August 28, 2007

In this issue …
Tonight’s webcast to discuss adding value
Board completes summer agenda
Nominating Committee names candidates
States awarded coop funds
Visions Quest enrollments due Saturday
Fall EPDs available
Update cow inventories before recording calves
It’s time for a new password
Bid on Web-site sponsorships until Sept. 11
Get ready for MOE shows
Rules are online
Members support service plan
Start using NALF’s street address
Help reach local newspapers
What’s news?
Limousin sales, events

The North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) will conduct another information-packed producer-outreach webcast at 7 p.m. MDT today, Aug. 28. The topic will be “Value-Added Production ,” and it will be an interactive discussion about getting the most from your investment in Limousin seedstock. Bovitrak is sponsoring the event.

To participate, you must register with DVAuction.com beforehand. When it is time for the webcast, return to the DVAuction home page and click the “View” button next to “North American Limousin Foundation” under “Today’s Events.” Or use the “Producer-Outreach Webcasts” link on the NALF home page.

Tonight’s webcast is open to all registered DVAuction users. NALF membership is not required for participation so invite your friends, family, neighbors and customers to log in.

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The NALF Board of Directors conducted its summer meeting Aug. 22–23 in Denver, Colo. Year-end reports from staff members and budget discussions dominated the agenda.

The fall “Members Memo,” which will be published in the October issue of Limousin World, will outline some of the key actions. Look for a link to the list of approved motions on the member site’s home page in the coming weeks.

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The Nominating Committee has slated its candidates for the NALF Board.

• Lance Sennett, Waynetown, Ind. (second term)
• Jerry Wulf, Morris, Minn. (second term)
• Mike Hall, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
• Brian Skaggs, Lexington, Okla.
• Tom Vaughn, Cavalier, N.D.

NALF members can send at-large nominations to the NALF office until Oct. 15. For at-large nominees to qualify, signed letters of support from at least 15 different founding, lifetime or active annual members are required. (An example form letter is available in the “Limousin Library” section of the NALF Web site.) Identification of all nominees by Oct. 15 will enable NALF to publicize their candidacies and include their names on the official ballot.

To make voting easier and more inclusive, those unable to attend the Annual Meeting in Denver, Colo, Jan. 7, 2008, may write the NALF office to request absentee ballots until Dec. 1. The office will not issue any after that date. Once members complete and sign their absentee ballots, they will mail them to NALF’s official accountant.

The changes to the nominations and voting processes replace the former system of nominations from the floor and proxy votes. The Board members invite ongoing input as they evaluate the changes’ effectiveness throughout the upcoming election cycle.

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State associations that applied for marketing assistance soon will receive notification from the NALF office concerning their approved funds for 2007–2008. To receive their reimbursements, state associations must provide copies of the original invoices, tear sheets or broadcast schedules, and copies of their payments. NALF will accept split bills only when arrangements are made with the home office at least 60 days before the marketing event, publication date or first broadcast.

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Cattle producers still have until Saturday, Sept. 1, to join the Limousin breed’s latest bout to collect data for genetic evaluation and research while showing how its genetics generate greater returns.

Visions Quest (VQ) Round 3 continues to follow up the Limousin Visions Symposium, where NALF members set breed-improvement and marketing directives in December 2004. Limousin breeders and their commercial customers can join the project by sending cattle and learning more about cattle feeding and carcass merit as they track actual animal performance. VQ Round 3 will build upon the first two cattle-feeding and carcass-discovery projects in providing another real-world lesson about producing industry-friendly seedstock and feeder cattle.

Enrollees must deliver all cattle to the Colorado State University (CSU) research feedyard near Fort Collins between Nov. 1 and 15. NALF will help coordinate transportation as much as possible, and early enrollment will facilitate that effort.

Updated program guidelines and the enrollment form are available in the “Programs” section of the NALF Web site or by contacting Bo Sexson in the NALF office.

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The new expected progeny differences (EPDs) from the fall 2007 international Limousin genetic evaluation now are available through various features of the NALF Web site. In addition, members can request a whole-herd EPD report from the NALF office free of charge.

The fall evaluation also includes the Proven Sire Trait Leaders and Focus Dams lists. The entire publication is available for download in portable document format (PDF) from the Web site’s “Programs” 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.

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Before requesting preprinted cow-inventory birth-report forms or using the online animal-recording tool, members should update their active-cow inventories. Keeping inventories up-to-date contributes valuable culling information to the NALF herdbook and minimizes the number of unwanted animals in search results. Update inventories using the online tool or the multiple-application form, then return culled animals’ registration certificates to the NALF office.

When you use online recording, it is better to submit registrations after entering all animals rather than entering one animal at a time. That will help keep contemporary groups intact.

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If you activated your secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site more than a year ago, it is a good idea to change your password now, especially if you have shared your old one with someone else. Now that online animal transfers are possible, changing your password every 12 months or so is even more important in protecting against hackers.

The best passwords are a combination of letters, numbers and symbols that appear to be a random string of characters. Visit the Microsoft Web site to check your password strength.

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To provide continuous marketing opportunities for its members and their partners in allied industry, NALF is offering sponsorship opportunities on its Web site, which gets more than 13,000 page views per month. Beginning in October, two sponsor spots will be available for four-month blocks, which will sell via an online “Country Auction” (similar to eBay). Bidding has been extended through Sept. 11.

NALF also is accepting sponsors for the Partners e‑newsletter. Starting in September, each issue will offer three sponsor spots. Two-month blocks for each spot will sell for $250 apiece on a “first come, first served” basis.

Complete details concerning all of NALF’s online sponsorship opportunities are available by clicking the “Marketing Reach” link on the association’s home page. Direct questions to Brad Parker in the NALF office.

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The Limousin shows at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., will be Oct. 18. Jerry Adamson of Cody, Neb., will sort the junior entries; and Randy Daniel of Colbert, Ga., will judge the open show. Entries are due Saturday, Sept. 1.

The junior show at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky., will be Nov. 11. The open show will be Nov. 14, and Terry Burks of Bowling Green, Ky., will be the judge. NAILE entries are due Oct. 1.

To receive Medal of Excellence (MOE) points, all cattle must have the appropriate performance data submitted to NALF. Bulls older than 400 days on the show date must have a positive breeding soundness exam (BSE) and semen test. Females in the senior yearling and winter yearling classes after Sept. 1 must show with calves at side or have proof of pregnancy from a licensed, nonowner veterinarian.

Send all data and direct all MOE questions to Lorrie Taylor in the NALF office.

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The complete rules for the MOE show program now are posted in the “Programs” section of the NALF Web site. You will find different versions for the major MOE shows, “Level 2” shows and Lim‑Flex® shows.

Also note there are some significant changes to the cow-calf classes.

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Those who participate in the annual member-service 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 quarterly Bottom Line newsletter for themselves and their bull customers. While those who have not paid this year’s assessment yet have had those benefits suspended, they may reactivate them by submitting their fees anytime during the plan year.

To generate additional resources for commercial marketing, the NALF Board of Directors approved a voluntary checkoff. NALF automatically will bill the $4 per head fee to participating member accounts when animals are registered. 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.

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NALF has decided it is time to phase out its post-office (PO) box and simply use its physical address. Although the association will continue to accept mail there for a while, update your address book now and start using the following.

NORTH AMERICAN LIMOUSIN FOUNDATION
7383 S ALTON WAY STE 100
CENTENNIAL CO  80112-2339

For those who are wondering, no, NALF’s home office has not moved. But instead of being “rural Englewood,” the property now is part of the city of Centennial. While you are erasing the PO box, go ahead and note that change, too.

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In the near future, NALF will send localized news releases about Limousin Inventory Management System (LIMS) enrollments, the sires and dams in the fall international Limousin genetic evaluation, and the results of the recently concluded Visions Quest Round 2 cattle-feeding and carcass-discovery project. To make sure your local newspapers get such information, send their e‑mail addresses to Brad Parker in the NALF office.

When you send those e‑mail addresses, be sure to include your membership number or herd prefix. Also provide the publication’s name, city and state.

It is best to call the publication first and ask which address should receive news releases. Sending them to the wrong people – webmasters, advertising sales representatives, circulation managers and such – is the shortest route to the trash. And, to be clear, NALF needs an e‑mail address (something that looks like “name@publication.com”) not just a Web-site address.

Thanks for your help in developing NALF’s database of local media contacts.

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NALF has issued the following news releases since the last issue of Partners:

• Aug. 13 – Limousin Junior Association Bestows Honorary Membership
• Aug. 14 – Limi Boosters Name Scholars
• Aug. 14 – Limi Boosters Elect Officers for 2007–2008
• Aug. 15 – Sioux Falls to Host 2008 National Junior Limousin Show
• Aug. 21 – Limousin Releases Fall EPDs
• Aug. 21 – Focus Dams Top Limousin Breed

Limousin news releases are archived in the Web site’s “What’s New” section. NALF encourages its members to share them with their local news outlets.

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Aug. 28 • NALF Webcast: Value-Added Production (sponsored by Bovitrak)
Sept. 3 • Pinegar Limousin Big, Big, Big Cow Sale, Springfield, MO
Sept. 5 • ROM’N Limousin Annual Club Calf Sale, Arlington, SD
Sept. 8 • Seedstock Showcase Sale, Burbank, OH
Sept. 9 • East Central Oklahoma Annual Sale, Shawnee, OK
Sept. 15 • O’Brien Farms Quarter Horse Dispersal, Pineville, MO
Sept. 15 • Deatsman Farm–Sennett Cattle Co. Third Private Treaty Sale, Leesburg, IN
Sept. 15 • Arkansas Limousin Organization Limousin Fall Select Sale, Ozark, AR
Sept. 16 • Jones–Benson Farms Annual Sale, La Monte, MO
Sept. 18 • NALF Webcast: Visions Quest Round 3 Preview (sponsored by Critical Insights)
Sept. 19 • Potterosa Limousin Mature Cow Herd Dispersion, Redwood Falls, MN
Sept. 22 • Wies Limousin Ranch Maternal Magic Production Sale, Columbia, MO
Sept. 22 • Limousin Breeders of the Carolinas Fall Sale, Anderson, SC
Sept. 23 • Heart of Oklahoma Seedstock and Production Sale, Shawnee, OK
Sept. 25 • Coleman’s HC Ranch Spring Cow Herd Dispersion, Missoula, MT
Sept. 25 • NALF Webcast: DNA, Data Collection and Online Recording (members only; sponsored by MMI Genomics)
Sept. 29 • Vorthmann Limousin Focus On Family Values V Sale, Treynor, IA
Sept. 29 • Deer Valley Farm Fall Production Sale, Fayetteville, TN
Sept. 29 • Tulsa State Fair Open Limousin Show, Tulsa, OK
Sept. 29 • World Beef Expo Open Limousin Show, West Allis, WI
Oct. 1 • Express Ranches Rancher’s Bull Sale and Commercial Female Sale, Yukon, OK
Oct. 2 • NALF Webcast: Breed Improvement (members only)
Oct. 6 • Tubmill Creek Farms The Crossing Sale, New Florence, PA
Oct. 6 • Quail Ridge–Jepson Limousin Joint Production Sale, Bowling Green, KY
Oct. 6 • Second SEE Performance Genetics and Feeds Genetic Improvement Sale, Clinton, NC
Oct. 6 • Keystone International Livestock Expo Open Limousin Show, Harrisburg, PA
Oct. 6 • Texas Limousin Ass’n Sale, Industry, TX
Oct. 7 • Kentucky Limousin Breeders Ass’n Fall Sale, Richmond, KY
Oct. 7 • Tulsa State Fair Junior Limousin Show, Tulsa, OK
Oct. 9 • NALF Webcast: Nutrition
Oct. 13 • Olson–Dietz Limousin Annual Club Calf Sale, Russell, KS
Oct. 13 • Pride of the Pasture II Female Sale, Omemee, ON
Oct. 13 • Missouri State Sale, Sedalia, MO
Oct. 13 • The Source Sale II, Stanford, KY
Oct. 14 • Seedstock Bonanza Sale, Marietta, OK