American Angus Association Launches Record-Keeping Program For Commercial Cattle ST. JOSEPH, Mo. The American Angus Association continues to make strides toward leading the beef industry in re cord-keeping systems and col lecting performance data. The Association’s newest de velopment is the Angus Beef Re cord Service (BRS), a system for keeping valuable records that are useful in decision making. The Angus BRS is a compli ment to the Angus Herd Im provement Record (AHIR) pro gram, and provides a mechanism for commercial producers to summarize their cattle perform ance records, which in turn can serve as a valuable tool to en hance profitability. The Angus BRS will compile information on a producer’s cow herd, including breed composi tion, sire information, breeding information, calving data and any additional performance or carcass data collected on a calf. The Association will analyze the production data and report the information back to the indi vidual producer. A genetic value will be developed for the cattle in terms of reproduction, growth, and end product merit, using the actual data submitted in addition to tying to the Angus database where possible. THE NEW HEAVY-DUTY SUB COMPACT TRACTORS BUILT Ig L. - £JEW class to combine the performance and versatility of a compact utility tractor with the agility and feel ot a garden tractor with Kubota's legendary durability and reliability. Both the BXIBOO and the 8X2200 feature Kubota's powerful 3 cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine and hea\y-duty frame lor years of productive use. And performance? The BX-Senes is packed full of features you'd expect to find on larger, commercial-quality compact tractors From light yard work to heavier loader work, the BX-Series is the sub compact tractor for you FEATURES *4WD * Power Steering * Hyst. Drive - 2 Speed * Loader - Mower Compatability * Diff. Lock YOUR FULL LINE KUBOTA PRODUCT HEADQUARTERS • INVENTORY • PRICE • KNOWLEDGEABLE SALES STAFF » SERVICE EXPERIENCE KELLER BRQS. PARTS C•SALES SERVICE WeS u h 'P s PartS I TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT - ] LANCASTER 1960 Fruitvllle Pike. Lancaster, PA 17601 At Route 30 & Fruitvllle Pike 717-569-2500 or Toll Free 877-3KUBOTA [358-2682) LEBANON Rt. #7, BOX 405, Lebanon, PA 17042 Rt. 419 1 Mile West Of Schaefferstown 717-949-2000 or Toll Free 877-4Kubota (458-2682) Visit our web site at www.kubotaparts.com • E-mail us at kubota@nbn.net ffttHtfffMinifHrfffttirffftMftrfMvrfftfTVfMM “Keeping performance records is a necessity in today’s beef in dustry,” said Bill Bowman, direc tor of commercial relations for the American Angus Association. “The data will help characterize the commercial cowherds using Angus genetics by providing in formation and analysis on indi vidual cows, cow groups within a herd, and the entire herd.” Collecting data and tying the information back to an individu al cow or to a group of a particu lar sire’s daughters will make it possible for producers to make breeding and culling decisions based on fact rather than as sumption. Other examples of the results of the Angus BRS include calving percentage, weaning per centage pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed at breeding, which helps the producer moni tor productivity and potentially enhance profits in the cowherd. In addition to collecting and processing data, the Angus BRS will provide producers a tool for source verification as well as na tional and electronic identifica tion. These identification systems provide an information flow to improve quality management, fa cilitate domestic value-based marketing, and enhance access to export markets. * Std. Cat. "1" 3 pt. Hitch * Std. 540 PTO * 18 or 22 HP 3 cyl. Diesel * Priced in Line With Larger 2WD Diesel Garden Tractors Kubota. U B m MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 - 5:00 SATURDAY 8:00 • 12:00 Serving Central PA Since 1921 •ILOTSI KELLER BROS. AIRPORT 2550' RUNWAY 600' From Dealersbii “In our opinion, future identi fication programs such as volun tary certification, genetic evalua tion, replacement female development, and feeder calf quality assurance could be volun tary systems that are necessary for market access,” Bowman said. Another exciting aspect of the Angus BRS is the potential to identify Angus sires, previously “lost” that can make a signifi cant contribution to the breed. For example, in fiscal year 1999, more than 40,000 Angus bulls were transferred to non-member buyers. These bulls may repre sent some of the top genetics of the breed, but because little prog eny data is collected and pro cessed on these bulls, they go un detected in the beef industry. The Angus BRS has the potential to build and enhance working rela tionships among breeders and bull buyers by tracking the suc cess of the sires in commercial herds. For more information about Angus BRS or to request enroll ment forms, contact the Ameri can Angus Association at brs@angus.org or (816) 383-5100. Financing Or Cash Discounts Available At Blue Ball National Bank we understand your farming needs. That is why we have an Agricultural division of local people making decisions HERE. The Cropbuster Loan may be used for seed, lime fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides and give you the opportunity to take advantage of seasonal discounts. To take advantage of the loan call Ken Overly in the Agri Sales/Service Division at 1-800-346-3437 or 354-3513. The cropbuster loan Is available to all qualified farmers In the Blue Ball National Bank market. Rate effective on publication date and Is subject to change or can be withdrawn at any time without notice. The maturity date of this loan Is December 31,2001. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 18, 2000-A25 Bureau Recognizes Forest Steward award at the Bonitz property. Being designated as a Forest Steward is an honor reserved for forest landowners who have made a commitment to manag ing their forest resources to en sure their health and productivi ty for years to come. Donald P. Oaks, district for ester for the Weiser Forest Dis trict of the Pennsylvania Depart ment of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, said Bonitz started the process of becoming a Forest Steward by having a forest stew ardship plan prepared by Jeff Dnhort D nn - ( . ■ Eason, a forestiy consultant from HARRISBURG ' (Dauphin D . a “P hin - The Weiser Forest Dis- Co.) - Robert Bonitz Jr., nc ‘ covers Carbon Dauphin Harrisburg, was recognized re- Lebanon, Lehigh, and Schuylkill cently as a Forest Steward. counties. Paul Troutman, service forest- Troutman said Bonitz has er for the Bureau of Forestry, been managing his 196-acre for- Department of Conservation and est for timber, wildlife, and recre- Natural Resources, presented the ation. '{ 'S ’