Demand Changing Stockmen Need Catch Up Campaign
Kansas State University animal scientist Bill Able spoke at the Oklahoma Kansas Beef Cattle Conference in Hutchinson on November 5. He urged aggressive beef promotion, education, and consumer relations to adapt to changing eating habits driven by more mothers in the workforce. Able warned that breakfast skipping, home meals, and ethnic dining trends require producers to boost efficiency and crossbreeding, predicting 1980s shifts toward managed crosses, faster finishing, and higher meat yields at lower costs. He highlighted specialty breeds, crossbreeding as standard practice, and grain-finishing strategies as key trends shaping the industry.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hutchinson
America
Bill Able
Kansas State University
Able
Farm crossbreeding and breeding value shifts for cattle
The text outlines future cattle breeding trends including crossbreeding systems, timed inseminations with estrous control, sexed semen for replacements, and using maternal breeding value to select females. It notes moving away from maintenance rations toward faster growth, lower fat carcasses, and revised grading that favors backfat limits and edible weight. It also mentions dam breeds as English types for female lines and European growth breeds as terminal sires, with attention to calving and puberty timing.
Written Records Key To Checking Swine Herd Productivity
Kansas farmers stress sow productivity as the core of profitable hog herds. Dale Keesecker of Washington County records pigs born, weight at 21 days, and weaned counts to judge stock. Delmar and Caroline Jeffers of Ottawa County pig weight at weaning and litter size for selection, culling poor milkers, and maintaining replacement stock. Both farms track individual sows with cards, weight, and backfat data to improve conception, lactation, and uniformity while reducing feed per pound of pork. Caroline Jeffers spends about 40 hours weekly on record keeping. Keesecker employs a full time herdsman to manage performance data. The Farmers Cooperative Association meeting is set for November 15 at Central Heights School.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Schlageck
Kansas Farm Bureau
Dale Keesecker
Washington County
Keesecker
York Cross
Delmar
Caroline Jeffers
Ottawa County
Jeffers
John
Rebecca
Yorkshire
Farrow
Jefferss
Brad Wolf
Wingert Herefords Sweep Divisions at American Royal Show
Wingert Stock Farm of Ottawa Kansas showcased multiple winners at the American Royal in Kansas City Missouri, capturing four divisional titles and reserve grand champion bull. RCR Sam Banner 754, co owned by Rock Creek Ranch and Billy Smith, moved from junior to reserve champion. CTR Victory 25M, sired by Will Via Justa V, earned reserve junior champion with partners Chisholm Trail Ranch and C W Josey Jr. Dividend 904 placed second to the grand champion and won reserve senior bull, jointly owned with Stockdale Hereford Farm. In females, Wingert's WSFMs Framework 054N claimed reserve calf champion and was part of the winning calf get of fire group. Keifer RD 107H Valentine 2M, Enforcer daughter, earned reserve senior champion, shown by George Wingert Jr. The top six head included Wingert stock in the best six class. Sam Sells and Sons and Palaschuk Farms shared ownership of the senior champion Polled Hereford Bull with Beck and Powell.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wingert Stock Farm
Ottawa
Kan
American Royal
Kansas City
RCR
Sam Banner
WSF
PRL
Justa Banner
Rock Creek Ranch
Billy Smith
Bowling Green
Wingert
Texas
Will
Justa V
Chisholm Trail Ranch
Rhome
C.W. Josey Jr
Dallas
Stockdale Hereford Farm
Dayton
JRM
Framework
George Wingert Jr
Keifer
Valentine
Sam Sells and Sons
Palaschuk Farms
Beck and Powell
Moultrie
Sands Expects Better Beef Market Soon
Kansas State University extension economist Mike Sands predicted an improving beef market for cattle feeders this fall and winter. He cited lower feed costs, lower breakeven prices, and moderating interest rates as factors likely to lift margins, with feeder steers and calves edging into the upper sixties to around seventy dollars per hundredweight and a modest rise in fed cattle prices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hutchinson
Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service
Lme
Mike Sands
OK Beef
Sands
Economist
Ammonia as feed additive boosts forage intake noted
Kansas State University extension beef cattle nutritionist Gerry L. Kuhl reported at a Hutchinson conference that ammoniated feed improves forage quality. Ammoniation forms ammonium hydroxide that breaks plant bonds, increasing rumen digestion and intake by 12 to 95 percent, with 10 to 20 percent gains when protein is adequate. Trials show cattle and sheep respond with better palatability and faster passage through the gut.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hutchinson
Gerry L. Kuhl
Kansas State University
United States
Kuhl
K-State
Also Mentioned on This Page
U.S
Farmers Cooperative Association
Richmond and
Williamsburg
Central Heights School
Herefords
Cancercare
American Family Life Assurance For Information
C.A. Boucek
Bob Hennessy
Croucher Abstract & Title Co
Jeangts
Konsos
Bank OF
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