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 www.NALF.org North American (303) 220-1693 |
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NALF News The new expected progeny differences (EPDs) from the fall 2008 international Limousin genetic evaluation now are accessible through various features of the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) Web site. The fall evaluation also included the Focus Dams, which are cows with outstanding reproductive performance and producing ability. Download the sire summary’s parts in portable document format (PDF) from the Web site’s “Genetic Evaluation” section. Or contact the NALF office to request a printed or CD-ROM version of the sire summary, either of which is available for $10. If you activated your secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site more than a year ago, it probably is a good idea to change your password now. Changing online passwords every 12 months or so offers added protection against hackers. The best passwords are a combination of letters, numbers and symbols that appear to be a random string of characters. Visit www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself on the Web to check your password strength. To provide continuous marketing opportunities for its members and their partners in allied industry, NALF offers Internet-based sponsorship programs. Each issue of the semimonthly Partners e‑newsletter includes three sponsor spots. They sell for $75 apiece on a “first come, first served” basis. For more information, contact Brad Parker in the NALF office. Two sponsor spots on the NALF Web site are available for three-month blocks, starting Oct. 1. They are selling now via a “Country Auction” (similar to eBay) on DVAuction.com. The bidding closes Aug. 15. For more information, contact Parker or Frank Padilla in the NALF office. Use the “Marketing Reach” link on NALF’s home page to find complete details. The heifer-retention reporting tool is available for Limousin Inventory Management System (LIMS) participants via the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site. LIMS participants have until Aug. 15 to report heifer-exposure information. The optional reporting will give NALF the data it needs for genetic evaluation of heifer pregnancy. (Other breeds, including Angus and Red Angus, already publish EPDs for that trait.) It also will help ensure active LIMS inventories accurately reflect incoming replacement heifers and eliminate the need to report disposal codes for culled heifers later. As fall calving gets underway, NALF encourages its members to score their cows’ teat sizes and udder suspensions so the data can help guide future selection decisions. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) adopted standardized guidelines for teat and udder scoring last year. The system requires a separate score for each, both on 9-point scales. Breeders should evaluate their cows within 24 hours after calving, and NALF has illustrations available to help them assign scores. NALF plans to use udder and teat scores in genetic evaluation once it collects a sufficient number of records. The NALF Board of Directors has scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 19–20 in Denver, Colo. The primary focus will be the fiscal year (FY) 2008–2009 budget. Contact a Board member or Kent Andersen in the NALF office to provide input about any breed issues. To enhance the election process for new directors, the NALF Board approved three bylaws changes in June 2006, putting them into effect on a trial basis. At its April meetings, the Board voted to make those changes permanent. They modified the Nominating Committee’s membership and created at-large nominations and absentee ballots. NALF President Bob Millerberg, Utah, has announced the 2008–2009 Nominating Committee:
The October issue of Limousin World will include the committee’s slate of nominees. The NALF office then must receive signed letters of support for at-large nominees from at least 15 different founding, lifetime or active annual members by Oct. 15. Identification of all nominees by then enables NALF to publicize their candidacies and include their names on the official ballot. The Limousin shows at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., will be Oct. 29. Kent Habeger of Burt, Iowa, will sort the junior entries; and Les Wankel of Petersburg, Ill., will judge the open show. Entries are due Sept. 10. The junior show at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky., will be Nov. 16, with Jered Shipman, Lockney, Texas, officiating. The open show will be Nov. 19, and Randy Daniel, Colbert, Ga., will be the judge. NAILE entries are due Oct. 1. Thanks to the loyal support of those who pay their member service fees, NALF has maintained effective breed advertising, increased staff representation at events, developed extensive Web-based tools and offered informational programs. Those who participate in the annual plan may register animals at half the inactive-member rates; enjoy free access to the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site; and activate complimentary subscriptions to the Bottom Line newsletter for their bull customers and themselves. To generate additional resources for commercial marketing, the NALF Board instituted a voluntary checkoff. NALF automatically bills $4 per head at registration to participating members’ accounts. Enrollment is easy – just mark the space on your member service fee notice. You may change your checkoff-enrollment status at any time by contacting the NALF office. The name Lim‑Flex is a registered trademark that NALF owns. Members may use the name in referring to qualified animals or the hybrid program in general. When you do so, be sure to include the hyphen and capitalize the F. If possible, follow the name with the registered sign (®) the first time you use it in an advertisement, article, brochure, Web page or such. NALF is organizing special Limousin-influenced feeder-calf sales for this fall. By coordinating with auction markets, NALF helps producers maximize returns for their calves by attracting feeders interested in Limousin genetics. The effort is part of the Limousin breed’s commitment to the commercial sector. So far, 10 auction markets in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota are planning to feature Limousin-influenced feeders at special sales. For more information or if you would like help organizing a special feeder-calf sale in your area, contact Frank Padilla in the NALF office.
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