CALF_News_October_November_2021

37 CALF News • October | November 2021 • www.calfnews.net REGENERATIVE RANCHING Continued from page 27 LEFT: Texas CattleWomen Association President Debbie Gill spoke during a Cattle Raisers convention general session. She noted that since it was formed 50 years ago, the CattleWomen has come a long way in helping promote beef and educate consumers on the value of beef as a vital protein in our diets. RIGHT : TSCRA President Hughes Abell said the association continues to lobby for better price discovery, packer expansion and industry efforts to push the Department of Justice in the investigation into packer price management. strides made in improving beef quality and increasing consumer demand, even in the worst of economic times. “We’re at a 33-year high for beef demand. Give yourselves a hand,” he shouted, crediting higher quality cattle that grade about 80 percent Choice or higher. “That was only 50 percent Choice in 1998. Now, some herds are 100 percent Choice or Prime.” Blach said CattleFax projects calf prices to range from $180/cwt. to near $200 in 2022 and 2023, and approach $225 toward 2025. With stronger genetic performance and all-around pro- duction, he expects more producers to retain ownership of calves through back- grounders or the feeding cycle to capture more of the value of their genetics. “Make sure we listen to what the con- sumer wants,” he said. “Don’t go to sleep.” TSCRA Activities Hughes Abell, TSCRA president, said TSCRA remains with other cattle groups in pushing for better price dis- covery, packer expansion and industry efforts to push the Department of Justice in the investigation into packer price management. The association’s Austin legislative affairs team helped generate legislation that helps TSCRA Special Rangers recover more stolen livestock and stolen property. The past year saw Special Rangers help recover more than $3.4 million in rustled livestock and ranch property. TSCRA has enhanced its website, social media platforms, podcast and newsletter platforms. A new online membership service is helping expedite new memberships and renewals.  For more on Cattle Raisers activities, visit www.tscra.org . that surpass the pasture’s ability to supply the nutrients to support such high-lactation potential. Know the milking ability and EPD averages for the breeds being crossed and adjust accordingly. Heavy-milking cows can also be higher maintenance cows that can have difficulty in recovering their body condition score.  She must be efficient: The cow should be efficient in the areas of forage intake, production and reproduction longevity. A cross- bred cow that is moderate framed and possesses an average milking ability is not automatically efficient. However, these traits are some of the best, easily identifiable indicators in female selection.  She is healthy and raises a healthy calf: Health starts while the calf is gestating. Proper nutrition of the cow can set the calf up for success. Likewise, producers should select new females from replacement pro- grams that have demonstrated that their cattle are healthier, environ- mentally adapted and hardier. Sick calves seldom make anybody any money. “A regenerative cow should be the goal of every cattle producer,”Wells says. “She will get rebred early every year, stay in the herd longer than expected, consume less forage than expected and raise a healthy, bigger calf than the average cow. “She will be profitable for the owner and her calves will be profitable for all segments of the industry. Selecting and managing regenerative cows will help increase the viability of the industry for future generations of cattle producers to come.” Aljoe points out that Noble has continually helped producers improve grazing. Its research and guidance in well-managed rotational grazing programs have helped many producers get more out of their grass, especially during drought, which is common in the Southern Plains. Lloyd Noble saw how drought and misuse of the soil could ruin agricul- tural production. He once said, “No civilization has outlived the usefulness of its soils. When the soil is destroyed, the nation is gone.” Noble’s focus on regenerative ranch- ing hopes to further increase its abil- ity to assist producers with restoring soil health. For more information on regenerative ranching, visit https://www. noble.org/news/noble-rancher/ . 