Vaccines — Their Use, Handling, and Care
T. R. Thedford, DVM
Oklahoma State University
All livestock producers use vaccines at one time or another in the day-to-day operation of their farms. If these products are not properly handled, little or no immunity will result from the use of the product. In addition to being costly, the false sense of security gained by the producer could result in severe losses before the actual cause of the disease is discovered.
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Delay Implant, Increase Beef Quality
Black Ink Basics
Many feeders administer growth implants on the front end of the finishing phase, keeping far from the harvest date so as not to hinder marbling development. But research at South Dakota State University in the mid-1990s proved marbling is a consistent component that can develop throughout an animal’s life.
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Winter Watering – Generations of Innovations
Alan Hedstrom
American Cattlemen
I had a one of a kind Grandpa. Well, maybe we all say that about people that we admire who have lot of knowledge. Sometimes we would get to work together in the corncrib with Grandpa and my uncles on the day the corn sheller would come to Grandpa’s farm.
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Grazing cornstalk residues: What do you need to supplement?
Rick Rasby
Angus Journal
In many areas of the United States, cornstalk residue is available in the fall and winter for beef cows to graze. Allowing cows to harvest their nutrient needs is a lot more economical than carrying harvested forages to them. Grazing cornstalk residue is effective in reducing feed costs.
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Cattlemen consider eliminating brand inspectors
Drovers
The Nebraska Cattlemen have floated a plan to do away with the state’s nearly 60-year-old brand-inspection requirement.
Branding, which dates to the 1800s, was started to counter cattle rustling. Brand inspection became state law with the creation of the Nebraska Brand Committee in 1941.
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Ask the Vet: Are brand name cattle really any better than generic cattle?
Dr. Ken McMillan
DTN
I am going to assume by "generic" you mean crossbred cattle and by "brand name" you mean purebred.
I think in most cases the only people who need purebred cattle are the ones in the purebred business producing seedstock—including bulls for registered and commercial producers and cows and heifers for other purebred breeders.
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What is a pregnant heifer worth in today’s market?
Harlan Hughes
BEEF
Though 2010 weaned-calf prices are improved from 2009, higher calf prices alone aren’t sufficient to trigger expansion; higher profits per cow are needed. And that may come if the effects of recent stronger export demand trickle down to weaned-calf prices over the next few years.
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FMD greatest threat to livestock industry
Mindy Ward
Missouri Farmer Today
Bill White has seen his share of animal diseases.
As director of the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Plum Island in New York, White and his team serve as a line of defense for a disease outbreak in the United States. His laboratory is often the first to diagnose human and animal viruses in the world.
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Farmers shouldn’t own animals, but Michael Vick can. Excuse me?
Rick Berman
The Daily Caller
When the CEO of a “Humane Society” says convicted dog-fighting kingpin Michael Vick “would do a good job as pet owner,” it should raise more red flags than a Chinese parade. That’s just what happened two weeks ago as Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), endorsed Vick’s future as a dog owner.
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Beef or Chicken? A Look at U.S. Meat Trends in the Last Century
STEPHEN J. DUBNER
New York Times
A lot of meat and poultry gets eaten during the holiday season. Did you ever find yourself wondering: Hmm, what’s the trend line over the past 100 years for U.S. per-capita consumption of beef vs. chicken vs. pork vs. turkey?
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