Video Feature: What should you do with a steer that has stopped eating?

Video Feature: What should you do with a steer that has stopped eating?

Purina Mills

BeefTalk: Who Is In The Bull Pen?

BeefTalk: Who Is In The Bull Pen?

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

When buying bulls, we are really buying packets of DNA.

The coffee chat is filled with many opinions about how to buy bulls. The art of buying a bull requires an open mind, homework and a vision for the future of a producer’s cowherd.

For example, we turn to the nutritionists if we want to get a better understanding on how cattle can utilize peas in rations. Ironically, peas influenced cattle decades before producers started to feed peas by way of Mendel, an Austrian monk.

He discovered the tip of the iceberg and used peas to teach us how genetics work. We actually can select for and change not only peas, but cattle as well.

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Backgrounding and Yearling Finishing Systems: Where’s the Profit?

Backgrounding and Yearling Finishing Systems: Where’s the Profit?

Darrell R. Mark, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Rebecca M. Small, Graduate Research Assistant

Galen E. Erickson, Extension Feedlot Management Specialist

Cow-calf producers considering retained ownership and stocker operators often must evaluate the prospects of whether to background calves in the feedlot or on winter and/or summer forages. With feedlot cost of gain nearly double what it was less than two years ago, many producers are likely to consider backgrounding calves on corn residue over the winter months and possibly run the short yearlings on grass pasture next summer, with the option of placing them on feed early next fall.

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Mineral Supplements for Beef Cattle

Mineral Supplements for Beef Cattle

Johnny Rossi, Extension Animal Scientist – Beef Cattle

Beef cattle require a number of minerals for optimal growth and reproduction. Selecting the correct mineral supplement is important for maintaining healthy animals, and optimal growth and reproduction. Since high-quality forages and/or grains can furnish a large portion of the required minerals, producers should select supplements that will meet animal requirements and avoid excesses that reduce profits and lead to unnecessary mineral excretion. Minerals not provided by feed can be easily and inexpensively supplied with a simple mineral supplement. A good mineral program for brood cows should cost about $10 to $20 per year. This bulletin provides information on basic mineral nutrition for most forage and feeding programs in Georgia.

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Foot Rot in Cattle

Foot Rot in Cattle

M.B. Irsik, DVM, MAB and J.K. Shearer, DVM, MS

University of Florida

Foot rot is a term loosely used to describe lameness associated with the bovine foot. However, true foot rot is characterized by acute inflammation of the skin and adjacent soft tissues of the interdigital cleft or space. It is accompanied by diffuse swelling, varying degrees of lameness and in most cases, by a foul-smelling necrotic lesion of the interdigital skin. Foot rot is the term commonly used in the United States for this lameness disorder, but internationally the disease is better known as foul, foul-in-the-foot, interdigital phlegmon, interdigital necrobacillosis, or infectious pododermatitis. It is a frequent problem of beef and dairy cattle, especially in poorly drained, muddy pens or lots and pastures. Normally, occurrence is sporadic, affecting only 1 or 2 animals at a time, but it may affect larger numbers of cattle in outbreak situations or problem herds.

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Cattle Health: Where Do I Find The Withdrawal Time Information?

Cattle Health: Where Do I Find The Withdrawal Time Information?

cattlenetwork.com

It is on the label—always in fine print! The label contains the necessary information for the use of the product and it is a legal document. When you purchase a drug or other compound for use in your cattle you have agreed to follow all the label directions—if you deviate from the label you are legally responsible. The label information contains (1) the species that the drug can be used on, (2) the dose, (3) the route(s) of administration, (4) the disease conditions (pneumonia, scours, etc) or purpose (heat synchronization), (5) frequency and duration of treatment, (6) any precautions or warnings, and (7) the withdrawal time (time from last treatment until the animal can go to slaughter). This is the situation for what we call “Over The Counter” drugs—or OTC drugs. You can buy and use OTC drugs—but you are responsible for using them according the label and you are responsible for any residue problems that occur.

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The Future: DNA Tests and Premonitions

The Future: DNA Tests and Premonitions

Thebeefsite.com

DNA testing offers producers a way to get information sooner and for less expense than progeny testing for these types of traits.

Consider the marketing potential producers could have if they knew in advance how their cattle would perform in the feedlot and on the rail, writes Kindra Gordon for TriState Neighbour. According to the report, animals that they knew would finish and marble well could be directed to premium programs. Others that had a genetic propensity for producing a leaner end-product could be sorted out and finished for markets they were better suited to.

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Upgrade Your Cattle Handling Facilities

Upgrade Your Cattle Handling Facilities

Mick Kreidler

Beef Today

Working cattle is a task made much easier and safer in a well-designed handling system. A good handling system has many advantages, ranging from improved cattle health and production to labor savings and less stress on you and your cattle.

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IGENITY® Introduces Curly Calf Syndrome Analysis

IGENITY® Introduces Curly Calf Syndrome Analysis

Producers can now evaluate cattle for presence of genetic defect

The comprehensive IGENITY® profile now includes an option to evaluate cattle for the presence of Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) — commonly known as Curly Calf Syndrome. Samples will be processed beginning December 19.

“IGENITY is the first DNA provider to make this analysis commercially available,” says Dr. Stewart Bauck, research and development director, IGENITY. “Now producers can know definitively whether or not their cattle are carriers for this defect — helping make more confident mating and marketing decisions.”

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Using Fluids For Scours

Using Fluids For Scours

cattlenetwork.com

Most calves are acidic (acidotic) at the start of scours but may become basic (alkalotic) in a short time with continual use of some products. Consult your veterinarian to select products that prevent this switch in pH balance from acidic to basic before starting and continuing treatment. The main goal of balancing electrolytes is to return a calf to near pH neutral.

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Health Concerns over Drugs in Manured Crops

Health Concerns over Drugs in Manured Crops

Thebeefsite.com

Dolliver and co-workers at the University of Minnesota have measured the uptake by maize, lettuce and potatoes of sulphamethazine, an antibiotic used in animal production, which is passed into manure. Although the uptake of the drug by the plants was low, the researchers indicated ‘potential human health concerns of consuming low levels of antibiotics from produce grown on manure-amended soils’.

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Internal Revenue Service Poised to Raise Revenue

Internal Revenue Service Poised to Raise Revenue

John Alan Cohan, Attorney at Law

Cattle Today

The IRS raised a record of $48.7 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2006 — revenue generated from audits of individuals, small businesses and corporations. There are about 115,000 IRS employees. This translates into a significant net profit to the Government.

There was a seven percent increase that year in individual audits, and an eight percent increase in small business audits. Most of the increased revenue pertains to taxpayers who underreported income — the main area that seems to arise in audits.

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American Grassfed Association to have February conference

American Grassfed Association to have February conference

Newark Advocate

The American Grassfed Association will host its sixth annual conference Feb. 5-7 in Lexington, Ky.

Animal producers, chefs, food service professionals and anyone else interested in the grass-fed industry may attend the conference.

The keynote speaker will be the author and sustainable agriculture statesman, Wendell Berry.

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The Heart of America Grazing Conference

The Heart of America Grazing Conference

Ohio Forages

The five-state Heart of America Grazing Conference will offer producers an opportunity to gain information on the advantages of improved grazing systems. Purdue Extension and other Indiana organizations will join with Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio organizations to sponsor the event. The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Columbus, IN on January 21and 22, 2009.

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Stock show is rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ back to town with new offerings, old favorites

Stock show is rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ back to town with new offerings, old favorites

The Denver Post

The 103rd edition of the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo & Horse Show will include its regular cast of cowboys, cattle, clowns and competition.

The show begins Saturday and runs daily through Jan. 25 at the 100-acre complex along Interstate 70 and Brighton Boulevard.

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