Recently I had the privilege of attending the 17th Annual National Belted Galloway Sale in Fryeburg, Maine. The sale and youth show were unique in that this was the first year the event was not associated with the Maine-New England Beef Expo. The expo moved to a more central location in Maine with several other species of animals added to the event. A group of New England Belted Galloway breeders felt the tradition of having the National Sale in Fryeburg at the end of April should be continued even though the expo had moved. Many of that area’s Beltie owners rallied around and assumed all the necessary preparatory work to put on an independent sale and youth show with assistance from a local Hereford group who also had their youth show and sale at this event. Monthly organizational and many committee meetings were held under the tireless leadership of Brud McCabe (VT).  Those who attended the show and sale had an opportunity to appreciate first hand the culmination of all the volunteers’ hard work. The success of this event is a great example of what can be accomplished when folks have a goal that they believe in, are dedicated, communicate and work together to achieve that goal. Congratulations are in order to all those that made the 17th Annual National Belted Galloway Sale a resounding success.

I have been visiting with a number of Belted Galloway breeders recently that have been experiencing a high percentage of heifers in this year’s calf crop. We are currently running 70% heifers; another breeder was at 80% and one at 100%, five heifers with three more cows to calve.  The abundance of heifer calves can create a challenge in marketing the calf crop. Those of us that are having extra heifers should look at the experience as an opportunity to increase your marketing efforts regarding merchandizing breeding stock, cull more closely the cows currently in the herd, realize that not all heifers need to be used for replacements and feed them out or all the above.

2007 National Belted Galloway Sale Highest Selling Lot, Aldermere Liza II.
Consigned by Aldermere Farm (ME). Purchased by Brookside Farm (VT).

Hi.  My name is Neela Andres and I’m eleven years old. I am the oldest of four kids. My parents had animals as 4-H and FFA projects when they were young and they wanted us to learn to care for and show animals  so they bought us two heifers at the NILE last year. We liked them so much we quickly bought more. We now have eight Belted Galloway females and a Beltie bull. We love our animals. We have met so many nice Beltie owners. We love being part of the Belted Youth Group too. 

In January, my dad drove us eight hours to Denver, Colorado through a terrible snow storm to show at the Denver National Stock show. It was cold and snowy but it was a fun time. It took all of us to prepare our animals for the show. My Mom washed our animals in the freezing weather and my brothers, sister and me blow dried and combed them while my dad clipped them for the ring. We also had to clean up the cow poop as soon as it hit the ground. My brother Jon, showed our bull and a yearling heifer. Kyla showed for the first time at the show and was scared at first but she loved it. She can’t wait to show again. My youngest brother, Max, was very sad that he didn’t get to show any animals. He can hardly wait for his turn in the ring.

My heifer, Ruthie, calved in March. She had a great big bull calf. I named him Titan and he is so sweet. I can’t wait to show Ruthie and Titan as a cow/calf pair. I am glad we have our animals and we have learned so much about raising, caring for and showing our Belted Galloways in this first year on the farm. 

The 17th Annual National Belted Galloway Sale and Youth Expo was a huge success!  Despite the overcast weather, the sale ring was sunny with a large turnout of buyers and Beltie enthusiasts from across the US and Canada.  The quality and the condition of the consignments were exceptional and it was reflected in one of the highest sale averages ever. The Youth Expo had approximately 75 youth participants with a total of 144 animals representing Belted Galloways, Herefords, Angus, Simmentals and Crossbreds.

The NEGG would like to extend our thanks to the Belted Galloway Society and the Fryeburg Fairgrounds for co-sponsoring this wonderful event. We also send our many thanks to the 70-plus volunteers who made this wonderful weekend possible. From the initial planning meeting to the final cleanup, every hour spent on presenting the 17th Annual National Sale and Youth Expo was done on a volunteer basis.

We would like to note that Driftwood Plantation made a generous donation of Lot 207A, Driftwood Satin, to the University of Massachusetts - Animal Science Department during the sale.

A summary of the sale results are as follows:

Highest Selling Lot
Lot 201.     Aldermere Liza II
                  Consigned by Aldermere Farm (ME)
                  Purchased by Brookside Farm (VT)
                  Price:  $11,250.00

Highest Selling Open Heifer – Tyler Cup Award Winner
Lot 214.     Holbrook Hill Sovereign
                  Consigned by Holbrook Hill Farm (NH)
                  Purchased by Ken Murray (SC)
                  Price: $4,500.00 

Highest Selling Bull
Lot 216.     Holbrook Hill Perry Mason
                  Consigned by Holbrook Hill Farm (NH)
                  Purchased by Brad Filiatrault (NY)
                  Price: $3,100.00

Donated Semen Sales - $2,275.00
BYG Region 1 - $1,050.00
Donated by:
                  E & H Cattle Company (ME)
                  Blackstone Valley (MA)
                  Anderson Hill Farm (VT)
                  Driftwood Plantation (SC)

NEGG Heifer Project - $1,225.00
Donated by:
                  North Wind Grange (VT)
                  Meadowlark Homestead Farms (ME)
                  Holbrook Hill Farm (NH)
                  Prock Ridge Farm (ME)

Other Semen Sales - $300.00
Overall Gross Sales - $78,275.00
Overall Live Lot Gross Sales - $75,700.00
Live Lot Sale Average - $2,610.35

License plate frames and plates are selling briskly. Contact the office now to reserve your plates and place your order before they become unavailable. Each item is $10 plus a $4 shipping fee. 
 
 

A few days back, while sitting beside the husband of one of my classmates at our annual Ohio Veterinary Medical Association meeting, he updated me about things that had happened in their family since I had last seen them. At one point, he said, "That was just before the bull got me." I replied that I hadn't heard about that and asked him what happened. He told me about being attacked by the bull in the heifer pen; an animal that had never acted mean before. The bull had mauled him badly, and he was fortunate to get out of the pen alive. He was in the hospital in the intensive care unit for eight days before the doctors told his wife they thought he would live!

Last week, I was sampling cattle in one of our Johne's Disease Demonstration herds along with several ODA veterinarians. When we finished, we all walked as a group in a detour around a cow that had recently calved who was very protective of her calf. She was pawing at the straw and bellowing, but let us pass without incident. You may remember that earlier this past fall, a man in eastern Ohio was killed by a cow under similar circumstances and while his grandchildren were watching. In early 2007, I saw a story from one of the western states about a man who was killed by a bull.

These recent events should serve as a reminder to us that occasionally animals that have never shown signs of being mean will suddenly become dangerous; occasionally with fatal results. The reasons for this are often unknown. We all know that bulls can be dangerous and that it may be a function of the hormone testosterone. Some breeds, especially the dairy breeds, may be more prone to be mean, but it isn't confined to dairy breeds or older animals. Even young beef bulls can become menacing under the right circumstances as I found out one year when working at the Ohio Bull Test Station in the company of several veterinary students.

Aggressive cows are less common but by no means rare. It usually occurs when they have a calf by their side. This may be because of hormonal events surrounding calving, but it is likely due to her maternal instinct to protect her calf from something she perceives as threatening. Of course, this may extend well past calving time. In other cases it is strange new surroundings or separation from the herd that triggers the aggressive behavior. Some years back when I was still in private practice, I attempted to tranquilize and capture a beef cow that had escaped with her calf from the herd into a nearby cornfield (in September). While in the cornfield, she managed to dislocate the farmer's shoulder and loosen some teeth when he attempted to get a rope on her as she passed close to him in a cornrow. This was AFTER she had been given enough tranquilizer to flatten an 1800-pound Holstein bull.

The farmer escaped by rolling across several rows, and the cow hid in the standing corn. About ten days later we were able to capture her, and she was re-located to a small feedlot with other cattle and the calf was weaned. Several weeks after that, the cow tore up a shed housing the controls and silage chute next to the feed bunk while she was trying to get at the farmer in the shed operating the silage unloader controls.

I am sure that many of you reading this note have more interesting stories like these than I have. However, many people are new to the cattle business as a result of 4-H projects or movement to the country or other reasons. And all of us can use the occasional reminder to be cautious around our livestock. Now is a good time to review what procedures you usually use when working your animals and handling them during the calving season. Something as simple as catching a scouring calf to rehydrate him can precipitate an angry reaction from the cow. Perhaps there is something simple you can do to change your facilities or your routine that will reduce your risk of injury.

Herds can be considered at low risk if they have excellent reproductive performance (a high percent of cows exposed to a bull actually weaning a calf), and if the appropriate herd samples have been submitted to a diagnostic laboratory to search for Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD) and it has not been detected.

Herds at high risk of being infected are those that have previously had a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of BVD infection in herd animals; have reduced reproductive performance despite good nutrition and bull fertility; and have a high rate of calf illness and death despite good nutrition and sanitation.

Many herds have some infected animals, but, not all herds do. So, for some herds it may be advisable to conduct a herd screening test prior to launching into an extensive effort to eliminate Persistently Infected (PI) animals. The easiest screening method to determine if BVD is present in the herd is to test for BVD antibody. Do this by selecting 10 calves at six months of age or older, which are unvaccinated and which have been in direct contact with the animals in the herd. If some of these calves have a positive titer, it indicates the presence of acutely infected or PI cattle. If all are negative, it indicates an absence of any cattle shedding the BVD virus and the herd is probably free of BVD. (This test for antibody involves collection of blood, separation of the serum and then a test is conducted on the serum for antibody titer.)

Control of BVD
If a beef herd is not isolated from most other cattle then BVD eradication is unlikely because some pregnant animals may become exposed to the virus and continue the PI cycle. Those producers may choose to just control BVD and minimize losses to it, rather than trying to eradicate it from the herd. The primary tool for control is a proper vaccination program for BVD. Some herds may also be able to benefit by identifying and removing PI animals.

A producer should vaccinate all replacement heifers with a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine after the heifers are six months of age but at least one to two months before breeding. Protecting heifers is essential. If possible, cows should be vaccinated annually, 30 days before beginning breeding.

The MLV vaccines have been most effective in preventing fetal infection and PI calves. Vaccines are now available which have been shown to be effective in providing fetal protection and it would certainly be advisable to use one of those. Some MLV vaccines are also approved for use in pregnant cows, if they have previously received it. However, if these are used late in the reproductive process the exposure of the fetus to BVD may already have occurred and some PI calves may be present in the pregnant cows. Some MLV-BVD vaccines are not approved for use in pregnant cows and may cause abortion and fetal defects.

Studies have shown that over 95 percent of fetal infections with BVD come from exposure of dams to PI animals. The dams of most PI, newborn calves are BVD negative, indicating the dams themselves are not PI. Vaccination will reduce the incidence but is not 100 percent effective in preventing fetal infections, so vaccination alone will not eradicate BVD.

BVD Eradication Program
A BVD eradication program has three important parts. The following program and procedures are recommended to eradicate the BVD virus from a herd and keep it out:

Enhance immunity with vaccination

Vaccinate as described above under “Control of BVD.”

Eliminate Persistently Infected (PI) carriers

Test after calving and before the breeding season (use a skin sample, such as an ear notch) The following categories should include all cattle in the herd except the dams of calves that tested negative.

Test all calves present in the herd. The dams of negative calves do not have to be tested as they will be negative also. This plan results in reduced test costs, compared to testing every animal. Test dams of any calves that are positive on the skin test (use the skin test for dams).

Test all cows without calves; any which calve later should be isolated from bred cows until the calf is tested (soon after birth) and found negative.

Testing individual animals for BVDV can be accomplished using immunohistochemistry on skin samples or virus isolation/serology. All stock should be tested including young stock and purchased animals (cows, heifers, and replacement bulls). Prior to purchase or upon arrival to your farm it is suggested all animals be tested. Test prior to mixing with breeding/ pregnant cows. Test all bulls and replacement heifers (yet to be bred). 

Re-Test: If desired, all animals which tested positive on the test above could be re-tested. This re-test would rule out any cattle which were acutely infected, so they were not culled needlessly; only those persistently infected need to be culled. Preferably, wait 30 days between the two tests, but this test needs to be completed prior to breeding. It is advisable to use a whole blood and virus isolation test for the second test.

All positive animals should be considered as PI animals and should be sold to slaughter only or euthanized. Be sure they are all removed from the herd before any breeding.

Test all calves by the skin test again the next year, to find and remove any PI animals, in case something was missed and a fetus became exposed.

Implement a plan for BVD Biosecurity 

Prevent direct contact with non-tested cattle by commingling and test all in-coming animals to be sure they are not PI carriers.

Prevent new infections or exposure to BVD virus (especially of pregnant animals).

Isolate and test bulls at purchase (or before purchase); return them if positive.

Use semen only from test negative bulls.

Buy only non-bred heifers; isolate and test at purchase (or prior); return if positive (or, purchase from proven BVD-free herds).

Keep free herd separate from all other cattle.

Avoid fence line contact as much as possible.

Keep cattle separate from sheep and ruminant wildlife.

Establish an effective biosecurity program for personnel, clothing, footwear and vehicles.

Continue to vaccinate at least the replacement heifers with a MLV BVD vaccine.

Based on feedback from the WBGA membership, the preferred time and location for our 2007 annual meeting will be October 5-6 in Reno, Nevada. Please note the new date and plan to attend. For hotel information and meeting registration contact John Rozelle (928) 779-5704 or SARbelties@aol.com.

Jon Bednarski, Sherwood Acres, was featured in the Kentucky edition of the RoundAbout Enternainment Guide detailing his success raising Belted Galloways for his natural fed beef market. Bednarski credits the Master Cattleman’s Association by becoming a certified member of the association and completing a year-long course. The course gives cattlemen perspectives about marketing, environmental responsibility and how to handle cattle. Bednarski’s prepackaged beef is sold in Louisville health food stores and at the Louisville Farmer’s Market downtown.

Use the letter T as the official Year Code when tattooing animals born in 2007. The letter S applies to animals born in 2006. 

Circle of Champions Show Camp
June 6-9 at the University of TN Martin. 
Contact Charlie Rowlett (731) 881-1011 or crowlett@utm.edu. 
Entry forms available at www.showsteers.com.

GLBGA Field Day and Show
June 9, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds near Hope, IN (just south of Indianapolis). 
Contact the Romine family at (812) 546-5587 or rominetreefarms@comcast.net.

GLBGA Blow and Go Show
July 7 2007. Pecatonica, IL. 
Contact Lisa Lovett (815) 652-3789 or lovett@essex1.com.

Union Fair/Maine Wild Blueberry Festival
August 19-25 2007, Union, ME.
Contact Loraine Prock (207) 832-4715 or prockfrm@midcoast.com.

Windsor Fair 
August 26-September 3, 2007, Windsor, ME. 
Contact Curtis Prime (207) 621-4167.

The Big E (Eastern States Exposition)
September 14-30, 2007, Springfield, MA. 
Contact Michelle Ogle (908) 781-5576 or mobcurly@aol.com.

World Beef Expo
September 28-30, 2007 Milwaukee, WI.
Contact Mark Keller (815) 248-4687 or oakvalley@stateline.isp.com.

Fryeburg Fair
September 30-October 7, Fryeburg, ME. 
Contact Fair Office (207) 935-3268.

Western Belted Galloway Association 2007 annual meeting
October 5-6, Reno, Nevada.
Contact John Rozelle (928) 779-5704 or SARbelties@aol.com.

Annual General Meeting & New England Fall Classic Sale
October 19-21 at  Meadow View Farm, Lyndonville, VT. 
Contact Laura Glassmann (717) 677-9655 or beltiecows@aol.com. 

Secretarial Office Phone Hours ...
Phone hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). A detailed message may be left at any time. 
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