End of a Legacy-MSU Hereford Dispersal

[Bi-Lane Livestock]

Here is the link to the End of a Legacy Hereford disperal at MSU

http://www.hereford.org/static/salesCatalogs/michiganstate2012/index.html

Great cattle and a good read about what the program was.

Speaking as a former Beef Barn employee, MSU alumni and current cattle breeder this is a absolute shame what the current department head and administrators are doing to this legacy.  This in part with their other total non-regard to "good livestock and good livestock students" will be the slow end to MSU as a attraction to good animal science youth.  So much time in planning and breeding this program for uninformed under appreciating "leaders" to destroy.  Truly sad......

 

[Dozer45]

The Hereford wold has taken a couple hard hits this fall with the end of Star Lake and MSU's cattle herds. Makes me sad

 

[knabe]

wonder what mr. ritchie thinks.

 

[MRW]

The Hereford wold has taken a couple hard hits this fall with the end of Star Lake and MSU's cattle herds. Makes me sad

Really sad to see 2 what I consider high profile herds going out at one of the highest points for the breed in my lifetime (last 20 years give or take a few).  I was at Michigan State for the Hereford jr. PRIDE Conference this fall, and it's a great facility with a lot of history, and very impressive sale offering.  Just a shame to see it all split up.

At the same time, sales this fall have been GREAT, so maybe there are some breeders who can step up and fill the gaps Star Lake and Michigan State are going to leave.  Hoffman, Colyers, and some others will step up even more than they already have and make their mark.

 

[CMAHerefords]

They are having a "pretty much" dispersal but they arent selling any eggs or semen?

 

[flacowman]

My livestock judging coach here at UF just came from MSU and he hates it.  It really is a sad day when an administrative staff completely loses sight of what it is to be an ag school

 

[jagerbeef]

The board of directors of MSU is letting them keep 10 of the lower end herfords to use as recips.  That way they can still have kids show at Denver and NAILE. 

 

[DL]

Here is a letter written by Dr Janice Swanson, the Chair of the Animal Science Department at Michigan State University, to Melissa Hart who writes a column in the Farmers Advance "Truth from the trenchs" , is a diary farmer, and is an MSU alum. The letter was written in response to Melissa's column on the Hereford Sale at MSU. It does shed some light on the complexities of the issue at MSU and thru out the country. Nothing is ever as simple as it appears

I am writing to respond to your concerns regarding the sale of our herd of Hereford cattle.
October 15, 2012was indeed a sad day for us at Michigan State University (MSU) and for many of our retired faculty, alumni and stakeholders and I understand why some question MSU’s commitment to production animal agriculture.

What has been lost in the conversation is why we have had to take such measures; the importance of developing constructive discussions about why leaders and faculty members in colleges of agriculture nationwide are worried; and why animal science departments, not just MSU, are experiencing severe cut-backs. In fact state and federal budget cuts to agricultural research and education have closed two colleges of agriculture in the United State. For those that remain, funding cuts have caused departments of animal science to close animal facilities. What happened in Michigan?

In 2011 the state of Michigan cut the higher education budget by 15%.  Although these cuts may sound small,they had huge impacts in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at MSU. The cuts to AgBioResearch and MSUE lines are both absolute and cumulative over time. Most citizens and stakeholders are not aware that these budget impacts are unique to our College. These cuts limited the dollars available to the CANR to support our programs and personnel.  Only one of the three lines, the CANR general fund, can receive the offsets of tuition increases. The other two (AgBioResearch and MSUE) lines,which represent nearly 75% of the CANR budget, do not receive tuition offsets.

The cuts of the last fiscal year challenged us, as those funds would no longer be available to run the Department of Animal Science and its programs.In total, the Department of Animal Science lost nearly one-third of its operating budget.

The magnitude of these cuts was shared in a transparent manner with staff and faculty, our Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and many of our commodity groups. As you can imagine, the cuts were a significant blow to the Department of Animal Science and resulted in the lay-off of many staff, affected two specialist positions, and caused reductions in operations. We are not alone, however, Oregon State and the University of Nebraska recently closed their dairies; Colorado State University leadership decidedthey could only afford to focus on the most relevant species produced in its state. In 1992 the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)  amendment passed by the legislature limited state funding to Colorado public higher education to 19% with further reductions to 10% in subsequent years. There is cause for deep concern.

If the United States (and its citizens) want to remain a major force in agriculture and food production and maintain a level of food security that does not put our citizens at risk it, we will need to get the  attentionof Congress (and at the local level our legislature) to identify funding as a priority so that agriculture and food production is not taken for granted. We will need all the talent we can develop to address the challenges of growing and provisioning food as our world population continues to grow. As a result of these concerns department chairs and heads of U.S. animal, dairy and poultry science departments have formed a new organization called the National Association for the Advancement of Animal Science to ensure that those conducting research, teaching and extension/outreach in animal agriculture have a voice in Washington, D.C., alongside our colleagues in the plant sciences.To read more about the association, visit http://animalscience.tamu.edu/2012/07/20/national-association-to-advocate-for-research-funding-of-animal-sciences/.

There are other perceptions that require further clarification.  The MSU Beef Cow-Calf Teaching and Research Center will not be closed. Our Hereford herd was reduced based on recommendations by the manager and a former faculty coordinator of the unit with agreement by our affected faculty. I stand by their recommendations that were based on available resources, the need to reduce cattle numbers, and the ability to market and manage such a genetically superior herd with the loss of two principle positions to lay-offs. We have retained our purebred Angus herd and kept valuable preserved Hereford embryos and semen along with the small group of Herefords.We are grateful to those who purchased our cattle. We are currently working with faculty and stakeholders to determine needs, and set goals and priorities for the unit in teaching, research and extension/outreach with respect to beef cattle production and management systems.Our dedication to the beef industry and our students has not wavered.

Although we are living with the new budget reality, we have not stopped looking forward.  We will continue to work to strengthen all of our animal science programs and to continue many academic and extracurricular activities that students have enjoyed. We have been grateful to our alumni and commodity groups who have generously contributed to make experiences such as competing on judging teams a reality for our students.  Our student enrollment is strong and continues to grow despite the set-backs we have recently faced. We look forward to working with our stakeholders to discover new venues that will enable us to offer a variety of options and experiences for our students in the Department of Animal Science. The support of our alumni, stakeholders and students in weathering this storm is appreciated.Brighter days are ahead.

I am accessible by email or phone if you have any questions regarding the future direction of MSU’s Department of Animal Science.

Thank you for remaining a Spartan!

 

[Bi-Lane Livestock]

Lots of falsities and damage control in that letter.  The implication that the manager and former faculty coordinator (Dr. Hawkins) suggested the Hereford herd be sold is complete BS.  The fact remains that there was certain vendettas against the purebred beef barn with certain people influencing Dr. Swanson, why did no other farms have significant cuts like this and the HORSE PROGRAM and barn has had added monies to there budget.  One of those advising Dr. Swanson should answer that...what makes me even more sick is that she talks about budget cuts ,which are real, however the same day as the sale there was a dedication to the new poultry barn just constructed.  Those responsible can try to do damage control as much as they want but those in the know are even more discusted by it.  Watch closely as the good livestock kids leave and new ones go elsewhere.

 

[DL]

Lots of falsities and damage control in that letter.  The implication that the manager and former faculty coordinator (Dr. Hawkins) suggested the Hereford herd be sold is complete BS.  The fact remains that there was certain vendettas against the purebred beef barn with certain people influencing Dr. Swanson, why did no other farms have significant cuts like this and the HORSE PROGRAM and barn has had added monies to there budget.  One of those advising Dr. Swanson should answer that...what makes me even more sick is that she talks about budget cuts ,which are real, however the same day as the sale there was a dedication to the new poultry barn just constructed.  Those responsible can try to do damage control as much as they want but those in the know are even more discusted by it.  Watch closely as the good livestock kids leave and new ones go elsewhere.

I am an MSU alum and I certainly do not agree with everything they do or have done over the past decades in the face of huge across campus budget cuts but I can tell you that there is not one big pot of money that gets divided up - there are many many ear marked little pots that come from all over including alums. Those various pots can only be used for specific things

For example when the pavilion was built it was noted that the draft horse people spend a big chunk of change to put up tents every year - hence the notion of the south barn emerged - discussions took place and WE - groups from MICHIGAN'S animal ag, including the MI Cattlemen's association, donated so much money each year for 10 years to build the south barn - we paid for that barn which is now used annually by various horse and cattle shows, sales etc - Imagine how unhappy WE would have been had the chicken people said "we want a new barn and we are going to take your south barn money to build it" - IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. So while there may be money to open a new chicken barn that is not money that can be diverted to save the Herefords. I have no idea if the horse program or horse barn got more money - I do know that they get more students than the other animal ag programs and that money is tied to enrollment. I also know that they no longer stable the majority of the horses at the horse barn to save costs and have sold quite a few horses both registered breeding stock and school horses. We only think we were affected because that is where our heart is - but it is short sighted - everyone - on campus, MSUE, and alums - have been affected by the changes forced by the budget cuts

Dr Swanson's goal with all the budget cuts was to keep the farms - all the farms - and so far that has been accomplished. MSU has 4 beef facilities - PPB - which will continue to operate - different but still there - BCRC (Beef Teaching and Research) across the street and 2 BEEF experiment stations - one in the UP and one at Lake City which is primarily Red Angus and looking at rotational grazing and grass fed beef. We still have the dairy, the sheep barn, and the horse barn, and the swine facility. If we to look at the economic impact of different aspects of animal agriculture on Michigan's economy beef would NOT be on top - it would be dairy and equine - yet we have FOUR university beef facilities

With the huge budget cuts departments and colleges all over campus have been merged or eliminated all together - the music therapy program is GONE - others programs have been moved to different colleges or faculty put in other somewhat related places - we still have all the farms, they are all different than they were but they are there. PBB survived and will continue to exist - it will be different. Animal agriculture in Michigan is different than it was. We can do what people do which is piss and moan and carry on about how terrible this was (and in some senses it was) or we can realize that it happened - change can be a *itch - and maybe think of things and ways to use the things we have to make an impact - it is our choice 

 

[DL]

The board of directors of MSU is letting them keep 10 of the lower end herfords to use as recips.  That way they can still have kids show at Denver and NAILE. 

BTW that is not accurate and your information is incorrect  - MSU kept 10 Hereford females - most if not all are 2012 heifer calves- including an ET calf from the high selling 32N Keepsake cow sired by Bailout 144U, a Bailout daughter out of the Wrangler 48J cow, Dixie 33Z sired by Boyd Worldwide 9050 out of the Online Dixie 44W cow, Queen 39Z a Worldwide daughter out of a BR Channing cow etc - a little bit of all the good genetics. The retained Herefords ARE NOT as you say "lower end" and will not be used as recips

MSU also retained Hereford embryos, 50 (not sure of the exact number) registered Angus cows and some number of recips. Pure Bred Beef will continue to be a teaching facility on campus

 

[sue]

I worked at the MSU PB Beef as a student :
My favorite Herf  cow families were: Rivals and  MSU Knight Riders granddam?  I dont recall seeing any of these families cataloged?  I am I really that old ... 

 

[DL]

I worked at the MSU PB Beef as a student :
My favorite Herf  cow families were: Rivals and  MSU Knight Riders granddam?  I dont recall seeing any of these families cataloged?  I am I really that old ... 

sue - it is possible that that is true, but you are not alone  (clapping) LOL

 

[Bi-Lane Livestock]

The board of directors of MSU is letting them keep 10 of the lower end herfords to use as recips.  That way they can still have kids show at Denver and NAILE. 

BTW that is not accurate and your information is incorrect  - MSU kept 10 Hereford females - most if not all are 2012 heifer calves- including an ET calf from the high selling 32N Keepsake cow sired by Bailout 144U, a Bailout daughter out of the Wrangler 48J cow, Dixie 33Z sired by Boyd Worldwide 9050 out of the Online Dixie 44W cow, Queen 39Z a Worldwide daughter out of a BR Channing cow etc - a little bit of all the good genetics. The retained Herefords ARE NOT as you say "lower end" and will not be used as recips

MSU also retained Hereford embryos, 50 (not sure of the exact number) registered Angus cows and some number of recips. Pure Bred Beef will continue to be a teaching facility on campus

Yes, they kept young heifers that were the last pick out of groups run in the ring so...genetically good, phenotypically very average.  If you don't have a good manager that has good stock to work with you have nothing.  The point of throwing away all that was worked for is truly sad.

 

[Bi-Lane Livestock]

It is clear that I don't share the same vision of what the program was as DL, we are all entitled to our opinions.  However, this was the Gem of the Animal Science program with more heritage and meaning than most.  While a University must balance research and teaching it seems very strange that with 4 beef farms as you mentioned and a restricting budget that you cut the premier teaching one that is actually on campus.....you know, where the students are!  This was the draw for many to attend, the list of great cattle people that flowed through that barn is big, that no longer will be a draw.  So, with four beef units and you cut the one hard that is not only on campus but brings and teaches the most students does that seem like it fits a balance of teaching and research?  If you don't think that this administration and its advisor had it out for the PBB than keep believing the garbage rebuttals that come out of Anthony hall.  Yes, there will still be a PBB in structure but the core is gone and if you don't think that will more greatly affect the MSU An Sci program than doing other hard cuts at others farms (ones not on campus) & other programs than you are flat wrong.  I don't like it and as you said we all have to now live with it, I am just disgusted that this was allowed to happen and I would like to see continued pressure and scrutiny on those that allowed it.  It was a choice of them, not a mandate of the State.

 

[DL]

The fact remains that there was certain vendettas against the purebred beef barn with certain people influencing Dr. Swanson,

  If you don't think that this administration and its advisor had it out for the PBB than keep believing the garbage rebuttals that come out of Anthony hall. 

I guess that means that they "had it out" for the music therapy program too - what is your evidence that there "certain vendettas" or "had it out" against PBB? Change happens - why don't you contact Dr Swanson and give her your ideas about what can be done to improve the issues/problems you have identified?

 

[Bi-Lane Livestock]

Budget cuts are real….it is evident in this state and University, for me to comment about the music therapy program would be fruitless as I know nothing about this program or why it was cut.  What I do know is that the PBB did not have to go like it did; you apparently stand behind a newer regime and defend a department head and her advisor (John Shelle, who also oversees the horse program) on poor and vindictive decisions that were made. The decision and action of liquidating the Hereford cow herd is done and if you don’t think that myself and others with way more influence than me pleaded with these two not to do this before it happened then you are wrong.  What is done is done and the “leaders” that did it need to be held accountable for their poor choices and actions.  This is currently being done and will continue to happen through good faculty & student attrition and will continue with decreased monomial support of the department by true good livestock alumni who see this situation for what it is.  Do you think that the department head that built the new pavilion (Maynard Hogberg, now chair at ISU) would have made the same decisions?  Absolutely not, he and others who respected this program would have cut other units and figured a way out to save the PBB.  If you call yourself a good livestock person then maybe you need to dig into why this happened and talk to people in the know instead of believing the garbage that is coming out of Anthony hall for excuses why this “Had to be Done” and defending John Shelle and Janice Swansons’ extremely poor decisions.  I am in the know and that is why I am vehemently telling you and this board that this did not have to happen and that these two are responsible.

 

[Woodland Farms Show Cattl]

i know this is gonna strike someones nerve but you have got to be one of the most naive people out there to beleive everything in that letter. it was pure damage control and a bunch of BS at that. Cody Sankey said himself that the heard was self sustaining so the sale was not about budget cuts. if it was truely about budget cuts then why would you sell your best cattle? why not put some embryos in all of your recips/commercial cows and sell them? or send them to slaughter?  wether they will admit it or not it was a power play by the adminstration. the cost of useing the herd as a teaching resource is not going to decrease just because you have fewer cattle. not unless you cut the program completely.

 

[DL]

Budget cuts are real….it is evident in this state and University, for me to comment about the music therapy program would be fruitless as I know nothing about this program or why it was cut.  What I do know is that the PBB did not have to go like it did; you apparently stand behind a newer regime and defend a department head and her advisor (John Shelle, who also oversees the horse program) on poor and vindictive decisions that were made. The decision and action of liquidating the Hereford cow herd is done and if you don’t think that myself and others with way more influence than me pleaded with these two not to do this before it happened then you are wrong.  What is done is done and the “leaders” that did it need to be held accountable for their poor choices and actions.  This is currently being done and will continue to happen through good faculty & student attrition and will continue with decreased monomial support of the department by true good livestock alumni who see this situation for what it is.  Do you think that the department head that built the new pavilion (Maynard Hogberg, now chair at ISU) would have made the same decisions?  Absolutely not, he and others who respected this program would have cut other units and figured a way out to save the PBB.  If you call yourself a good livestock person then maybe you need to dig into why this happened and talk to people in the know instead of believing the garbage that is coming out of Anthony hall for excuses why this “Had to be Done” and defending John Shelle and Janice Swansons’ extremely poor decisions.  I am in the know and that is why I am vehemently telling you and this board that this did not have to happen and that these two are responsible.

If you are in the know why not sit down with Drs Swanson and Shelle and discuss your concerns instead of flaming on a message board. I am not defending anyone or any thing - I am providing the other side of the story. The fact that you do not understand the comment about the music therapy program is very telling - every single unit, department, person and student affected by any cut is feeling/behaving/talking just like you - everyone whose department was effected feels "singled out" by the "new regime", feels that it didn't have to be that way - you are pi**ed - I get that - but it happened, change happens - you can fail to adapt and become irrelevant or you can try to do something constructive

Woodlawn - it is herd not heard and it is very unlikely that the herd was "self sustaining" - whatever that means. In most operations decreasing the herd size by on half would result in decreased feed (and therefore less cost) by one half - that is huge financially, especially in the year of drought  - and if you are selling registered cattle wouldn't you want to sell your best? Would you go to a sale where they kept the best and sold the worst?

Deal with it guys - it happened - they are looking for creative and constructive ways to reconfigure the program - if you are so concerned why don't you use your energy to help in that effort

 

[SEA]

I live and farm in the State of Michigan.  One of my children recently graduated from MSU and worked at the Purebred Beef Cow facility, showed at both the NAILE and NWSS while there.

IMHO...what has happened at MSU is a travesty to both the State of Michigan farmers (and children), and agriculture (specifically beef) not only in our state but nationally (due to the few "Land Grant Colleges" and colleges of agriculture remaining in our country). 

    I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS?

1.  Where are our children to go to college for Agriculture education and experience?

2.  Where is the independent unbiased research ag research to be done in our country?


      AND I HAVE TWO (2) MAIN ISSUES WITH DR. JANICE SWANSON (again IMHO: whom services were not "highly regarded or further needed" at KSU).

1.  Why the PB Hereford herd?  Why not the PB Angus herd?  The PB Hereford's not the PB Angus herd is what the school is known for and whose genetics and quality cattle are of National Caliber.  Why dismantle this of all of the other livestock programs they have?

2.  Also, MSU terminated both Ken Guens (MSU 4-H Youth Director and long time Nationally recognized cattleman, cattle expert, and judge and one of MSU largest contributor and asset in the cattle industry) and and Cody Sankey (MSU purebred farm manager)?  How can you run a beef herd or any business or program with NO PEOPLE?


Now for the hard realities of life.

Many of us have talked about "smaller government", and lower taxes.  The State of Michigan is in "bad financial and economical condition" as are others.  Budget cuts are being made.  Unfortunately education, as well as many other things are being cut.

....and for the 3rd time, this is IMHO:  MSU has not "Stepped Up to the Plate" and changed their way of "doing business".  They are only waiting for the government hand-outs, our tax dollars to finance programs.

While at KSU Ms. Swanson must certainly have observed the "RESEARCH" that is done, headed up by some of the top PHD's in the country , (that they have drawn-in and hired" and MSU does not but continues to let theirs go to other colleges, but I digress), and finaced by "PRIVATE COMPANIES" whom want independent RESEARCH done.

New Leadership with new ideas and a new direction is needed at MSU!  Our state's "Land Grant College"!  Sorry for my "rantings".  Thank you,