Ft Simmental Association Broadens CHAPEL HILL, N.C. The American Simmental Association (ASA) recently began using a new tool to promote and market Sim mental cattle for its more than 9,500 members. Now, in addition to providing breed information in advertising and other print and broadcast communications, the association is on the information superhigh way. The ASA is among 10 national dairy and beef breed associations that regularly post breed informa tion on the Cattle Offerings Worldwide (COW) web site. COW is a computer database and web site, with offices in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Purchase, N.Y. The ASA has its own home page address at http://www.simmgene. com. ‘The Internet is a good way of promoting and marketing cattle. It provides breeders another avenue to advertise their programs,” said Bruce Cunningham, ASA director of research and education. Cun ningham noted that while the In ternet is still a relatively new con cept in the cattle business, more people are getting access to it He said that people with Internet ac cess will find it easy to browse the web. If someone is scanning for cows on the Internet, that person will find the COW site and several sources of additional information, including the ASA. “However, one does not need a computer to benefit from COW,” said Ben Zaitz, the third-genera tion family cattleman who devel oped the service. He likens COW to the multiple listing service (MLS) the real estate industry uses to help buyers narrow their search. It searches for matches be Information Package tween prospective buyers and sell ers of both beef and dairy cattle and genetics. The web site posts information from breed associa tions, as well as from several pri vate breeders, embryo, and semen companies. When a seller posts cattle, se men, or embryos for sale on the datebase, interested buyers (or matches) are sent an e-mail, fax or U.S. mail notice. Similarly, buyers can use e-mail, fax, or mail inquir ies to find cattle and gaieties that meet their needs. Buyers and sell ers are quickly matched by com pleting a buyer or seller form. The standard form asks them to speci fy farm name and address, breed, type of cattle or genetics (spring heifer, calves, semen, etc.), and so on. Zaitz has set up COW to facili tate information exchange in two ways: COW Data Sites (CDS) and Searchable Classified Ads (SCA). The breeder or association that posts information on the CDS can control and update listings of ani mals, embryo or semen (either for sale or wanted to buy). What’s more, COW provides links from the CDS listing to the associa tion’s or breeder’s home page (for example, the American Simment al Association). This home page may either be located oh COW, or elsewhere at the COW member’s choosing. SCAs, which are searchable on line “Wanted” or “For Sale” ads, not only appear on the COW web site (www.cattleofferings.com), but are automatically compared with all new CDS listings. All matches are notified (vis e-mail, fax or mail) during the time the SCA remains on the COW Inter net database. COW currently of fers the SCAs on a one-month five trial basis. The CDSs arc offered on a two-month free trial For more information on Cattle Offerings Worldwide, Inc. (COW) or how to set up your own CDS, or to request an SCA buy or sell listing form, contact Benjamin J. Zaitz, Cattle Offerings World wide, Inc., P.O. Box 2408, Chapel Hill NC 27515, (914) 253-9050 cr toll-free at (888) 929-5444. E mail address is buyorsell@cat tleofferings.com. Or, visit the COW web site at wwwxattleof fcrings.com. Berks County Farm Bureau Sets Meeting LEESPORT (Berks Co.) The Berks County Farm Bureau has scheduled its fall meet ing for 7 p.m., Oct. 2 at the county Ag Center in Leesport. Tickets are available from May Blatt, RDI, Box 134, Robcsonia, (610) 488-6201, at a cost of $8 per adult, $4 for children aged 6 to 12. The guest speaker for the event is to be Guy Donaldson, president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. '■"'v _• • /"'ll a Action to be taken during the I #l* IVITI v/IUD meeting includes the election of ® SSSSSS."" 4 * Announces Fall Harvest Also, discussion is to be held concerning proposals for policy development ijncMter Farming, Saturday, September 21, 180SC6 : Largest Livestock NEWFOUNDLAND (Wayne Co.) At 1 pm. on Saturday, Aug. 31, here at the Oteeae-Dte her-Sterlling Fairgrounds, local youth successfully offered 100 market animals for sale at the Southern Wayne Junior Livestock Sale. Area banks, businesses, par ents, and friends purchased mar ket hogs, steers, and lambs for a total sale figure of $35,635.40. The sale’s volume buyer in both dollars and number of animals was John Petrasld, livestock deal er of Pleasant Mount Auctioneer Wayne Weaver, Tun khan nock, volunteered his services to the sale for die benefit of youth, and spoke with familiarity about many of the sellers and their projects. The first animal presented for auction was the 225-pound grand champion market hog, a York shire crossbred, raised by Grace Howell of Waymart, a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. This animal was pur chased by Wayne Bank for $4.50 per pound. The reserve grand champion hog, a homebred Hampshire crossbred, was raised by Andrew Nebzydosld, a fifth grade member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Waymart Milling pur- LAUREL, Del. The Delmar va Driving Club, Inc. announces its Fall Harvest at Pepperbox on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day will feature demonstra tions of plowing, disking, plant ing, com picking, log skidding Ever Junior Sale At G-D-S chased this animal for $2 a pound. Mike Korb took both grand and reserve grand champion honors at this year’s market lamb competi tion. He sold his grand champion lamb to John Petrosld for $4 per pound, and his reserve grand champion lamb to Marshall Ma chinery for $2.60 per pound. Tim Olver’s grand champion market steer was a black Angus that was bought by Steep Hill Dairy (Weist Family) for $1.55 a pound. Urn is a Penn State Uni versity freshman Cram Honesdale. Nick Nebzydoski’s reserve grand champion 1995 calf scramble steer was purchased for $1 a pound by Waymart Milling Co. Nick is a ninth grade member of the Pleacsant Mount Go-Get ters 4-H Club. Five animals woe returned for resale to benefit Andy and Donna Weist’s 10-month-old grandson who is receiving medical treat ment, and for the O-D-S Fair Youth Program. Animals were re turned for resale to benefit the baby by Tubby’s Concessions, Community Bank and Trust, Bill Lopatofsky, John Shipsky, and Tom Randt. Community Bank and Trust also returned one market hog for resale to benefit G-D-S youth. and loading, obstacle sledding, and docking. Demonstrations of mule-jumping skills, working cut ting horse and cattle branding, equine dental care and teeth float ing, harnessing, braiding the mane and tail, and horseshoeing will be offered. A $3 parking fee is charged per vehicle. Free horsedrawn shut tles will carry visitors to and from the activity sites. A private farm and carriage museum will be open, horsedrawn vehi cles and farm equipment will be on display, along with antique tractors, hit-or-miss engines, a working cider press, and other memorabilia from the turn of the century. Special children’s activities are planned, with pumpkin decorat ing, storytellers, a pony train ride, and a haunted hay ride offered for their enjoyment Food will be avail able which includes homemade chicken salad sandwiches, baked goods, and ice cream. Vendors and craftspeople round out the activities. For more informa tion. call organizers Ed and Lois Evans at (302) 875-4971.
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