Video Feature: Care and sterilization of Syringes and needles

Video Feature:  Care and sterilization of Syringes and needles

Dr. Dee Griffin, DVM, University of Nebraska-Great Plains Veterinary Education Center, illustrates the methods of sterilizing syringes and needles  for use on the cattle farm.

Cattle Pioneer, Leader William T. Berry “Dub” Jr. Passes

Cattle Pioneer, Leader William T. Berry “Dub” Jr. Passes

William T “Dub” Berry Jr., 88, of Lenexa, KS, passed away May 21, 2009.

Dub’s career spanned over 50 years of notable accomplishments and recognitions. He was raised on a livestock farm in Texas, graduating from Texas A&M University in 1942 with a B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry and immediately went on active duty as a commissioned 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. His military service included 2 1/2 years of overseas service in the Southwest Pacific Theater and ended with service as a Lt. Col. in the United States Air Force Reserves. From 1946 to 1953, Dub operated a large commercial cattle and farming enterprise in partnership with his father in the panhandle of Texas. In 1953, he joined the staff of the Animal Husbandry Department at Texas A&M University. He served as Professor of Beef Cattle Production, conducted research in animal nutrition and genetics and received both his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Nutrition.

Full Story

The future of a viable cattle industry

The future of a viable cattle industry

High Plains Journal

The future of a viable cattle industry in Iowa took a major step forward on May 26 when Governor Culver signed Senate File 432 into law.

The bill updates an antiquated section of The Iowa Code which assumed that confined feeding facilities only handled liquid manure, and modernizes it to cover the new deep-bedded confinement facilities that have become popular in recent years. More importantly to many operations, the bill does not restrict the application of solid manure to frozen and snow-covered ground as was proposed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).

Full Story

Reproductive Tract Injuries That Can Occur in Bulls

Reproductive Tract Injuries That Can Occur in Bulls

e-Extension

In order to be a successful breeder, a bull must produce adequate amounts of fertile semen and must be able to deliver that semen to the reproductive tracts of cows. There are a number of injuries a bull can sustain that can damage his reproductive tract to the extent that he is not capable of successfully breeding.

Full Story

Take The Complexity Out Of Your Vaccination Program

Take The Complexity Out Of Your Vaccination Program

cattlenetwork.com

Today’s beef producers are more fortunate than the generation of ranchers that preceded them. Tools are now available to prevent disease and drive profitability that simply weren’t available to cattleman as recently as 15 years ago.

Full Story

The Economic Impact of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle

The Economic Impact of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle

Travis D. Maddock, and G. Cliff Lamb

University of Florida

A well-run, profitable commodity business is usually more efficient than its competitors. In the case of beef cattle, competition can come from two sources: other producers who sell similar classes of cattle, and other protein producing species, such as pork and poultry, which compete with beef in the marketplace. Measuring efficiency across the entire integrated beef system can be difficult due to the differing classes of cattle (growing, breeding, fed), breed differences, and how the different biological systems (nutrition, reproduction, lactation, basal metabolism) interact (for example how nutrition interacts with reproduction). There are measures of efficiency that can be used in beef production. One of these is feed efficiency.

Full Story

The graying of the green thumb

The graying of the green thumb

Mateusz Perkowski

Capital Press

Longer lifespan, delayed entry called major factors in climbing age of farmers

The age of the average U.S. farmer is climbing, but the shift isn’t likely to destabilize the industry.

That’s one of the findings in a new study published by the USDA’s Economic Research Service.

The USDA’s Census of Agriculture found that the average age of the principal U.S. farm operator increased from 50 to 57 in the past two decades.

Full Story

Heat Stress Can Reduce Pregnancy Rates

Heat Stress Can Reduce Pregnancy Rates

Extension.org

The effects of heat stress on reproductive performance of beef cows has been discussed by many animal scientists in a variety of ways. After reviewing the scientific literature available up to 1979, one scientist wrote that the most serious seasonal variation in reproductive performance was associated with high ambient temperatures and humidity. He further pointed out that pregnancy rates and subsequent calving rates were reduced from in cows bred in July through September.

Full Story

Biting Back at “Big Packers Face Obamanomics”

Biting Back at “Big Packers Face Obamanomics”

Steve Cornett

Beef Today

After the last blog about the political leanings of the new head of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), I got a note from Randy Stevenson, current president and founding member of the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM), saying I had misquoted him by suggesting that he blamed inaction by the “Bushies” for what he and his fellow thinkers regard as inadequate oversight of beef industry consolidation and integration by GIPSA.

Full Story

Milk prices tumble, slaughter soars

Milk prices tumble, slaughter soars

CAROL RYAN DUMAS

Capital Press

Dairies losing $100 to $150 a month on each cow, economist says

Trying to get a handle on dismal milk prices, U.S. dairymen sent 728,700 cows to slaughter in the first quarter of 2009, 113,000 more than the same period in 2008, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver.

The high milk prices in early 2008 disintegrated by year’s end when the worldwide economic downturn caught up with milk production, said Wilson Gray, extension economist with the University of Idaho in Twin Falls.

Full Story

Farm biz whiz sets sights on your smile

Farm biz whiz sets sights on your smile

Staunton News Leader

Jessica Talley, 18, graduated from Fort Defiance High School this weekend, but she’d proven her business savvy long before they handed her a diploma.

Talley says her involvement with the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America have been instrumental in her experience of showing beef cattle with her family.

Full Story

ARS: Farming with grass may be just right for 21st Century

ARS: Farming with grass may be just right for 21st Century

AG Professional

Grass and other perennial plants may be just what the doctor ordered for farmers facing the uncertainties of climate change.

And beef and dairy products from free-ranging, grass-fed cattle — along with legumes and grains grown in addition to grass — may be just what the doctor ordered for consumers.

Full Story

35th Cattlemen’s convention, trade show set for San Marcos

35^th  Cattlemen’s convention, trade show set for San Marcos

Wilson County News

The Independent Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) of Texas 35th anniversary convention and trade show will be held Wednesday through Friday, June 17-19, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa, and Conference Center in San Marcos.

The Beef Cattle Bonus program will be held Wednesday. Registration for this event is $35, and lunch is provided. This fee also includes admission to the Family Fun Night that begins at 5 p.m.

Full Story

Tips To Prevent BRD

Tips To Prevent BRD

cattlenetwork.com

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is typically the result of several factors rather than one specific disease. Below are tips to prevent BRD:

Start with calving. Eliminating dystocia and having the dam in adequate body condition will increase the likelihood of the calf receiving colostrum in their first few hours. Calves with an inadequate passive transfer of maternal antibodies are at greater risk of suffering BRD in the feedlot.

Full Story

Kansas Beef Council Launches ‘Ranch Family Blog’ and Enhanced Web Site

Kansas Beef Council Launches ‘Ranch Family Blog’ and Enhanced Web Site

PRnewswire

The Kansas Beef Council announced today the launch of a new Web site design, featuring a “Ranch Family Blog” from the Harms family in rural Lincolnville, Kan. The new Kansas Beef Council Web site also includes a new look, updated nutrition information, beef recipes, news updates and beef producer information.

Full Story