Just back from a trip to Cheyenne Wyoming.  Oh my, was it dry!  I attended the Range Beef Cow Symposium, which is held every other year.  This year the emphasis was on drought management.  Evidently, there are parts of Wyoming and the Dakotas, which are extremely dry.

Good news for us, the current weather patterns will keep us in normal precipitation and a mild winter.

We heard from a National Cattlemen’s lobbyist, and there has been a 90 day waiver on the Electronic Logging system for livestock haulers.  This device fits on newer diesel engines and eliminates the need for manual log books.  The problem is the amount of time, one can operate (drive) and then the amount of rest.   Sometimes, this just doesn’t work for livestock haulers, who have a load of animals on.

At any rate, the 90 day waiver, will allow all those involved to figure out how to make this work for livestock haulers.  I was pleased to hear something good coming out of Washington.

Research of the University of Wyoming, on Modified Live vaccine over the killed virus vaccine was presented.  This research sort of fans the flames on the debate over which is better.  I know what our veterinarian recommends and what I’ve always thought was the best, but this research with a lot of cattle, makes me question?  Question enough to do more research into the topic.

We also heard research results from a trial in Oregon, the stocking rate was 40 acres per pair!  That sort of makes you question your hearing!  Also, makes you a bit thankful of where your ancestors decided to stop the wagon!