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North American Limousin Foundation
e-Partners
January 31, 2011
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Greetings!
North American Limousin Foundation is here for you. e-Partners newsletter is a bi-monthly newsletter that provides you up-to-date information about the Limousin breed and membership news. If you have any questions about the below information, please contact the North American Limousin office at 303-220-1693. |
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Deadline Approaching for LIMS
Feb. 14 is the deadline for three important events within the Limousin Inventory Management System (LIMS):
- no-progeny reporting for spring 2010 cows;
- heifer-retention reporting for fall-2009-born females; and
- enrollment of spring 2011 cows.
Tools for accomplishing those tasks are available in the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site. You can access them by logging into your member site then clicking the LIMS button at the top of any page.
LIMS allows NALF members to lower their costs of doing business with their association. At the same time, they can contribute more complete and comprehensive production information that will better help position the breed for future improvements via more accurate expected progeny differences (EPDs). Members choosing the voluntary, Web-based system pay an annual fee of $15 per active cow and, in turn, are entitled to record, register and transfer the year's calves. |
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Don't Miss being a part of the Online Directory
It is about time to add or renew listings in the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) Limousin Contacts/Member Directory. Contacts are listed in the online directory by subscription ($10 per year)or for an additional $25 add a hyperlink to your own website.
Those already included will soon receive invoices for their 2011 listings. NALF must receive payment by May 1. Members who would like their listings removed from the member directory contact Mary Zilk in the NALF office immediately.
If you do not have an online listing yet, add your enterprise by selecting "Sign Up" from the "Member Directory" drop-down menu, complete the form, and click "Send." This listing is a great resource for customers seeking Limousin cattle or services in your area. |
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New Directors Elected at Annual Meeting
The North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) Annual Meeting was Jan. 9 in Denver, Colo. Over 100 members and observers participated in the activities.
NALF President Lance Sennett opened the meeting with a brief look at the past year. A full year-end summary is in the 2010 Annual Report, which was distributed at the session. (Active NALF members may request copies from the home office.)
Executive Vice President Bob Hough, Ph.D., presented his second State of the Breed report, and Dr. Bob Weaber, NALF consulting geneticist provided an updated look at NALF's genetic evaluation and future opportunities. Next, NALF Nominating Committee chairman Wendell Geeslin, introduced the five nominees for the NALF Board of Directors, and the attendees turned in their completed ballots.
After the voting members approved the financial report and the minutes from the 2010 Annual Meeting, Sennett recognized last year's committee chairmen along with retiring Board member Jerry Wulf of Minnesota, then he shared his parting thoughts as president. He next announced those who were elected to seats on the Board: Mike Hall, California; Brian Skaggs, Oklahoma; Tom Vaughn, North Dakota; Tom Field, Colorado; and Bob Mitchell, Wisconsin. After calling for new business and hearing none, Sennett adjourned the meeting.
For a more complete summary of the meeting, see the Jan. 10 issue of the Limousin Letter, which is posted in the "News, e-Partners" section of the NALF Web site.
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Service Plan Pays Dividends
The member service plan will save money for those likely to register three or more calves this year. Call the NALF office if you are unsure about your status. You can pay the service fee when you submit registrations; simply indicate part of the payment is for member services. Participation provides access to the members-only portion of the NALF Web site (which offers a host of data-submission and animal-information services) and copies of the Bottom Line newsletter for you and your customers.
While you are checking on your service-plan status, also ask about participating in the voluntary commercial marketing checkoff. In that program, NALF automatically bills a $2 per head fee to participating member accounts when animals are registered. You may change your checkoff-enrollment status at any time. Funds generated from the plan increase the commercial marketing budget. |
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Spring 2011 EPDs
The EPDs from the spring 2011 International Limousin Genetic Evaluation now are available through various features of the NALF Web site. The spring sire summary is available for download in portable document format (PDF) from the Web site's "Genetic & Performance" section.
Those participating in a state beef-cattle-improvement tobacco program should ensure they have current EPD profiles for the animals they are interested in purchasing. |
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New NALF Marketing Outlets
Are you reaching fellow Limousin breeders through your current electronic marketing? Let NALF work for you through NALF's new e-Connect system. The e-Connect is the only electronic marketing outlet that communicates directly with the NALF membership.
Contact Jonathan in the NALF office to learn more. |
Breeder Cooperative Advertising Extends Your $
The Breeder Cooperative Advertising Program helps breeders share a cohesive Limousin message across the nation, making the most of their relationships with regional publications. In the program, NALF cost-shares 25 percent of qualifying ad expenses with groups of two to six breeders. Find the program guidelines, application form and qualified ad image in the "Programs" section of the NALF Web site, or contact Jonathan in the NALF office. |
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Local Papers' e-mail Addresses Needed
NALF needs your help to get Limousin news from throughout the year to your grassroots publications. Share your local newspapers' names, cities, states, phone numbers and editorial e-mail addresses with Jonathan in the NALF office. |
| Reminder: Contemporary Groups and Reporting
Birth, weaning and yearling performance data are necessary for reliable expected progeny differences (EPDs), and breeders' data are the raw material from which the NALF computes genetic predictions. The breed's competitive advantages and genetic improvement depend on breeders' data collection and submission.
One key to determining an animal's genetic merit is to mitigate environmental effects on performance. A contemporary group does that because it includes cattle of the same sex, within the same percentage-Limousin group, that were born within a 90-day period, that have been managed alike and weighed on the same date (excluding birth weight). More information is available in the article about successful performance programs in the " Genetic Evaluation" section of the NALF Web site. |
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Latest News
Limousin news releases are archived in the Web site's "News" section (you can find the five issues of the Limousin Letter from this year's NWSS under the "News, e-Partners"). NALF encourages its members to share them with their local news outlets. |
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| FEBRUARY | | February 2-5 | Cattle Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade Show | Denver, CO | | February 4 | Black Hills Stock Show Limousin Show & Sale | Rapid City, SD | | February 5 | Liberty Ranch Annual Bull Sale | Plainville, KS | | February 8-10 | World Ag Expo | Tulare, CA | |
February 13
February 13 |
Dixie National Open Limousin
Beef Maker Limousin Bull Sale |
Jackson, MS
Airdrie, Alberta | | February 16 | Iowa Beef Expo Limousin Sale | Des Moines, IA | | February 19 | GV Limousin Annual Production Sale | Garnett, KS | | February 24 | Symens Brothers 31st Annual Limousin Sale | Amherst, SD | | February 24 | Central Florida Fair Limousin Show | Orlando, FL | | February 25 | Wieczorek Limousin 31st Annual Limousin Bull Sale | Corsica, SD | | February 26 | Lonely Valley Limousin Annual Keepin Kind Bull Sale | Creston, NE | | February 26 | Riverdale Ranch Open House & Private Treaty Bull Sale | West, MS | | February 27 | O'Brien Farms Annual Bull Sale | Jane, MO |
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Contact Information
phone: 303-220-1693
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