40 Escaped Cows Stampede through L.A. Neighborhood
We have seen it before: A group of cows escape from their fence and block a county highway. However in a rarer sight, one Los Angeles County neighborhood had a group of cows running through their streets last night after escaping from a nearby slaughterhouse.
In Pico Rivera, California, police reported that a group of 40 cows were on the loose and asked the public to avoid the area around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night. (Reports called them “cows,” but we’re not sure if authorities knew for sure that they were cows or were using that term more generically for bovines.) Police said they believe the cows escaped from the near by packing plant after a gate was accidently left open.
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McNeese Cowboy Named Steer Wrestling Champion
McNeese State University junior Gavin Soileau, Bunkie, was crowned the champion steer wrestler Saturday night at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. This is Soileau’s first year competing in the CNFR.
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How Four Big Companies Control The U.S. Beef Industry
U.S. lawmakers are seeking increased oversight of the beef sector as concerns about anticompetitive behavior increase after the pandemic and a cyberattack on a major meat company, JBS USA.
Agriculture officials are meanwhile pushing for more processing capacity and ranchers are opening new slaughterhouses after plant shutdowns highlighted the industry’s reliance on large facilities run by four main processors.
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How to Manage Heat Stress in Cattle This Summer
On a hot summer day, people often dress in light clothing, drink more water than normal, and seek shade to minimize the impacts on the body from heat and humidity. Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts said cattle need many of those same strategies for maximum performance over the summer.
Talking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, veterinarians Bob Larson, Brian Lubbers, and Brad White and nutritionist Phillip Lancaster agreed that providing plenty of water and shade are two keys to success in keeping cattle comfortable.
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Momentum Continues For US Beef And Pork Exports
March was a record-breaking month for U.S. beef and pork exports. The U.S. Meat Export Federation released a report compiled from USDA data that the exports continued the momentum in April.
"Looking back at April 2020, it was a difficult month for red meat exports as we began to see COVID-related supply chain interruptions and foodservice demand took a major hit in many key markets," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "While it is no surprise that exports performed much better in April 2021, we are pleased to see that global demand continued to build on the broad-based growth achieved in March."
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New Cattle Market Bill Aims to Increase Transparency
Recently introduced legislation would create greater price discovery and transparency within the cattle market, while giving producers more tools and useful information. The Farm Bureau-backed Optimizing the Cattle Market Act of 2021 would direct USDA to create a cattle formula contracts library and increase the reporting window for “cattle committed” from seven to 14 days.
The bill would also require USDA, in consultation with the department’s chief economist, to establish mandated minimums for regional negotiated cash and negotiated grid live cattle trade.
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McNeese Rodeo Team Qualifies for College National Finals
Four Cowgirls and two Cowboys from the McNeese State University rodeo team have qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo and will head to Casper, Wyoming, to compete June 13-19.
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) crowns both individual event and team champions. Over 400 students from more than 100 universities and colleges representing 11 regions will compete at this year’s competition.
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Cow Country Reporter, June 2021
June is the month where we in the cow/calf business need to make some marketing decisions for our calf crop. Do we sell our Fallborn calves this month or next or do we hold on to them until midSeptember? Our Spring-born calves have some flexibility. We can sell them in August/September (no later than early October) or we can put them on ryegrass and sell them next year (better talk to your tax person before you do this).
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