According to RHD founder Rachel Cutrer, "(livestock) marketing is a vast field, and our services cover a lot of territory." She adds, "Many businesses, ranches, and organizations are built on passion and tradition; it requires heart, soul, and a lot of hard work." Therefore, marketing strategies make the most of the risks taken trying to 'make it' in the livestock industry.

Besides offering a wide array of marketing services, Ranch House Designs provides livestock educational opportunities for both the experienced and beginner livestock showman. Books, design templates and events are just a few of their educational sources. However, my personal favorite is the Ranch House Designs blog, which can be found on their website. From show day 'prep tips' to life as a farm kid, they cover a variety of topics for any interested reader.

Recently, I read a blog post of their website entitled 10 Reasons Showing Livestock is "Worth It". I highly encourage you to read the entire post by clicking on the picture below. It relates to many livestock show topics I have discussed in previous blog posts.

                                    

I hope you enjoyed today's post and checking out Ranch House Designs. And who knows, maybe you even learned a thing or two!

Until we meet again

Sources: 

• http://www.cattletoday.com/archive/2002/October/CT234.shtml
• http://ranchhousedesigns.com/10-reasons-showing-livestock-is-worth-it/