JULY SHORTHORN COUNTRY
The Shorthorn Draft 2020, President outlook, Generations of Influence, Past Builders of the Breed
NEWS FROM THE CEO
Life in 2020 is something most of us could have never imagined. The Covid-19 Pandemic is a first for all of us. My sympathies go out to anyone who has been affected or lost a family member or friend to this virus. Covid-19 could be around for a long time and we all will learn to live with it. This will change our lifestyle some and change our habits even more. As cattle producers who deal with herd health daily, we of all people should understand the precautions needed to deal with a pandemic. Vaccinations are important and the general practices we use when bringing a new animal into the herd are all part of the process. Putting these common sense practices to use in our everyday lives will make a major difference. It is easier to get the right facts on any virus or health issue for our livestock than for ourselves. We are overloaded with technology and data avenues and the information may not always be correct. We must all challenge ourselves to ensure we have accurate information sources before drawing conclusions on any issue.
BEEF BUSINESS
I’m sure you all got mail asking you to fill out the U.S. Census this year. Between the mailbox, the TV ads, and the online pop up ads, it would have been difficult to miss their notifications! As our country gathers up data on our citizens, it’s a good time to look at some of our own Shorthorn population data to learn a little more about the breed, as well as the Shorthorn breeder.
SINCE YOU ASKED
As a WHR breeder, there are 2 annual payments to be made: the $100 membership (for senior members) and the WHR assessment. The WHR assessment is synonymous with “inventory” as it applies to the females in your herd and this is how you will keep it up to date. With the assessment, you’ll cull out any females that are no longer in your herd by giving them the appropriate disposal code. What is left in the herd of females is what will be assessed (or paid for) for the year. Assessing a cow gets you a free registration of her calf from that calendar year (as long as it’s registered before it turns 1 year of age) and a free transfer of the calf (as long as the date of transfer is within 60 days from the date of sale). There is a fee schedule for the assessment, which is included below, and it is based on when the assessment is completed.
SHORTHORN COUNTRY VAULT