Beef Talk: The Weather Is Nice, But the Cows Are Thin

Beef Talk: The Weather Is Nice, But the Cows Are Thin

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

The Cows are Thin, So Feed Them! The Cows are Thin, So Feed Them!

Now is the best time for the cow to gain some weight while the fetus is not so demanding.

Let’s get right to the point. The weather is nice and the cows are thin. Now is the time to feed them.

The harshness of winter will demand more thermal output for the cows to survive. The third trimester of pregnancy and the corresponding accelerated growth of the calf are waiting in the wings.

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Goldfish Disposal And Owner Obedience Classes

Goldfish Disposal And Owner Obedience Classes

Troy Marshall

When I first saw the story about how Switzerland had passed legislation that detailed how fish and animals are to be treated, I questioned if there was much value in mentioning that they outlawed live bait and catch-and-release fishing, as well. The legislation even spells out how goldfish can be disposed of (no more burials at sea by flushing them down the toilet).

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NCBA Voter Guide

NCBA Voter Guide

On Novemer 4, 2008, Americans will go to the polls to elect a new President.  To help cattle producers choose the candidate that best represents their interests, NCBA has compiled information from both candidates’ websites on issues of importance to America’s ranchers.

This information is not comprehensive, and should not be considered an endorsement of either campaign.

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Beef Quality Summit Agenda Set

Beef Quality Summit Agenda Set

TOPICS INCLUDE:

-The long-term effects of rising costs on industry profit and beef demand.

-The retail perspective – balancing quality, price and consumer preference.

-The producer perspective – managing costs, product quality and profit.

-The global perspective – keeping U.S. beef competitive.

-The 2008 election – what the results might mean for the beef industry.

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Nine beef industry priorities

Nine beef industry priorities

Cattle Business Weekly

In September a group of beef industry professionals joined together in Denver to discuss beef quality issues.

All segments of the beef industry were represented and the outcome of the “think tank” was a close examination and outline of how cattle producers and beef marketers should be operating.

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Grain Fed and Grass Fed Beef Production

Grain Fed and Grass Fed Beef Production

David Palmer, MLA Managing Director.

Thebeefsite.com

Grain fed and grass fed beef is a complementary combination to fulfil customer needs and demands, writes TheCattleSite Senior Editor, Chris Harris.

The two systems work together in the Australian beef production industry making use of the available resources and providing the products that are required by consumers.

David Palmer, the managing director of Meat and Livestock Australia, speaking at the recent World Meat Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, said that the livestock industry is in the meals industry and it has to meet consumer demands regarding taste and budget by supplying appropriate products.

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Guidelines Relating to the Registration Status of Potential and Known Carriers of the Curly Calf Syndrome

Guidelines Relating to the Registration Status of Potential and Known Carriers of the Curly Calf Syndrome

American Angus Association

As a part of its ongoing efforts to protect our members and their customers and to provide future guidance for our membership, the Board sets forth below the following concepts it intends to follow in formalizing a policy to deal with the registration status of potential and known carriers of the Curly Calf Syndrome (“CCS”) gene. The following is based on the assumption that a specific test will be developed and made available to members that can distinguish animals with the recessive gene from ones free of it. What follows must therefore be considered hypothetical in the absence of a confirmed test.

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Do Cattle Really Increase Methane in the Atmosphere?

Do Cattle Really Increase Methane in the Atmosphere?

David South

Auburn University

Cattle Today

Interested in greenhouse gasses produced by cows? If so, you might be interested in this news about methane. Water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are the four primary greenhouse gasses. From 1990 to 2004, the total U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide increased by 19.9 percent while methane emissions decreased by 10 percent.

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Software gauges chance for biosecurity breach

Software gauges chance for biosecurity breach

Jeff DeYoung

Iowa Farmer Today

Most attention to biosecurity risks seems to involve the swine industry, but a Kansas veterinarian and his colleagues believe the beef industry should be just as worried.

Mike Sanderson, a veterinarian at Kansas State University, says any location that sees animals coming in and out is at risk for biosecurity issues.

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Front Royal cattle farmers upset over calf dismemberment, death

Front Royal cattle farmers upset over calf dismemberment, death

Ben Orcutt

Northern Virginia Daily

Jeremy Baldwin and other area cattle farmers are upset that someone shot one of Baldwin’s beef calves with a bow and arrow, cut off its right ear, and left it to die.

“They had taken the broadhead off of the arrow and cut the right ear off,” Baldwin said Wednesday. “I don’t believe it’s a Halloween thing yet. We figure that they’ll be back some time around Halloween.”

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Tokyo Stops JBS-Swift Plant Imports

Tokyo Stops JBS-Swift Plant Imports

KRVN

Tokyo has halted imports of beef from a JBS-Swift Company plant following a breach of a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Japan.

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Weekly Outlook: Don’t Panic!

Weekly Outlook: Don’t Panic!

Bob Sampson  

The News Bulletin

Nervous cattle producers have received a bit of advice from a Purdue University Extension marketing specialist–don’t panic.

Nervous cattle producers have received a bit of advice from a Purdue University Extension marketing specialist–don’t panic.

“Odds favor a recession and not a depression,” said Chris Hurt in a report distributed by University of Illinois Extension. “Understanding the magnitude of the recession is becoming easier as the impacts of the past few weeks affect consumer spending, business investment decisions, and trade.

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Rancher: Don’t miss out on my grass-fed beef

Rancher: Don’t miss out on my grass-fed beef

Martha Vazquez

KVOA

Consumers have been led to believe that meat is meat. In other words, no matter what an animal is fed, the nutritional value of its products remains the same.

Many say, that’s not true. An animals diet can have a profound influence on the nutrient content of its products.

Paul Schwennesen is a Southern Arizona cattle rancher who raises grass-fed beef. He thinks his cattle produce the best beef you’ve ever wrapped your lips around, because they’re grass-fed.

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Cattle Feeding: Be A Smart Hay Buyer

Cattle Feeding: Be A Smart Hay Buyer

cattlenetwork.com

Many acreage owners are faced with purchasing hay for their animals. Cows, sheep, goats and even horses can get most of their daily nutrient needs from quality hay.

When evaluating hay for purchase, the best method is based off a laboratory test. Most labs are running tests with NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy) equipment. It is cheaper and faster than wet chemistry analysis.

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Video Feature: K-State Ag Today: Many younger producers taking stocker route

Video Feature:  K-State Ag Today: Many younger producers taking stocker route

Jeff Wichman

KTKA

While the beef cattle industry is expected to shrink even more, there seems to be no shortage of younger, newer producers ready to enter the business. Wes Ishmael, contributing editor of “Beef Magazine,” addressed producers at the recent Beef Stocker Day at Kansas State University.

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Transition of Newly Purchased Young Bulls to New Environment

Transition of Newly Purchased Young Bulls to New Environment

Dr. Glenn Selk, Extension Cattle Specialist, Oklahoma State University

Young bulls that are purchased at production sales are often in “good” body condition. Lets face it, well conditioned bulls look better on sale day and sell better. Gain tested bulls have been fed for maximum gain while on test. Both of these scenarios, make commercial cow calf producers wonder about fertility and libido of these young sires when they are turned out in a pasture with a group of cycling females and very little, if any, grain in sight.

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Don’t Let BRD Turn Bottom Line From Black to Red

Don’t Let BRD Turn Bottom Line From Black to Red

Southern Livestock

In today’s tight market,  cattle producers cannot afford even the smallest production setback.

They must do all they can to help ensure cattle — and profits —   will not fall victim to costly diseases such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD) this winter.

Confined and nonconfined cattle are susceptible to BRD, and can be  hit by the losses, making prevention key in all cattle segments,  according to Dr. Bruce Nosky, manager, Veterinary Services, Merial.

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Body Condition Scoring Reduces Feed Costs

Body Condition Scoring Reduces Feed Costs

Cattle Today

Cow-calf producers have faced significant increases in feed and other input costs the last 12 months. Most. Producers constantly search for the cheapest way to feed or supplement herds. However, producers may need to look at improving other management practices in order to save on input costs.

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Rethinking Pasture & Hayfield Lime Application

Rethinking Pasture & Hayfield Lime Application

cattlenetwork.com

One of the major agricultural limestone providers in Athens County recently announced a big increase in the cost of delivering/spreading limestone. At $50/ton the price has doubled compared to a year ago. Comments from several farmers regarding the economics of lime application prompted me to read through the liming section of the Ohio Agronomy Guide, and to send some questions off to Dr. Robert Mullen, OSU Extension soils specialist, about soil testing and lime application in pastures and hayfields.

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Agent: Don’t Abandon Good Farming Practices For A Temporary Gain

Agent: Don’t Abandon Good Farming Practices For A Temporary Gain

Tom Mitchell

Daily News Record

Augusta County extension agent Brian Jones has advice for farmers tempted to market the remains of their crops after harvest: leave your fodder alone.

With grain being diverted more for feed or fuel, and tightening economic times, many bale the remains of their forage to sell as hay, said Jones, a crop-and-soil specialist.

While such an approach may be a quick fix for cash, that kind of plan can backfire.

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