Cattle

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. -- Four cattle were killed during Wednesday's torrential storm in Jefferson County when a barn along Kabletown Road collapsed on the animals, according to the county's emergency manager. The owner of the cattle put the animals in the barn to protect them from flying debris in the storm, Barbara Miller said. When the barn collapsed, three pregnant cows and a young bull were killed, Miller said. Two other pregnant cows that were injured had to be euthanized and two other injured cows were still being assessed, Miller said.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's nationally recognized veterinary laboratory is preparing more than 6,000 cattle for export to Saudi Arabia and Turkey in the next two months, Ag Secretary Dennis Wolff said. All of the cattle were blood tested for diseases through the lab to meet rigid export requirements and to ensure animal and human safety. "We commend the efforts of those working in the vet laboratory who efficiently and accurately conducted the testing on such a large number of animals," Wolff said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is warning West Virginia sheep and cattle farmers to be on the lookout for signs of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which has been observed in cattle in Ohio and West Virginia, although confirmatory testing is not yet complete. It can also be contracted by sheep, and has been observed in deer in numerous states, according to a news release from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. The agency said the disease is spread by the bite of blood-feeding midges - a gnat-like fly - not by animal-to-animal transmission.

The following animals recently were found and taken to the Humane Society of Washington County. If you think your pet is among those listed, you may visit the Humane Society of Washington County at 13011 Maugansville Road. Shelter hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. These animals may be made available for adoption after five days. Cats Juvenile DMH black and white, found on Dam No. 5 Road.

The following are corrected results from last week's Ag Expo & Fair at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center off Sharpsburg PIke: 4-H Dairy Cattle Show 2007 Showmanship Pre-Junior Champion: Sydney Davis Junior Champion: Rachel Wiles Intermediate Champion: Scott DeBaugh Senior Champion: Katherine McCormick Overall Champion: Katherine McCormick Ayrshire Junior Champion: Katherine McCormick...

A herd of cattlemen from across the state stampeded into the Four Points Sheraton on Saturday to eat beef and discuss everything that is bovine during the 20th annual Maryland Cattle Industry Convention. One of the day's events focused on the industry's future. Nearly 350 people packed the hotel's grand ballroom to honor more than 100 children who competed in a "Livestock Skillathon" earlier Saturday. The skillathon consisted of several stations that had the contestants identify, among other things, cattle breeds and cuts of meat.

The Cattlemen are coming to town. Kind of conjures up memories of the old West. Well, trust me, during the first weekend in March, Hagerstown will not look like Dodge City on a Saturday night. What is going on is the 20th Annual Maryland Cattle Industry Convention. And if I am not mistaken, all 20 have been held here. This makes sense, since nearly 45,000 head of cattle call Washington County home. The conference is a two-day event held at the Four Points Sheraton. It begins Friday, March 2, with Cattlemen's College I. There are three sessions.

The Maryland Cattle Industry Convention will be Friday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3, at Four Points Sheraton in Hagerstown. The deadline to register is Feb. 23. For information, call 1-410-795-5309 or go online to www.marylandcattle.org Featured Saturday will be the fourth annual youth Livestock Skillathon. It will focus on such topics as animal selection/identification, feed and equipment identification and uses, meat identification, and meats and hay judging. Youths entering the contest must pay a $7 signup fee, which will also cover Saturday's educational programs and the luncheon.

HARRISBURG As his wife, children, and grandchildren watched from ringside, David Patrick of Maple Dell Farm in Woodbine, Md., exhibited both the Grand and Junior Champion at the All-American Ayrshire Show in Harrisburg on Sept. 20. After being named Intermediate Champion of last year's All-American, Maple Dell Zorro Dafourth won the 4-Year-Old class and was named Senior and Grand Champion. "This cow is just exceptional," judge Lynn Lee said. "She is the complete package with the winning combination of style, dairyness and a terrific mammary system.

LEETOWN, W.Va. - Samantha Cogle had a difficult time parting with Baby Boy at the 2005 Jefferson County Fair's livestock auction. The 13-year-old Jefferson County 4-Her admitted Friday she had become attached to the lightweight champion shorthorn steer that was born and raised on her parents' farm off Kabletown Road. A friendly bovine, the 18-month-old "baby" was the first cow to allow her to lay on his back, Samantha said. "He was just like a big baby. He followed you wherever you went," Samantha said.