The 2009-2010 edition of the North Dakota Cattle Directory is now available from the North Dakota Stockmen?s Association (NDSA) and is free for the asking.

Indiana ethanol plants could produce enough of a livestock feed ingredient for Hoosier farmers to feed their animals three times over, a Purdue University study suggests. Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) is made from the leftover parts of the corn kernel in the ethanol production process.

The National Organization of Poll-ettes (NOP) recognized Robin Mead, Mid- vville, GA, as the 2008 Na- ttional Poll-ette of the Year. For her contributions to the Hereford breed, youth and the NOP, Mead was bestowed with this honor Jan. 15 at the 2009 National Western Stock Show.

In a move which company officials say is in no way related to the country?s economic downturn, Smithfield Foods recently announced that it would be instituting a restructuring plan which involves the closure of six pork processing plants.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Tom White of District 8 in Omaha, NE, will change the Property Tax Credit Act which has recently given farmers and ranchers across the state a break in real estate taxes. Legislative Bill (LB) 13 would take the property tax relief from the agricultural sector and give it to homeowners.

Temple Grandin, a well- known animal handling expert and Colorado State University animal science professor, has teamed up with California-based Niman Ranch to audit and endorse the company?s claims of humane and sustainable production in its beef and pork operations.

High shedders within a truckload at slaughter could be a target for mitigation strategies to reduce the probability of preevisceration carcass contamination, a study by Kansas State University has found. To quantify associations at slaughter between E.

The spring 2009 Hereford sire summary is now available in print and online at Hereford.org. The new summary includes detailed listings on 2,053 sires to help producers make informed buying, breeding and other management decisions.

What began as a dream of South Dakota rodeo supporters in 1989 will become a reality this June with the completion of the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center located in the Maynard and Mattie Goff-Newcombe Building in Fort Pierre.

Heat detection efficiency (rate) is defined as the percentage of eligible cows that are actually seen or detected in heat. Several methods of calculating the efficiency with which heat is detected are available. A detection rate of 80 to 85 percent should be achievable.