Monday was here again and classes kicked off for the day. The morning was as per usual until Livestock and Meat Evaluation Class. Prior to Spring Break we had been discussing live pig evaluation and estimating back fat, loin eye area and weight. Today we were able to step next door into the chillers to see nine pork carcases for evaluation. We spent some time making estimates before reviewing what we had said. Although I have previously judged pork carcases, I hadn't combined carcase evaluation with live evaluation so it was an interesting learning experience. Later that afternoon a group of students and I met with Dr Nichols and Dr Grieger (Reproduction professor) at the Kansas Artificial Breeding Service Unit (KABSU) for night one of AI school. I have completed an AI certification in Australia but the learning techniques were different and the information was great. We began with going over basic steps in AI and the requirements for completing the task. After a bit of group discussion, we headed out to the AI Barn at KABSU to get stuck into some cows (literally!). KABSU is extremely well set up for AI'ing cows, which was perfect for teaching the AI school. There are two rows of 'chutes' so that around 20 cows can be restrained at once, allowing every student to be practicing simultaneously. Using an AI gun and plastic sleeve, we practiced getting into the cows, correctly identifying the reproductive tract and trying to pass the AI gun through. Although I was not too flash at the whole process, it was great to feel around the internal 'landmarks' of the cows and to get the general idea again. Once we'd all had a few attempts, we packed up and called it a night.
Tuesday morning I attended my Animal Breeding class and then made my way to my Beef Systems class. In Beef Systems, we had Dr Ken Odde talk to us about leasing arrangements for beef producers. Dr Odde's family lease almost all the land they require for their cow herd and pride themselves on a simple but effective process for securing and maintaining leases. The way the relationship worked between the two parties is not considered conventional in terms of doing more work than is required, but it seems to be the key to long term business relationships. I had a short break between class and day two of AI school before I was back out at KABSU. Tonight we went over storage and handling of semen straws and practiced the process of loading AI guns. Once we were confident with this, we moved out to the cows to give it a go. It was drilled into us that although the AI act in itself is important, the handling of semen can sabotage the success of the AI if done incorrectly. After a few practice attempts, we packed up for the day.
Wednesday was an eventful day with class, shopping and AI school. Livestock and Meat Evaluation class provided the most fun for the morning where all the students wandered into Weber Arena to assess sheep. The first step however, was to catch the sheep from a round yard which provided a few good laughs. Once we had the sheep restrained, we made our way through estimating fat on each animal. It was a good opportunity to learn something about sheep! After class, I met with a classmate for a bit of shopping to kill some time. For the size of Manhattan, the shopping is surprisingly good. So, after doing some damage to the wallet, we met with some other girls for icecream at the Dairy Bar at Call Hall on campus which some say is the best icecream they've ever had. I then jumped in with the other girls for another night of AI school. Tonight we learned about synchronising the estrous cycle and the effectiveness of different protocols and drugs used. We got into some cows after that and worked to get better at all the processes we had learnt so far. Although not the last night of the school, it was the last night for me, so I tried to get in as much practice as I could. After a hectic few nights, I finished AI school - thank you K-State!
I'd been excited about Thursday all week and spent the morning getting organised to meet with Heather Bruning of Bruning Farms, whom I'd met in Nebraska the previous week. I jumped in the car with Heather and we made our way to Dodge City, Kansas. The Brunings had been kind enough to offer for me to come with them to Dodge City to attend the annual US Premium Beef (USPB) producer group dinner that followed the annual meeting. On arrival into Dodge City, we had a quick change before we headed to dinner. Although I didn't know too many people, we were lucky enough to sit on the 'young' table where I met Cole, Ransom and Kayla Gardiner (Cole's wife), as well as said hi to two of the four Gardiner interns who were sitting on our table - a great group! We listened to a guest speaker discuss trends of the US beef industry, as well as the influence US Premium Beef has had on the industry in a very insightful presentation. After dinner, Heather and I went for a quick drink at her friends' brewery in town before we headed for bed.
Friday morning I was up early to meet with a group of USPB producers to tour the National Beef abattoir in Dodge City (thanks again to Bruning Farms). Despite moving quickly through sections of the plant in order to dodge tornado drills, it was an eye-opening experience. The end product is essentially the same as Australia (despite some value-add differences and cut specs), but the process to get there was varied in some cases. The order of breaking down the carcase was very interesting, and the flow of product throughout the plant was also somewhat different. The most modern addition to the plant is the carton storage which is all computerised and was very cool to see in action. Another difference was that all 6000 head of cattle to be killed each day arrived at the plant on the day of kill. Although that could be considered a logistical nightmare in some cases, because all cattle are grain fed, the supply is unwavering and uncomplicated. Following the plant tour, I met up with Heather for some lunch before we hit the road to Ashland, Kansas. The destination was Gardiner Angus Ranch (GAR), one of the biggest and best Angus ranches in the US. On arrival at the ranch, we met with Reiss (Heather's husband) and Cole and Kayla Gardiner (who I met the previous night). We toured through the new Gardiner Marketing Centre and look over some amazing data to truly back up why these people are the best at what they do. Over 20 years, weaning weights had improved approximately 500 pounds and the cattle grading US Prime (MSA 5 Star) had increased phenomenally. We also looked around the 'lunch room' (big enough for a few hundred people on sale day) at all the old catalogue images, number of bulls sold and average price that year - it was a really interesting way to see fluctuations in the market as well as the growing success of Gardiner's. Then, all five of us jumped in the car and went to look at some of the 1250 head being sold in a few weeks at the annual Spring sale. The cattle had just finished being clipped and looked amazing. We looked at bulls, donor cows, bred heifers and cows and calves, where Cole and Kayla pointed out a few that they saw with great potential. Once we'd finished looking at the sale cattle, we were in the car again to find G A R Prophet in the paddock or 'trap'. Prophet, an 11 year old bull, has just returned home after a lifetime in a semen collection facility as Gardiner's top semen sire. Over his lifetime, he has sold over 150 000 units of semen with almost 50 000 registered progeny in the system - talk about influencing the Angus breed! I think he was definitely enjoying retirement! We then toured a few of the facilities, all of which appeared very functional and extremely efficient, before we said our goodbyes. Heather and I then hit the road back to Manhattan, arriving around 11pm. I was straight to bed after an exciting but full-on few days!
Saturday was no slower than the previous few days! I made my way out to the K-State Purebred Unit where I was beginning day one of my preparation for the Little American Royal (LAR). LAR is an internal university show for students to participate in the preparation and showing of livestock species. You can choose to show goats, sheep, beef cattle, dairy cattle or pigs. I thought the LAR would be great to be a part of and signed up to show a beef heifer. Today at the Purebred Unit I met my Angus heifer for the first time and we got straight into prep work. We started by haltering and tying up all heifers (around 25 head) in small yards where we left them to settle for a few hours. Then, we spent time desensitising them through brushing, patting and moving around them. Once we felt somewhat confident, we started to untie and attempt to walk the heifers. I was very proud of my heifer who did surprisingly well for her first time, while other people were getting pulled around the pen on the end of the rope. Finally we called it a day when it was clear both heifers and people had had enough!
Saturday night was another great time where a bunch of girls and I hit Aggieville, where I learnt to two-step and played corn throw - a nice way to end an eventful week!
