Video Feature: What should you do with a steer that has stopped eating?
Purina Mills
Video Feature: What should you do with a steer that has stopped eating?
Purina Mills
Comments Off on Video Feature: What should you do with a steer that has stopped eating?
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on BeefTalk: Who Is In The Bull Pen?
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Backgrounding and Yearling Finishing Systems: Where’s the Profit?
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Mineral Supplements for Beef Cattle
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Foot Rot in Cattle
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Cattle Health: Where Do I Find The Withdrawal Time Information?
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on The Future: DNA Tests and Premonitions
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Upgrade Your Cattle Handling Facilities
Posted in Uncategorized
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.”
Comments Off on IGENITY® Introduces Curly Calf Syndrome Analysis
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Using Fluids For Scours
Posted in Uncategorized
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’.
Comments Off on Health Concerns over Drugs in Manured Crops
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Internal Revenue Service Poised to Raise Revenue
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on American Grassfed Association to have February conference
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on The Heart of America Grazing Conference
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
Comments Off on Stock show is rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ back to town with new offerings, old favorites
Posted in Uncategorized