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Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine
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Volume 1 Number 9
| December 2013
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| News and events of interest to beef producers in Maine from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maine, Department of Agriculture, Maine Beef Producers and other agriculture organizations in Maine. |
Free online sources of information:
Maine Beef Production Information by UMaine Extension
Beef Cattle Comments by Mike Baker, Cornell University
Drovers - Cattle Network - America's Beef Business Source |
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 24th Annual Maine Beef Conference a Success
The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) held its Twenty-fourth Annual Beef Conference titled "Keeping Your Herd Healthy," in Bangor with over 50 beef producers in attendance.
Again this year, MBPA joined forces with the Maine Grass Farmers Network (MGFN) to host the conference with sponsors University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Industry sponsors include Zinpro, Hilton Garden Inn, Pineland Farms Natural Meats, Cold Spring Ranch and Wellscroft Fence.
Keynote speaker was Jeff Wheeler with Zinpro who discussed the importance of mineral nutrition to beef cattle, health and reproduction.
He introduced the mineral supplement that Don Bibeau developed, that addresses Selenium and other mineral deficiencies issues in Maine beef herds. Jeff also discussed possible antagonists that may interfere with mineral utilization. He suggested it is important to test the nutrient content of hay, grass and the mineral content of the water that is available to animals.
A diet deficient in Selenium and delay estrous in cows that can result in more open days before the next calf is born. Each extra day open costs the farmer $3 per head per day.
Dr. Simon Alexander VMD, Exeter Veterinary Services, spoke on vaccination protocols for cows, calves and bulls in Maine. He also reinforced the need to manage Selenium in cattle by discussing several case studies he has conducted in the area. After having body tissue analysis of animals from the herds they all showed a deficiency in Selenium. Once animals received the correct amount of Selenium the productivity, fertility and survivability of the herds increased dramatically.
Other speakers include Walter Whitcomb, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Cindy Kilgore, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Livestock Specialist, Dr. Anne Licktenwalner, University of Maine Extension Veterinarian & Director of the Animal Diagnostic Lab, Dr. Mike Echardt, UMaine and Gabe Clark with Cold Spring Ranch.
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 Maine Beef Producers Association Service Award Presented
At the recent Maine Beef Conference Kevin Woltemath, President of the Maine Beef Producers Association recognized Pat Bates, Norwest Angus, Turner, ME for his service and contributions to the Maine beef industry. He has served on the board of directors for the Maine Beef Producers Association, hosted a number of tours and pasture walks on his farm and planned the Maine Beef Conference. Through his efforts Maine beef producers have been able to learn how to increase the profitability and productivity of their herds.
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Beef Conference Evaluation
Over 50 people attended the Maine Beef Conference that focused on herd health. Together they raised over 3,000 animals. A post program evaluation showed that:
Before the meeting they rated their understanding of these topics from 1 to 5 (1 = none, 2 = minimal, 3 = moderate, 4 = considerable, 5 = NA)
And after the meeting they rated their understanding of these same topics:
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Educational and Research Needs of Maine's Food Based Economy
Cooperative Extension at the University of Maine is determining the educational and research needs of Maine's food-based economy. Maine's Beef Industry is an important part of that economy, and as such, Cooperative Extension wants to know what it is doing well and what can be improved. What are your highest priority research and educational needs? How well do Extension members collaborate with your industry? If you could change anything about Extension, what would it be? Your views will be confidential as to source. Please send your thoughts to:
Michael Eckardt, Ph.D.
Cooperative Extension
5741 Libby Hall, Room 107
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469 - 5741
(207) 581-3116
michael.eckardt@maine.edu
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Wednesday, January 8th at the Augusta Civic Center 1:00 pm State Veterinarian - Michele Walsh, Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry 1:20 pm Space Recommendations for Beef Cattle - Donna Coffin, UMaine Extension and Cindy Kilgore, Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry 2:00 pm Producer profile photo tour of the Guimond Farm, Fort Kent 2:45 pm Producer profile photo tour of Ed LeBlanc's Farm 3:30 pm MBPA Annual Meeting 4:30 pm January Board meeting |
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Phasing out certain antibiotic use in farm animals
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is implementing a voluntary plan with the livestock industry to phase out the use of certain antibiotics for enhanced food production.
Antibiotics are added to the animal feed or drinking water of cattle, hogs, poultry and other food-producing animals to help them gain weight faster or use less food to gain weight.
Because all uses of antimicrobial drugs, in both humans and animals, contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, it is important to use these drugs only when medically necessary. Governments around the world consider antimicrobial-resistant bacteria a major threat to public health. Illnesses caused by drug-resistant strains of bacteria are more likely to be potentially fatal when the medicines used to treat them are rendered less effective.
FDA is issuing a final guidance document that explains how animal pharmaceutical companies can work with the agency to voluntarily remove growth enhancement and feed efficiency indications from the approved uses of their medically important antimicrobial drug products, and move the therapeutic uses of these products from over-the-counter (OTC) availability to marketing status requiring veterinary oversight.
For more information click here to go to the FDA site
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More Maine Meat Survey
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society have initiated a project to try to improve opportunities for everyone involved in Maine's meat industry. The More Maine Meat project has a wide array of activities, but its primary goal is to "significantly increase the amount of meat that is produced, processed, distributed, and sold in Maine, and simultaneously increase wealth among those involved in Maine's meat industry."
As part of this broad effort UMaine Extension Educator Donna Coffin is implementing a survey of producers in order to better understand the needs and opportunities within the industry and to help us establish and implement an appropriate plan of action. We are asking you to supply information that will go towards those ends.
The survey's Web address (URL) is http://umaine.edu/livestock/more-maine-meat-survey/
Please take the time to fill out the survey 20 minutes. By doing so, you will be supplying us with much needed information about Maine's meat industry and, if you so choose, will be entering in a random drawing for one of four $50 prizes. Once you complete the survey (you do not have to answer all questions), you will be given instructions on how to enter the drawing. Your responses to the survey will not be linked to your entry in the drawing.
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Items of Interest
- Beef Checkoff - Reminder that all beef producers pay the equivalent of $1 per head each time it is sold through it's lifetime. Click here for more details. One of the benefits of the checkoff program is that producers can get point of sale materials to give to their direct market customers to help promote the benefits of eating beef and includes recipes. To learn how you can get point of sale materials contact mbic@midmaine.com
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Availability of FSIS Compliance Guide for a Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of a compliance guide to assist livestock slaughter establishments in complying with the regulatory requirements for humane handling and slaughter of livestock. FSIS encourages operators of livestock slaughter establishments to follow this guidance. The Agency must receive comments by December 30, 2013. Click here for information on guide and comment directions.
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The Maine Beef Producers Association is in the process of updating and redesigning their website. A committee has been established to work with a web designer to make this site an asset to the members of MBPA, potential members and people interested in finding out about beef production in Maine. The committee welcomes your suggestions and recommendations to make this site as helpful as possible. Please send your suggestions to:
Bob Dusoe, rjdusoe@uninets.net
Dan Costain, dancostain@gmail.com
Phil Newcombe, pnewcombe@kvcc.me.edu
Jenn Grant, findviewfarm@juno.com
Donna Coffin, donna.coffin@maine.edu
or Jacob Guimond, jacob.guimond@maine.gov
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To receive Maine Beef News: All Maine beef producers are welcome to subscribe to the Maine Beef News for free. To keep costs down we are asking folks to sign up for the electronic version at http://bit.ly/PPfarming
If you prefer surface mailed Maine Beef News, please call Melissa Libby at (207)581-2788 or send your mailing information to UMaine Extension Livestock Office, 134 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04479-5735. Currently we are only able to offer free mailed copy for free to Maine residents.
Please note that we do not sell or share your contact information.
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 Join the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2014 year. Annual dues are $35. for an extra $25 you can get a year subscription to County Folks. For more information on this organization and for membership application go to
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Featured UMaine Extension Publications
The following agriculture related Extension publications are available or can be ordered at the Extension Office nearest you. You will notice that some publications are free and some have a cost recovery charge. Many other publications are available for free online or may be purchased at our secure publications web site.Space Planning for Small, Multipurpose Livestock Buildings #1021. A general-purpose barn generally houses more than one kind of livestock and feed. Use the tables in this publication to estimate space needs for livestock housing, feed and bedding storage, and support facilities to maintain a small livestock operation in Maine.
Download for freeThe New American Farmer: Profiles of American Innovation #1174
After decades of working with farmers and ranchers across the country, University of Missouri economist John Ikerd wanted a way to convince others that what he was seeing-thriving family-run operations making a profit, working in harmony with the environment and helping to improve their communities- was no fluke. Ikerd wanted to share their stories and dreamed of a project where he could plunk a stack of farm profiles in front of every skeptic he encountered and tell them that those farmers were finding ways to make sustainable agriculture work and, more broadly, were redefining the American farm. This book is the realization of Ikerd's vision. "The New American Farmer" is a collection of in-depth interviews and photographs from farmers and ranchers from Hawaii to Maine who have embraced new approaches to agriculture. 160 pages. 2nd edition, 2005.
From Sustainable Ag Network. Order from the publications web site $16.95
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Calendar
- January 7 - 9, 2014 Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta. Maine Beef Producers Meeting Wednesday at 1 pm.
- State Veterinarian
- Beef Housing Recommendations
- Producer Spotlight - we will feature slides of two beef producers operations
- MBPA Annual Meeting
- MBPA Board Meeting
- March 7 -8, 2014 New England Meat Conference Grappone Conference Center, Concord, NH
- March 15, 2014 Maine Grazing Conference
- May 16 - 18, 2014 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor
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Contact Info
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491
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Information in this newsletter is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this newsletter. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.
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Beef Program at the