Manure a valuable commodity

Manure a valuable commodity

RUTH MCLAUGHLIN

Zanesville Times Recorder

You may have heard there is a deadline looming for livestock producers to be in compliance with manure discharges. By Feb. 27, 2009 poultry, beef cattle, dairy, hog and all other so-called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) must have either national pollution discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits for any discharges of manure runoff into water bodies, or have third party reviews and records to show that they do not discharge.

Full Story

MSGA notes highlights of 12th annual convention

MSGA notes highlights of 12th annual convention

Lewistown News

This year, despite sub-zero temperatures and terrible road conditions, 644 people attended the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s 124th Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings, Dec. 11-13.

Tom Hougen, of Melstone, was elected the 59th president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

Full Story

Survey shows few beef producers changing practices

Survey shows few beef producers changing practices

The Monett Times

Every four years since 1994, Eldon Cole a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, has sent readers of his monthly Beef Newsletter a voluntary survey designed to gauge their interests and farm management techniques.

Since the 1994 survey, the percentage of respondents who own a computer used for the farm has nearly doubled, going from 29 percent to 55 percent. However, the rate of increase has slowed dramatically during the last four years.

Full Story

Beef association president cuts to the meat of his industry

Beef association president cuts to the meat of his industry

Journal and Courier

This has been a busy year for Todd McGraw.

While running his business, McGraw’s Steak, Chop & Fish House in West Lafayette, he also has served as president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association.

The association is made up of individuals, producers and organizations that work to sustain the quality of farm life and improve profits for all segments of the state’s beef industry.

Full Story

Q&A: How much hay will a young beef female eat a winter? Cows are about 1 year and six month old.

Q&A:   How much hay will a young beef female eat a winter? Cows are about 1 year and six month old.

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska

A:   Forage intake is a function of weight, milk potential, and stage of production. The heavier the cow, the greater the intake. The more the milk potential, during both gestationa and lactation. Intake is greater during lactation compared to gestation.

Full Story

Farm could have up to 8,300 cattle

Farm could have up to 8,300 cattle

Daily Citizen

Three men who want to expand a dairy farm to become Wisconsin’s largest are awaiting a public hearing next month that will help determine whether the project moves forward.

Jim Ostrom, John Vosters and Todd Willer want to expand their town of Rosendale farm to maintain 8,300 cows on the 100-acre property. Currently, there are about 700 cows there. The farm is on Highway M.

Full Story

Prolonged Labor Affects Post-calving Fertility

Prolonged Labor Affects Post-calving Fertility

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

In addition to being the greatest cause of baby calf mortality, calving difficulty markedly reduces reproductive performance during the next breeding season.

Cattle suffering from calving difficulty have been reported to have pregnancy rates decreased by 16% and to calve 13 days later at the next calving.  Results from a recent study (Doornbos, et al., 1984; Montana) showed that heifers receiving assistance in early stage 2 of parturition returned to heat earlier in the post-calving period and had higher pregnancy rates than heifers receiving traditionally accepted obstetric assistance.

Full Story

Cattle Preconditioning: Management Of Early-Weaned Calves

Cattle Preconditioning: Management Of Early-Weaned Calves

cattlenetwork.com

Beef calves are normally weaned from 6 to 10 months of age. However, they can be weaned as early as 60 days of age. Early weaning may be a wise management practice because of

– Thin cows that need to pick up body condition

– Low quality forage

– Drought that reduces forage supply

Full Story

Mycotoxins and Reproduction

Mycotoxins and Reproduction

Don Lamb, Director of Sales, Feed Division, All-West/Select Sires Inc.

Feeds containing mold-produced spores are a growing concern for dairy producers. Mold spores reduce the nutrient quality of grain and produce secondary metabolites, known as mycotoxins. These poisons affect the digestive, immune and reproductive functions of the dairy cow and can allow other diseases to invade from an already depleted immune system.

While there are hundreds of mycotoxins, only a few can be adequately identified for further study. Researchers now understand that these toxins, even at low levels and in combination with others, are far more debilitating than high levels of individual toxins due to a cumulative effect.

Full Story

Mexico begins to lift ban on U.S. meat plants

Mexico begins to lift ban on U.S. meat plants

Noel Randewich and Roberta Rampton

Reuters

Mexico took steps to resume imports of U.S. meat on Monday from 21 of 30 plants that had been sanctioned for technical and sanitary issues, a source at the country’s agriculture ministry said.

Mexico suspended shipments from the beef, pork, lamb and poultry plants last Tuesday over sanitary conditions involving packaging, labeling and transportation in what U.S. industry officials said was an unusually large delisting of their plants.

Full Story

Branded Beef – Frequently Asked Questions

Branded Beef – Frequently Asked Questions

Ropin’ the Web

What is Branded Beef?

Branded Beef involves selling beef based on attributes, those qualities or features that make the product unique and provide a benefit to the buyer. Organic, lean, and ‘naturally’ raised are a few examples of branded beef attributes and new markets that are in line with current consumer demand and eating habits.

Full Story

Keys to Managing Your Bulls this Winter

Keys to Managing Your Bulls this Winter

Jason K. Ahola, University of Idaho Extension beef specialist

American Cowman

With so much time spent catching-up on things during the winter months, it’s not uncommon for producers to put their bulls on the “back burner.” Unfortunately, many bulls are nutritionally forgotten, leading to potential problems the following year.  At a time when hay prices at are record highs, it’s possible that some producers might inadvertently underfeed their bulls this winter in order to save some money.

Full Story

Angus breeders cooperation means test is near

Angus breeders cooperation means test is near

Jennifer Bremer

High Plains Journal

“We no longer should have the mindset that these abnormalities aren’t something we shouldn’t pursue. We need to be proactive before they become bigger problems,” said Dr. Jon Beever of the University of Illinois.

Cooperation from Angus breeders has allowed research of the genetic defect Arthrogryposis Multiplex to be near the commercialization phase for a test to identify the gene.

Full Story

Q&A: How does a person figure how much corn to buy to finish out a 600 lb steer?

Q&A:   How does a person figure how much corn to buy to finish out a 600 lb steer?

Dr. Galen Erickson, Associate Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

A:   The old “rule of thumb” was 50 bushels per head for yearling cattle. As it turns out, that is not far off, but can be refined.

The main determinant will be feed conversion (which is fairly predictable within a range anyway) and what other components are fed.

Full Story

Light a candle

Light a candle

Steve Suther

Certified Angus Beef

December brings the winter solstice, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Across much of the country, frost is settling into the ground. Those inclined to analyze the economy say we are in the midst of some dark times financially, too.

While cow-calf producers have had some good years in this decade, the overall trend has been a reduction in herd operators, down 25% in 20 years. You could worry about the dark side of erratically higher costs and unknown markets. A winter storm could wreak havoc next week.

Full Story

Hoosier Livestock Producers Must Stay Alert in 2009

Hoosier Livestock Producers Must Stay Alert in 2009

Gary Truitt

Hoosier Ag Today

This was a year when the Indiana livestock industry found itself battling restrictions both in the state legislature and at the local level. 2009 will be a year when the livestock producers will have to stay alert, not only for changes in the market but changes in their local communities. Greg Slipher, Livestock Specialist with Indiana Farm Bureau, told HAT animal agriculture is becoming a land use issue with county government in many areas of the state, “We live in a dynamic state where everyone has the opportunity to affect local rule and such is the case with livestock.”

Full Story

Recession plays role in big drop in cattle prices

Recession plays role in big drop in cattle prices

ED MERRIMAN

Baker City Herald

Cattle prices received by ranchers in Baker County and across the West have plunged 40 cents a pound since July due in part to changes in Americans’ eating habits triggered by the national recession.

“The cattle industry is not immune to the economy. People are still eating a lot of meat, but they’re dining out less often, and at home they’re eating more ground beef and less rib steak,” said Bill Moore, who ranches in Baker County near Unity and is president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.

Full Story

Use caution when adding to herds

Use caution when adding to herds

The Prairie Star

Beef producers purchasing cows or cowcalf pairs as herd additions should keep animal health considerations in mind. By far the most common way of introducing new diseases into a herd is through purchase of infected animals, said SDSU Extension Veterinarian Russ Daly.

Daly said many good-quality cattle are moving through sale barns as producers in drought-hit areas of South Dakota sell livestock. As a result, producers in less affected areas may look at picking up additional livestock to add to their herds. In addition, producers may find themselves temporarily taking in cattle from these areas.

Full Story

Mexico suspends purchases from 30 meat plants

Mexico suspends purchases from 30 meat plants

EILEEN AJ CONNOLLY

The Missourian

Mexico suspended meat imports from 30 processing plants in 14 states, including some in Missouri, on Wednesday and Friday, according to a list posted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web site.

The action pushed down beef and pork futures in trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Friday.

Full Story

Maine Anjou breeders manage oldest genetic mutation

Maine Anjou breeders manage oldest genetic mutation

Jennifer Bremer

High Plains Journal

 “PHA looks to be the oldest mutation we have dealt with. It continually pushes down through generations having continual sequential breed downs,” said University of Illinois researcher, Dr. Jon Beever.

In 2005, the Maine Anjou breed was affected by a genetic defect that eventually was traced back to a bull born in 1970.

Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca (PHA) is a lethal recessive disorder which affects Maine Anjou and Maine Anjou influenced cattle. The calves have little, poorly formed lungs, and they have lots of excess retained fluid

Full Story