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PROFITABILITY TAKES BALANCE
Profitability has many components : ease of calving , growth , quality and quantity of end product , maternal ability , as well as convenience traits like docility , soundness , udder and foot quality and the list goes on and on . It makes little sense to concentrate on one or two traits while ignoring other animal attributes . That is why we emphasize a balance of traits , both phenotypic and genetic . Every female is scrutinized for all things beef and every mating is carefully chosen to compliment strengths and improve weaknesses . That is why we utilize bulls like JBV Yellowstone and JBV Nite Watchman , sires that provide balanced EPD profiles , as well as offering functionality and eye appeal . Keeping a balance is what works best for both ourselves and our customers .
Homo Black Homo Polled Purebred CE : 12 BW : -0.1 WW : 70 YW : 108 MK : 24 MB : 0.09 $ MI : 59
JBV Yellowstone 901G AHCC Earning Power 900E ET x JBV Girl Crush 422B
Many thanks to those who have purchased or shown interest in JBV genetics the past year . Special thanks to Brehm Farms , possession owner of JBV Yellowstone 901G , and the entire Yellowstone Syndicate . With some of the most balanced numbers in the breed — 12 EPDs in the top 30 % and a killer look — we feel this young purebred sire can add balance to your program .
The coffee pot is always on and we welcome your visit .
VENNER FAMILY LIMOUSIN
JIM & BECKY VENNER ( 712 ) 673-4491 • ( 712 ) 830-8381 3891 Taylor Ave ., Breda , IA 51436 venner @ win-4-u . net • www . vennerlimousin . com
Green Energy and New Applications If anything screams sustainability , it is reducing the use of fossil fuels . One fast-growing market for green energy utilizes two upcycled byproducts — animal fats and used cooking oil from restaurants . Biodiesel and renewable diesel are two green energy products made possible by utilizing rendered products ; an estimated 13 percent of these biofuels are produced with animal fats . These biofuels are recycled , renewable , and add to both industries ’ sustainability credentials .
There are many new applications for livestock and poultry byproducts being developed now that will add even more benefits to society .
Dr . B . J . Bench , senior director of food safety and quality assurance at Tyson Foods Inc .’ s Ingredient Solutions Group , points to the sustainability of using poultry products versus fish in aquafeed .
“ Various [ fish ] species harvested for fishmeal are not a sustainable source for aquaculture feeds ,” he explained . “ That is why aquaculture nutritionists are looking at replacing a certain percentage of diets utilizing fish meal with other rendered products . For example , chicken by-product meal has a very similar amino acid profile to fish meal , allowing it to be more readily used as an alternative feed ingredient .”
Meeker said research funded by the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation is underway on how rendered proteins and fats can be used in soil remediation and the cleanup of Superfund sites . Other research focuses on lower-quality rendered material that could be used to make cement and building materials that are much more sustainable .
“ Actually , they perform better as well ,” Meeker stated . “ They ’ re tougher and stronger and more sustainable than cement . So , we can take these low-quality fatty acids and combine them with surplus sulfur creating a replacement for both cement and asphalt .” He added that , in the future , some of these products will likely be used to make roads , parking lots and buildings .
“ Those are some of the things that not only are we working on , but that we ’ re also trying to make sure policymakers are aware of so the rendering and animal agriculture industries can be viewed as part of the solution to climate change and overall sustainability ,” Meeker said .
As the livestock and poultry industries seek to tell their sustainability story to consumers and legislators alike , the benefits they reap from rendering — economically and environmentally — should be included . Otherwise , the rest of the story is missing .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR : Sharla Ishmael is a veteran agricultural writer from Benbrook , Texas .
48 • JULY 2021