Ohio Beef Newsletter Available

The May 2, issue # 535, of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter is now posted to the web at: http://fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beefMy2.html

Don’t forget the eastern Ohio edition of the Ohio Seedstock Improvement Sale is being held at Muskingum Livestock on Friday evening. Find more details in this week’s BEEF Cattle letter.

Articles this week include:
* Forage Focus: Prevent Grass Tetany
* HEIFER DEVELOPMENT: The Economic Importance of Reproduction
* OCA Seedstock Improvement Bull Sale at Hillsboro Posts Strong Averages
* Beef Sector must Pass-on Higher Feed Costs
* Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report

Stan
———-
Stan Smith
Program Assistant, Agriculture
OSU Extension, Fairfield County
831 College Ave., Suite D
Lancaster, OH 43130

e-mail: smith.263@osu.edu
voice: 740.653.5419 ext. 24
fax: 740.687.7010
Visit:
Fairfield Co. OSU Extension – http://fairfield.osu.edu
OSU Beef Team – http://beef.osu.edu

Repackaging Heifers

Repackaging Heifers

Lighter target weights may yield more economical results when developing breeding females.

Hereford World

Traditionally, the golden rule in heifer development has been to develop heifers to 60-65% of their mature weight by the start of the breeding season. But new research suggests producers reconsider that recommendation. From an economic standpoint, developing heifers to 50-55% of their mature weight may have more merit, says Trey Patterson, formerly a South Dakota State University Extension beef specialist and now with the Padlock Ranch at Ranchester, Wyo.

FULL STORY PDF

 

Beef Management Tips

Beef Management Tips

John B. Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech

May Beef Management Calendar

Spring Calving Herds

    * Calving should be coming to an end

    * Give pre-breeding vaccinations to cows – IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV and Lepto. Use modified live vaccines on open cows with calves; killed vaccines on pregnant cows.

    * Begin estrous synchronization programs for AI (begin AI this month some herds)

    * Breed heifers 2 to 4 weeks before cows

    * Get breeding soundness exams done on bulls

    * Supplement 1st calf heifers with energy through breeding

    * Implant commercial calves at turnout if not implanted at birth

    * Keep high quality, high magnesium, high selenium minerals available

    * Make 1st cutting of hay

    * Start creep grazing and/or managed intensive grazing

 

Fall Calving Herds

    * Creep graze calves while on cows

    * Give pre-weaning vaccinations (IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, Pastuerella) to calves

    * Wean commercial calves based on marketing plan for calves – must be weaned 45 days for most value-added programs such as VQA

    * Wean and weigh calves

    * Body condition score cows at weaning

    * Implant commercial calves at turnout

    * Deworm calves if needed

    * Make 1st cutting of hay

    * Continue feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany

    * Continue managed intensive grazing; hay pastures with excess forage

Using Self-Feeders

Using Self-Feeders

Jeff Pastoor, Senior Cattle Consultant, Land O’Lakes Beef Feeds.

Beeflinks.com

 Feeding cattle with self-feeders or steer stuffers is a popular option in the Upper Midwest.  They are a very convenient way to feed cattle, however day to day management will make a big difference in the performance of cattle on the self-feeder.

In general, diets fed as a TMR in a feed bunk will give us better performance and lower costs of gain than diets fed through a self feeder.  In trials done by the University of Minnesota, steers fed on a TMR had $23.90 more profit per head than identical cattle fed on a self feeder.  Closeout records from Land O’Lakes would indicate a much larger benefit than this from TMR vs. self feeder.

However, because of equipment costs and the learning curve involved with bunk management, self-feeders are probably the best choice for feeding operations of less than 100 hd.

FULL STORY

Not so fast. . .

Not so fast. . .

By Miranda Reiman

Black Ink

“Just four easy payments of $19.95 and you can have your own copy of ‘Make Millions this Weekend.’ Follow the program to make those monthly payments easy.”

Infomercials and ads tout thousands of ways to make a fortune practically over night: real estate, miracle products or “once-in-a-lifetime” investments.

Farming and ranching don’t make the list. Even scam artists know people won’t fall for that. Everybody knows they take real work, time and commitment.

Early on, somebody probably said, “You’re not going to get rich raising cattle.” You took that to heart while the infomercials blared on, then decided to raise cattle anyway. The benefits of working outside, spending time with family and being your own boss easily outweighed dreams of lavish mansions, big boats and fancy vacations.

FULL STORY PDF

The key factors that affect the percentage of cows cycling at the start of breeding

The key factors that affect the percentage of cows cycling at the start of breeding

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

The most important factors that determine if and when a cow returns to cycling activity were reviewed by Dr. Jeff Stevenson of Kansas State University.  Over the past 6 years, Kansas State scientists have used more than 2,200 beef cows in estrous synchronization studies.  As a part of these studies they determined which cows were cycling before the start of the breeding season both before and after synchronization treatments.  They then looked at the previous data about each cow and determined the major factors that determined the likelihood that she would have returned to heat by the start of the breeding season.  The research indicated that three main factors were the most important determinants as to whether the cow would recycle before the breeding season began.  Body condition, age of the cow, and the number of days since calving were the biggest influences on incidence of cycling activity before breeding.  Cows ranged in body condition score from 1 (extremely emaciated) to 7 (very fleshy) .

FULL STORY

Grass fed beef tastes like history

Grass fed beef tastes like history

Ranchers return to practice of raising leaner cattle without grain, hormones

By Shannon Livick

Cortez Journal

Rancher Josh Boren is very particular about what his cows eat – nothing but grass.

Grazing on fresh, spring grass, Josh Boren’s cattle are healthy and well fed. Josh Boren moves his cattle to another pasture April 24 at his ranch north of Cortez. A lineup of white faces at the Boren’ ranch north of Cortez will be ready to market soon. Josh Boren calls his cattle on April 24 to move them to another pasture.

Grazing on fresh, spring grass, Josh Boren’s cattle are healthy and well fed. Josh Boren moves his cattle to another pasture April 24 at his ranch north of Cortez. Lineup of white faces at the Boren’s ranch north of Cortez will be ready to market soon. Josh Boren calls his cattle on April 24 to move them to another pasture.

The Lazy R/Z Ranch is located at 15509 Colorado Highway 145 in Dolores. Because of the nature of their business, they do not have office hours. People who would like to buy beef can call 882-0141 before they stop by. Visit the ranch’s Web site at http://www.lazyrzranch.com.

For about five years, Boren has been raising and selling all natural grass fed beef on his ranch, the Lazy R-Z Ranch. He said it provides a nice alternative to beef that is started on grass but finished in feed lots with grain and is given hormones and antibiotics.

“It’s so much healthier,” Boren said.

Grass fed beef has been proven to have more vitamin K, is nearly as lean as a skinless chicken breast and has more Omega 3s, Boren said. It also has fewer calories.

FULL STORY

Pyfferoen long-time contributor to cattle industry

Pyfferoen long-time contributor to cattle industry

By Janet Kubat Willette

Agri News

Tom Pyfferoen has been involved in the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association for about a decade.

He got involved in 1995 and was feeder council chairman in 1999-2000. He was elected first vice president in December 2002, setting up the progression to become president in four years.

He’s taken in quite a few meetings since becoming president and the invitations keep coming in.

“I could probably go somewhere four or five days a week,” Pyfferoen said.

Last week, he was home tending his cattle. He primarily buys calves and yearlings and raises them to slaughter weight. In the summer, he and partner Tom Haight of Rochester buy 500 pound to 600 pound cattle to put on pasture and then feed out. The beef cattle gain about two pounds a day on pasture. He buys either from sales barn or through private treaty sales. He has an order buyer in Omaha who buys cattle for him. Last year, he fed out 1,000 cattle.

FULL STORY

State takes lead role in switchgrass research

State takes lead role in switchgrass research

Farmers like plant that may become fuel

By ANNE PAINE

The Tennessean

A cornstalk-high green plant called switchgrass is one of the great hopes to fuel vehicles in a way that’s less dependent on foreign oil and more environmentally friendly — and Tennesseans’ tax money is being invested to make it happen.

Tennessee is one of three hubs of the action nationwide, with $18 million in state money proposed for research and developing the grass into a biofuel. The federal Energy Department already has put in $4 million, with more expected in coming years.

FULL STORY

“Beef Quality in the Ethanol Era” is the Theme Of BEEF Magazine’s 2007 Beef Quality Summit

“Beef Quality in the Ethanol Era” is the Theme Of BEEF Magazine’s 2007 Beef Quality Summit

NEW YORK Penton Media’s BEEF® magazine will host its second annual Beef Quality Summit Nov. 7-8, 2007 at the Holiday Inn Centre in Omaha, NE. The theme of this year’s conference is “Beef Quality in the Ethanol Era.” The Beef Quality Summit provides attendees with the opportunity to network with producers and others in the industry, and to learn how to increase the value of their beef-cattle production. Full conference details are available at http://www.beefconference.com .

The 2-day conference agenda will focus on the effects of increased ethanol production on beef quality, the beef industry and cattle operations, and how producers can survive and thrive during the ethanol era. Speakers, including producers, consultants and industry experts, will also address how the beef industry can successfully meet the demand for quality beef in today’s marketplace.

FULL STORY

Livestock Premises Registration

Livestock Premises Registration 

WXOW

The dairy state has become the charter state in livestock premises registering. Wisconsin law states that any farm must now register their livestock with the USDA, allowing for easier tracking of animal-disease or an animal-borne human disease.

State Senator Dan Kapanke says, “It’s a tool that we can use to respond to any disease outbreak within the state.”

The aw went into effect in 2006, but the state has been slow to enforce the law until now.

Over 90 percent of livestock farms in Wisconsin are already registered, but some farmers are concerned that they’re giving up their rights too easily.

Mark Brothen says, “We have a perfectly good tracking system in place right now.”

FULL STORY

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Parasites – Fact Or Fiction

Cattle Preconditioning Forum: Parasites – Fact Or Fiction

Cattlenetwork.com

Parasites can reduce effectiveness of vaccination programs. FACT

Vaccines given to unhealthy cattle are as effective as vaccines given to healthy cattle. FICTION. An unhealthy animal, such as one that is parasitized, has a suppressed immune system so it can’t mount an adequate immune response to the vaccine.

Some parasites can release substances that turn off the immune system function all around them. FACT. Ostertagia ostertagi, or brown stomach worms, can release a substance into the cow’s system that reduces immune function.

FULL STORY

Setback dispute doomed livestock regulation bill

Setback dispute doomed livestock regulation bill

By RICK CALLAHAN

Chicago Tribune

INDIANAPOLIS — A state senator who sponsored a bill targeting Indiana’s big livestock farms blames the Indiana House for dooming the legislation in the session’s waning hours by refusing to compromise on some of its provisions.

State Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, said the bill died in the General Assembly’s session that ended Sunday in part because state Rep. Phil Pflum, D-Milton, refused to drop a provision calling for a one-mile setback between the largest of the farms and schools.

FULL STORY

Animal rights activists involved in bid to shut lab among 30 arrested in raids

Animal rights activists involved in bid to shut lab among 30 arrested in raids

· Huntingdon Life campaign leader among those held, extremist crime unit led swoop by 700 police

Sandra Laville, crime correspondent

The Guardian

Leading animal rights activists involved in a bitter campaign to close down a scientific research laboratory were arrested yesterday after a two-year intelligence-led operation involving police forces in the UK and Europe.

Greg Avery, who runs Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac), was among 30 alleged extremists seized from their homes at dawn in a police operation that was overseen by the National Extremist Crime Unit, according to police sources. Thirty-two addresses were raided, including one in Belgium and two in Amsterdam.

FULL STORY

Stocker Cattle Forum: Hospital Area

Stocker Cattle Forum: Hospital Area

Cattlenetwork.com

The purpose of a “hospital” area is not to prevent the spread of disease. After a group of stocker cattle have mingled for a few days, they have shared all of the “bugs” that they brought with them. Separating sick animals will give them a chance to recover without having to compete with healthy animals.

FULL STORY

 

BeefTalk: Lowline Cattle – Matching Calving Ease with Value on the Rail

BeefTalk: Lowline Cattle – Matching Calving Ease with Value on the Rail

The beef business, from a producer’s standpoint, is very much like a picture puzzle.

By Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

It takes time to put a picture puzzle together. The picture is there, but the challenge is finding the right pieces. This process may be difficult, but also exciting.

The beef business, from a producer’s standpoint, is very much like the picture puzzle. Select what picture you want and start finding the pieces.

As breeding seasons nears, the time is now to solve a new puzzle. Calving time must come first in solving the puzzle, but it doesn’t take a lot of records to remember calving difficulty.

FULL STORY

Ranchers worry as too-few April showers leave California dry

Ranchers worry as too-few April showers leave California dry

By OLIVIA MUNOZ

Oregonlive.com

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — After a dry winter that left the Central Valley’s sheep and cattle with parched rangeland to graze, projections for summer water supplies are running as low as this year’s rainfall.

The forecasts spell trouble for California ranchers, who say they expect to lose millions in revenue this year after spending more to feed animals who may not grow as big as their owners want and therefore won’t fetch premium prices when they are sold.

FULL STORY