Cattle Breeders Dictionary

A

Accuracy (of selection) : Correlation between an animal's unknown actual breeding value and a calculated estimated breeding value for a trait.

Across-breed EPDs : Procedures and adjustment factors that allow direct comparison of EPDs from animals of different breeds. They are based upon across-breed EPD adjustment factors which are added to EPDs provided by the separate genetic evaluation of each breed. The adjustment factors, which are updated each year, are based upon estimates of current performance differences among breeds and differences among breeds in genetic base for their evaluations.

Additive adjustment factors : A numerical quantity added to an animal's record to reflect expected performance if the animal had belonged to some baseline group.

For example, 60 pounds could be added to weaning weight records of steer calves out of two-year-old dams to represent expected weaning weight if their mother had been five to nine years of age. The use of additive adjustment factors does not affect variability in the trait after adjustment.

Adjusted weaning weight (WW) : An unshrunk, off-the-cow calf weight adjusted to 205 days of age and to a mature dam age equivalence.

Adjusted yearling weight (YW) : An unshrunk weight adjusted to either 365, 452, or 550 days of age.

Alleles : Alternate forms of genes. Because genes occur in pairs in body cells, one gene of a pair may have one effect and another gene of that same pair (allele) may have a different effect on the same trait.

Alliance : A cooperative business arrangement in which a cattle producer, sometimes in cooperation with other producers, arranges for the retained ownership and/or contract sale of his/her animals before they actually are produced. The agreement typically defines the breeding system, selection methods, management conditions, and product specifications for the cattle.

Animal model : A genetic prediction procedure in which EPDs are directly computed for all animals in the population. See reduced animal model and sire model.

Artificial insemination (AI) : The technique of placing semen from the male into the reproductive tract of the female by means other than natural service.

Average daily gain (ADG) : Measurement of the average daily body weight change over a specified period of time of an animal on a feed test.

B 

Backcross : The mating of a two-breed crossbred individual back to one of its parental breeds. Example: A Hereford-Angus crossbred cow bred back to an Angus bull.

Base pair : The complementary bases found within a DNA molecule. There are four different bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). A always pairs with T, and C always pairs with G. The base sequence ultimately determines the effect of the gene.

Beef carcass data service : A program whereby producers, for a fee, can receive carcass evaluation data on their cattle by using a special carcass data ear tag for their slaughter animals. See county extension director, breed representative, Beef Cattle Improvement Association representative, or area office of USDA meat grading service for information.

Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) : A federation of organizations, businesses, and individuals interested or involved in performance evaluation of beef cattle. It seeks to build confidence of the beef industry in the principles and potentials of performance testing.

The purposes of BIF are to achieve utilization of the most efficient and effective performance evaluation methods, uniformity of procedures, development of programs, cooperation among interested entities, and education of its members.

Best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) : A genetic prediction methodology providing the most accurate and precise genetic evaluations possible, given the information and family structure that are available.

Biological type : A group of cattle breeds having similar geographic origin and past selection history and with similar genetic potential for traits of economic importance. British general purpose beef cattle breeds, for example, have genetic potential for moderate growth, muscling, and milk yield; whereas continental European dual-purpose breeds have genetic potential for high milk yield and rapid growth.

Birth weight (BW) : The weight of a calf taken within 24 hours after birth. Heavy birth weights tend to be correlated with calving problems, along with other factors.

Body capacity : A subjective assessment of the feed intake capacity of an individual or breed, typically assessed by visually evaluating body length, body depth, and spring of ribs.

Body condition score : A score on a scale of 1 to 9, reflecting the amount of fat reserves in a cow's body, where 1 = very thin and 9 = extremely fat.

Bos indicus : A subspecies of cattle of south Asian origin. Often known as Zebu, they have prominent humps forward of the shoulder. The Brahman breed is one example in the United States.

Bos taurus : A subspecies of cattle of western Asian origin but often referred to as ‘European’. Most breeds commonly found in the United States and Canada, and their European ancestors, belong to this group. Bos indicus x Bos taurus crosses are viable and fully fertile and exhibit large amounts of heterosis.

Brand : A permanent mark applied to an animal.  

Branding iron : The tool used to apply a brand

Breed : Animals with a common origin and selection history.

Animals within a breed have physical characteristics that distinguish them from other breeds or groups of animals within that same species.Animals with a common origin and selection history. Animals within a breed have physical characteristics that distinguish them from other breeds or groups of animals within that same species.

Breed association : An organization that maintains pedigree and performance

Breeding objective : The goal of a breeder's selection program, for example to produce high quality, lean meat at lowest cost. It may also include a listing of the traits to be used as selection criteria to achieve the overall goal. Objectives may vary among breeders due to their genetic and physical resources and their markets.

Breeding soundness examination : Inspection of a bull, including evaluation of physical conformation and soundness through genital palpation, scrotal circumference assessment, and testing of semen for motility and morphological abnormalities.

Breeding value : Transmissible genetic merit of an individual, or the value of that individual as a parent. In the United States and Canada, genetic predictions are expressed as progeny differences rather than as breeding values. Because any parent contributes only half the genes in any one offspring, the progeny difference of an individual is half its breeding value.

British breeds : Breeds of cattle such as Angus, Hereford, and Shorthorn originating in Great Britain.

Bull : A male (un-castrated) bovine animal.

C

Caesarean section : A process in which the calf is surgically removed from the cow during parturition by making a large incision in the right side of the cow just above the flank.

Calf : A baby bovine animal.

Calving difficulty (Dystocia) : Abnormal or difficult labor, causing difficulty in delivering the fetus and/or placenta. Difficult births lead to increased calf and cow mortality and to more difficult rebreeding of the cow.

Calving ease Calving ease : The opposite of calving difficulty. An easy calving is one that does not require assistance and does not impose undue strain on the calf or dam.

Calving ease score : A numerical score quantifying calving ease, ranging from 1 for an easy, unassisted calving through 5 for an abnormal presentation.

Calving season : The season(s) of the year when the calves are born. Limiting calving seasons is the first step to performance testing the whole herd, accurate records, and consolidated management practices.

Carcass evaluation : Techniques for measuring components of quality and quantity in carcasses and using the information for genetic prediction of carcass merit.

Carcass merit : Desirability of a carcass relative to quantity of components (muscle, fat, and bone), USDA quality grade, and potential eating quality.  

Carcass quality grade : An estimate of palatability based primarily on marbling and maturity and generally to a lesser extent on color, texture, and firmness of lean.

Carrier : An individual that is heterozygous, having one dominant and one recessive allele at a given locus. For example, an animal with one gene for polledness and one gene for horns will be polled but can produce horned offspring when mated to another animal carrying the gene for horns.

Central test Central test : A comparison conducted at a single location where animals are assembled from several herds to evaluate differences in performance traits under uniform management conditions.

Chromosome : Chromosomes are paired strands of DNA, with accompanying structural proteins, on which genes are located. Domestic cattle have 30 pairs of chromosomes, one chromosome of each pair having been inherited form each parent. One random chromosome of each pair is transmitted to each egg or sperm cell produced by a parent.

Closed herd : A herd in which no outside breeding stock (cattle) are introduced.

cM (centiMorgan) : The unit of length used to express locations of genes on chromosomes. One cM is approximately one million nucleotides long. The entire length of the DNA within a cattle cell is approximately 3000 cM. A gene ranges from .001 - .005 cM in length. A cM corresponds to 1% recombination between loci.

Codon : A specific three-base sequence in DNA that ultimately codes for a specific amino acid used in the building of a protein.

Collateral relatives : Relatives of an individual that are not its ancestors or its descendants. Brothers and sisters are an example of collateral relatives.

Commercial producers : Producers whose primary goal is to produce animals for herd replacement, feeding, and slaughter rather than breeding stock for sale to other producers. Progressive commercial producers seek bulls or semen from seedstock breeders that have comprehensive programs designed to produce animals with optimum genetic merit for the combination of traits that increase efficiency and profit of their production system.

Compensatory gain : Rapid, subsequent gain of cattle that have been nutritionally deprived for some portion of their life.

Complementarity : The combining of breeds or individual animals that have characteristics that complement each other, thereby obtaining optimum progeny.

Complementary DNA (cDNA) : A DNA copy made from RNA through reverse transcription.

Composite breed : A breed made up of combinations of other breeds.

Conformation : A description of the shape of body parts of an animal.

Congenital : A condition that was acquired during prenatal life and therefore exists at or dates from birth. The term is often used in the context of defects present at birth.

Contemporary group : A group of cattle that are of the same breed and sex, are similar in age, and have been raised in the same management group (same location on the same feed and pasture). Contemporary groups should include as many cattle as can be accurately compared.

Continental (European) breed : Breeds originally developed on the continent of Europe. Examples include Simmental, Limousin and Charolais.

Correlation : A numerical measure, ranging between -1.00 and +1.00, describing how two traits are related. A high positive correlation means that as one trait increases, the other one usually does as well.

For example, cattle with higher than average yearling weight generally will have larger mature size as well. When traits are negatively correlated, if one is above average, the other is likely to be below average.

Cow : A female bovine animal.

Crossbreeding : The mating of animals of different breeds or subspecies, frequently resulting in heterosis (hybrid vigor) for many economically important traits.

Culling : The process of eliminating less productive or less desirable individuals from a herd.

Cutability : An estimate of the percentage of salable meat (muscle) from a carcass versus percentage of waste fat. Percentage retail yield of carcass weight can be estimated by a USDA prediction equation that includes measured or estimated values for hot carcass weight, rib eye area, fat thickness, and estimated percent of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat.

D

Decision Evaluator for the Cattle Industry (DECI) : A decision support system available through the U. S. Meat Animal Research Center that simulates the impact of alternative breeding or management strategies on production and profit within a producer's herd.

Decision Support System (DSS) : A set of rules, usually coded into a computer program, that helps a producer evaluate the impact of alternative breeding or management strategies on one or more aspects of a beef production enterprise.

De-horning : The process of removing the horns from an animal when they are young. This is often done to help minimize injury to other cattle and handlers.

Deviation : The difference between an individual record and the average for that trait in the individual's contemporary group. For all animals within a contemporary group, these differences sum to zero when the correct average is used. A ratio deviation is an individual's ratio minus the group average ratio or 100.

Direct effect : For weaning weight that portion of preweaning growth that is due to the calf's genetics (see Maternal Effect).

Direct EPD : An EPD representing the effect of the individual's own genes on the trait of interest. A calving ease direct EPD, for example, represents calving ease of an individual's progeny. See also Maternal EPD.

Disposition (temperament) : A measure of an animal's docility, wildness, or aggression toward unfamiliar situations, human handlers, or management interventions.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) : The chemical compound that stores within each cell genetic information unique to an individual. A DNA molecule is composed of two strands of nucleotides bound to one another by chemical bonds between each complementary (A-T and G-C) base pair.

The molecule has the appearance of a twisted ladder. The sequence of bases within DNA molecules determine amino acid sequences of proteins, control development, and establish the genetic potential for production of the individual.

Dominant : An allele is dominant when its presence prevents a recessive allele from affecting the phenotype of an individual heterozygous at the locus in question. For example, the allele for polledness (P) is dominant to the allele allowing growth of horns (p), so an animal with the genotype Pp shows the polled form of the trait.

Double muscling : A simply inherited trait evidenced by an enlargement of the muscles with large grooves between the muscle systems especially noticeable in the hind leg. Dressing percentage - (Chilled carcass weight/live weight) x 100.

Dystocia (calving difficulty) : Abnormal or difficult labor causing difficulty in delivering the fetus and/or placenta. Difficult births lead to increased calf and cow mortality and to more difficult rebreeding of the cow.

E

Ear tag : Method of identification by attaching a tag to the ear.

Economic value : The net return within a herd for making a one unit change (pound or percentage, for example) for an economically important trait under selection.

Economically relevant trait (ERT) : Traits that are of direct economic importance to cattle producers.

Effective progeny number (EPN) : An indication of the amount of information available for estimation of expected progeny differences (EPDs) in cattle evaluation.

It is a function of number of progeny of a parent but is adjusted for their distribution among herds and contemporary groups and for the number of contemporaries by other sires. EPN is less than the actual number of progeny because the distribution of progeny is never ideal.

Electrophoresis : A process used to separate DNA fragments by length. DNA fragments are placed at the top of a gel matrix that is then exposed to an electrical current. This causes fragments to migrate through the pores in the gel at rates proportional to fragment size. Resulting fragment location on the gel can be visualized by appropriate labeling techniques.

Embryo transfer : Removing fertilized ova (embryos) from one cow (the donor), generally in response to hormone-induced superovulation, and placing these embryos into other cows ( the recipients). More calves can be obtained from cows of superior breeding value by this technique

Environment : All external (nongenetic) conditions that influence the reproduction, production, and carcass merit of cattle.

When environmental influences on phenotypic merit are not properly be accounted for in genetic evaluations, they reduce the accuracy of breeding value estimation and of subsequent selection.

Environment interaction : When the difference in performance among genetic groups depends upon the environment in which they are compared.

For example, the most profitable breed in the Great Plains is probably not the same as the most profitable breed on the Gulf Coast. Also, different breeds and crosses will be optimum for producing beef for different market specifications and requirements.

Estimated breeding value (EBV) : An estimate of an individual's true breeding value for a trait based on the performance of the individual and close relatives for the trait itself and sometimes performance of genetically correlated traits.

EBV is a systematic way of combining available performance information on the individual and sibs and the progeny of the individual. Expected progeny differences have replaced EBV's in most breed association programs.

Exon : Those regions of a gene in which the nucleotide sequence actually codes for a biologically relevant product.

Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) : The difference in expected performance of future progeny of an individual, compared with expected performance of future progeny of an individual of average genetic merit in the base time frame for the genetic evaluation.

EPDs are estimated from phenotypic merit of an individual and all of its relatives and are estimates of one-half the breeding values. EPDs are generally reported in units of measurement for the trait (e.g., lb., cm., etc.).

F

F1 : Offspring resulting from the mating of a purebred (straight-bred) bull to purebred (straight-bred) females of another breed.

Fat thickness : Depth of fat in tenths of inches over the rib eye muscle at the 12th rib. It consists of a single measurement at a point three-fourths of the lateral length of the rib eye muscle from the split chine bone.

Feed conversion (feed efficiency) : Units of feed consumed per unit of weight gained or (less commonly in the United States) production of meat or milk per unit of feed consumed.

Fertilization : The union of the male and female gametes to form a new, genetically unique individual. In cattle, sperm and egg cells with 30 chromosomes each combine to form a zygote with the 60 chromosomes normal to the species.

Fingerprint (DNA : Pattern of DNA fragments unique to an individual. Often produced by using restriction enzymes to cut the DNA into fragments at specific sequences of nucleotides.

Using electrophoresis, these fragments can be sorted and then visualized, forming a unique ‘fingerprint’ for each different animal.

Frame score : A score based on subjective evaluation or actual measurement of hip height.

This score is related to slaughter weights at which cattle should grade choice or at which different groups of cattle should have comparable amounts of fat.

Freemartin : Female born twin to a bull calf (approximately 9 out of10 will be infertile).

G

Gel (gel matrix) : A porous substance that allows DNA fragments to migrate through it at a rate inversely proportional to fragment size, this allowing separation of DNA fragments.

Gene : A gene is a discrete segment of the DNA molecule, located at a specific site (its locus) on a specific chromosome pair.

Two copies of each gene exist in each nucleated diploid cell in an animal. Only one gene of each pair is randomly transmitted to the offspring through the gamete.

The unique nucleotide sequence of each gene determines its specific biological role.

Gene marker : A specific sequence of nucleotides that is easily detectable and can be used to differentiate among alleles at a locus.

General purpose breed : A breed with acceptable genetic merit in reproductive, maternal, growth, and carcass traits, but not specialized in either terminal or maternal characteristics.

Such breeds frequently are used in rotational crossbreeding programs.

Generation interval : Average age of parents when the offspring destined to replace them are born. It should be computed separately for male and female parents and then represents the average turnover rate of bulls and cows in the herd.

When other factors are held constant, generation interval is inversely related to the rate of response to selection. That is, rapid generation turnover enhances rate of selection response.

Genetic antagonism : A genetic correlation in which desirable genetic change in one of the traits is accompanied by an undesirable change in the other.

For example, because of the positive genetic correlation between milk yield potential and cow maintenance requirement, selection for increased milk would lead also to increased feed cost for maintenance.

Genetic correlations : Correlations between breeding values for two traits that arise because some of the same genes affect both of them.

When two traits (weaning and yearling weight for example) are positively genetically correlated, successful selection for one trait will result in an increase in the other trait as well. When two traits are negatively genetically correlated (birth weight and calving ease, for example), successful selection for one trait will result in a decrease in the other.

Genetic linkage map : A diagram showing where genes and markers are located on a chromosome and their relationship to one another.

Genetic trend : An estimate of the annual change in genetic merit of individuals within

Genome : The entire complement of DNA characteristic to individuals of a species.

Genotype : The two alleles present at a locus in an individual. For a locus with only two alleles, three genotypes are possible.

For example, at the polled/horned locus in cattle, two common alleles are P ( the dominant allele preventing growth of horns) and p (the recessive allele allowing horn growth). The three possible genotypes are PP (homozygous dominant), Pp (heterozygous or carrier), and pp (homozygous recessive).

Gestation : The period of pregnancy or the period of time from conception until young are born, averaging about 285 days in cattle.

H

Half-sibs : Individuals having the same sire but different dams (or less commonly the same dam but different sires). Half-brothers, half-sisters, or half brother/sister.

Harvest : To slaughter an animal.

Heat (estrous) synchronization : Through hormonal manipulation, causing a group of cows or heifers to initiate estrous cycles at approximately the same time.

Heifer : A young female bovine animal.

Heifer pregnancy EPD : Heifer pregnancy EPDs, expressed as probabilities of successful conception, predict differences among individuals in the ability of their daughters to conceive and calve at two years of age.

Heritability : The proportion of the differences among cattle, measured or observed, that is transmitted, on average, to their offspring.

Heritability of different traits may vary from zero to one. The higher the heritability of a trait, the more accurately individual performance predicts breeding value and the more rapid should be the response to selection for that trait.

Heritability estimate : An estimate of the proportion of the total phenotypic variation between individuals for a certain trait that is due to transmissible genetic merit. It is the proportion of total variation for a trait caused by differences among individuals in breeding value.

Heterosis (hybrid vigor) : Amount by which the average performance for a trait in crossbred calves exceeds the average performance of the two or more purebreds that were mated in that particular cross.

Heterozygote : A genotype in which the two alleles at a locus are different, e.g. Pp.

Homozygote : A genotype in which the two alleles at a locus are the same, e.g. PP or pp.

Hot carcass weight : Weight of a carcass just prior to chilling.

I

Inbreeding : The mating together of parents more closely related than average in the population. Inbreeding decreases the proportion of heterozygous gene pairs in the offspring and increases the proportion of homozygous gene pairs.

It increases the frequency of expression of genetic defects caused by recessive genes. Inbreeding may increase prepotency for simply inherited and highly heritable traits.

Inbreeding coefficient : A numerical measure, ranging from zero to 1.0, of the intensity of inbreeding of an individual. It represents the proportion of gene loci in the individual at which both genes are identical copies of the same ancestral gene.

Inbreeding depression : The reduction in performance level for many economically important traits that accompanies, on average, the increase in inbreeding coefficient.

Incomplete dominance : A situation in which neither of two alleles at a locus is fully

Independent culling levels : Selection based on cattle meeting specific levels of performance for every trait included in a selection program.

Equivalently, culling based on the failure of cattle to meet the required standard for any trait in the program.

For example, a breeder could cull all heifers with weaning weights below 400 pounds (or those in the bottom 20% on weaning weight) and yearling weights below 650 pounds (or those in the bottom 40%).

Indicator traits : Traits that do not have direct economic importance, but aid in the prediction of economically important traits.

Integrated resource management (IRM) : Producing beef cattle in a manner that efficiently, profitably, and sustainably uses available human and physical resources.

Interim EPD : An expected progeny difference computed from an individual's own performance information and(or) the EPDs of its parents.

Interim EPDs may be used to support selection and merchandizing decisions before EPDs from regularly scheduled national cattle evaluation runs become available.

International cattle evaluation : An evaluation utilizing data from more than one country, allowing comparisons of estimated genetic merit of cattle across countries.

Intron : DNA whose nucleotide sequence does not code for a product.

K

Kidney, pelvic and heart fat (KPH) : The internal carcass fat associated with the kidney, pelvic cavity, and heart. It is expressed as a percentage of chilled carcass weight. The weight of the kidneys is included in the estimate of kidney fat.

L

Lactation : The period of calf nursing between birth and weaning

Lethal gene : A gene or genes that cause the death of any individual in which they are expressed.

Libido : Sex drive. In bulls, the propensity to detect and mate estrous females.

Linebreeding : A form of inbreeding in which an attempt is made to concentrate the inheritance of some favored ancestor in descendants within a herd.

The average relationship of the individuals in the herd to this ancestor is increased by linebreeding, but at the cost of an increased level of inbreeding.

Linecross : Offspring produced by crossing two or more inbred lines.

Linkage : The occurrence of two or more loci of interest on the same chromosome within 50 cM linkage distance of one another.

Locus : The specific location of a gene on a chromosome.

M

Maintenance energy requirement : The amount of feed energy required per day by an animal to maintain its body weight and support necessary metabolic functions.

Marbling : The specks of fat (intramuscular fat) distributed in muscular tissue. Marbling is usually evaluated in the rib eye between the 12th and 13th rib. It is a major factor in assigning USDA quality grade of a beef carcass.

Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) : The use of genetic markers to select for specific alleles at linked QTLs and therefore specific traits.

Maternal effect : For weaning weight, the dam's maternal ability which influences preweaning growth.For weaning weight, the dam's maternal ability which influences preweaning growth.

Maternal EPD : An EPD representing the effect of the genes of an individual's daughters on the trait of interest. A calving ease maternal EPD, for example, represents the ease with which an individual's daughters calves are born. See also Direct EPD.

Maternal heterosis : Amount by which the average performance for a trait in the progeny of crossbred cows exceeds the average performance of progeny of purebred cows of the two or more breed ancestors of the crossbred cows.

Maternal sires : Sires whose major function is to sire daughters (often crossbreds) with outstanding genetic merit for reproductive and maternal traits, adaptability to prevailing environmental conditions, and longevity.

Such females would ideally be crossed to sires of a terminal breed with all offspring marketed.

Maturity : An estimation of the physiological age of the animal or carcass. It is assigned by assessing muscle characteristics and the stage of bone maturity.

Metabolic body size : The weight of the animal raised to the 3/4 power (W0.75); a value indicative of the feed required to meet metabolic needs and maintain current body weight.

Microsatellite : A type of genetic marker. It is composed of repeating nucleotide sequences within DNA that are locus specific and variable in the number of times the sequence is repeated.

Minisatellite : A type of genetic marker widely used in DNA fingerprinting that consists of repeating subsets of nucleotides that are highly polymorphic and widely distributed throughout the genome.

Morphology : A parameter recorded during microscopic examination of semen in the standardized breeding soundness evaluation quantifying the visual characteristics of spermatozoa, expressed as the percentage that appear normal.

Most Probable Producing Ability (MPPA) : An estimate of a cow's future superiority or inferiority for a repeatable trait (such as progeny weaning weight) based upon the cow's past production in comparison to her contemporaries, her number of past records, and the repeatability of the trait in question.

Motility : A parameter recorded during microscopic examination of semen in the standardized breeding soundness evaluation quantifying spermatozoa movement, expressed as the percentage demonstrating forward progressive motility.

Multiple breed evaluation : A genetic prediction simultaneously utilizing data from more than one breed or crossbred group. It accounts not only for differences among animals in transmissible genetic value (EPDs) but also in breed differences and heterosis effects.

Multiple trait evaluation : A genetic prediction in which phenotypic merit for two or more genetically correlated traits (birth weight, weaning weight, and post-weaning gain, for example) is used simultaneously to estimate breeding values for each of the traits.

Compared to single trait evaluations, multiple trait evaluations produce EPDs with higher accuracy and less bias from selection.

Multiplicative adjustment factors : A numerical quantity by which an animal's record is multiplied to reflect expected performance if the animal had belonged to some baseline group.

For example, if calves from mature dams weighed, on average, 8% more than calves from two-year-old dams, the multiplicative factor to adjust calves from two-year-old dams to a mature age-of-dam equivalent would be 1.08.

N

National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) : Programs of cattle evaluation conducted by breed associations to compute estimated genetic merit of a population of animals.

Carefully conducted national cattle evaluation programs give unbiased estimates of expected progeny differences (EPD's).

Cattle evaluations are based on field data and rely on information from the individual animal, relatives, and progeny to calculate EPD's.

Nonadditive gene effects : Effects of specific gene pairs or combinations.

Nonadditive gene effects occur when the heterozygous genotype is not intermediate in phenotypic value to the two homozygous genotypes.

Undesirable homozygous gene combinations lead to inbreeding depression in inbred populations; whereas favorable heterozygous gene combinations lead to heterosis in outbred herds.

Nucleotide : The subunit of DNA composed of a five carbon sugar, one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine), and a phosphate group.

Number of contemporaries : The number of animals of similar breed, sex, and age against which an animal was compared in performance tests. The greater the number of contemporaries, the greater the accuracy of comparisons.

O

Optimum level of performance : The most profitable or favorable ranges in levels of performance for the economically important traits in a given management system and environment.

For example, although many cows produce too little milk, in every management system there is a point beyond which higher levels of milk production will reduce fertility and decrease profit.

Outbreeding (outcrossing) : Mating together of animals that are not closely related.

Mild outbreeding is illustrated by mating cows to a sire of their own breed but who is not closely related to them. Such outcrossing may widen the genetic base in a herd and reduce inbreeding accumulation.

A higher level of outcrossing is illustrated by crossing two Bos taurus breeds. This generally would result in beneficial heterosis for economically important traits.

Ovulation : Release of the female germ cell (egg or ovum) by the ovary. Cows usually ovulate several hours (up to 15 hours) after the end of estrus or standing heat.

P

Palatability : Acceptable to the taste or sufficiently agreeable in flavor to be eaten.

Parturition : The act of giving birth; calving.

Pedigree : A tabulation of names of an individual's ancestors, usually only those of the three to five closest generations.

Pedigree information is used to establish genetic relationships among individuals to use in genetic evaluations.

Percent calf crop : The percentage cows and heifers exposed to breeding within a herd and year that produce calves.

Performance data : The record of the individual animal for reproduction, production, or carcass merit.

The most useful performance records for management, selection, and promotion decisions will vary among purebred breeders and for purebred breeders compared with commercial cattle producers.

Performance pedigree : A pedigree that includes performance records of the individual, ancestors, relatives, and progeny in addition to the usual pedigree information. Expected progeny differences may also be included.

Performance testing : The systematic collection of comparative production information

Phenotype : The visible or measurable expression of a character; weaning weight, postweaning gain, or reproduction for example.

For most traits, phenotype is influenced by both genotype and environment. The relative degree to which phenotypic variation among individuals is caused by transmissible genetic effects is the heritability of a trait

Phenotypic correlation : The net correlation between two traits caused both by genetic factors and environmental factors simultaneously influencing both traits.

Plasmid : A circular piece of bacterial DNA often used as a cloning vector to produce recombinant DNA in large quantities.

Polled : Naturally hornless cattle. Having no horns or scurs.

Polymerase : The enzyme system that facilitates the replication of DNA or RNA.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) : A process used to rapidly amplify DNA. The original DNA is heated, causing the strands to separate.

Specific primers are then added and bond to the single strands. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the primer, extending the new DNA strand. The PCR process can be repeated to produce many copies.

Polymorphism : The existence of two or more alleles at a gene locus in a population.

Possible change : The amount by which an individual's current EPD might reasonably be expected to change (either upwards or downwards) as more information becomes available in subsequent national cattle evaluations.

This measurement of error in prediction decreases as the number of offspring per sire increases.

Postpartum : After the birth of an individual.

Postpartum interval : The number of days between parturition and the first postpartum estrus.

Prepotency : The ability of a parent to transmit its characteristics to its offspring so that they resemble that parent, and one another, more than usual.

An individual that is homozygous for a dominant allele will show prepotency for the trait controlled by that gene, but not necessarily for any other trait. Inbred cattle, having a higher than average degree of homozygosity, may be more prepotent than outbred cattle but only for simply inherited or highly heritable traits.

Preweaning gain : Weight gained between birth and weaning.

Progeny : The young, or offspring, of the parents.

Progeny testing : Evaluating the genotype or estimating the breeding value of an individual by evaluating the comparative phenotypic merit of its progeny.

Puberty : The age at which the reproductive organs become functionally operative and secondary sex characteristics begin to develop.

Purebred : An animal of known ancestry within a recognized breed that is eligible for registry in the official herd book of that breed.

Q

Qualitative (categorical) traits : Those traits in which there is a sharp distinction between phenotypes, such as black vs. red or polled vs. horned. Only one or a few pairs of genes are involved in the expression of many qualitative traits.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) : A gene locus that has an effect on a quantitative trait. Often the actual nucleotide sequence is unknown, so selection is based upon genotype at a linked gene marker.

Quantitative traits : Those traits, such as weaning weight, in which there is no sharp distinction in the range of phenotypes, with a gradual variation from one extreme to the other.

Usually, many gene pairs are involved as well as environmental influences affect variation for such traits.

R

Random mating : A system of mating in which every female (cow and/or heifer) has an

RAPDs : Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs. Genetic markers that are randomly amplified using PCR with random primers to find polymorphic regions.

Rate of genetic improvement : The amount of improvement per unit of time (year).

The rate of improvement is dependent on: (1) heritability of traits considered, (2) selection differentials, (3) genetic correlations among traits considered, (4) generation interval in the herd, and (5) the number of traits for which selections are made.

Ratio : An expression of an animal's performance for a particular trait relative to the herd or contemporary group average. It is calculated for most traits as: Individual Record X 100. Group Average

Recessive : Recessive alleles are expressed only when homozygous. They must have been inherited from both parents before the phenotype with which they are associated can be expressed.

At the locus affected the growth or absence of horns, for example, homozygous recessive pp individuals are horned whereas PP and Pp individuals are polled.

Reduced animal model : A genetic prediction procedure in which EPDs are computed directly for all parents in the population, while EPDs for non-parents and progeny are computed from the parent solutions.

Predictions are equal and equivalent to those from the animal model. See animal model and sire model.

Reference sire : A bull that has previously been progeny tested and subjected to national cattle evaluation that is used concurrently with a test sire or sires in a new progeny test program.

Reference sires provide genetic linkages among herds and/or existing databases, allowing indirect comparison of the test sire with bulls evaluated at other places and times.

Regression : A measure of the relationship between two variables expressing the expected change in one of them per unit change in the other.

Using regression methods, the value of one trait can be predicted by knowing the value of others.

For example, easily obtained carcass traits (hot carcass weight, fat thickness, rib eye area, and percentage of internal fat) are used to predict percent cutability.

Relationship matrix : A table that stores numerical values for the genetic relationships among all pairs of animals in a population.

It is used in genetic prediction technology to properly predict the genetic merit of each animal from its own phenotypic merit and that of all of its relatives.

Relative economic value : The amount by which net income to the cattle enterprise will change, per unit change in genetic merit for a trait.

Restriction enzyme (Endonuclease) : One of over 150 enzymes derived from bacteria that recognizes specific DNA sequences and cuts the DNA at those sites.

Restriction site : The specific recognition site in DNA at which a specific restriction enzyme cuts the DNA.

RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) : Polymorphism identified by digesting DNA with a restriction enzyme. Individuals differ in their resulting fragment patterns, which are visualized radioactively after separation through gel electrophoresis

Rib eye area : Area in square inches of the longissimus muscle measured at the 12th rib interface on the beef forequarter.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) : A single-stranded molecule composed of ribonucleotides.

RNA differs from DNA in that it contains the base uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).

RNA is formed from DNA through transcription. It is involved in transferring and translating the genetic message from a gene into a protein product with a specific physiological function.

Rotational crossbreeding : Systems of crossing two or more breeds where the crossbred females are bred to bulls of the breed contributing the lowest proportion of genes to those females.

Rotational crossbreeding systems maintain relatively high levels of heterosis and allow for replacement heifers to be produced from within the system.

Roundup : Times when ranches will gather cattle for vaccinations, wean calves and prepare them to be sold.

S

Scrotal circumference : A measure of testes size obtained by measuring the distance around the testicles in the scrotum with a circular tape. Related to semen producing capacity and age at puberty of female sibs and progeny.

Scurs : Horny tissue or rudimentary horns that are attached to the skin rather than the bony parts of the head

Seedstock breeders : Producers whose primary goal is to produce breeding stock rather than animals for feeding and slaughter.

Progressive seedstock breeders have comprehensive programs designed to produce animals with optimum genetic merit for the combination of traits that will increase downstream profit of commercial beef production.

Selection : Choosing some individuals and rejecting others as parents of the next generation of offspring. Choosing as parents those individuals of superior estimated genetic merit for traits of interest

Selection differential (reach) : The difference between the average for a trait in selected cattle and the average for that same trait of the group from which they came.

The expected response to selection for a trait is equal to selection differential times the heritability of the trait.

Selection index : A formula that combines performance records from several traits or different measurements of the same trait into a single value for each animal.

Selection indexes assign relative emphasis to different traits according to their relative net economic importance, their heritabilities, and the genetic associations among them.

Selection intensity : The selection differential measured in phenotypic standard deviation units of the selected trait. It is inversely proportional to the proportion of available replacements actually selected to be parents of the next generation.

For example, with A. I. compared to natural service, only a small proportion of bulls needs to be selected, and the selection intensity, selection differential, and selection response will be high.

Serving capacity : A measure of the motivation, willingness, and ability of a bull to detect and service females in estrus.

Sibs : Brothers and sisters of an individual.

Sire model : A genetic prediction procedure in which EPDs are directly computed for all sires with progeny in the population.

Sire summary : Published genetic predictions (EPDs) of sires for economically important traits from national cattle evaluation programs.

Sire x environment interaction : When the difference in progeny performance among sires is dependent upon some factor of the environment under which the progeny were compared. For example, sires might rank differently for progeny performance in different contemporary groups, herds, or regions.

Sperm : A mature male germ cell.

Standardized performance analysis (SPA) : A set of programs that allow producers to collect, process, and interpret information on biological efficiency and economic returns to a seedstock or commercial beef production enterprise.

Stayability EPD : The expected difference among individuals in the probability that a daughter will stay in the herd to at least six years of age. Because the majority of cows culled before the age of six are open, the EPD is primarily a prediction of sustained fertility in female offspring.

Steer : Castrated male bovine.

Super ovulation : Process by which a cow is treated with reproductive hormones to induce her to produce more eggs than normal.

Systems approach : An approach to evaluating alternative individuals, breeding programs, and selection schemes that involves assessment of alternatives in terms of their net impact on all inputs and output in the production system.

This approach specifically recognizes that intermediate levels of performance in several traits may be more profitable than maximum performance for any single trait.

T

Tandem selection : Selection for one trait at a time. When the desired level is reached in one trait, then selection is practiced for a second trait.

Temperament (disposition) : A measure of the relative docility, wildness, or aggression of an animal toward unfamiliar situations, human handlers, or management interventions.

Terminal sires : Sires used in a crossbreeding system in which all of the progeny, both male and female, are marketed.

For example F, crossbred dams could be bred to terminal sires of a third breed and all calves marketed. Although this system allows maximum heterosis and complementary of breeds, replacement females must come from other herds.

Threshold model : Statistical procedures for analyzing traits that are expressed in an all-or-none fashion (alive vs dead or pregnant vs open, for example) but that probably are affected by environmental factors and by genes at many loci.

When genetic predictions are conducted for such traits using the threshold model, resultant EPDs reflect the expected proportion of an individual's progeny that will vs will not express the trait.

Transcription : The process by which an RNA copy is made from a gene.

Translation : The process by which ribosomes use the nucleotide sequence in RNA to synthesize proteins.

U

Ultrasonic measurements : A non-invasive method used to estimate carcass characteristics and reproductive events. It operates off the principle that sound waves echo differently with different densities of tissue.

USDA yield grade : Measurements of carcass cutability categorized into numerical categories with 1 being the leanest and 5 being the fattest. Yield grade and cutability are predicted from the same four carcass traits.

V

Variance : Variance is a statistic that numerically describes the differences among individuals for a trait in a population.

Without variation, no genetic progress would be possible, since genetically superior animals would not be distinguishable from genetically inferior ones.

VNTR (Variable Number of Tandem Repeats) : A type of minisatellite that is locus specific but cannot be generated by PCR.

W

Weight per day of age (WDA) : Weight of an individual divided by its age in days.

Whole Herd Reporting (WHR) : An inventory based performance recording system in which the production of all animals in a breeding herd and the performance of all progeny are accounted for annually.

In calf-based systems, by contrast, progeny performance data may be recorded selectively and production information is not gathered on females who do not produce live calves.

An inventory based Whole Herd Reporting system is necessary to acquire the data for genetic evaluation of some reproductive traits.

Y

Yield grade (see cutability) : A numerical score ranging from 1 (high yield) to 5 (low yield) reflecting the expected proportion of boneless, closely-trimmed cuts from the beef carcass.

It is estimated from a USDA prediction equation that includes measured or estimated values for hot carcass weight, rib eye area, fat thickness, and estimated percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat.

Source: Beef Improvement Federation

Is This History Repeating Itself?

Let's start by talking about how the IRS had the nerve to ask for a "Reading List" from a Tea Party Group - and the group sent the IRS a copy of the Constitution.

It was reported in the news today that when Marion Bower decided to start her Tea Party organization in 2010, she didn’t know that it would take nearly two years for the Internal Revenue Service to approve her request for tax-exempt status.

Marion Bower also did not expect that providing information about the books her group read would be part of the application process.

"I was trying to be very cordial, but they wanted copies of unbelievable things," Bower told ABC News. "hey wanted to know what materials we had discussed at any of our book studies."

She ultimately sent one of the books, "The Five Thousand Year Leap" which is promoted conservative host Glenn Beck, to the IRS official handling her tax-exempt request in Cincinnati, Ohio.

She also sent a paperback copy of the Constitution of the United States.

"They wanted a synopsis of all the books we read," Bower said. "I thought, I don't have time to write a book report. You can read them for yourselves."

Marion Bower, who is 68 years of age and obviously knows that these requests are out of line, said she did not want to cause trouble or be argumentative with the IRS - so she patiently responded to their questions about her group, American Patriots against Government Excess.

She said the group in Fremont, Ohio, about 45 miles from Toledo, was formed as an educational group.

Her group’s request was granted in March 2012, about two years after they originally applied. She said she the requests included wanting the agenda and minutes of their regular meetings and other documents.

"I felt like, 'My goodness, what in the world is going on here?'" Bower said. "Is this ever going to end?"

Now we find out that by the IRS's own admission that Marion Bower’s group would have raised a red flag for the IRS simply because of its name.

In 2012, the IRS says that it flagged groups with the words “Tea Party” or “Patriot” in their names for additional scrutiny, investigation, examinations and audits.
She said, "They wanted copies of our blog. They said they had already taken copies of our website. They wanted a list of all of our officers, what we do at our meeting, how our board is made up."

The IRS says that it is part of its normal oversight responsibility to request additional information to "develop" applications that need heightened scrutiny because tax-exempt groups might only engage in certain amounts and certain kinds of political activity.

But Marion Bower said her group consisted of volunteers who routinely passed out copies of the U.S.Constitution at parades and had informational meetings on anything from the new health care law to disaster preparedness.

"We thought it would be a very simple process," she said. "It wasn’t a simple process."

I can't help but wonder how she feels now that she knows that she, a 68 year old woman in Fremont Ohio was targeted by the Obama Administration because she and her friends were passing out the Constitution and talking about the new health regulations?

If this were Nazi Germany in 1939 and Hitler's government stooges had their agents ask questions about you, or your associates, or wanted a list of all of your officers of your group, and wanted to know what you were really doing at your meetings, or how your board is made up when all you were doing was talking about the government, you would not think it odd at all.

That was life in Nazi Germany, and is life under the Obama Administration right now if you are a Conservative.

If you were a Jew in Nazi Germany you would think it scary for the government to scrutinize your behavior, to want to know your political leanings, to want to frighten you into submission, to control you through intimidation.

That was life in Nazi Germany, and under the Obama Administration if you're a Conservative.

Besides these similarities, what's interesting is that right now there are liberal Democrats, so-called "progressives," who are in favor of the Obama Administration using the IRS to scrutinize and intimidate Conservative Groups and individuals.

Take for example this insane statement by former NAACP Chairman, Julian Bond, when he was on MSNBC today.

Bond thinks the Obama Administration's use of the IRS is doing the right thing. He feel that singling out and targeting Conservatives for politically motivated audits is justified because they do not support Hitler -- I mean Obama.

Bond went so far as to say,  "the Tea Party is openly racist." Then went on to justify his hoping the IRS keeps up their scrutiny saying about the Tea Party, "they're the Taliban wing of American politics".

This is just like the anti-Jewish propaganda in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Bond's mentality fits right in with the slander of Jews in Nazi Germany.

With that sort of mentality, that sort of blatant ignorance from a man who disguises himself as a Champion for Civil Rights, it is no wonder no one questions what Obama is doing.

For you liberals out there, remember the famous poem about the treatment of German Jews following the Nazis' rise to power and the subsequent "purging" of their chosen targets, group after group.
  Allow me to paraphrase that poem and put it into today's terms:
"First they came for the guns, and you did not speak out --
Because you did not own a gun, you are against them.

When they came for Christians, you did not speak out--

Because you were not a Christian, you did not think they mattered.

Then they came for Conservatives, and you did not speak out --
Because you were not Conservative, and you did not think it mattered.

When they came for the Constitution, you did not speak out--
Because you did not read the Constitution, you did not think it mattered. 

Then they came for you, and there was no one left to speak for you --
Because you did not matter."

While ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, all try to bury this story, here's something that liberals and Democrats like Bond and others of his ilk should remember:

If the government can break the law and violate my rights, they can break the law and violate yours. You're a fool if you don't think so.

Story by Tom Correa

IRS Openly Criminal - And We Should Be Worried!

Back in March of 2012, I wrote the following article on IRS abuse:

The IRS Wants Information From Tea Party Chapters?

Talk about overstepping your authority, this is an interesting twist of history.

It seems that the Sons of Liberty of 1765 are being resurrected all over again.

It was in Boston, Massachusetts, in early summer of 1765, when a group of Shopkeepers, Artisans got together to protest unfair laws and taxes placed upon them what they saw as a tyrannical government.

They called themselves The Loyal Nine. As the group grew, it came to be known as the Sons of Liberty. Frustration with the government was so bad that by the end of 1765, the Sons of Liberty existed in every American colony.

Knowing the ways of the world, they were not so naive to think that the government would not seek reprisals to their protests. Because of this, the Sons of Liberty met in secret out of fear of retribution from the government.

After the British government passed the Tea Act, American colonists viewed it as another example of "taxation without representation."

The American colonists were angry and helpless. They wanted to do something to let the British government know about the unhappiness that the Tea Act was causing.

As a way to protest the Tea Act, colonists in Philadelphia and New York turned the tea ships back to Britain. In Charleston the cargo was left to rot on the docks.

In Boston, the Royal Governor was stubborn and kept the ships in port - but the colonists dock workers would not allow them to unload. Cargoes of tea filled the Boston harbor, as the British ships weren't moving either way.

The Sons of Liberty discussed how best to get their message across to Great Britain, that the American colonies wanted more of a role in governing themselves.

The year was 1773 and Christmas was approaching. The American Colonists faced another year of unopposed and unrepresentative taxes. The Sons of Liberty decided to take action - it would later be called "The Boston Tea Party."

The Boston Tea Party was a symbolic act. It was meant to be an example of how far Americans were willing to go when they decide to speak out for their freedom.

But the Sons of Liberty were not fools, they knew that they must remain a secret organization. If not, then they'd be open to harsh reprisals and imprisonment from the British government.

Now fast forward to 2012.

Unlike the Sons of Liberty, Americans who joined in on the Tea Party rallies in 2009 never thought that they would be subject to reprisals and retribution from the United States government.

But now, now its happening!

Tea Party chapters around the nation are blasting the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) after the Federal agency sent them letters demanding information about their politics, contributors, and even family members.

In letters sent from IRS offices in Cincinnati earlier this month, chapters including the Waco, Texas, Tea Party and the Ohio Liberty Council were asked to provide a list of donors, identify volunteers, financial support for and relationships with political candidates and parties, and even printed copies of their Facebook pages.

The chapters that received requests were registering for nonprofit status as a 501(c)4 organizations. The classification mainly differs from 501(c)3 groups in that donors cannot deduct their contributions from their taxable income.

The tax code places fewer restrictions on 501(c)4 groups, allowing them to lobby in furtherance of their organizations' mission. They are also permitted to engage in political activity like endorsing candidates and donating money and time to specific campaigns, though it cannot be their primary activity.

Tea Party leaders said that they were particularly offended by demands that they name donors and volunteers, which is required by law, but were also asked to list any political ambitions of board members or their relatives.

Colleen Owens, spokeswoman for the Richmond, Virginia, Tea Party, claims that her chapter had a similar letter sent to them just two weeks before they were to hold a local convention in which they were asked to provide nearly 500 pages in documents.

They were required to return the requested documents two days before the start of the convention.

"Most of these groups are not wealthy and they've had their applications for 501(c)4 status since 2010," Owens said. "We only had two weeks to gather everything. The timing was suspicious."

"When determining whether an organization is eligible for tax-exempt status, including 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, all the facts and circumstances of that specific organization must be considered to determine whether it is eligible for tax-exempt status. To be tax-exempt as a social welfare organization, they must be primarily engaged in the promotion of social welfare. Career civil servants make all decisions on exemption applications in a fair, impartial manner and do so without regard to political party affiliation or ideology," said a spokesman for the IRS.

But if that's so, then why ask questions about the political ambitions of board members or their relatives? If this is just an innocent inquiry, then why demand information about their politics, contributors, and even family members?

If this is so routine, I can't help but wonder why would they ask for to provide a list of donors, identify volunteers, financial support for and relationships with political candidates and parties, and even printed copies of their Facebook pages?

Tom Zawistowski, of the Ohio Liberty Council, a Tea Party chapter, called the questions about the names of donors, volunteers and members' relatives as "intelligence gathering."

"This has nothing to do with tax status," Zawistowski said. “It has to do with political affiliation. The questions are too close to home."

I agree with Colleen Owens, who is the spokeswoman for the Richmond, Virginia, Tea Party, when she said, "It's very intimidating and people are scared."

-- end of March 12, 2012 article.

That was early last year, 2012. Now we find out that the IRS did not stop their criminal behavior. 

And yes, it is criminal behavior. It is against the law to do what they have done.

We now find out that the IRS probes and investigations went beyond just looking into a few Tea Party members, and actually targeted Conservative Groups.

Withing the last few days, the IRS has admits targeting the Tea Party.

An IRS campaign to apply additional surveillance on Conservative Groups went beyond targeting "Tea Party" and "patriot" groups to include those focused on government spending, the Constitution, and several other broad areas.

Can you imagine this for a moment? An arm of the United States Government uses its power to examine your finances because you are interested in the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES!

Imagine that! If you showed an interest in the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES - the IRS may have investigated you!

And yes, they make it sound so clinical and inert. They make it sound like its no big deal. But it is a big deal!

The IRS consciously created additional guidelines specially targeting a certain segment of our population. An arm of the Federal Government, the IRS actually targeted law abiding citizens who they saw as "political threats!"

The "additional guidelines" used by the agency were part of a timeline, obtained by Fox News, from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which is looking into the controversial IRS practice.

IRS officials apologized Friday for the scrutiny, but new information suggests senior leaders were apprised of the effort as early as 2011 despite lying to the public by denying what they were doing.

Republican lawmakers have vowed to investigate and hold hearings, calling the revelations deeply troubling.

"The conclusion that the IRS came to is that they did have agents who were engaged in intimidation of political groups," Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers told "Fox News Sunday."

"I don't care if you're a conservative, a liberal, a Democrat or a Republican, this should send a chill up your spine. It needs to have a full investigation."

Surprisingly, a top Democrat -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus -- also said Monday that his committee would launch a "full investigation" into the matter.

"These actions by the IRS are an outrageous abuse of power and a breach of the public's trust. Targeting groups based on their political views is not only inappropriate but it is intolerable," the Montana Democrat said in a statement. "Americans expect the IRS to do its job without passion or prejudice. We need to get to the bottom of what happened here. ... The IRS will now be the ones put under additional scrutiny."

President Obama weighed in as well, saying at a press conference Monday that "if the reports are true, then that's outrageous and there's no place for it -- and they have to be held fully accountable."

The president doesn't have to be concerned with "IF" because the IRS alread said they did the crime!

And as for Obama saying he first found out about the practice on Friday? Can you imagine that?

The President of the United States just found out what was being reported over a year ago!

To think that we knew before him? That would be like saying that President Roosevelt only found out about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on the radio! Incredible!

Obama said that "if" agents behaved in a partisan fashion, "I've got no patience with it. I will not tolerate it."

That's all fine and dandy, but since there is no "if" about it, why didn't President Obama say whether he would fire and criminally charge those who did this.

He did not say that or if he is putting the Attorney General on this. He did not say anything other than more "political speak".  Just a bunch of meaningless blather!

 The IRS internal Inspector General timeline shows that an entire Unit in the IRS was specifically assigned to examine Tea Party and "patriot" groups dating back to early 2010.

Moreover, the IRS internal Inspector General timeline shows that list of criteria became drastically larger by June 2011.

By 2011, the IRS was targeting individuals and groups focused on government spending, government debt, taxes, and education on ways to "make America a better place to live."

It even flagged people and groups whose "file" included criticism of "how the country is being run."

That's right, they have a "file" on you if you belong to a Conservative Group or have looked into government spending, government debt, taxes, how to "make America a better place to live," or "how the country is being run."

By early 2012, the criteria were updated to include organizations involved in "limiting/expanding government," education on social economic reform, the 9/12 Project, and the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

That's right, this is where we have come under this administration. Citizens are being investigated because they had shown an interest in reading the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES and THE BILL of RIGHTS!

Is this scary? You bet your ass its scary!

For me, I want whoever is in charge of this charged and tried and sent to prison!

Since the information that is coming out right now contradicts public statements by IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, who told Congressional investigators in March 2011 that specific groups were not being targeted, he should be charged with perjury.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday also called the IRS activities chilling and said she was disappointed that President Obama had not condemned the actions.

"This is truly outrageous and it contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government," Collins told CNN's "State of the Union."

"It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out Conservative Groups for extra review. And I think that it's very disappointing that the President hasn't personally condemned this."

At about the same time, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney released a statement saying: "If the inspector general finds that there were any rules broken or that conduct of government officials did not meet the standards required of them, the president expects that swift and appropriate steps will be taken to address any misconduct."

But this is not just a case of "misconduct" like someone getting something wrong on someone's paperwork, this is criminal to the extent that their are privacy issues at hand here. There are privacy laws that have been broken.

While the Federal Government has grown crazy with power lately, criminal conduct is criminal conduct and let's not try to make it less than it is.

Michigan Republican Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Friday his committee will hold a hearing on the issue.

The IRS said Friday that it was sorry for what it called the "inappropriate" targeting of the conservative groups during the 2012 elections.

Lois G. Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations, said the practice was initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati and was not motivated by political bias. But on June 29, 2011, Lerner found out that such groups were being targeted, according to the Inspector General's report.

She was told at a meeting that groups with "Tea Party," "Patriot" or "9/12 Project" in their names were being flagged for additional and often burdensome scrutiny, the report states.

Can you imagine the nerve it takes to say that it "was not motivated by political bias" when it is blatantly obvious that that is exactly what it is - political targeting of the liberal opposition?

Why do people like Lerner think we are all fools? Of course it's Political Bias, they only TARGETED one group - Conservatives!

I am thankful that Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins does not accept such bullshit lies coming out of the IRS, either from Lerner or Shulman.

Senator Collins said she does not believe the activity was limited to "a couple of rogue IRS employees."

"After all," she added, "groups with `progressive' in their names were not targeted similarly."

And one last thing, its the idea of "targeting" citizens.

We should be worried, very very worried, when any agency, whether its IRS specifically targets Conservatives and Conservative Groups, or the USDA and EPA targets Ranchers and Farmers.

It is not in our best interest as a nation, a supposedly free country, to allow any agent or agency of the government - whether it be at the local, county, state or federal levels - to use their power and authority to target "law abiding" Americans for any reason.

If we allow this, America is done, we're finished, we can cash in our chips and close the lights.

If we allow the government, in any capacity, to "target" law abiding citizens, than everything that has been done to uphold our liberty and freedom, in all of the generations that have preceded us, would have been for nothing.

The threat to our freedom and liberty comes from abuse of power and authority. The IRS has shown themselves as guilty of doing both - abusing their power and authority while violating the law.


Story by Tom Correa

History of Mother's Day

Using sources on the Internet, I've found that the United States celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May since 1914.

In 1872, Julia Ward Howe called for women to join in support of disarmament and asked for June 2nd, 1872, to be established as a "Mother's Day for Peace".

Her 1870, "Appeal to womanhood throughout the world" is sometimes referred to as Mother's Day Proclamation. But Howe's day was not for honoring mothers but for organizing pacifist mothers against war.

In the 1880s and 1890s there were several further attempts to establish an American "Mother's Day", but these did not succeed beyond the local level.

The current holiday was started by Anna Jarvis in Grafton, West Virginia in 1908, when she honored her mother.

After that, Anna Jarvis wanted to accomplish her mother's dream of making a celebration for all mothers, although the idea did not take off until she enlisted the services of wealthy Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker, who celebrated it on May 8th, 1910 in Bethany Temple Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA of which he was the founder.

In a letter to the pastor, she said it was, "our first Mother's Day".

Various observances honoring mothers existed in America during the 1870s and the 1880s, but these never had resonance beyond the local level. Yet, Anna Jarvis kept promoting the holiday until President Woodrow Wilson made the day an official national holiday in 1914.

Anna Jarvis never mentioned Julia Ward Howe's attempts in the 1870s to establish a "Mother's Day for Peace", nor any connection to the Protestant school celebrations that included "Children's Day" among others.

Neither did she mention the traditional festival of Mothering Sunday, but always said that the creation was her's alone.  Imagine that!

The holiday eventually became so commercialized that many, including its founder Anna Jarvis, considered it a "Hallmark holiday" - one with an overwhelming commercial purpose.

Though I would think the commercialization of Mother's Day would mean more attention to mothers, as strange as it sounds, Anna Jarvis eventually ended up opposing the holiday she had helped to create.

In fact, she opposed it so much so, that when she died in 1948, its said that she died regretting what had become of "her holiday."

If it was a selfish act, so what! Mother's Day is one of America most beloved holidays for all of the right reasons.

Mostly, it gives us a chance to celebrate Mom officially!

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

In the United States, Mother's Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and the like; Mother's Day is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls.

In fact, churchgoing is also popular on Mother's Day! Yielding the highest church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter, many worshipers celebrate the day with carnations - colored if the mother is living and white if she has passed away.

Mother's Day complements Father's Day, a similar celebration honoring fathers.

The celebration of Mother's Day in the United States is not related to the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have occurred throughout the world. But, in most countries, Mother's Day is a recent observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in the United States.

As adopted by other countries and cultures, the holiday has different meanings, is associated with different religious, historical, and legendary events, and is celebrated on different dates.

In some cases, countries already had existing celebrations honoring motherhood, and their celebrations then adopted several external characteristics from the American holiday, such as giving carnations and other presents to one's mother.

These days ex-Communists countries usually celebrate the Socialist "International Women's Day" instead of the more capitalist Mother's Day. Some ex-Communist countries, like Russia, still follow this custom.

But they also might simply celebrate both holidays, which is the custom in Ukraine.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the holiday is strongly associated with revering the Virgin Mary. In many Catholic homes, families have a special shrine devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In many Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a special prayer service is held in honor of the Theotokos Virgin Mary.

In Hindu tradition Mother's Day is called "Mata Tirtha Aunshi" or "Mother Pilgrimage fortnight", and is celebrated in countries with a Hindu population, especially in Nepal.

The holiday is observed on the new moon day in the month of Baisakh, i.e., April/May.

This celebration is based on Hindu religion and it pre-dates the creation of the Western-inspired holiday by at least a few centuries.

Now for the big surprise, believe it or not, Islamic countries who practice medieval Sharia Law also celebrate Mother's Day.

Yes its true! But while those countries celebrate Mother's Day on different days throughout the year, I can't help but wonder who is left to celebrate Mother's Day in Muslim nations since their children are so busy setting off bombs - either killing innocent people or themselves?

OLD WEST: Tips for Stagecoach Travelers

In the days of the Old West, the only mode of public transportation was the stagecoach. 

Stage stops dotted the Western plains like bus depots do today. And like independent bus companies of today, the stagecoach companies back then were independent.

And yes, some made it and some didn't. They came and went, flourished and died, starved out, sold out, and merged with others to grow larger and become stronger.

It is said that Wyatt Earp hit Tombstone with a desire to open a stage line but when he got there two rival companies already existed so he gave up on the idea.

Though on May 10, 1869, the famous "Golden Spike" was driven in Promontory Summit, Utah, and the track had been completed linking America's first transcontinental railroad, the stagecoach would endure until after the turn of the century. And yes, it was actually replaced by the automobile.

At the top of the heap after such a merger was Wells Fargo & Company Overland Stage, who established among many stage stops one in Silver City, Idaho, a mining district high in the Owyhee Mountains.

There, the Wells Fargo vault still stands next to the Idaho Hotel that was established during the boom of 1863.

Though journeys by stagecoach were long and tidious for the most part, made worse by the dust and hard road against your backsides, coach travel flourished.

Coaches were usually cramped and loaded down with heavy merchandise and luggage; passengers jammed in like sardines.

A given trip might find a veteran of the Civil War, a mason, a carpenter, a railroad carman, a drummer (traveling salesman), a banker, a Texas cattle rancher and a lady of refinement from one of the eastern states aboard.

Depending on whether the coach boasted a center bench inside, from 6 to 8 passengers might crowded into the interior, with perhaps two more riding topside with the driver. Togetherness prevailed, with each passenger squeezed into about 15 inches of seating space.


No, it was not unusual for as many as 8 to 12 people to be aboard at one time, some riding up front with the driver and even atop on the luggage. Passenger comfort took a poor second place to the economic necessity of maintaining schedules.

These crowded conditions required the establishment of company rules; a list of acceptable and unacceptable passenger behavior while aboard.

Stagecoach passengers were expected to observe a few rules of the road, most of them directed at gentlemen.

And yes, since proper stagecoach etiquette was a must, the following was posted in Silver City's Idaho Hotel stage depot:


WELLS FARGO RULES FOR RIDING THE STAGECOACH

Adherence to the Following Rules Will Insure a Pleasant Trip for All

1.Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly.

2.If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit WITH the wind, not against it.

3.Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.

4.Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.

5.Don't snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger's shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.

6.Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.

7.In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry wolves.

8.Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.

9.Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It's a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.

- Wells Fargo & Company, late 1860s.

Of course the Omaha Herald published the below Tips for Stagecoach Travelers in 1877 :

STAGECOACH  ETIQUETTE

The best seat inside a stage is the one next to the driver. Even if you have a tendency to seasickness when riding backwards - you'll get over it and will get less jolts and jostling. Don't let "sly elph" trade you his mid-seat.

In cold weather, don't ride with tight-fitting shoes, or gloves.

When the driver asks you to get off and walk, do so without grumbling, he won't request it unless absolutely necessary.

If the team runs away - sit still and take your chances.

If you jump, nine out of ten times you will get hurt.

In very cold weather, abstain entirely from liquor when on the road, because you will freeze twice as quickly when under its influence.

Don't growl at the food received at the station - stage companies generally provide the best they can get.

Don't keep the stage waiting.

Don't smoke a strong pipe inside the coach.

Spit on the leeward side.

If you have anything to drink in a bottle, pass it around.

Procure your stimulants before starting, as "ranch" (stage depot) whisky is not "nectar."

Don't lean or lop over neighbors when sleeping.

Take small change to pay expenses.

Never shoot on the road, as the noise might frighten the horses.

Don't discuss politics or religion.

Don't point out where murders have been committed, especially if there are women passengers.

Don't lag at the wash basin.

Don't grease your hair, because travel is dusty.

Don't imagine for a moment that you are going on a picnic.

Expect annoyances, discomfort, and some hardships.

- Omaha Herald, 1877



Here's a copy of what the poster looked like:

Regarding Border Violence Spillover Into The U.S.

The report below was published May 09, 2013 in Fox News Latino.

It is a short but good read about what's taking place on the U.S./Mexican Border.

I believe that President Obama is very much aware of what's going on down there, because he'd have to be a fool to not know what's happening. Besides, if you and I can get the information then I'm sure he has gotten it as well.

The problem with securing the border goes to this point, he doesn't what it secured. Yes, I honestly don't think he cares.

We should be letting our Congress know that this needs to stop before it gets even more worse than it already is - if that's possible.

Border Violence Spillover to the U.S. Needs to Be Acknowledged

by Sylvia Longmire

One early morning in mid-January of 2013, Jesús Juárez opened the front door of his Brownsville, Texas home and saw a package.

It had the typical FedEx markings on it, and despite the fact that his daughter’s boyfriend didn’t see it on his way out the night before, Jesús brought the package inside and opened it.

Fortunately, only one of the four pipe bombs inside the package detonated, but just that single device blew out the front door and windows and severely burned him, his wife and their young daughter.

An investigation by the Brownsville Police Department began immediately, and was soon joined by the FBI.

Local authorities told the media that the perpetrators knew what they were doing because the pipe bombs required a certain level of technical sophistication to create.

However, they could only speculate on who might be interested in deliberately sending such a violent message to a quiet home in a nice south Texas neighborhood.

Heads can literally roll in the streets of El Paso or Nogales, and DHS or the local sheriff’s department can just say it’s business as usual for drug traffickers and chalk it up as a typical homicide. - Sylvia Longmire

This incident in Brownsville never made it into the national news, but local reporters in the busy drug smuggling corridors of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of south Texas continued to follow developments.

Mexican cartels and their minions have a large presence in this area, and the bombing reeked of a retaliation hit of some kind.

However, cartel members (or gang members they hire) in the U.S. tend to shoot their targets; no cartel-related bombing of any kind had ever occurred on U.S. soil, and some private intelligence firms and drug war observers were quick to dismiss the Brownsville case as a prank gone wrong or something involving local criminals.

Then in late April 2013, federal authorities unsealed the case and named Jesús Juárez in a multi-count indictment for marijuana trafficking, along with several other individuals who had been arrested by the DEA.

Jesús and company were accused of smuggling at least 1,000 pounds of marijuana through the RGV between September and December 2012, and the DEA is looking to recoup half a million dollars in drug profits from the group. Jesús received the pipe bomb just a few weeks after his reported smuggling stint.

There are still no suspects in custody, which poses several problems — first and foremost the fact that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local law enforcement authorities can deny this was a bona fide case of border violence spillover.

While cartel-on-cartel violence is the hallmark of drug-related violence in Mexico —along with violence directed at the Mexican police and army — DHS doesn’t take this type of violence into account when trying to assess the existence of such spillover.

DHS officials have even stated in Congressional testimony that the agency doesn’t keep track of crime statistics involving cartel-on-cartel attacks in the U.S.

Some U.S. law enforcement agencies are finally starting to acknowledge that these incidents are happening in their territory.

In late October 2012, a Hidalgo County (also in south Texas) Sheriff’s deputy was shot three times by a gang member on the Gulf cartel payroll. Sheriff Lupe Treviño has traditionally been very hesitant to say spillover is a problem, but he had no qualms about telling the media after the shooting that this was the first authentic case of border violence spillover in his county.

These two examples beg the question: how bad do things need to get along our southwest border before DHS —or any other agency, for that matter— will acknowledge that spillover violence is happening?

The general message being sent is that no one seems to care as long as it’s just criminals getting killed or kidnapped in south Texas or Arizona.

But in these cases, an innocent five year-old was burned to within inches of her life, and an American police officer —one of many involved in recent confrontations with cartel members and their associates— could have died.

There’s no proof the bomb was sent by a drug trafficking organization, but all the existing evidence is definitely pointing in that direction.

There is no standardized definition of spillover violence, and this is part of the problem. Heads can literally roll in the streets of El Paso or Nogales, and DHS or the local sheriff’s department can just say it’s business as usual for drug traffickers and chalk it up as a typical homicide.

Sadly, this mentality prevents the development of any sort of strategy to prevent more incidents like the Brownsville bombing from happening again.

No U.S. agency should be waiting for Ciudad Juárez-style shootouts to happen in Tucson or narcoblockades to be set up in Laredo before stepping up and finally acknowledging the fundamental nature of cartel violence in Mexico has effective spilled over into the United States.


(Reprinted here in its entirety and unedited)

Fighting (Tom Brown’s School Days, 1857)

Dear Readers,

If you've ever wondered where we get our notions of right and wrong, and why people think the way they do even today, think about what has influenced our thinking.

Tom Brown’s School Days was a popular 19th century novel that followed eleven-year-old Tom Brown, as he adjusted to life at a public boarding school for boys and learned how to become a young gentleman.

The following excerpt introduces an account of Tom’s only big fight at the school.

The headmaster had given him a student to look after, and when a large bully attacked the frail and sensitive boy, Tom stepped in to stop the beating and fight the bully himself.

Sounds American? It should, we have been doing that very thing our entire history in one respect or another.

Fighting

from Tom Brown’s School Days, 1857

Let those young persons whose stomachs are not strong, or who think a good set-to with the weapons which God has given to us all an uncivilized, unchristian, or ungentlemanly affair, just skip this chapter at once, for it won’t be to their taste.

It was not at all usual in those days for two schoolhouse boys to have a fight.

Of course, there were exceptions, when some cross-grained, hard-headed fellow came up who would never be happy unless he was quarreling with his nearest neighbors, or when there was some class dispute between the fifth form and the fags, for instance, which required bloodletting; and a champion was picked out on each side tacitly, who settled the matter by a good, hearty mill. But for the most part the constant use of those surest keepers of the peace, the boxing-gloves, kept the schoolhouse boys from fighting one another.

Two or three nights in every week the gloves were brought out, either in the hall or fifth-form room; and every boy who was ever likely to fight at all knew all his neighbors’ prowess perfectly well, and could tell to a nicety what chance he would have in a stand-up fight with any other boy in the house.

But of course no such experience could be gotten as regarded boys in other houses; and as most of the other houses were more or less jealous of the schoolhouse, collisions were frequent.

After all, what would life be without fighting, I should like to know? From the cradle to the grave, fighting, rightly understood, is the business, the real, highest, honestest business of every son of man.

Every one who is worth his salt has his enemies, who must be beaten, be they evil thoughts and habits in himself or spiritual wickedness in high places, or Russians, or Border-ruffians, or Bill, Tom, or Harry, who will not let him live his life in quiet till he has thrashed them.

It is no good for Quakers, or any other body of men, to uplift their voices against fighting. Human nature is too strong for them, and they don’t follow their own precepts.

Every soul of them is doing his own piece of fighting, somehow and somewhere.

The world might be a better world without fighting, for anything I know, but it wouldn’t be our world; and therefore I am dead against crying peace when there is no peace, and isn’t meant to be.

I’m as sorry as any man to see folk fighting the wrong people and the wrong things, but I’d a sooner see them doing that, than that they should have no fight in them.

by Thomas Hughes, 1857

RANDOM SHOTS - Religious Freedom Under Attack In Our Military, and More!

FIRST SHOT!

Religious Freedom Under Attack In Our Military

Members of Congress are concerned over how much influence the Military Religious Freedom Foundation may have in military policies that critics fear may curtail religious freedom within the Armed Forces.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) is circulating a letter on Capitol Hill seeking assurances from the Department of Defense that the religious freedoms of service members are protected.

He also wants to know who the Pentagon has been consulting with on revisions to religious freedom regulations.

“Congress deliberately included religious freedom protections in the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) to address this growing pattern of hostility and to protect the constitutionality guaranteed right of religious freedom for our service members and chaplains,” Lamborn wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News.

President Obama took the unusual step of noting that the conscience protections were “unnecessary and ill-advised.”

Lamborn said the president’s statement – along with reports of Christianity under attack have raised “concerns that the military is developing a culture that is hostile to religion.”

Yes, Bullies against Christians in the military.

As we all know, for many years now, Hollywood and television has been on a pro-gay anti-Christian crusade. It has gotten old, but it keeps coming.

Tim Tebow was chastised for practicing his Christian belief, yet a homosexual basketball player is applauded by the left because he came out of the closet - no matter how much he lied to everyone including his fiancee.

Rep. Doug Lamborn noted recent incidents that included a 2011 memorandum that banned visitors from bringing Bibles and other religious materials into Walter Reed Hospital and a memorandum from Gen. Norton A. Schwartz that prohibited commanders from notifying Airmen about Chaplain Corps programs.

Last month, an Army briefing labeled Evangelical Christians and Catholics as examples of religious extremism.

Believe it or not, Christians were included on a terrorist list that included Al Qaeda and Hamas.

“It appalls me to hear the military of the freest nation in the world has labeled people of faith as religious extremists and continues this hostile attitude even after offering a half-hearted, public apology,” said Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA).

Collins, who is a minister and Air Force reservist, is demanding the military end all religious censorship.

“Our valiant servicemen and women are fighting every single day to protect our individual freedoms, how can we idly stand aside and let theirs be so easily taken?” he asked.

The latest concerns came after Mikey Weinstein, head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation met with military officials at the Pentagon about an instructional guide on religious tolerance.

Weinstein called for the military to enforce a regulation that he believes calls for the court martial of any service member who proselytizes.

“Someone needs to be punished for this,” Weinstein told Fox News. “Until the Air Force or Army or Navy or Marine Corps punishes a member of the military for unconstitutional religious proselytizing and oppression, we will never have the ability to stop this horrible, horrendous, dehumanizing behavior.”

Weinstein compared the act of proselytizing to rape, saying, “It is a version of being spiritually raped and you are being spiritually raped by fundamentalist Christian religious predators.”

The Pentagon initially issued a statement acknowledging that religious proselytizing is not permitted within the Department of Defense.

On May 2, they issued a new statement noting that “service members can share their faith (evangelize), but must not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one’s beliefs (proselytization).”

“The U.S. Department of Defense has never and will never single out a particular religious group for persecution or prosecution,” Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen said in a statement. “The Department makes reasonable accommodations for all religions and celebrates the religious diversity of our service members.”

However, last Thursday, Coast Guard Rear Admiral William Lee dropped a bombshell at a National Day of Prayer gathering in Washington, D.C. when he declared that religious freedom is under attack.

“As one general so aptly put it – they expect us to check our religion in at the door – don’t bring that here,” Lee told the audience. “Leaders like myself are feeling the constraints of rules and regulations and guidance issued by lawyers that put us in a tighter and tighter box regarding our constitutional rights to express our religious faith.”

And the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Freedom reported that an Air Force officer was told to remove a Bible from his desk because it might imply he condoned a certain religion.

Meanwhile, members of Congress and religious liberty groups want to know how much influence Weinstein may have at the Pentagon.

“The fact that the U.S. Air Force is consulting with Mr. Weinstein and possibly allowing him to shape policies relative to religious freedom is of great concern to Christians across the nation,” wrote Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin in a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Boykin, an executive vice president of the Family Research Council, said nearly 150,000 people have signed a petition supporting true religious freedom in the military.

So will Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recognize what is going on and support true religious freedom in the military or will he bow to the wishes of the atheists and curtail the religious freedoms of ours who fight to protect those very freedoms?

My bet is he goes against the troops!

SECOND SHOT!

Teacher Who Stomped On American Flag Gets $85,000 State Payout

The dumbass teacher who stomped on an American flag has been paid $85,000 by his school district not to pursue a federal court case.

Lexington-Richland 5 school district paid former Chapin High teacher Scott Compton the money, plus more than $31,500 in lawyer fees and his salary (between $43,340 and $59,647 a year) to not pursue further legal action, The State newspaper reported.

The paper discovered the payment through a South Carolina Freedom of Information Act request.

The payment was not disclosed when Compton resigned on March 27, reportedly for "family and personal reasons."

The agreement also will allow Compton to receive unemployment and receive a letter of recommendation for seeking employment.

Compton stomped on the flag during a classroom lesson that he said was intended to show that a country is more than its symbols.

That set off a furor, prompting Superintendent Stephen Hefner to seek to fire Compton. Hefner called the incident the latest in a pattern of poor judgment.

The State newspaper noted the school district has no standards for the flag's treatment, but that school officials say the act violated the expected conduct of teachers.

No word if anyone has stomped teacher Scott Compton to demonstrate that those who disrespect our country's most precious symbol, a symbol that many have fought and died for, can incur the wrath of those around him.

At least, not yet!

THIRD SHOT!

Military Sex Assault Reports Up

Sexual assaults in the military are a growing epidemic across the services and thousands of victims are still unwilling to come forward despite a slew of new oversight and assistance programs, according to Pentagon documents.

Troubling new numbers estimate that up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year, according to survey results released against a backdrop of scandals including an ongoing investigation into more than 30 Air Force instructors for assaults on trainees at a Texas base.

The report comes just days after the Air Force's head of sexual assault prevention was arrested last weekend on charges of groping a woman in a suburban Virginia parking lot.

And it follows a heated debate over whether commanders should be stripped of the authority to overturn military jury verdicts, such as one officer did in a recent sexual assault conviction.

The documents did show that the number of sexual assaults actually reported by members of the military rose 6 percent to 3,374 in 2012.

But a survey of personnel who were not required to reveal their identities showed the number of service members actually assaulted could be as many as 26,000, but they never reported the incidents, officials said Tuesday.

While the Associated Press obtained documents and memos related to a new Pentagon report slated for release Tuesday, it was not specific if the sexual assaults were predominately heterosexual or if they were a result of the military's new policy on homosexual behavior.

That number is an increase over the 19,000 estimated assaults in 2011.

The statistics highlight the dismal results that military leaders have achieved in their drive to change the culture within the ranks, even as the services redoubled efforts to launch new programs to assist the victims, encourage reporting, increase commanders' vigilance, and hold homosexual inductrination courses.

Members of Congress are putting together legislation to essentially strip military officers of the authority to overturn convictions for serious offenses such as sexual assault. The measure stem from congressional outrage over an Air Force officer's decision to reverse a jury verdict in a sexual assault case.

Legislation introduced in Congress on Tuesday provides victims with a special military lawyer who would assist them throughout the process, prohibit heterosexual or homosexual sexual contact between instructors and trainees during and within 30 days of completion of basic training or its equivalent and ensure that sexual assault response coordinators are available to help members of the National Guard and reserve.

"We have learned of an increase in the amount of service members experiencing unwanted sexual contact and a decrease in the rate that those incidents are reported," Turner said. "The exact opposite direction of what would indicate a cultural and statistical shift on a problem that affects mission readiness and overall morale of our forces," he said in a statement. "It's clear much more needs to be done both legislatively and structurally, to root out this problem."

According to Pentagon documents, the key conclusion of the report is that "sexual assault is a persistent problem in the military and remains vastly underreported."

The report says that of the 1.4 million active duty personnel, 6.1 percent of active duty women — or 12,100 — say they experienced unwanted sexual contact in 2012, a sharp increase over the 8,600 who said that in 2010.

For men, the number increased from 10,700 to 15,900. A majority of the offenders were military members or Defense Department civilians or contractors, the report said.

All of this is just more proof that our military is no place for social experiments. Whether it's repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy against gays serving openly or putting women in roles traditionally only held by men like that of aboad ship, there are certain things that should be left alone.

If it ain't broke, it don't need fixing.

And though someone out there we surely write me saying that "change" is needed. Let me advise them before they put pen to paper that change in itself means nothing. Change can be good and bad.

And yes, some of the changes in the military over the last 20 years due to political pressure is hurting our military.

As an organization charged with our national defense, the armed forces’ role requires a unique esprit de corps. It must have a sense of pride, honor and integrity. The imposition of social experimentation is an anathema to maintenance of the good order and discipline required in defense of the United States.

Is it too much to ask of one who wishes to serve in the military to keep his/her sexual orientation a private matter? Is it too much to ask of one who wishes to serve in the military to keep his/her sexual desires to themselves?

If the military is OK with the loss of men and women for being overweight, then I'm sure that the loss of service members who practice unwanted homosexual or heterosexual conduct won't hurt the military as well.

Those who put their own deviant behaviors ahead of their oath and sense of professionalism deserve to be dishonorably discharged.

FOURTH SHOT!

Reports Show Gun Homicides Down Since 1990s

Gun homicides have dropped steeply in the United States since their peak in 1993, a pair of reports released Tuesday showed, adding fuel to Congress' battle over whether to tighten restrictions on firearms.

A study released by the government's Bureau of Justice Statistics found that gun-related homicides dropped from 18,253 in 1993 to 11,101 in 2011. That's a 39 percent reduction.

Another report by the private Pew Research Center found a similar decline by looking at the rate of gun homicides, which compares the number of killings to the size of the country's population.

It found that the number of gun homicides per 100,000 people fell from 7 percent in 1993 to 3.6 percent in 2010, a drop of 49 percent.

Both reports also found the rate of nonfatal crimes involving guns was also down by around 70 percent over that period.

The trend in firearm-related homicides is part of a broad nationwide decline in violent crime over the past two decades, including incidents not involving firearms.

The Justice study also said that in 2011, about 70 percent of all homicides were committed with a firearm, mainly a handgun.

Gun rights advocates have argued that people are safer when they are allowed to own and carry guns.

And no, you will hear very little of this in the liberal mainstream media! The bias bastards don't have the class to tell the truth about gun violence in America - even when the news is good.

LAST SHOT!

A Sign of the Times!

This sign was found in the window of a gun shop recently.

Too True!

Story by Tom Correa

Pig Facts & Trivia - Part One

Since I have 4H and FFA youngsters reading my blog, some have asked if I could do more posts on  livestock.  Well, this is for you.

Police called Pigs?

If you've ever heard an old hippie or some other jerk call a Police Officer a "pig," there is a reason for that.

In the United States, calling a police officer the term "pig" came out of the 1960s when the hippies and the drug culture really started making a blemish on American History.

But, believe it or not, the term "pig" in reference to a law enforcement officer started long ago.

The Oxford English Dictionary cites an 1811 reference to a "pig" as a Bow Street Runner - the early police force, named after the location of their headquarters, before Sir Robert Peel and the Metropolitan Police Force in London were start.

Before that, the term "pig" had been used as early as the mid-1500s to refer to a person who is heartily disliked.

The usage was probably confined to the criminal classes until the 1960s when it was taken up by protesters, hippies, druggies, jerks and the like.

Some try to say that  the term involve the gas masks worn by the riot police in that era, or the pigs in charge of writer George Orwell's Animal Farm.

In the book Animal Farm, the pigs enforced unfair rules.

While police officers usually don't mind being called "Cops," they aren't usually fond of the term "pig."

But than again, there are those officers who turned it around. You see, while it may have come from  gas masks worn by the riot police in that era, or the pigs in charge of writer George Orwell's Animal Farm. references, law enforcement organizations around the country responded by referring to "PIG" as an acronym for "Pride, Integrity, Guts."

"Pride, Integrity, Guts,"- all traits every police officer personifies!

Great Pig Quotes

“I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals” - Sir Winston Churchill

President Harry Truman once said, "No man should be allowed to be President who does not understand hogs."

“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.” ― George Bernard Shaw

Politicians

Politicians understand pigs, or at least the importance of "pork."  The phrase "pork barrel" politics" is derived from the pre-Civil War practice of distributing salt pork to the slaves from huge barrels.

By the 1870s, Congressmen were referring to regularly dipping into the "pork barrel" for obtaining funds for popular projects in their home districts.

What is it with pigs always being the go-to animal to use as figures of speech in politics? Maybe there is some primal connection between pigs and politicians

• During the War of 1812, a New York pork packer named Uncle Sam Wilson shipped a boatload of several hundred barrels of pork to U.S. troops.

Each barrel was stamped "U.S." on the docks. The "U.S." stood for "Uncle Sam" whose shipment seemed large enough to feed the entire army.

This is how "Uncle Sam" came to represent the U.S. Government.

Pig facts you may already know:

• Domesticated pigs, called swine, are raised commercially for meat - generally called pork, hams, or bacon, as well as for leather.

• Due to their common use as livestock, adult swine have gender specific names: the males are hogs (or sometimes boars) and the females are sows. Young swine are called piglets or pigs.

• A typical pig has a large head with a long snout which is strengthened by a special prenasal bone and by a disk of cartilage at the tip called the snout.

• The snout is used to dig into the soil to find food and is a very acute sense organ.

• There are four hoofed toes on each trotter (foot), with the two larger central toes bearing most of the weight, but the outer two also being used in soft ground.

• Adult pigs have a total of 44 teeth. The rear teeth are adapted for crushing. In the male the canine teeth form tusks, which grow continuously and are sharpened by constantly being ground against each other.

• In the United States, the term "pig" refers to a younger domesticated swine weighing less than 120 pounds (50 kilograms), and the term "hog" refers to older swine weighing more than 120 lbs.

• Pork is one of the most popular forms of meat for human consumption, accounting for 38% of worldwide meat production.

• Pigs were one of the first animals to be domesticated and raised for food by the Chinese around 6,000 years ago. They originated from Eurasian wild boars.

• Hernando de Soto, the famous Spanish explorer, brought the first pig to North America in 1539. (Cows didn’t get here until 1611 with the Pilgrims).

• There are 15 different species of pigs (Sus domestica). The Duroc is reddish brown in color and the most popular breed in the U.S.. White colored farm breeds include the Yorkshire and Chester White, both with erect ears, and the Landrace, with ears that fall over its eyes. The Spotted Poland China is a white pig with black spots. Many commercial pig farmers cross several breeds together so there is great variation in color.

• There are around 1 billion domestic pigs on the planet. With around 1 billion alive at any time, the domesticated pig is one of the most numerous large mammals on the planet.

• Soldier pigs have gone to war. On battlefields, they have used their sensitive snouts as mine sniffers.

• Pigs are curious and like to keep busy. Some farmers entertain their pigs with beach balls and old tires.

• Pigs also enjoy listening to music.

• Why call a glutton, a pig? Fact is that pigs only eat until they are full. That's right. Despite a reputation for gluttony, they do not overeat. They eat only until they are full.

• Pigs are omnivores which means that they consume both plants and animals. In the wild, they are foraging animals, primarily eating leaves, grasses, roots, fruits and flowers.

• On farms, pigs are fed mostly corn and soybean meal with a mixture of vitamins and minerals added to the diet.

• The ancestor of the domesticated pig is the wild boar, which is one of the most numerous and widespread large mammals.

• Domestic pigs are rarely aggressive. The only exceptions are sows with a young litter and boars if provoked.

• A full grown pig can drink up to 14 gallons of water a day.

• A pig has a snout for a nose, small eyes, and a small tail, which may be curly, kinked or straight. It has a thick, stout body, short legs, and coarse, bristly hair.

Their bristly hairs are also used for brushes.

• Pigs use grunts to communicate with each other and will often bark and squeal when agitated.

• Pigs are gregarious and very social animals. They form close bonds with each other and other species. They enjoy close contact and will lie close together when resting.

• A sow can give birth to a litter containing 7 to 12 piglets about twice a year. Giving birth to baby pigs is called farrowing. The gestation period of a sow is 114 days – a little less than 4 months.

• A baby pig, or piglet, weighs about 2 ½ pounds at birth and will double its weight in just seven days.

• Weaning occurs at three months of age, but young pigs continue to live with their mothers. Two or more sows usually join together in an extended family.

• Raising pigs became an important commercial enterprise during the 1800s when Midwest farm regions were settled.

The new Erie Canal gave farmers a way to get their pigs to the cities back east. Farmers started calling their pigs, “Mortgage Lifters,” because the profits from their sales paid for the new homesteads.

• The highest known price ever paid for a hog was $56,000 paid for a cross-bred hog named Bud on March 5, 1985.

• The largest pig to date was a Poland-China hog, named "Big Bill". It weighed 2,552 pounds. It was 5 feet tall and 9 feet long.

• The largest litter of piglets ever born included 37 piglets, out of which 36 were born alive and 33 survived.

• Pigs can live from 9 to 15 years. If we let them.

• Swine have been maligned. We think of them as dirty, but pigs are very clean animals.

They keep their “toilets” far from their living or eating area. Even piglets only a few hours old will leave the nest to go to the bathroom.

• Pigs probably got the reputation as dirty animals because they like to wallow in mud.

There’s a reason for a  pig's affection for mud. Pigs do not have functional sweat glands, so they can't perspire to cool themselves. They roll around in the mud to cool their skin.

• They also use a layer of mud as sunscreen to protect their skin from sunburn. Mud also provides protection against flies, parasites and insect bites.

• Pigs are very good swimmers and prefer water, if it’s available, to mud.

• People around the world eat more pork than any other meat, but n the U.S. pork ranks behind beef and poultry.

• Pigs can run a 7-minute mile. Yes they can!

• Pigs have a powerful sense of smell. Their snout is a highly developed sense organ and very sensitive to touch. Some farmers put rings in pigs' noses to keep them from rooting, or digging up the earth with their snouts. In the wild, pigs feed themselves by digging for roots to eat. This causes a lot of damage on a farm.

• When fully grown, boars may weigh more than 500 pounds, and sows may weigh from 300 to 500 pounds.

• Most pigs are sold when they are 6 or 7 months old and weigh about 210 to 250 pounds. If pigs are kept longer they are usually used for breeding.

• A pig's squeal can range from 110 to 115 decibels. Compare that to the take-off sound of a jet engine - about 112 decibels.

• Baby pigs appear very greedy when they are competing for food from their mothers. For this reason the words “pig” and “hog” have become associated with greedy behavior.

• Pig farmers are very careful about what they feed their animals - corn, wheat and soybean meal. Vitamins and minerals are added to increase growth and improve health.

• Pork provides protein, B-vitamins and thiamin to our diets. Pork has three times as much thiamin as any other food. Thiamin changes carbohydrates into energy.

• Pigs have such a well developed sense of smell that they can easily find things underground.

• The ancient Chinese were so reluctant to be separated from fresh pork that the departed were often buried with their entire herd of hogs.

• Because of their keen sense of smell, some pigs are trained to root for truffles, a delicacy that grows underground in temperate forests in Europe and North America.

• Wild hogs are strong and fierce and live in forests and jungles in many parts of the world.

Razorbacks (wild hogs with sharp, narrow backs) live in the Southeastern U.S. and the West Indies.

• In some areas hogs would roam freely, eating what they could find – acorns from the ground or roots which they dug from the ground with their snouts.

• In Manhattan, New York City, hogs ravaged grain fields until farmers were forced to build a wall to keep them out.

There are varying accounts about how the Dutch-named "de Waal Straat" got its name. But the generally accepted version is that the name of the street was derived from an earthen wall on the northern boundary of the New Amsterdam settlement, perhaps to protect against English colonial encroachment or incursions by native Americans, or simply to keep hogs from ravaging grain fields..

The street running along this wall became Wall Street. Yes, that Wall Street!

Pig Superstition

Germans see pigs as good luck symbols and it's not uncommon to receive a marzipan pig as a gift, especially during the New Year's Eve holidays.

Interestingly, after Christmas dinner, some families living in New York during the 1880s would share a hard candy peppermint flavored pig with one another with the hope that good health and wealth would follow them into the next year.

But, not everyone saw the pig as good luck.

Fisherman from North East England saw swine as bad luck and under no circumstances would they allow a pig onto their boat.

This belief was so strong that if a fisherman spotted a pig on his way to work, he would turn back and go back home. People weren't even allowed to utter the word 'pig' while on a vessel. If someone had to mention the animals, they were called 'gissies.'


That superstition carried on into the New World as Pirates in the West Indies had a bizarre superstition related to swine. Pigs themselves were held at great respect because they possessed cloven hooves just like the devil and the pig was the signature animal for the Great Earth Goddess who controlled the winds.
As a result, these fishermen never spoke the word "pig" out loud, instead referring to the animal by such safe nicknames as Curly-Tail and Turf-Rooter. It was believed that mentioning the word "pig" would result in strong winds.

Actually killing a pig on board the ship would result in a full scale storm.

Pig Sayings?

• The saying "You can put lipstick on a pig" has been used for decades in rural America.

The saying is a rhetorical expression used to convey the message that making superficial or cosmetic changes is a futile attempt to disguise the true nature of a product is just bullshit.

• The saying "When pigs fly" is used to describe any situation where something looks unlikely to happen.

• The saying "Living high on the hog" started among enlisted men in the U.S. Army who received shoulder and leg cuts of pork while officers received the top loin cuts.

“Living high on the hog" came to mean living well.

• Have you ever heard the saying, "Don’t buy a pig in a poke?"

In 17th century England, it was a common trick to try to give away a cat to an unsuspecting shopper who was supposedly buying a suckling (young) pig. The story goes that when shopper opened the poke (sack), he "let the cat out of the bag," and found he had been cheated.

• What is the meaning of "make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"?

A "sow", as you probably know, is a female pig. The word rhymes with "how", "now" and "cow".

The old adage "you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear" had been used for years to discourage inventiveness and enterprise. Today, that hasn't changed.

The expression "make a silk purse out of sow's ear" is normally used to mean that it is impossible to make something fine out of inferior or substandard material. The idiom is normally used in the negative.

So what is the origin of the old adage "you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear"?

In the 16th century, Alexander Barclay in "Certayne Eglogues" wrote: "None can make goodly silke of a gotes fleece." Then in 1579, Stephen Gosson wrote in his Ephemerides of  "seekinge too make a silke purse of a Sowes eare."

So what have we gained from this?  It means that people have known for a long long time that 1) we should have the right starting material to make something or generate a useful idea; 2) that you can't make something good from inferior or inappropriate raw material; or 3) that it would be tough to do the impossible and make something look good when you first start out with things all screwed up.

And yet, though we know this, we keep trying?

Products:

While people may be aware of "the other white meat" being pork chops, pork roast, spare ribs, bacon, ham, sausage or hot dogs, they may not know of some other earth shaking pig products.

Insulin and more than 40 other pharmaceuticals and medicines are derived from pig products.

Pig fat and other pig products are used in cosmetics, floor wax, crayons, chalk, weed killers, anti-freeze, glass, fine china, adhesives, plastics, paint, chewing gum, shoes, and hundreds of other items.

Pig heart valves have been used to replace damaged human heart valves for years.

And yes, I've been told that our troops overseas are using pig blood and pig fat to coat the bullets they are using against Muslims. Imagine that!

Horses - Cooling Down

Let me first say that my wife is a City Girl at heart. She's getting better, but there are some things that she just doesn't understand they're done. Cooling down your horse slowly is one.

I really hate stating the obvious, but as we all know - during the summer, the heat can be tough on both horse and rider.

In some cases, after a ride, you may find that your horse is covered with sweat even though you thought you took it easy. In that case, what do you do for your horse?
Well, believe it or not, whether its the heat of the summer or after a hard workout in the winter and steam is pouring off your horse, it still necessary to cool down your horse.

The cool down period is essential a time to prevent exhaustion and injury. It gives the horse a time to relax and recoup.

Cooling down means lowering the temperature for the horse’s muscles slowly without allowing the horse to catch a chill. It is especially important after the horse has been worked up.

Here's how to make sure he gets comfortable.

Common Sense & Time

Yes, common sense and time is required to cool off a horse.

After a workout, your horse should always be walked for about 10 to 20 minutes. Walking your horse around for a while until its not as warm is important. This may take a while depending on how overheated it is.

Make sure the horse is moving at a good working walk since a sluggish horse will cool too quickly.

Do not let them just stand tied somewhere to stand still. This will tense their muscles and isn't healthy for them. A horse left to stand after strenuous exercise may experience swelling around the lower leg joints caused by a decrease in circulation.

After they are cooled down, you may dismount.

At that time loosen the saddle cinch without removing the saddle right away. This will allow the air to cool his back slower, which helps to prevent cramps.

Your horse should then be offered a few swallows of water. Give your horse the minimal amount of water to drink, wait a few minutes, and then you can give him some more. Limit his intake of cool water as too much too fast can bring on cramping.

Remove the saddle, but you should leave the pad in place until your horse cools down slightly so they don't get a chill. A blanket is highly recommended over anything else when the weather is cold and windy and your horse has been working hard.
If it is a real hot day, a hose should be used to apply cool water to the horse and then rub them down with a towel.

Vigorously rub the entire horse and pay special attention to the area where the saddle was as well as the areas on their neck and flanks, then you should start walking them a bit.

There are many factors that go into the equation for cooling a horse including their condition, the weather, the wind chill, and how hard the horse has worked.

To decide the best way to cool a horse you should use your best judgment. A horse’s comfort should always come before your own.

Common sense will tell you if your horse is ready to be put back in its pen.

Horses - Colic Signs and Treatment

Horse Colic is important to me because I lost my horse Murphy to colic a little over a year ago. I've had bouts of mild colic, but never did I think I'd lose a horse due to colic.

Knowing that I am not a Veterinarian, my readers have written to ask me about colic. Since I believe all horse owners need to know more about colic, this is for you.

Above all, you should know that colic is the number one reason why veterinarians are called for horses.

Horse colic is a medical emergency, especially if the horse is exhibiting signs of severe pain. But there are many things a horse owner can do to help comfort the colicky horse and to treat mild cases of colic.

Colic Types

If one were to boil it down, there are three main types of colic: 1) tympanic colic, 2) spasmodic colic, and 3) impaction colic.

Tympanic colic is caused by a sudden increase of gas in the horse's gut. There are many reasons why a horse's gut would suddenly inflate and not be released as usual. These include change of diet, illness and a bad reaction to medication.

Spasmodic colic is most often caused by internal parasites. Spasmodic colic is a form of colic produced by contraction, or spasm, of a portion of the small intestines: It is produced by indigestible food; large drinks of cold water when the animal is warm; driving a heated horse through deep streams; cold rains; drafts of cold air, etc,

Unequal distribution of or interference with the nervous supply here produces cramp of the bowels, the same as external cramps are produced. Spasmodic colic is much more frequently met with in high­bred, nervous horses than in coarse, lymphatic ones.


Impaction colic, or obstruction colic, is caused by something blocking part of the horse's digestive tract, such as sand that the horse ate while grazing in a sandy pasture.   This is a common bowel trouble and one which is often not recognized for what it is. It is caused by overfeeding, especially of bulky food containing an excess of indigestible residue; old, dry, hard hay, or stalks when largely fed.   It is also caused by a deficiency of digestive secretions of the intestinal tracts, a lack of water, a need of exercise, medicines, etc.

How to treat a foal with colic is a little different from how to treat a horse with colic. There is a particularly deadly type of impaction colic for newborn foals called meconium colic.

The meconium is a foal's first stool. It needs to be expelled in the first 24 hours after birth. If a warm, soapy enema or a 250 ml dose of mineral oil does not shift the meconium, the foal will need surgery or die.

For more on this, please see: Horses - Colic Types and More

The moment you recognize the first signs of horse colic, the better the horse's chances of survival. Time is extremely important.

The most common visual signs of horse colic :

• Lying down more than usual
• Getting up and lying down repeatedly
• Repeated lying down and rising
• Groaning
• Excess salivation
• Loss of appetite
• Pacing
• Frequent attempts to urinate
• Stretching
• Flank watching: turning of the head to watch the stomach and/or hind quarters
• Biting/nipping the stomach
• Pawing and/or scraping
• Pawing at the belly with a hind hoof
• Breaking out into a sweat
• Rolling in a controlled, leisurely fashion
• Pulse rises to 70+ beats per minute
• Sitting on the hind legs in the way that a dog sits

Signs that the colic is severe and that the horse is in extreme pain include:

• Thrashing desperately while rolling

• Rolling the eyes

• Racing pulse

• Sweating to the point of dripping or foaming

• Silence in the gut - a horse's gut should always make some rumbling or gurgling noises. Horses with mild cases of colic will still make some intestinal noises.

Call a Veterinarian

Even if the signs seem to be mild, it is a good idea to call the vet.

After you contacted a vet, keep an eye on your horse and remove any feed in its stall or remove them from feed. The Vet will probably give you instructions as to what to do next.

If the vet is coming out, try to remain as calm as possible so as not to panic your horse and make the situation worse.

If your horse is in a stall, remove any feed or water buckets from its stall. Get the horse clear of all obstacles. If your horse is in a pasture, move your horse to a stall without obstacles.

If you can, check the stall or pasture for fresh but dry manure. The vet may ask to see it when he or she arrives.

I've been told that rolling can sometimes help, but I wouldn't allow a coliced horse to roll. From my experience, horses that are exhibiting severe signs of pain should not be allowed to roll. Instead, just walk them slowly and quietly about. And yes, let the horse take its time.

Treatment

Unless the horse has a history of colic and the owner is well acquainted with the causes of that horse's colic, let a vet diagnose just what type of colic the horse is suffering from. Diagnosis involves a rectal exam and "scoping" or passing a flexible tube down the nose and into the stomach.

Tympanic colic and spasmodic colic often treated with injections of an anti-spasmodic drug like dipyrone and analgesic drugs like xylazine.

The horse may be given IV fluids to relieve or prevent dehydration. The horse also may be given an additional gallon of mineral oil if the vet recommends it.

Spasmodic colic can sometimes go away without drugs, but this should not be relied on.

If the rectum is inflamed, this could be fecal impaction which a vet can remove manually. The horse is sedated and then the vet dons gloves and pulls the feces out. The horse is given an enema and possible IV fluids.

Impaction colic may require surgery, especially if the horse is showing signs of severe distress or the cause of the impaction is unknown.

Never guess at how to treat a horse with colic. Call a Veterinarian right away. Meanwhile, keep the horse as calm and comfortable as possible.