The American Miniature Zebu Association would like to Thank the Florida Miniature Zebu Association for hosting the 2017 National Miniature Zebu Show at L CROSS Equestrian Center in Lady Lake Florida.
The American Miniature Zebu Association would like to Thank all of the Zebu Exhibitors for their continued support at AMZA sanctioned zebu shows.
Show results can be viewed by going to Show Info on the Menu Bar. Select Upcoming Show/Events, select Upcoming Events, and then select Results of the show name to view show results.
NEW MAILING ADDRESS/PHONE AMZA P.O. BOX 2095 LADY LAKE, FL 32158 (352)391-0977
Open Letter to Membership:
Dear Member:
AMZA is happy to announce our new registrar Bobbi Thompson. Raised in a farming community in the Midwest, Bobbi moved to Florida in 2007 and quickly found her passion in Zebus. With a herd of more than 40 zebus, she and Rick Ressler have become one of Florida’s premium breeders and exhibitors. Bobbi brings a wealth of information and energy to her new position.
Her new duties officially begin Monday August 29, 2016.
Over the last several weeks, Jim Mannos and Bobbi have worked very closely to ensure a smooth transition. Although we believe they have covered all bases, any business in transit we will handled individually between Jim and Bobbi.
Effective Monday, August 29, 2016
All mail received at our Ferris P.O. address will forwarded to the new office in Florida.
Current AMZA office phone will be forward to the number – 352.391.0977
registrar@amazonline.org will be redirected to the Florida office.
All communication regarding registry will be conducted from the Florida office.
As excited as we are to have Bobbi as a part of our new team, there is some sadness in seeing Jim retire. As most you know, Jim has been an integral part of AMZA since its inception in 2003 and will be missed!
As of August 29, 2016, please address all AMZA related questions to the new Registrar. Jim will be around the next few months to assist Bobbi, as needed, and redirect any questions as necessary to the appropriate person.
Thank you, David Millson
Tendon Issues in New Born Calves
You’re a responsible zebu breeder; you’ve read all about cow gestation
and calving. You’re sitting a respectful distance from the panting mom;
you have “The Book” across your knees, a flashlight, camera, wristwatch,
cell phone, towels, and sandwich nearby. The stages of labor don’t
follow the neat time schedule described in “The Book”, but still a tiny
little perfect calf is born. But when it stands up, there’s something
odd about his front legs…
(full story
by Dottie Love)
Bottelberghe
Farms Miniature Zebu Steer Project
For those who have never met Josh Bottelberghe and his family, you
are missing a real treat. Not only is he as sharp as a tack, but
his family is a true gem! Over the last couple of years the Bottelbergh's have quickly become one of the true visionaries in the Zebu
world bringing his background, ideas and thought processes to the
forefront of our industry.
I had an opportunity to talk with Josh over the phone for
more than 1 hour last night discussing his project. I was
absolutely amazed at
the thought process and forward thinking ideas he has in promoting Zebu,
in unleashing their potential
and frankly lifting the breed to the next level.
His research paper titled "Bottelberghe Farms Miniature Zebu Steer
Project" is a MUST READ!
It's a must print...and certainly a "MUST
reference" at every opportunity.
From the words of Josh...
"As average homestead and farm sizes decrease
annually and genetically engineered food increases there becomes a
greater demand for homegrown beef. It takes a toll on a limited amount
of pasture to raise a full sized commercial beef steer to over 1000lbs
and 2 years of age. On average an animal will consume roughly 2.5% of
its body weight a day in dry matter. For a 1000lb steer that is 25
pounds of dry matter not including the moisture the grass contains. Most
of this intake will go towards sustaining that animal and anything extra
will go toward growth and conditioning. A miniature zebu steer weighing
400lbs will consume 10 lbs. of dry matter a day....."
Parts
of many countries are currently under drought including Canada, China,
Mexico, United Kingdom, the United States and others. These continued
droughts make it tough for cow/calf producers to survive financially;
however there are management techniques that might help. The most
important practice in drought management is to avoid overgrazing pastures to
the extent that their recovery is prolonged when it does rain again.
I know you have been hearing about this for along time, but we are
really nearly there. Unfortunately it has taken longer to get
there that what anyone really wanted, but I think the final product will
benefit both the general membership and the AMZA volunteers.
The main stay of the new system will allow the member to "manage"
much of their own information and conduct general business, that in the
past, required a volunteer's input.
In general, each member will have a "My Member Page". This page
will allow them to update their information, renew/upgrade their
members, register animals*, view their animals, print duplicate
certificates, transfer animals. AS you can see, we are really
excited. In addition to these function, we are also finishing up
at "Show Module" which will include the ability to "enter" a AMZA show
and pay the fees online, and a "For Sale" module what will allow members
to post ad online for a given period of time..
Hot
Topics...
Feeding Cows Through the Winter
From time to time, AMZA will post or repost news articles or
resources we think will be helpful to our general membership. With
winter coming up and many parts of the country still in drought
conditions, feeding your herd through the winter will be challenging at
best.
Here is a great article from Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State
University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist. This put the topic
of Body Scoring and winter herd management together.
Over the next several months, members will see a many new and
exciting features. We want members to use this website as their central
point of contact for other AMZA member, a source of information and a
way to manage your herd.
Over the next several months, you should see a dramatic change in the
overall feel, design and functionality of the site. In the several weeks
I will be posting instructions for each member. YOU ARE MY TEST
SUBJECT!
In the first phase, we will build a "My Membership Module".
This module
will allow each member to self-manage their account(s). Each member
will be able to login, change and update personal information such as
address and contact information. In addition, each member will be
pay (or renew) their membership dues by either credit card or a
traditional check/money order. This is all in preparation to building a "My Herd Module"
and ultimately a "My Show Module". Our hope is that we will
be able to
use the site as a "herd management tool" and a general resource for
information about herd management, pasture management and other critical
topics association with a quality breeding/herd program.
Keep checking back!
Congratulations To All of the Permanent Grand Champions
It's been a long time coming....but the 2010 Show Results ARE
CERTIFIED. Jim Mannos, AMAZ's registrar, has released the list of new
Permanent and Master Grand Champions. Please join us and
congratulating the owners and breeders of this year's new inductees.
Miniature Zebu's are measured across their hip, at the highest point.
The idea being that a 38 inch tall Miniature Zebu should be able to
barely clear a 38 inch bar. Measuring at the hip has proven to be
more accurate than the shoulder or wither measurements.
Bloat is an emergency condition that can develop within a few hours and can
kill without quick treatment. When we humans feel bloated from a large meal, the
digestive process soon relieves the discomfort. Same thing with cattle—most of
the time. But when things go awry, your zebu can die in agony while you watch
helplessly.
However, there are some simple treatments that will successfully treat bloat
quickly in almost all cases. Anybody can do them using household-type supplies
and equipment. Keep these items in your Buckaroo Box at all times (a fatal case
of Bloat resulted in the creation of the Buckaroo Box—read about it in Zebu A to
Z soon). -
Read More
Digestion: A Quick Description
Cattle, being wary of predators, grab grass with their tongues and use their
incisors to tear it from the ground. They don't need bottom incisors, so they
don't have any. They quickly gulp down the grass in the open pasture, allowing
them to run back to safety. Later they burp back up wads of the grass and chew
it thoroughly, starting the breakdown process.
You've heard of their four stomachs? Well, actually, these are organs that help
digest intake in different ways. -
Read More
You’re a responsible zebu breeder; you’ve read all about cow gestation
and calving. You’re sitting a respectful distance from the panting mom;
you have “The Book” across your knees, a flashlight, camera, wristwatch,
cell phone, towels, and sandwich nearby. The stages of labor don’t
follow the neat time schedule described in “The Book”, but still a tiny
little perfect calf is born. But when it stands up, there’s something
odd about his front legs…
Bottelberghe
Farms Miniature Zebu Steer Project
AMZA Launches New Website
Congratulations To All of the Permanent Grand Champions
So...How Are They Measured