Cattle Health: The Components Of A Proper Breeding Soundness Exam

Cattle Health: The Components Of A Proper Breeding Soundness Exam

 Cattlenetwork.com

 For the breeding soundness evaluation to be successful, bulls should be evaluated 30 to 60 days before the start of breeding. It is important to allow sufficient time to replace questionable bulls. Bulls should also be evaluated at the end of breeding to determine if their fertility decreased. A breeding soundness exam is administered by a veterinarian and includes a physical examination (feet, legs, eyes, teeth, flesh cover, scrotal size and shape), an internal and external examination of the reproductive tract and semen evaluation for sperm cell motility and normality.

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$4.5-Million Study Looks At Captive Supply

$4.5-Million Study Looks At Captive Supply

 Beef Stocker Trends

 Cattle prices go down as consumer beef demand declines due to decreasing beef quality, and risk increases. That’s what happens when you try to legislate the market.

 Specifically, that’s what would happen if alternative marketing agreements (AMAs) — basically anything that isn’t a cash trade in the spot market — were restricted, according to the recently concluded $4.5-million “GIPSA Livestock and Meat Marketing Study.” It was conducted by RTI International for USDA at the behest of the industry, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

 “During debate of the 2002 farm bill, concerns from producers about packer concentration led NCBA members to ask Congress to study the livestock and meat-marketing complex,” explains John Queen, NCBA president. In 2003, Congress authorized $4.5 million to conduct such an independent study and provide a report that would be the definitive answer on this issue.

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Delay Implant, Increase Beef Quality

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. Therefore, early management decisions affect marbling development, both ongoing and later. Using a delayed implant strategy leads to the same percentage of cattle grading Choice as non-implanted cattle—but with added weight and efficiency. 

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Best Way to Cope with High Corn Prices is Efficiency

Best Way to Cope with High Corn Prices is Efficiency

 by: Wayne Vanderwert
American Gelbvieh Association Executive Director

According to recent reports, current corn ending stocks are at their second lowest level in 45 years. Higher corn prices have had an immediate and major impact on feeder cattle prices. There is speculation that we¡¦re in this for the long haul; in other words, we can expect feed costs to be at a higher plateau for years to come.

The environment we work in has changed. It always has been the size of the corn crop, livestock numbers and the export markets that pretty much dictated the corn price. Now crude oil prices will be one of the factors we¡¦ll watch closely as the country finds an economic equilibrium between oil and ethanol in the years to come.

The most recent Cattle on Feed report indicates a shift toward placements in the north and fewer in the south as proximity to ethanol plants impacts cost of gains.

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Cattle Marketing Symposium – All-Natural Beef: Nevil Speer, WKU

Cattle Marketing Symposium – All-Natural Beef:  Nevil Speer, WKU

 Cattlenetwork.com

 “All-Natural” beef currently possesses a number of connotations within the marketplace.   Unfortunately, “All-Natural” often becomes confused with other labels such as “Organic” and/or “Grass-Fed”.   Moreover, even within the category of “All-Natural” there are varying opinions about labeling standards:  for example, should it refer only to the last 100 days or should be inclusive of the entire production phase?  USDA recognizes the growing disparity among program guidelines and recently held several listening sessions to establish “proposed standards as related to livestock production natural claims…” 

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BeefTalk: Someone You Should Get To Know – Your Waste Management Professional

BeefTalk: Someone You Should Get To Know – Your Waste Management Professional

North Dakota Animal Waste Management Professionals North Dakota Animal Waste Management Professionals

 By Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist
NDSU Extension Service

Revenue and profit are two different things.

Change in the world of livestock is not new and comes in many forms. Today, the most obvious is the little spots that are starting to show up on the hillsides as spring calving gets under way.

The spring sun certainly brings a new light to the operations and it doesn’t take much time for the newborn calves to take advantage of the weather. These are good changes because the inventory is growing again. Along with inventory growth comes the opportunity for additional revenue. Great news for producers, but you quickly notice the term “revenue” was noted. Revenue was used for a reason.

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Industry testifies on Korean trade agreement

Industry testifies on Korean trade agreement

 Western Livestock Journal

 During congressional testimony last week, several beef industry representatives said any potential Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea should hinge on whether or not the country agrees to accept U.S. beef imports and drop its continued unscientific trade barriers.

 Since agreeing to resume imports of U.S. beef last year, South Korean officials have rejected the three shipments of U.S. beef sent to the country. In all three cases, inspections revealed minute slivers of bone, causing the entire shipment to be rejected. U.S. trade officials have strongly criticized South Korea for its continued protectionist stalling.

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On The Edge Of Common Sense

On The Edge Of Common Sense

 by Baxter Black, DVM
American Chianina Journal

I wrote a book titled “Blazin’ Bloats and Cows on Fire!” It referred to the flammability of rumen gasses and the spectacular but rarely harmful occasions when they are ignited.

I assumed that the predilection for ignition was confined to ruminants but, as is often the case, I was thinking too small. Dr. Charlie broadened my horizons.

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Foot Rot in Grazing Cattle

Foot Rot in Grazing Cattle

       John G. Kirkpatrick, DVM                                          Dr. David Lalman

      Associate Professor Medicine and Surgery              Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

                                                Oklahoma State University

 

      Foot rot is a subacute or acute necrotic (decaying) infectious disease of cattle causing swelling and lameness in one or more feet.   The disease can become chronic with a poorer prognosis for recovery if treatment is delayed, allowing deeper structures of the toe to become affected.  Weight gain is significantly reduced when grazing cattle contract the disease.  In one three-year study, Brazle (1993) reported that affected steers gained 2.3 Lb./day while steers not affected gained 2.76 Lb./day.  Foot rot is usually sporatic in occurrence, but the disease incidence may increase up to 25% in high-intensity beef or dairy production units. Approximately 20% of all diagnosed lameness in cattle are actually foot rot. 

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Cattlemen take on industry changes

Cattlemen take on industry changes

 By Liz McMahan
Muskogee Phoenix

The future of agriculture in Muskogee County is not in large farms and ranches, said the president of the Muskogee County Cattlemen’s Association.

The average herd size of cattle operations in the county is just more than 25 animals “and going down,” said Frank Bartholet.

Less than 5 percent of cattle producers in the county make a full-time living from their operations, said Rodney King, executive secretary of the organization and county Extension Service director.

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Veterinary school plans for livestock specialist shortage

Veterinary school plans for livestock specialist shortage

Akron Beacon Journal

 SOUTH LEBANON, Ohio – Ohio’s dwindling number of veterinarians who specialize in treating livestock say for them, a passion for farm life and the resourcefulness needed to treat their bulky patients is worth the trade-off of missing a regular schedule in an office.

 The state’s only veterinary school is alarmed that the spirit seems to be disappearing among graduates.

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There’s a new cattlemen’s organization in town

There’s a new cattlemen’s organization in town

 Western Livestock Journal

 It’s no secret that R-CALF United Stockgrower’s of America (R-CALF) has been experiencing some internal conflicts and has appointed new leaders and directors. The organization has been the source of much scrutiny and some longtime members have reportedly left the organization. Interestingly, some of those members and directors have made the decision to establish a new organization which they have named United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA).

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Tyson Foods Beef Plant Snubbed By Tokyo

Tyson Foods Beef Plant Snubbed By Tokyo

 THE MORNING NEWS (AR)

 Japan recently asked that a Tyson Foods Inc. beef processing plant be removed from the government’s approved list of eligible export suppliers. This latest move by the Japanese comes a month after trade was banned from a Lexington, Neb., beef packing plant owned by Tyson Fresh Meats, because it did not contain the proper documentation.

 The farm and health ministries of Japan said in a recent news statement the decision to exclude shipments from the Tyson Foods plant was necessary because the U.S. government was unable to confirm the beef from the facility cleared the export terms.

 “We’re disappointed Japan has asked USDA to de-list the Lexington plant, especially since we acknowledged a mistake was made and have taken corrective measures,” said Tyson Foods spokesman Gary Mickelson.

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Kentucky inundated with unwanted horses

Kentucky inundated with unwanted horses
Not being able to sell meat means many left to starve

 By JEFFREY McMURRAY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Modesto Bee

The bidding for the black pony started at $500, then took a nosedive.

There were no takers at $300, $200, even $100. With a high bid of just $75, the auctioneer gave the seller the choice of taking the animal off the auction block. But the seller said no.

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Dwindling breed evokes memories of Montana’s rich ranching histor

Dwindling breed evokes memories of Montana’s rich ranching history

 By KIM SKORNOGOSKI
Great Falls Tribune (MT)

The son of bull royalty, Prince Domino IX lived and died on the Willow Creek Ranch at the base of the Highwood Mountains near Belt.

Weighing more than a ton, his wide back and square body sat short to the ground — the epitome of the Hereford breed. His strong genes have since passed on to his more than 6 million descendants.

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