From Teats to Feet & the Ugliest Dog!

As most of you know from my previous posts, it's fair time in our area.  And I hope I'm not boring you with all the photos I take, but I know I like to check out photos of different areas and events happening around the U.S. so I hope you do as well.

The Sonoma-Marin Fair is located in Petaluma, CA.  I really like it because  A) I grew up going to this fair,

B) It's a small fair  and  C) There's a lot of agriculture involved and shown in this fair, which really gives people an up-close view of farm animals and farming.

I love all the hands-on exhibits you can participate in.  At this fair, they are all  included with the price of admission. 

Paige is milking, or trying to milk this life size Holstein cow.  These two teats must be dry, let's try the other side.........

Mission accomplished.

In the same area, you can also try to rope a steer from sitting atop a saddle, play dress up in gold rush attire and .......

discover gold!

Paige, Bryce, Cam and Leila are panning for gold.

Bryce found a nugget.  Which he can then take to the 'General Store' and buy a Tootsie roll or two.

After all the Tootsie rolls were bought and eaten, it was time for an ice cream break.  I think this booth is the busiest booth at the fair.  Clover serves up FREE vanilla ice cream cones every day from 1 - 4 p.m. 

We sat in on the Holstein show for a little while.  Our friend, Frankie is showing her Holstein.

Over at the rabbit and cavie barn, our friend Megan shows Paige how she shows her rabbit.  Look at how still this rabbit lays in Megan's hands.  Megan is an expert rabbit handler.

They also have the Cutest petting zoo you can visit for no extra cost as well!

Loved this little goat!

I think Paige wanted to curl up and take a nap with these girls.

Where else can you go and pet a deer? 

Crazy hairdo on this one.

And because the $7, 5 minute pony ride is better than the free horse ride Paige can get at home, her Godmother, Devi bought her a couple rides.  Thanks Devi!

While we were petting animals and riding ponies, Bryce was peddling a tractor pull competition.

And of course no fair is complete without the carnival portion of it.  We rode a few rides.

It was nice having Devi with us.....I made the poor thing go on all the rides with my kids.

(I don't think she minded though)

Paige almost hurled on the tea cup ride, although you can't tell from this photo.

And after a VERY LONG day, it always feels good to get your feet rubbed, or your entire body.

Bryce could have kept feeding the Jiggle Foot machine quarters ALL day. 

He was obsessed.

I can't say that I blame him!

Friday night is also the night the 22nd annual Ugliest Dog Contest was held at the fair.  We missed it but here's the winner:

Princess Abby ~ a 4 year old, recently rescued, Chihuahua mix.

Her curved back and ever-squinting left eye won her the title and $1,000 dollars!  I think she's a cutie :)

Abby taking her red carpet victory walk.....

Abby's photo by Associated Press

I hope you get a chance to visit your own local fair :)

Happy Saturday!

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Ribbons and Smiles

Fair time is fun time.  And a time for ribbons (hopefully) and lots of smiles.

Our friend, Logan earned a Best in Show for her cavie (did I spell that right Logan?)

Participation ribbon for the Tractor Pull competition.

Go Go Go!

Bryce won a 1st place ribbon for his Educational 'How to Bake a Cake' Board.

"Hurry up and take the picture Mom.  Can we go on the rides now?"

Lego exhibits:  a robot.

Arrow display.

More Legos.

Happy Friday!  Cheers!

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Slumber Party

After a very long day at our local fair, Paige and Bryce wanted to invite their cousins, Leila and Cam over for a slumber party.  The cousins have been staying (motor home camping) at the fair because their older brother, Gavin is showing his Holstein heifer there. 

This could go really well OR just bad.  They were all tired, two of them are 3 years old and girls (need I say more?) and the boys are 5 and 7.

See what I mean?

"NO! Don't take my picture!!!"

Actually, they all did very well!   After a breakfast of waffles (special request from Cam), bacon, fruit and chocolate milk, I gave the girls pedicures.

And manicures.

Which made them very happy :)

Oh, and they were allowed to chew gum at 8 in the morning.

The aftermath.....only half of Paige's room.  But it was all worth it.  Great memories.

Boys are SO much easier in so many ways.

All that's required is food and plenty of it, a toilet and as a special treat, they were allowed to play Bryce's Nintendo DSi.  Which made them extremely happy :)

Happy Friday!  Cheers! Pin It

Behind the Scenes at a Colorado Cattle Feedlot

I have to be honest, when I first read the title of this article my initial thought was "Uggg, here we go again"....... a behind the scenes visit by a Vegan, to a cattle feedlot.  You see, farmers and most of agriculture often get a bad wrap when being depicted by the main stream media. So much so, that I feel the need to acknowledge any and all positive articles on this subject as I come across them. 

Ryan Andrews is a nutrition expert according to the folks at Precision Nutrition.  He has earned nearly every nutrition and exercise accreditation available.  He worked for six months to acquire an exclusive visit to one of Colorado’s largest cattle farming operations.

Would he tell a truthful, unbiased story?

You can decide for yourself.  Here is Ryan's article:


Cattle Feedlot: Behind The Scenes

by Ryan Andrews, June 23rd, 2010


Ryan Andrews is a nationally ranked bodybuilder from 1996-2001, Registered and Licensed Dietitian, Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach,  A Masters in Nutrition, A Masters in Exercise Physiology, John’s Hopkins trained expert coach, PN Lean Eating coach.


My trip to Magnum


My day at the cattle feedlot got off to a rough start. Maybe it’s because I wore my “Have You Hugged A Vegetarian Today Shirt.” Bad move on my part, I guess.


No, I’m just kidding. I didn’t wear my vegan shirt.


And my day at the Magnum Feedyard in Wiggins, Colorado got off to a great start.


It all began at a restaurant in Hudson, Colorado, called the Pepper Pod. That’s where I met two new friends: an animal science instructor and a student from Colorado State University, who escorted me up to Wiggins to get an exclusive tour of the Magnum Feedyard.


During the 75-minute drive, a lot was going through my mind.


For starters, this visit had been 6 months, and quite a few emails/phone calls, in the making.


You see, very few people in the nutrition world are ever allowed to visit feedlots. In fact, some of my favorite authors have written entire books about feedlots without ever being granted permission to see one in person. So I had to “work it” pretty hard to get this kind of access. And was really excited.


However, despite my enthusiasm for the opportunity, I was a little worried. I mean, everything I’d read about feedlots suggested that they’re horrible, dismal places where thousands of sick cows are crammed in tiny pens, being force-fed corn while standing in steaming piles of their own feces.


As someone concerned with animal welfare, what would I do if faced with this sight? Would I run for the gates, throw them open, and let those poor cows free? Was I man enough to do that? Would I just go home with my tail between my legs? Or would I see something totally different, totally unexpected?




Arriving at Magnum Feedyard


With all these emotional and philosophical thoughts running through my head, I wasn’t prepared for the first thought that hit me when we arrived at Magnum – one of the 14,000 beef cattle operations in Colorado.


“Oh, god, the smell.”


Yes, the first thing I noticed when I arrived was the smell. And no, it wasn’t fear. I smelled manure. I guess I should have expected it. After all, I was standing among 20,000+ steers and heifers. Duh, welcome to farming, Ryan!




The Magnum farm


In the U.S. there are 2.2 million farms. 98% of them meet the USDA definition of a “family farm.”


The USDA considers a “family farm” any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the operator and his/her relatives. Steve Gabel, president of the Colorado Livestock Association, owns Magnum, and runs it with his family.


So, Magnum fits this criterion and is thus considered a “family farm”.




This is me and Steve Gabel, owner of Magnum.

So if Steve’s is a “family farm,” what’s a “factory farm”?


Well, the term “factory farm” isn’t actually used in the agricultural community. So, in essence, it’s slang that was coined by skeptics of the cattle industry.


The agricultural community actually calls large animal feeding units “CAFOs.” CAFO means Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation. A CAFO has more than 1,000 animal units, and 1 beef cow = 1 animal unit.


For the record, 75% of all beef in the U.S. comes from CAFOs.


And, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, CAFOs “congregate animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures, fields, or on rangeland.”


So, Magnum fits the criterion of a CAFO. When it started in 1993, Magnum had 4,500 cattle. Now they have 22,000. And operations are managed with 8-13 employees (depending on the time of year).

Magnum houses 22,000 cattle


But, wait a minute! Magnum is a family farm. And Magnum is a factory farm. How can it be both?


Well, they were started and are run by a family. But they also congregate more than 22,000 beef cattle. So, they meet the definition for both categories.


Of course, that makes clean and tidy, black and white judgments about cattle operations harder to make. Trust me it’ll get harder in a minute.




What Magnum cattle eat


When animals arrive at Magnum, they are usually 7 – 9 months of age. During their first four days, they receive 100% grass feed to help maintain rumen health.


Wait a second! Don’t all feedlot cattle get 100% corn? With maybe a sprinkling of soy mixed in?


Uh, nope.


There are five different rations used at Magnum, comprised of seven ingredients, including corn, soy, alfalfa, straw, and wet grain distillers (by-products of the ethanol industry). And these feeds range from 0% corn to 50% corn.


Here are a few pics of the different feeds:
A wet distiller, corn-based.

One of the rations is corn-based.

One of the rations is grass-based.

Feed is delivered by a truck three times each day. And, interestingly, as noted above, corn doesn’t comprise more than 50% of any of the feed ration.


Wait, wait. What about all those reports of sick cows being stuffed with corn?




Well, folks, at Magnum anyway, there’s no such thing as an “all grain” cattle diet. In fact, the diet of the cattle at Magnum never exceeds 50% corn. And often, it’s much, much less.




This is the feed truck that makes its rounds three times per day.

This is where all the feed ingredients are mixed in the back of the truck.

As many animal nutrition experts know, too much grain in a cow’s diet can result in rumen acidosis. That is why, at Magnum, the animals’ diets are formulated by nutritionists bi-weekly. This helps them maintain the correct feed for a given pen of animals.


Of course, the goal at Magnum is to feed cattle efficiently. They want the biggest weight gain for the fewest pounds of feed, in the most economical way. And, at Magnum, they do a good job of efficiency. Cattle are normally kept on the feedlot until around 12 to 15 months of age. This means they’re kept for between 150 and 240 days. During this time they gain 500 to 600 pounds.


Per day at Magnum, the cost per head of cattle is $2.10. Grab you pen and paper folks, multiply $2.10 by 22,000 cattle. Lots of money, every day.


Growth-promoting hormones are used in feedlot cattle as it increases efficiency. These are naturally occurring hormones that are regularly metabolized by the body. Most cattle don’t get antibiotics. And if they do, they need it. Further, they won’t be sent to slaughter until 21 days after antibiotic administration, since it takes that long for the antibiotic to clear the system.




Organic feed


According to Magnum, organic feed doesn’t seem to increase meat quality or safety. Research doesn’t really support the idea either. But, organic feed does allow consumers another option (i.e. organic meat vs. non-organic meat). And organic farming practices may have some benefits for the planet.


Of course, in today’s farming climate, less than 1% of American cropland is certified organic. If a lot more was, it would require a lot more composted animal manure. Fortunately, Magnum is on the right track (with composting) if this pattern were to take hold.




Grass-Fed, Free-Range


Sure, some folks think grass-fed, free-range is better. But, as any good PN reader can attest, it’s a heckuva lot more expensive. And, at the end of the day, Magnum is competing for the protein food dollar. Mainstream America is currently buying conventionally fed meat from cattle, so, feedlots keep producing it.


It’s also important to know that if we continue to eat 200+ pounds of meat per person per year in the U.S., grass-fed isn’t really an option. There’s not enough land.


But it would be an option for meat eaters if we reduced overall meat consumption. Is that something our nation is willing to do? Maybe. In time. Right now, however, it doesn’t look like it.




What about E. coli?


E. coli (or Escherichia coli O157:H7) is a natural occurring pathogen in the digestive tract of cattle, but can be minimized through production practices, i.e. clean living conditions.


E. coli serogroups O26, O111, O145, and others have become a public health problem, accounting for 37,000 illnesses and 30 deaths in the U.S. alone.




Among critics of the “factory farm” model, there’s a large concern about E. coli contamination. Many suggest that feeding cattle a high grain-based diet can increase e-coli in the gut. And cross-contamination with meat makes for, not only sick animals, but sick people.




However, there doesn’t seem to be a relationship between feed and harmful E. coli contamination. Indeed, studies reveal no difference in E. coli O157:H7 prevalence or numbers between cattle fed grain vs. grass. And there are no studies that show superiority for one system vs. the other.


So it seems like this concern is more of a cleanliness issue, not a feed issue.




Cattle care


Speaking of cleanliness, Magnum wants the cattle to be clean and comfortable.




I know, I know, I can see my animal welfare comrades shaking their heads – - but think about it. From a profit standpoint, if animals aren’t comfortable, they aren’t going to eat. If they don’t eat, they don’t grow. If they don’t grow, they won’t be much use to the dude wanting to buy a big steak.


Lots of feedlot cattle were males born on dairy farms. You can tell them by their black and white color.


Also, technology is improving the way cattle are treated. Many cattle are tagged with identification and tracked.This tracking allows farmers to know a host of things like: the length of time the cattle have been there, their health history, their previous feed, their current feed needs, their current health, and any notable health or welfare concerns.


Magnum even has guys riding on horses around pens called, well, “pen riders,” who check cattle for problems. An animal nutritionist even comes on site every couple weeks to check how the cattle are feeding. If anything looks out of the ordinary, a session with the vet is likely. Sick animals are taken to a “hospital” pen and given care.


Newsflash: Let’s face it, most people in North America haven’t been to a doctor since their mom took them before high school graduation. Further, most humans acquire “feed” from the Cocoa Puff and Pop-Tart aisle.

My health care is better than yours.

Yes, what I’m trying to say is that Magnum Feedyard cattle receive better health care than many North Americans. They get regular vet appointments and a simple diet that is nutrient dense.

Ok, I think we can all agree the living conditions are debatable. But before you rag on feedlot health care, how do your habits compare?






Waste at Magnum


Magnum recently started composting manure and mortalities (i.e. cattle that don’t make it). It’s gotten more expensive to send deceased cattle to processing plants that manufacture pet foods, so this was the next best option.


Plus it’s more sustainable. And the cattle don’t end up standing around in piles of their own feces. Whew!




The Holiday Inn


Have you ever been to a Holiday Inn? That’s kind of like Magnum. They are a hotel for cattle. Profit increases as occupancy increases.


But there’s a slight difference. Upon checkout from the Holiday Inn you get a free newspaper, a mint, and a shuttle to the airport. When you checkout from Magnum, you get a one way shuttle to the slaughterhouse.


Nearly every week, a truck picks up cattle and transports them to a meat packing plant. This is where cattle are harvested and the carcasses fabricated. It’s important for the cattle to be transported quickly and calmly. The more stressed the animal, the lower the quality the meat.


95% of the steers and heifers from Magnum are sold to two packers, both in Colorado, JBS Swift in Greeley and Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan. The meat from these cows makes its way nationwide.






Conclusions


I was tired of talking about, reading about, and hearing about feedlots. Especially when many of the accounts were from people who had never been to a feedlot in their lives.


So, when I was given this sort of rare access, I jumped at the chance to check one out for myself.

The sign you see when leaving Magnum.


And, I have to say it. If my experience at Magnum is representative of other cattle farms, all those accounts of the dismal, depressing, disastrous cattle conditions seem to be exaggerated.






No, I’m not going to start eating meat again.


However, if I did eat meat, my visit to Magnum would have made me feel great about eating non-organic, non-grass-fed beef. Seriously. I can’t imagine the quality of meat would be substantially better with organic and grass-fed. Nor can I imagine the living conditions would be substantially better for the cattle.


Now, to be clear, we don’t require meat in our diet. And I don’t think we should be using cows for food, doesn’t matter if the cattle are kept on a feedlot or chilling in a waterbed listening to John Tesh. But that’s my own value system and I’m well aware that 97% of people in the U.S. eat meat on a regular basis.


However, considering the amount we procreate in the U.S. (there’s a birth every 8 seconds and a death every 12 seconds); and the amount of meat we eat (222 pounds per person, per year – not including marine life); and the small amount of money we’re willing to spend on food (we spend 9.6% of our disposable income on food, the lowest in the world. India spends 53%, Venezuela 34%, Italy 26%, Japan 19%, France 16%); feedlots have it right.


People want meat. And Magnum’s feedlot system is dialed in. They’re producing safe and cost-effective meat in, arguably, the most cattle-conscious way (short of opening up those pens and letting them run free). Rock on Magnum.










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References


Disposable income spend on food: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/CPIFoodAndExpenditures/Data/table7.htm


EPA (2007). “Animal Feeding Operations-NPDES Frequently Asked Questions.” Retrieved May 2, 2010 from http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/faqs.cfm?program_id=7


USDA ERS (2009). “Farm Household Economics and Well-Being: Glossary.” Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.ers.usda.gov/BRIEFING/WellBeing/glossary.htm


Marler Blog. http://www.marlerblog.com/2010/04/articles/lawyer-oped/the-usda-should-declare-that-all-illness-causing-shigatoxin-producing-e-coli-are-adulterants-and-ban-them-from-the-meat-supply/


Dimitri C & Effland A (2005). Milestones in U.S. Farming and Farm Policy Amber Waves. Washington, D.C., USDA Economic Research Service and USDAERS (2010). Structural Characteristics, for All Farms, by Farm Typology, 2008. Agricultural Resource Management Survey, USDA Economic Research Service.


Mead PS, et al. Food-related illness and death in the United States. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no5/mead.htm


USDA-National Ag Statistic See: www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/st99_1_012_013.pdf 12,098,990 out of 16,098,910 are fed in operations greater than 1,000 head, or 75 %. The remaining balance are either grazed or raised on smaller feedlots with capacity under 1,000 head.










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Acknowledgements


Thanks to Travis Hoffman (http://ansci.colostate.edu/), Steve Gabel (http://magnumfeedyard.com), Julie Moore (http://cobeef.com), and Morgan Gaither. Many people in the nutrition world are never allowed to view a feedlot. Travis, Steve, Julie, and Morgan were all very accommodating, and I was treated with the utmost respect.

____________________________________________________________________________


I want to thank Ryan for a very informative, well written, unbiased view of a cattle feedlot. 

Will we see this story aired in mainstream media circuit?  I hope so.

Happy Thursday!

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'The Woods' Behind the Lake & MORE Baby Barn Owls

Yet another work morning with Dominic, the kids and I drove across the street with him to the heifer barn out behind Stafford Lake.  This is the barn on the other half of our ranch that sits across the street behind Stafford Lake.  At this barn and pasture are the heifers, or big calves that are rotated out of the calf barn on the main part of  the ranch.  Once the calves reach the age of five months or so, they are moved to this area that we call 'The Woods'.

This is the barn they walk into to eat their alfalfa and grain.  They also have many acres on which to graze upon.

This is why we call this area 'The Woods'.  It's beautiful, heavily wooded in areas and very peaceful.  This photo is taken just outside the backside of the barn.  I love coming here....it's very peaceful.

This is also a perfect picnic area.

The heifers enjoy it also.  We typically have up to 80 heifers on this acreage of the ranch, all varying between the ages of 5 months to 14 months.  At 14 months they are ready for breeding and will be moved back across the street to the main part of the ranch.

Our two assistants are helping with the feeding in the morning. 

And yet another set of baby Barn Owls is found!   I spotted three babies in this nest.  When we walked in, both the mother and father flew out of the barn and into the trees to the back side of the barn to wait for our departure.

I'll keep you posted on these guys as well!  The babies in the first nest that I posted about, just below our house, are all doing well with the two older owls flying and the two younger owls still confined to their nest.

Happy Wednesday!

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