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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What Is The Timing Of The Immune Response Of The Animal?

What Is The Timing Of The Immune Response Of The Animal?

cattlenetwork.com

The first measurable response is an antibody response that occurs at about day 4 after vaccination. This antibody (referred to as IgM) appears relatively quickly (at day 4) and soon begins to decrease in amount. The second antibody response can be measured at 10-14 days after vaccination and this antibody (IgG) stays around for a longer period of time, but also decreases over time.

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Feedlot owners say country of origin labeling for beef too costly, will hurt revenue

Feedlot owners say country of origin labeling for beef too costly, will hurt revenue

SHANNON DININNY

Hampton Roads Daily Press

Cody Easterday estimates that some 25 percent of the cattle at his 30,000-head feedlot come from Canada, with maybe a few cattle from Mexico in the pens.

But weeks after the government began requiring producers to label beef with the country the animals came from, Easterday estimates he’s already getting lower prices for that foreign beef — as much as $30 per head.

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Q&A: I live in central Missouri and I was wanting to know what is a good feed to feed cows with calves, and bred heifers?

Q&A:   I live in central Missouri and I was wanting to know what is a good feed to feed cows with calves, and bred heifers?

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska

A:   For mature cows in good body condition a good quality hay and some alfalfa starting 30 to 45 days before calving. It would be hard to meet their nutrient needs using corn stalk residue or dormant standing grass pasture at this time of their production cycle.

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When Two Worlds Collide

When Two Worlds Collide

Jennifer Kiko

Angus Journal

From the time he was a young cook, John Doherty believed the quality of his work would speak for itself.

As executive chef at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City, Doherty has cooked for more presidents, royalty and heads-of-state than any other chef in the country. The Bull and Bear Steakhouse, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is on of a few serving exclusively Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand Prime.

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Valley Proteins renders new animal feed regulation hurtful, unnecessary

Valley Proteins renders new animal feed regulation hurtful, unnecessary

James Heffernan

Northern Virginia Daily

A new federal regulation meant to guard against the spread of mad cow disease is unnecessary and could pose an even greater public health risk if farmers are left to dispose of dead livestock themselves, according to one local company.

The Food and Drug Administration has ordered that beginning in April 2009, feed made for any animal cannot contain brain or spinal-cord tissue from cattle over 30 months of age to prevent possible contamination during rendering or transport.

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AgriLife Extension starts livestock labor education pilot project

AgriLife Extension starts livestock labor education pilot project

Texas A&M

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service has created the Agricultural Workforce and Community Development Program to address one of the key issues identified at the High Plains Livestock 2027 Conference.

Worker retention through communications and training, as well as the ability of employees and their families to become active participants in the local communities, are absolutely crucial to the vitality and continued growth of High Plains livestock production, said Dr. Pete Gibbs, AgriLife Extension associate director for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Community Economic Development.

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Cow Butchered in Field… Then Eaten

Cow Butchered in Field… Then Eaten

ABC 33/40 News

When a Calhoun County farmer began his morning cattle check, he discovered the remains of one of the animals butchered in his own field. Later he learned the men responsible ate what they stole.  Even the Sheriff’s department calls this case strange.

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Book Advice: Food for Thought

Food for Thought

BY MM PACK

The Austin Chronicle

Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef

by Betty Fussell

Harcourt, 402 pp., $26

It’s hard to live in Texas without an inkling of the role cattle have played in history and economics. And in the early 21st century, our collective consciousness has been raised regarding modern industrialized beef, its ethical and environmental implications, and its relationship to health and nutrition. However, it’s a big task to make sense of it all – how it was, how it is, where it’s going, and why.

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Amarillo to Host Limousin Junior Show in ‘09

Amarillo to Host Limousin Junior Show in ‘09

The Limousin breed will head south for its 2009 National Junior Limousin Show and Congress (NJLSC) and All-American Limousin Futurity (AALF).

The Tri-State Fairgrounds and the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo, Texas, will host the “Big Texas Shindig 2” NJLSC July 11–17, 2009. The weeklong, family-oriented event will include membership meetings, cattle shows, showmanship competitions and a variety of satellite events. It all helps young Limousin enthusiasts have fun while they learn about the beef industry, public speaking, marketing and leadership.

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Iowa meat-packing plant faces nearly $10 million in fines

Iowa meat-packing plant faces nearly $10 million in fines

GRANT SCHULTE and PHILIP BRASHER

The Des Moines Register

The future of the Agriprocessors meat-processing plant here appeared uncertain Wednesday as state officials proposed nearly $10 million in fines against the company and this week halted its beef-slaughtering operation.

Agriprocessors had been the nation’s largest kosher meat-processing plant. However, the company has been the focus of national attention since May 12 when authorities detained 389 workers in a massive immigration raid. Since then the company has had trouble finding workers and has faced financial difficulty.

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