Baxter Black, DVM: TRANSPLANTING BODY PARTS
As medical progress marches on, the use of transplants and body parts has become commonplace.
Worldwide, from India to Italy, from Iran to Indiana, the surgeries are routine. According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. alone has 83,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney! Corneas, hearts, livers and lungs do a brisk trade on the organ market.
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New Opportunities – AgChat Jiving with Extension
Penn State Dairy and Animal Science Blogs
Food producers are perhaps as dynamic of a cohort as one can find. Within agriculture, there is a wide array of food and fiber systems, philosophies, and mindsets. I have the fortunate opportunity to work in all facets of agriculture thanks to Cooperative Extension. For nearly 100 years, a key mission to Cooperative Extension is to inform people about agriculture, home economics, and related topics. Extension has adapted throughout the years, employing different methods of outreach.
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Growing Cattle on Pasture
Dr. Bryan McMurryBeef
American Cattlemen
Growing stocker cattle on pasture is an intermediate growing phase within the beef production system. Steers or heifers (stockers) grazed on pasture are generally a low cost way of growing light-weight cattle, 300 to 500 pounds, into feeder cattle weighing 750 to 800 pounds. Profitable stocker production requires that the producer understands the factors that impact efficient, low-cost weight gain.
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Decision Aid Available for Producers Interested in Using Sexed Semen
Cattle Today
With the help of retired Texas A&M University Economist, Dr. Jim McGrann, Sexing Technologies (ST) is now offering an Economic Decision Aid for cattle producers interested in using sexed semen. This decision aid is the first of its kind in evaluating the expected return on investment that cattle producers could see when utilizing sexed semen in their AI programs.
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Crossbreeding . . . Simplified!
Marty Ropp
SimTalk
It is an absolute given that if you make your living in agriculture production you will make more money by utilizing heterosis than by ignoring its value. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of research reports repeatedly showing the value of hybrid vigor with almost no dispute. Its positive effects on reproduc- tive traits, growth and production efficiency are well documented and substantial.
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One Calving Season, or Two?
Donald Stotts
Angus Beef Bulletin
Spring and autumn have become the seasons of choice for calving seasons in Oklahoma, but tremendous differences exist as to what months within each of those seasons are primary times for most of the calves to be born.
“Deciding on the use of one calving season or two is a big first step, with many fall calving seasons having arose from elongated spring seasons,” said Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University cattle reproduction specialist. “Two calving seasons fit best for herds with more than 80 cows.”
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Breeding season nutrition for yearling replacement heifers
Ken Olson
Tri State Livestock News
Developing replacement heifers is costly, but tremendously important. First, replacements are obviously important as culled cows leave the herd if herd size is to be maintained. Additionally, these replacement females are the daughters of the latest bulls and thus should be a major source of future genetic improvement in the cow herd.
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Right Nutrition, Timing Key in Breeding Program
Rhonda Brooks
Progressive Farmer/DTN
At Maplecrest Farms, calves from first-calf heifers are weaned at 4 to 5 months of age, reducing physical demands on young mothers and helping them get back into breeding shape. (DTN/Progressive Farmer image by Joanie Grimes)
How you manage the nutritional needs of a first-calf heifer can determine whether she becomes a weak link in your beef herd or a seasoned money-maker.
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National 4-H Conference & HSUS Involvement
Bovine Veterinarian
On March 23, a session was presented by Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) at the National 4-H Conference. The session was titled, "Animal Instincts: Service Learning and Animal Welfare."
It was one of many sessions during the five-day conference, and participants had a choice of which sessions they´d attend. Of the 10 Kansas representatives at the conference, one chose to attend this session.
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Woody Lane a fanatic about growing forage
CRAIG REED
The News-Review
Don’t be fooled by that “Got Grass” hat that Woody Lane wears with a wide smile. It’s not what you might think.
In Lane’s case, he’s all about growing forage, as in grass, for livestock. That green stuff is what puts pounds on beef cattle and lambs, preparing them for market and eventually the grill, the plate and the palate. That in turn earns green stuff for the livestock owner.
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Reopening Japanese beef markets
Delta Farm Press
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new approach to reopening Japanese markets for U.S. beef and urges more beef checkoff funding be directed to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to support the effort.
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Greenhouse gas emissions study under way by AgriLife Research
Eureka Alert
Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Amarillo are embarking on a new study amid recent concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from crop fertilization, tillage and feed yard operations.
Dr. Ken Casey, AgriLife Research air quality engineer, and Al Caramanica, a research chemist, have added a few new laboratory tools to help measure three greenhouse gases: nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane.
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Preparation key part of cattle herd sire selection
Southwest Farm Press
Cattle producers who thought they left homework behind when they graduated from school should reconsider if they want to make the grade when it comes to herd sire selection.
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Bull Fertility Critical to a Successful Breeding Program
Stephen B. Blezinger, Ph.D., PAS
Cattle Today
The title of this article is an understatement. Fertility in the cow herd, for both male and female animals, is absolutely critical. Fertility, in the most basic terms, is the capability for creating life.
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Polioencephalomalacia (PEM or Polio) Associated With Feeding Corn Gluten
Dr. John F. Currin, DVM, Extension Cattle Veterinarian, VA Tech
Corn gluten is very commonly used as a feed co-product in Virginia. Corn gluten feed is a co-product of the production of high fructose corn syrup. The corn syrup is removed by a wet milling process. Wet milling separates the corn kernel into starch, oil, protein, and bran. The corn kernels are soaked in sulfurous acid to soften the kernel.
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