Cedar County cattlemen meet

The Cedar County Cattlemen’s Association met Aug. 3 in the Ray H. Zumwalt Expo Center in Stockton. Clay Doeden called the meeting to order. There were 35 members and guests present. The speaker and sponsor for the evening was Nick Hammett, marketing manager for Circle A Ranch.

In old business, the cattlemen supported the beef exhibitors at both the Cedar County Youth Fair and the Land O’ Lakes Youth Fair by purchasing animals, providing add-on money, and serving an exhibitor dinner at each fair.

At the Cedar County Youth Fair in Stockton, the cattlemen purchased the Grand Champion Market Steer shown by Kaylee Lower and the Reserve Champion Market Steer shown by Brendan Lower. Add-on money was given to all beef exhibitors. The exhibitor dinner served 100 exhibitors and parents.

At the Land O’ Lakes Youth Fair in El Dorado Springs, the cattlemen purchased the Grand Champion Market Heifer shown by Avery Schiereck. Add-on money was given to all beef exhibitors. The exhibitor served 150 exhibitors and parents.

Avery and Reece Schiereck attended the meeting and expressed their thanks and appreciation for supporting them at the fair.  A thank you card from Peyton Newman and Libby Toliver was shared during the meeting.

In new business, the cattlemen will continue to participate in the Stockton Black Walnut Festival as a food vendor. Volunteers are needed during the day and evening Sept. 27-30. Please see a board member to sign up for a shift.

The next member meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 5. This will be election night. The NE director position and the state director position are open.

After the business portion of the meeting, Nick Hammett spoke to producers about their profit production system. He addressed their buyback program and the benefits producers will receive by utilizing Circle A genetics in their herd. Producers can incorporate these genetics by purchasing Angus bulls during their premium bull sales held in March and October or by ordering semen. Hammett emphasized their reputation for profitable, fast-growing, efficient and productive cattle.

After a recent outbreak in the county, Dr. Brent Lower, DVM, discussed Anaplasmosis in beef cattle and how the VFD will impact producers faced with a potential scare. Producers may see Anaplasmosis around this time of year, from mid-July through October. Since this disease is spread through the blood from one animal to another Dr. Lower recommended producers change their needles with every single animal. Cattle with Anaplasmosis are not getting enough oxygen to their brain and will be temperamental. He urged the cattlemen to use common sense and be calm when working the cattle.

“We have to have transparency. Practice good stewardship and good cattle handling and be transparent in everything we do,” Dr. Lower said.

Doeden adjourned the meeting with a final message reminding producers to be thinking about resolutions and policy based on any issues they are facing.