Re-warming Methods for Cold-stressed Newborn Calves

Re-warming Methods for Cold-stressed Newborn Calves

Oklahoma State University

Recently an Oklahoma rancher called to tell of the success he had noticed in using a warm water bath to revive new born calves that had been severely cold stressed. A quick check of the scientific data on that subject bears out his observation. Canadian animal scientists compared methods of reviving hypothermic or cold stressed baby calves. Heat production and rectal temperature were measured in 19 newborn calves during hypothermia (cold stress) and recovery when four different means of assistance were provided. Hypothermia of 86o F rectal temperature was induced by immersion in cold water.

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Stretching Winter Feed Dollars

Stretching Winter Feed Dollars

Alabama Cooperative Extension

Experts predict Alabama farmers will produce about 2.2 tons of hay from each acre in production. The Alabama Agricultural Statistics Service predicts hay harvest for 2003 will be around 1.70 million tons, down slightly from last year’s 1.75 million tons.

Farmers have baled considerable quantities of hay for winter feeding, but specialists with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are concerned about the hay’s quality.

Dr. Don Ball, an Extension forage agronomist, said he is concerned that wet weather may have prevented producers from cutting hay at its peak quality.

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Genetic Parameters For Growth & In Yearling Bulls

Genetic Parameters For Growth & In Yearling Bulls

Cattle Network.com

Univ. of Guelph scientists determined genetic parameters for ten growth and ultrasound traits in 2,172 yearling beef bulls and four carcass traits in 1,031 finished feedlot steers. Following is a summary of results (Bergen et al. 2005. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84:37). • Except for loin muscle width, heritabilities for most traits were moderate to high, ranging from 0.25 for loin muscle depth to 0.83 for hip height, suggesting that selection for these traits would be quite effective.

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Dr. Elizabeth Parker Joins NCBA as Chief Veterinarian

Dr. Elizabeth Parker Joins NCBA as Chief Veterinarian

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) proudly announces that Dr. Elizabeth Parker has joined its team as chief veterinarian in Washington, D.C.

“We’re very excited to have Elizabeth come on board and fill the role as our animal health specialist,” said NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt. “In addition to her vast experience as a practicing veterinarian, Elizabeth worked for many years on Capitol Hill, and she has a wealth of knowledge on the many political issues affecting our industry.”

Parker’s experience includes working as a professional staff member on the House Agriculture Committee and more recently as an international consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

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Forage Focus: The Case for Forage Legumes

Forage Focus: The Case for Forage Legumes

Cattlenetwork.com

Legumes have long been viewed as special and beneficial pasture plants, but there is justifiably heightened interest in them at present, thus the reasons for growing them deserve renewed emphasis.

Nitrogen Fixation: When in association with the proper type of bacteria, most legumes can obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fix“ it in nodules on the roots. Nitrogen fixation/acre/year by a stand of annual legume(s), white clover or red clover, and alfalfa often is within the ranges of 50 to 150, 75 to 200, and 150 to 200, respectively.

Forage quality: As compared to grasses, legumes are usually higher in crude protein, digestibility, and minerals and vitamins. The result is better performance of grazing animals in terms of higher gains, milk production, and reproductive rates.

Distribution of Growth: Introducing legumes into grass pastures often extends the grazing season. Red clover is especially likely to provide additional summer production when grown with cool season perennial grasses. Several legumes can extend the grazing season when grown with annual grasses.

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Possible border re-opening for Canadian cattle

Possible border re-opening for Canadian cattle

Lori Creech

Nanton News (CAN)

Canadian cattle producers have high hopes their Christmas wishes for an open American border will come true.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will consider a lift on the ban of Canadian live cattle born on or after March 1, 1999. The USDA may also allow bovine blood and blood products, small intestines and casings into the country. The

proposed changes are under review until March 12.

This stage had been reached last year, but another case of BSE in Canada put the process on hold.

“Nothing is certain, but I believe the border will open,” said Hugh Lynch-Staunton, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “I don’t know when, but it’s possible in theory to open in the second quarter, but it will be probably after that. There are all sorts of things that could happen that could prolong it or stop it from happening.”

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Cutting the cheese: Cow flatulence fans global warming

Cutting the cheese: Cow flatulence fans global warming

TREVOR SIDES

Rock Mountain Collegian

Editor’s note: Stories of this ilk are included in the blog to inform those in our industry how agriculture is being presented to and perceived by the public.

Only one word is needed to describe the newest and greatest perpetrator of global warming: moo. And CSU is at the heart of this global destruction.

In December, the U.K. Independent published findings from a United Nations’ report entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” that targeted cows – not cars – as the major emitter of harmful greenhouse gases.

According to the report, cattle are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gases — which is more than all transportation sources, including cars and planes, combined.

Even more alarming, the report documents, is that cattle – via their flatulence and manure – produce a third of the world’s methane. Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent greenhouse gas, but according to the UN report, methane warms the earth’s atmosphere 20 times faster than CO2.

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Feed Outlook: Hay and Silage Supplies Decrease

Feed Outlook: Hay and Silage Supplies Decrease

Cattlenetwork.com

Stocks of all hay stored on farms totaled 96 million tons on December 1, 2006, down 8 percent from the previous year and the lowest since 1988.

Disappearance of hay from May 2006-December 2006 totaled 66.6 million tons, compared with 73.6 million tons for the same period a year ago. RCAU in 2006/07 are estimated at 73.0 million, up from 72.4 million in 2005/06.

Hay stocks are 1.32 tons per RCAU, down from 1.45 tons last year.

Hay production totaled 142 million tons in 2006/07, compared with 151 million tons the previous year. This year-over-year decrease stems from lower yields, which went from 2.45 tons per acre in 2005/06 to 2.33 tons per acre in 2006/07. Harvested hay area declined from 61.7 million acres in 2005/06 to 60.8 million acres.

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures is down 4.5 million tons in 2006/07 due to lower yields and harvested area. The 2006 alfalfa yield is 3.35 tons per acre and harvested area is 21.4 million acres. Other hay production is down 7 percent from 2005’s 74.9 million tons. Average yields were 1.78 tons per acre in 2006, compared with 1.91 tons per acre in the previous year.

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Latest USDA report a ‘jaw dropper’ for corn

Latest USDA report a ‘jaw dropper’ for corn

By Brian Hoops

The Prairie Star

Corn

The January supply/demand report for corn was a jaw dropper for the industry. The USDA sharply reduced the 2006 production figure to 10.535 billion bushels, still the third largest in history, but this figure is nearly 1 billion bushels less than the USDA estimate in August.

The USDA’s final estimate of the 2006 production not only shocked the market, but also scared end users into aggressively scrambling for coverage via the cash markets, futures and options markets.

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Expected Progeny Differences Are Comparable to Realized Progeny Differences

Expected Progeny Differences Are Comparable to Realized Progeny Differences

CattleNetwork.com

University of Kentucky and University of Florida researchers conducted a summary of many previous studies that compared expected progeny differences (EPDs) with actual realized progeny differences for various beef cattle traits. The summary involved data from six breeds: Angus, Brangus, Charolais, Limousin, Polled Hereford, and Simmental. Traits were: birth wt. (BWT), weaning wt. (WWT), yearling wt. (YWT), marbling (MAB), carcass wt. (CWT), fat thickness (FAT), loin eye area (LEA), percent lean yield (% LY), milk (MLK), maternal (MAT), and scrotal circumference (SC). Following is a summary: • Realized progeny differences agreed well with EPDs for BW and WW, but for YW, realized tended to be greater than EPD, especially when YW was the primary sire selection criterion.

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Korea, US Trade Barbs Over Beef

Korea, US Trade Barbs Over Beef

By Kim Yon-se

Korean TImes

Cutler gets Kaesong-made gift: Rep. Song Young-gil of the governing Uri Party, second from right, presents Wendy Cutler, chief U.S. negotiator for a free trade agreement with Korea, with a watch produced at the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea, during her meeting with 10 lawmakers in Yoido, Seoul, Thursday. Washington has refused to include Kaesong products in the FTA.

/Korea Times

Korea and the United States on Thursday had a war of words over U.S. beef that Korea rejected for containing bone fragments.

During a meeting with reporters, Kim Jong-hoon, Korea’s chief delegate for the ongoing negotiations for free trade agreement, said that the beef issue should not stand in the way of an agreement.

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