What will be required of Cow-Calf Producers under the Country of Origin Labeling Rules this September?
By Jack C. Whittier, Colorado State University
May, 2008

The title of this article asks a question that is not yet totally answered.  However, the answer is beginning to be clearer and soon may be finalized.  As you likely know, in 2002, the US Congress passed a law requiring certain “covered commodities” to be verified and labeled as to their county of origin.  The acronym used commonly for this law is COOL, denoting County of Orgin Labeling.  Final rules for COOL will be written following final passage of the 2007 Farm Bill which has passed the Senate and House Conference Committee and will likely be sent to the President’s desk soon.  If the President signs the Farm Bill, final rules will then be written.  As of now, the following definitions and requirements are likely to become rules.  Let’s examine some of these as they apply to cow-calf producers in Colorado:

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Hello everyone, I hope this day blesses you with a ray of sunshine, ample moisture for the growing pastures, and more sleep at night as we progress past a busy calving season.  Even through the cold of winter, the optimism of a changing hue of green grass, the vigor of newborn calves, and a beautiful Colorado spring morning can bring a smile to agriculturalists far and wide.  We take pride in the work we do every day, and your commitment to feeding America and the World must be embraced by everyone involved in production agriculture. 

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In November 2007, the Colorado Department of Agriculture issued a press release to alert cattle owners of increased findings of Trichomoniasis in Colorado cattle herds.  This statement was issued in reference particularly to an ongoing outbreak in counties in southeastern Colorado.  Regions throughout Colorado have had some existing occurrences of Trichomoniasis for many years.

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Keeping it All Together - Some important Items for Cow-Calf Producers to Think About
by Patrick McCarty
February, 2008

It is the time of year that many farm and ranch operations go directly into high gear.  There are many things to think about and many, many more things to do.  Everyone is busy and the days often seem to go by in a blur.  Some important beef operation items to think about include:

1. Bulls and herd bull management.  Do you have enough, are they conditioned properly, where will you spend your next dollars for improved genetics?  It is of absolute importance that the bulls you do have can pass a semen test.

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When cattlemen are asked what they are raising, the typical response is “quality beef and as many pounds of it as they can."  The truth is most of the time the average producer or consumer hasn’t a clue as to what a beef animal is to us.  Yes we’re producing a rib-eye; our animals get priced by that rib-eye, so that’s what we seem to focus on.  But what other things come from cattle, because we know that a 1300 lb steer is not all rib-eyes?

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Crude Protein by the Pound
by Michael Fisher

Once pasture/range plant residues get below 6 to 8 percent crude protein (CP), they do not provide enough CP to support the beef cow and her growing fetus.  Therefore, many producers turn to purchasing supplements to provide CP.  This can be expensive.  Many producers will compare the retail prices offered, perhaps even looking at it on a bulk rate per ton.  I would suggest that you should look at it on a price per pound but not of the supplement product.  Instead price it based on the price per pound of CP that the product contains.

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Mycoplasma
by Michael Jarosz

What is it?
Mycoplasmosis is a disease in cattle primarily caused by the Mycoplasma bovis organism that infects the respiratory tract, initially causing pneumonia and eventually migrating to the blood infecting the joints and tendons causing lameness.

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Weather Effects on Livestock
by Marvin Reynolds

Livestock producers know that cold weather increases the nutritional requirements of livestock.  What may not be understood is that energy for maintenance is the only nutrient that needs adjusting during cold weather.  Some winter rations may be low in energy during extremely cold weather.  Adjustments need to be made in feed quality or quantity when cold weather hits.

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