Understanding a feed analysis

Understanding a feed analysis

With summer hay harvest under way, it may be a good time to discuss an analysis of a forage or feed.

Rick Rasby, Extension beef specialist, University of Nebraska

Angus Journal

Introduction

Feed costs represent the largest annual operating cost for most commercial cow-calf enterprises. In the cow-calf enterprise, the more days during the year that a cow can graze, the greater the profit potential. However, in most areas of the United States there is a need for some harvested forages for emergency purposes or as a feed resource until cows can graze again.

FULL STORY

 

When Should I Wean My Calves?

When Should I Wean My Calves?

Cattlenetwork.com

When should you wean calves? Is it when they reach a certain age? When you run out of grass? When calves stop gaining weight? When you need some money?

Most record keeping systems adjust weaning weight to an industry standard of 205 days. So that must be it. Wean them at 7 months, right? No, it’s not that simple. Sometimes we wean them earlier (like drought years) and sometimes we wean them later (fall born calves are frequently about 9 months of age at weaning). So, weaning at a certain age isn’t necessarily the answer.

FULL STORY

NCBA Adds Field Reps to Affiliate Relations and Member Services Team

NCBA Adds Field Reps to Affiliate Relations and Member Services Team

Cattle Today

DENVER (Sept. 4, 2007) – Building on the success of its growing membership, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is making two additions in its member services area. Rachel Aja of Buckeye, Ariz., will serve as southwest field representative, representing NCBA in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. Mark Wellman of Fowler, Ill., will serve as the east/central field representative, working primarily in Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.

FULL STORY

Perennial pastures require care, planning

Perennial pastures require care, planning

High Plains Journal

So you want some perennial grass on your place for grazing or maybe even hay? Before you get started on this project, get a leg up and do some planning, said a Texas Cooperative Extension beef specialist.

“Perennial grass for pasture is more economical than planting annual grasses,” said Dr. Ted McCollum, Extension beef specialist at Amarillo. “It takes less time, labor and fuel to establish perennial grass because you plant it only once. Just make sure you want it there for a long time.”

Putting a perennial grass where it can remain productive year after year is part of an overall plan that requires different management than row crops or temporary pastures, McCollum said.

“Perennial grasses are different than annual grasses,” he said. “They don’t put all their reproductive energy into seed production. They reproduce vegetatively through tillers (new upright stems), stolons (above-ground runners) and rhizomes (underground runners).

FULL STORY

Minnesota beef plant to reopen after 18 months

Minnesota beef plant to reopen after 18 months

Brownfield Network

by Julie Harker

A Minnesota beef plant that closed down a year-and-a-half ago reportedly plans to reopen. The former Minnesota Beef Industries, near Buffalo Lake, shut down amid the closure of many foreign markets to US beef because of BSE concerns. The US then closed its borders to Canadian cattle over BSE fears.

FULL STORY

Drought could make winter feeding a challenge

Drought could make winter feeding a challenge

By Bryce Roberts, ag extension agent

Spencer Magnet

The drought could make winter this year began with a brutally cold winter followed by a late and detrimental frost and so far, Kentucky is experiencing the third driest May-through-August in 113 years. Any of these weather events alone could create challenges for farmers in terms of feeding livestock in the upcoming winter, but combined they are a real cause for concern, said University of Kentucky Extension Livestock and Forage Economist Kenny Burdine.

“Since hay was short coming into this year, cattle producers are starting to get nervous about winter feeding,” he said. “Those who aren’t nervous should probably start thinking ahead, because winter is just around the corner.”

Burdine said there are two ways to make up for the expected shortfall. One is to purchase additional feed and the second is to lower the amount of feed needed from outside sources.

FULL STORY

Japan to propose easing age limit on beef imports

Japan to propose easing age limit on beef imports

By Tom Wray

National Provisioner

TOKYO – Japan plans to propose easing its import restrictions on U.S. beef and permitting meat taken from cattle less than 30 months old to enter its market, informed sources said Friday.

 The Jiji Press Ticker Service reported the Japanese government hopes to start negotiations with the United States on relaxing the import rules in September, the sources said.

 The talks are expected to be difficult, however, because the United States has been demanding the removal of the age limit since the World Organization for Animal Health, known as the OIE, in May gave the United States as a “controlled risk” rating for mad cow disease, according to the news service.

FULL STORY

NILE Stock Show accepts exhibit entries

NILE Stock Show accepts exhibit entries

Minnesota Farm Guide

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) is now taking entries for the 2007 NILE Stock Show on Oct. 16-20.

This year the NILE Stock Show, presented by Yamaha, will feature 10 cattle breed shows. New this year is an Any Other Breed show for breeds of cattle that do not have a specific breed show during NILE.  Also, new this year is the introduction of Supreme Row which will feature all of the grand champion bulls and heifers from each respective breed. The overall supreme selections will take place at Noon on Friday, Oct. 19.

As always, the NILE features special cattle breed sales throughout the week. Breeds that will have select sales will be Shorthorn, Gelbvieh, Red Angus, and Black Angus.  A highlight to the sales this year will be the 25th annual sale for the Montana Red Angus Association at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19.  All sales will feature some of the top genetically bred cattle for each respective breed.

FULL STORY

Canadian beef packers under pressure: Cargill CEO

Canadian beef packers under pressure: Cargill CEO

MSN Finance

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) – Canadian beef processors are grappling with the strong Canadian dollar, a labor shortage and other costs not faced by U.S. competitors, the chief executive of Cargill Inc’s <CARG.UL> Canadian subsidiary said on Tuesday.

“The beef industry is in a relatively fragile position,” said Len Penner of Cargill Ltd, Canada’s top beef processor, in an interview. “The returns are not healthy at this point in time,” he said.

FULL STORY

Why Is Body Condition Important?

Why Is Body Condition Important?

Cattlenetwork.com

One of the major constraints in the improvement of reproductive efficiency of beef cows is the number of days between calving and the start of heat cycles.  If cows are to maintain a calving interval of 12 months, they must conceive within 80 to 85 days after calving.  Body condition at calving time determines to a great extent the re-breeding performance of beef cows in the subsequent breeding season.

FULL STORY

Rib Bones Found in U.S. Beef Shipment

Rib Bones Found in U.S. Beef Shipment

Chosun.com

The NVRQS said quarantine inspections revealed a box of bone-in beef among 15.5 tons of beef from the U.S.

Korean regulations stipulate that beef from the U.S. must be boneless meat from cattle less than 30 months old.

An official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said rib bones measuring up to 10 cm by 10 cm were included in all four packs in one box.

FULL STORY

Steak-lovers lick lips at Chianina comeback

Steak-lovers lick lips at Chianina comeback

By Mathias Wildt

Boston.com

CORTONA, Italy (Reuters) – Six-time Olympic champion Milo of Kroton trained by carrying a calf on his back until it turned 4 years old. Then he ate it.

A massive wrestler from southern Italy, Milo was said to eat 18 kg (40 lb) of meat and bread washed down with eight liters (8.4 quarts) of wine in one sitting — 2,500 years ago.

Milo was probably devouring Chianinas, the oldest and biggest bovine breed in the world, and now making a comeback as health-conscious consumers turn to leaner meat that can still compete on taste with fatter breeds.

FULL STORY

A transcriptomic analysis of the adult stage of the bovine lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus

A transcriptomic analysis of the adult stage of the bovine lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus

Shoba Ranganathan , Shivashankar H Nagaraj , Min Hu , Christina Strube , Thomas Schnieder and Robin B Gasser

BMC Genomics

Background

Lungworms of the genus Dictyocaulus (family Dictyocaulidae) are parasitic nematodes of major economic importance. They cause pathological effects and clinical disease in various ruminant hosts, particularly in young animals. Dictyocaulus viviparus, called the bovine lungworm, is a major pathogen of cattle, with severe infections being fatal. In this study, we provide first insights into the transcriptome of the adult stage of D. viviparus through the analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs).

FULL STORY

Early calf nutrition studied at NMSU Corona Research Ranch

Early calf nutrition studied at NMSU Corona Research Ranch

Ruidoso News

Does proper nutrition at the very beginning of a calf’s life have a significant impact as the animal grows up?

The answer to that question could mean tens of millions of dollars to cattle producers across the country who suffer losses of $600 million annually due to poor calf health at feedlots.

A team of researchers and Cooperative Extension Service experts at New Mexico State University is embarking on a four-year, $397,505 project to pin down the impact of improved calf nutrition even before the animal is born and when it is very young, and to relay the findings to stakeholders across the Southwest.

FULL STORY

Nebraska Cattlemen Endorse NCTA’s New 100-Cow Program

Nebraska Cattlemen Endorse NCTA’s New 100-Cow Program

Southwest Nebraska Net

The Nebraska Cattlemen Board of Directors has endorsed Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture’s new 100 Beef Cow Ownership Advantage program.

The unique program starts with NCTA’s degree program in beef cattle management, which includes the development of a business plan. Each student’s plan, just prior to graduation, will be presented to USDA’s Farm Service Administration and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for funding of the 100-cow herd. In addition to the degree program, students and their parents, employers and landowners will be required to attend a series of seminars to fine tune the individual student business plans to make them function in the environment in which the graduate will be working. The 100 cows is an arbitrary number but very feasible within the FSA and NDA financial guidelines.

FULL STORY