Vintage Video: Two Steaks, part 1

Vintage Video: Two Steaks, part 1

This film describes the difference in meats. It focuses on the importance of good feeding of cattle and the effect it has on the meat. The film also discusses meat cuts, marbling, and bone structure.

Produced by Iowa State University with Iowa Beef Producers’ Association in 1960.

Immunity and Livestock Herds

Immunity and Livestock Herds

E.J. Richey, DVM

University of Florida

Immunity is the ability of an animal to resist disease. Fortunately, immunity is a basic fact of nature; unfortunately, we take it for granted. In reality, immunity culminates from the activity of a very complex and intricate system of the body – the immune system; a system that we can to some extent enhance and manipulate to provide various degrees of protection against most disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

Present-day livestock management systems and practices may allow the immune system to be overwhelmed by either a significantly high disease challenge or by weakening the existing immune system.

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Beef Cow Rations and Winter Feeding Guidelines

Beef Cow Rations and Winter Feeding Guidelines

Foragebeef.ca

Introduction

Feeding beef cattle during Saskatchewan winters can be a challenging experience. Frame size, body condition, feed quality, types of feed and fluctuations in air temperatures all impact on feed consumption and rates of gain.

Over-feeding is costly and wastes feed while under­feeding affects body condition and may cause poor performance in the breeding herd.

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Factors Affecting Calving Difficulty

Factors Affecting Calving Difficulty

Timothy W. Wilson, Extension Animal Scientist – Beef

Johnny Rossi, Extension Animal Scientist – Beef

Calving difficulty, otherwise known as dystocia, may result in reduced calf performance, delayed estrus and, in some cases, loss of the calf and/or dam. This publication discusses several factors affecting calving difficulty and provides management suggestions that may be useful to prevent its occurrence.

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Tight Feeder Supplies the Issue in ‘09

Tight Feeder Supplies the Issue in ‘09

Cattle Today

Cattle feeders’ number one concern was feed inputs. Not any more, says Mike Sands, Informa Economics.

The market analyst predicts corn will not stay as low as $3 per bushel (bu.) for long, but the new trading levels for corn may be of little consequence compared to the declining feeder calf supply.

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Manure a valuable commodity

Manure a valuable commodity

RUTH MCLAUGHLIN

Zanesville Times Recorder

You may have heard there is a deadline looming for livestock producers to be in compliance with manure discharges. By Feb. 27, 2009 poultry, beef cattle, dairy, hog and all other so-called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) must have either national pollution discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits for any discharges of manure runoff into water bodies, or have third party reviews and records to show that they do not discharge.

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MSGA notes highlights of 12th annual convention

MSGA notes highlights of 12th annual convention

Lewistown News

This year, despite sub-zero temperatures and terrible road conditions, 644 people attended the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s 124th Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings, Dec. 11-13.

Tom Hougen, of Melstone, was elected the 59th president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

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Survey shows few beef producers changing practices

Survey shows few beef producers changing practices

The Monett Times

Every four years since 1994, Eldon Cole a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, has sent readers of his monthly Beef Newsletter a voluntary survey designed to gauge their interests and farm management techniques.

Since the 1994 survey, the percentage of respondents who own a computer used for the farm has nearly doubled, going from 29 percent to 55 percent. However, the rate of increase has slowed dramatically during the last four years.

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Beef association president cuts to the meat of his industry

Beef association president cuts to the meat of his industry

Journal and Courier

This has been a busy year for Todd McGraw.

While running his business, McGraw’s Steak, Chop & Fish House in West Lafayette, he also has served as president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association.

The association is made up of individuals, producers and organizations that work to sustain the quality of farm life and improve profits for all segments of the state’s beef industry.

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Q&A: How much hay will a young beef female eat a winter? Cows are about 1 year and six month old.

Q&A:   How much hay will a young beef female eat a winter? Cows are about 1 year and six month old.

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

A:   Forage intake is a function of weight, milk potential, and stage of production. The heavier the cow, the greater the intake. The more the milk potential, during both gestationa and lactation. Intake is greater during lactation compared to gestation.

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Farm could have up to 8,300 cattle

Farm could have up to 8,300 cattle

Daily Citizen

Three men who want to expand a dairy farm to become Wisconsin’s largest are awaiting a public hearing next month that will help determine whether the project moves forward.

Jim Ostrom, John Vosters and Todd Willer want to expand their town of Rosendale farm to maintain 8,300 cows on the 100-acre property. Currently, there are about 700 cows there. The farm is on Highway M.

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Prolonged Labor Affects Post-calving Fertility

Prolonged Labor Affects Post-calving Fertility

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

In addition to being the greatest cause of baby calf mortality, calving difficulty markedly reduces reproductive performance during the next breeding season.

Cattle suffering from calving difficulty have been reported to have pregnancy rates decreased by 16% and to calve 13 days later at the next calving.  Results from a recent study (Doornbos, et al., 1984; Montana) showed that heifers receiving assistance in early stage 2 of parturition returned to heat earlier in the post-calving period and had higher pregnancy rates than heifers receiving traditionally accepted obstetric assistance.

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Cattle Preconditioning: Management Of Early-Weaned Calves

Cattle Preconditioning: Management Of Early-Weaned Calves

cattlenetwork.com

Beef calves are normally weaned from 6 to 10 months of age. However, they can be weaned as early as 60 days of age. Early weaning may be a wise management practice because of

- Thin cows that need to pick up body condition

- Low quality forage

- Drought that reduces forage supply

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Mycotoxins and Reproduction

Mycotoxins and Reproduction

Don Lamb, Director of Sales, Feed Division, All-West/Select Sires Inc.

Feeds containing mold-produced spores are a growing concern for dairy producers. Mold spores reduce the nutrient quality of grain and produce secondary metabolites, known as mycotoxins. These poisons affect the digestive, immune and reproductive functions of the dairy cow and can allow other diseases to invade from an already depleted immune system.

While there are hundreds of mycotoxins, only a few can be adequately identified for further study. Researchers now understand that these toxins, even at low levels and in combination with others, are far more debilitating than high levels of individual toxins due to a cumulative effect.

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Mexico begins to lift ban on U.S. meat plants

Mexico begins to lift ban on U.S. meat plants

Noel Randewich and Roberta Rampton

Reuters

Mexico took steps to resume imports of U.S. meat on Monday from 21 of 30 plants that had been sanctioned for technical and sanitary issues, a source at the country’s agriculture ministry said.

Mexico suspended shipments from the beef, pork, lamb and poultry plants last Tuesday over sanitary conditions involving packaging, labeling and transportation in what U.S. industry officials said was an unusually large delisting of their plants.

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