Abrupt ration changes cause cattle problems

by David Burton, University of Missouri

Farm Talk

An area cattle herd recently had three yearlings go down in a short period of time.

The veterinarian’s diagnosis was polioencepholomalacia or PEM. The condition is also referred to as brainers. PEM is a noninfectious neurological disease that is related to thiamine deficiency.

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Using Dry & High Moisture Corn

Using Dry & High Moisture Corn

Robbi H. Pritchard, Ph.D.

South Dakota State University

Introduction

Utilizing dry and high moisture (HM) grain efficiently requires considering resource management as well as nutrition. The key is to consider how each corn type affects your overall operation. It is not just a question of which grain will produce higher ADG. Production costs that include distribution of labor and machinery requirements, marketing flexibility and market strategies impact grain value. Grain value in turn affects cattle cost of gain. The type of cattle fed, types of diets used and facilities also influence grain choices. These circumstances make it impossible to formulate the “best” diet and have it work for everyone. All I can do is outline some nutrition and management factors that could help you as you look for ways to lower the cost of gain in your feedlot. Feed Values for Corn

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Farm Aid Fraud

Farm Aid Fraud

By Trent Loos

Faces of Ag

During a speech in Michigan I pointed out that groups like Farm Aid and Willie Nelson are doing more to get rid of farmers than to benefit them. Farm Aid funds are siphoned into groups that are filing lawsuits against family farms. Nearly a dozen lawsuits have been filed against families in Iowa. In Minnesota, I personally know three families with lawsuits against them for operating a livestock facility or hoping to build one.

As I continue to do more research into Farm Aid, I am amazed at the extent of the ties between Farm Aid and the movement that wants to completely rid animal agriculture from the U.S.

Farm Aid has acquired millions of dollars because the term “family farm” has tremendous sentimental value with the American public. Consumers have been willing to financially contribute to this cause. This is a HUGE problem because it appears the goal of Farm Aid is return food production to the 1920s.

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Beef Producers Pay More to Feed Cows

Beef Producers Pay More to Feed Cows

Hay and Forage Grower

Hay producers who sell to the beef cattle market will be interested in American Angus Association research that indicates the typical U.S. cow-calf operation will spend $35 more per cow in 2007 to meet herd nutritional requirements as compared to the beginning of the decade. The study, reported by BEEF magazine, says combined pasture, harvested forages and other feed costs have been increasing at the rate of $5/beef cow/year since 2000.

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Cattlemen criticize USDA’s BSE effort

Cattlemen criticize USDA’s BSE effort

Prairie Star

BILLINGS, Mont. – U.S. cattle producers today were disappointed to learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) did not aggressively seek a more favorable disease risk classification for the U.S. cattle industry from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). According to media reports, USDA is well satisfied with OIE’s decision to lump the United States and Canada into the same risk category for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, classifying both countries as a “controlled” risk for the disease.

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U.S. to be allowed to export beef irrespective of cattle age

U.S. to be allowed to export beef irrespective of cattle age

KYODO NEWS

     The World Organization for Animal Health agreed Tuesday to allow the United States to export beef irrespective of cattle age, a move that is expected to strengthen pressure on Japan to ease its beef import regulations.

     The accord was reached during a general meeting of the 167-member organization, known as the OIE, which dealt with safety standards for preventing the mad cow disease.

     Japan currently limits U.S. beef imports to those from cattle aged 20 months or less as a result of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, found in December 2003.

     Many countries and regions, including the European Union, limit U.S. beef imports to those from cattle aged 30 months or less, but Japan has held on to a stricter standard of its own.

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Johnson seeks COOL farm bill

Johnson seeks COOL farm bill

By Denise Ross

Hog House Blog

Immigration and Iraq war funding are in the spotlight now, but one could argue that the next farm bill will have at least as a big an impact in good ol’ SD than either of those.

Earlier this month, Sen. Tim Johnson put out a press release, outlining his priorities for the behemouth piece of legislation to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

Near the top of the list, an acronym I wonder if I even need to spell out. But I will. Country of Origin food labeling, or COOL, aimed not just at USA beef but also at lamb, pork, fruits, vegetables and peanuts. Johnson wants to move the implementation date up from Sept. 30, 2008, to Sept. 30, 2007.

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Richie Farmer easily wins nomination for ag commish

Richie Farmer easily wins nomination for ag commish

WPSD-TV                              

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Richie Farmer has extended his political life after basketball. The former Kentucky Wildcat easily won the Republican nomination for agriculture commissioner tonight.

With 26 percent of precints reporting, Farmer had nearly 45-thousand votes, or 83 percent, to former state budget analyst Don Stosberg’s nine-thousand votes or around 17 percent.

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Initial brucellosis test negative

Initial brucellosis test negative

By MATTHEW BROWN

Helena Independent Record

BILLINGS, Mont. – Initial blood tests show no signs of brucellosis in cows from a Paradise Valley ranch that is considered the source of Montana’s first outbreak of the disease in more than two decades, a state Department of Livestock spokesman and the operator of the ranch said Tuesday.

Republican state Rep. Bruce Malcolm has acknowledged that seven cows diagnosed with the disease earlier this month in Iowa and in Bridger, Mont., originated from his herd in Emigrant. But Malcolm said blood samples drawn from his adult female cows in Emigrant came back negative Tuesday, a development confirmed by Department of Livestock spokesman Tom Daubert.

The disease causes pregnant cows to abort their fetuses. Its presence can cause severe economic damage to a state’s livestock industry.

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Questions and answers about the brucellosis problem

Questions and answers about the brucellosis problem

The Billings Gazette Staff

What is brucellosis?

A serious disease that causes contagious abortions, lower fertility and less milk production mainly in ruminant animals like cattle, bison, elk and swine. The human strain is called undulant fever or Malta fever because the sporadic and severe fever was first recognized on the island of Malta.

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Local grass-fed meat is a healthy option

Local grass-fed meat is a healthy option

By Alex Harrison,

The Southern

For the past five to ten years, phrases like “eat organic”, and “eat local” have become the new buzz all over the country. Supporting local farms is becoming a part of a renewed social consciousness. There’s also more demand than ever for higher-quality food products of every kind, including meat. Enter Terrebonne Farms and Lick Creek Beef of Southern Illinois.

Terrebonne Farms, owned by Ryne and Karen Tharp, and Lick Creek Beef, owned by Josh Buchheit, produce great meats using organic and environmentally sustainable practices. The best part? Their products are now available at markets close to home, allowing more people than ever to buy locally in Southern Illinois.

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Animal-tagging measure deferred

Animal-tagging measure deferred

By ELONA WESTON

AMERICAN PRESS (LA)

BATON ROUGE — A bill that would have barred the state from accepting federal money to establish a federally sponsored animal identification and tracking program was deferred Tuesday by a Senate committee.

The bill, by Sen. James David Cain, R-Dry Creek, garnered support from many small farmers who say their operations would be compromised if they are forced to adopt the USDA’s National Animal Identification System.

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Japan says no immediate plans to relax conditions on imports of US beef

Japan says no immediate plans to relax conditions on imports of US beef

China Post

Japan has no immediate plans to relax its strict conditions on imports of U.S. beef, despite a decision by an international body saying some restrictions were not necessary, the government said Wednesday.

Japan only allows imports of U.S. beef from cattle not more than 20 months old, citing concerns about mad cow disease, which is believed to be more likely to affect older animals. The U.S. has called for that restriction to be eased.

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Cattle Identification: USDA & Virginia State Host NAIS Informational Meeting

Cattle Identification: USDA & Virginia State Host NAIS Informational Meeting

Cattlenetwork.com

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2007–Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently joined representatives from Historically Black Land Grant 1890s institutions, along with members of community-based organizations, state agriculture officials and producers to forge new partnerships to continue to implement the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

 “One of the keys to the success of NAIS is the continued cooperation of organizations and individuals from across all levels of government, industry and higher education,” said Bruce Knight, undersecretary for USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs mission area.  “NAIS works best when it is actively shaped by those who participate in the in program.”

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Unraveling brucellosis source isn’t simple matter

Unraveling brucellosis source isn’t simple matter

By MIKE STARK

The Billings Gazette Staff

The list of prime suspects in Montana’s brucellosis cattle cases is short: elk, bison or other cows.

But finding the culprit is no small chore.

Investigators face the daunting prospect of tracing back infected animals to see if they had been exposed by other cattle and, short of that, where and when they may have come in contact with the disease left behind by wild animals.

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Purdue Forage Day 2007 Set

Purdue Forage Day 2007 Set

This year’s Purdue Forage Day will be held June 21, 2007.  It will be hosted by Mike and Judy Chandler and the Lawrence County 4-H Clubs and Fair Association.

This year’s Forage Day is sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and the Indiana Forage Council. Forage Day combines educational workshops with equipment demonstrations. Presentations cover various topics in the production, utilization and marketing of forages. Forage Day is the only annual event in the state where one can see a live demonstration of harvesting equipment.

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Tennessee beef, forage field day scheduled June 14

Tennessee beef, forage field day scheduled June 14

Southeast Farm Press

Cattle management, hay production and storage will be on the minds of cattle producers attending the 2007 Tennessee Beef and Forage Field Day.

The event is being held on June 14 by the University of Tennessee at the Blount Unit of the East Tennessee Research and Education Center.

Activities will begin with a trade show at 7:30 a.m.

Following keynote presentations by Joseph A. DiPietro, UT vice-president for agriculture, and Ken Givens, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, participants will assemble into groups to attend morning sessions that address how to select a commercial squeeze chute for cattle management, hay barn plans and planning, and profitable hay production.

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Controlling Common Mullein In Pastures

Controlling Common Mullein In Pastures 

Cattlenetwork.com

Common mullein (Verbascim thapsus) is a weed species on the increase in northeastern Nebraska’s rangeland, woodland and pastures. It is a biennial plant that reproduces only by seeds, but it is a prolific seed producer. Taproot of this species can access soil moisture from a deeper profile at a much better rate than fibrous roots of pasture grasses, giving common mullein the competitive advantage over grass, especially during dry years.

Common mullein usually starts growing sparsely as individual plants and then spreads further if not controlled. A cluster of leaves, commonly known as a rosette, with a thick hair cover is a distinct identifying feature of this species. The stem is woolly, erect, 2-6 feet tall, with no branches. Leaves are opposite, elliptic to ovate. Like many other plant species, the overall growth and development depends on the amount and timing of rainfall. In Nebraska common mullein can flower in June and July with yellowish flowers. It has no value to livestock because of its low palatability.

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Plans in Motion for Greater Midwest Certified Hereford Feeder Calf Sale

Plans in Motion for Greater Midwest Certified Hereford Feeder Calf Sale

KANSAS CITY, Mo. ­­­— Hereford breeders are you looking to sell your Hereford-influenced feeder calves for a premium? If so, the Greater Midwest Certified Hereford Feeder Calf Sale may be a marketing outlet for you — and it is not too early to start making plans for marketing this year’s calf crop.

The steer and heifer calf sale is scheduled for Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. in the Carthage Livestock Sale Barn, Carthage, Ill. Five state Hereford associations in the Midwest, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin, are teaming up to organize the sale and are expecting 1,000 head of Hereford-influenced feeder calves.

To create a strong appeal to feedlot buyers and encourage premium prices, certain sale criteria have been established. To enroll calves in the sale they must be at least 50 percent Hereford, age and source verified, castrated, dehorned, weaned and bunk broke. Calves must be preconditioned under the MERIAL® SUREHEALTH® program with no implants. After arrival at the sale barn, consignments will be sorted into load-size lots by weight, type and sex.

In addition to these requirements, all calves must be tagged with Hereford Verified ear tags. If calves sell to a Hereford Verified participating feedlot, that consignor will be eligible to receive data back from the feedlot and the rail.

Jerry Huth, Oakfield, Wis., encourages Hereford breeders to take advantage of this marketing opportunity. “Feedlot buyers demand large numbers of uniform, preconditioned, verified cattle,” Huth says. “Don’t miss this opportunity, whether you have one or 100 head to sell.”

The last day to register calves for the December sale is Oct. 15. For registration details, step-by-step participation instructions, costs and other pertinent information visit the announcement section at http://www.hereford.org.

For more information, contact a member of the sale committee: Brent Lowderman, Illinois, (309) 221-9621; Rusty Miller, Indiana, (765) 482-4386; Brent Behrends, Illinois, (217) 482-5046; Tom Heidt, Wisconsin, (608) 574-2309; Mark Stephens, Illinois, (217) 825-9913; Bill Dunn, Pennsylvania, (814) 724-9343; Jerry Huth, Wisconsin, (920) 583-3223; John Meents, American Hereford Association, (419) 306-7480; and Jim Williams, Certified Hereford Beef LLC, (308) 222-0170.

The Greater Midwest Certified Hereford Feeder Calf Sale is endorsed by the Buckeye Hereford Association, Indiana Hereford Association, Illinois Polled Hereford Association, Illinois Hereford Association, Missouri Hereford Association and Wisconsin Polled Hereford Association.

Learn about the place that cattle call home

Learn about the place that cattle call home

    Go behind the gates where researchers gather data in an effort to produce tasty and tender beef in the most economical manner.

Tampabay.com

By BETH N. GRAY

BROOKSVILLE — Drivers along U.S. 41 north of Brooksville can’t miss the green-on-white sign trumpeting “Subtropical Agricultural Research” in large print.

Anyone who has ever wondered just what is going on beyond the sign at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service can find out on Friday as the center celebrates its 75th anniversary with a field day, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will focus on the research station’s impact on Florida agriculture, beef cattle breeding and genetics, embryo transfer technology, forage quality, water quality and the environment. Visitors will also get to hear brief presentations by several area notables.

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