  BeefTalk:
Can You Comprehend the Vastness of the Beef Industry?
By Kris Ringwall, Extension Beef Specialist,
NDSU Extension Service
Country of origin labeling (commonly called COOL) and national cattle
identification programs have generated much news recently. The resulting
discussion has prompted beef industry leaders to wonder who really understands
the whole business of beef production from conception to consumer.
Consumers and producers alike have seen neat slide presentations that tell
the romantic story of beef producers and how the theoretical flow from
conception to consumption works. But, that is life in the movies. The actual
process of production is another story.
Identifying cattle is not easy, and utilizing the identification is even more
difficult. As the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association continues the
process of cattle identification and records processing, the search for new
producers also continues. A large number of cattle producers indicated slight to
no interest improving the identification of their cattle.
In theory, logic solidly supports the need for identification (mandatory or
voluntary) because there is a need to trace cattle to their source. In practice,
the picture is fuzzy. Many producers work and produce beef in areas almost
uninhabitable by people. Mother cows are never individually handled or even seen
for most of the year.
These tough, self-sufficient cows produce calves on a regular basis. Seldom
sick, the cows likely view the rancher as more of an accepted predator than a
desired provider. Last week at the North Dakota State University Dickinson
Research Extension Center, a regular cattle-working week was scheduled.
Eighty-eight cow-calf pairs on one section of land were due for ultrasound exams
for pregnancy and pre-weaning vaccinations. The geography is rough, with several
draws for cows to camp in, but manageable on horse back. Five riders started the
day at 7 a.m., rounding up the cows and calves.
The location is 35 or more miles from the main headquarters and 15 miles from
the ranch headquarters. Half an hour is needed to get to the ranch, half an hour
to gather and load horses and tack in two trailers, and another half an hour to
drive over to the pasture. A few rain drops hit the windows, a welcome relief
from the August drought.
After the 90 minutes of preparation, roundup begins. The cattle have spread
themselves out into five herds in different parts of the pasture. Cattle arrive
from all points and are confined in the portable corral. Those few raindrops
have turned into a major rain, and the crew settles down to wait it out.
Reviews of weather radar indicate the rain is here to stay. Operating the
electrical equipment -- the scale, ultrasound and two generators -- seems ill
advised with water running everywhere. The work day is canceled, the cattle held
up in the corral and the crew returns to headquarters for lunch.
The next day brings sunshine. Cattle are knee deep in mud (a day’s growth
lost on the calves). The crew arrives, the cows are ultrasounded, the calves
vaccinated and the facilities pulled and the pasture and cattle return to what
they naturally do.
Mud is everywhere. No boots, pants or shirts are even close to presentable.
The ground is scarred for the time being, raw with the fresh wounds of
concentrated cattle. In the end, 88 cow/calf pairs are worked and tags read.
The data (to enhance the workings of the cattle operation) is transferred to
a clean sheet, ready to be filed. Many producers, however, find data difficult
to collect because crew members are nonexistent, pickups are weak with mileage,
corrals are shedding nails and aging bones need a rest.
The cattle industry is truly a vast industry. This vastness is not yet
comprehended by many, especially those busy making, or at least suggesting the
right way to find all your ear tags.
Your comments are always welcome at
www.BeefTalk.com. For more information,
contact the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association, 1133 State Avenue,
Dickinson, ND 58601 or go to
www.CHAPS2000.com on the Internet. In
correspondence about this column, refer to BT0161.
###
Source: Kris Ringwall, (701) 483-2427, kringwal@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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