What Cowmen Want

What Cowmen Want

Troy Smith

Angus Journal

What do commercial cowmen really want from a seedstock supplier? Oh sure, they want bulls chock-full of “good genetics.” Admittedly, there are people only interested in a “cow freshener.” But most conscientious commercial producers can, with a little effort, identify sources of the genetics they seek. Often, a producer can find several different breeders offering bulls that represent a desired genetic package. How does that producer choose from whom to buy?

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AgriLife Extension seeks to make good cattle operations better through SPA program

AgriLife Extension seeks to make good cattle operations better through SPA program

“The Standardized Performance Analysis or ‘SPA’ program measures individual operations and compares them to a pool of similar operations,” said William Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist at San Angelo. “The idea is to help producers improve their operations with a hard dollars-and-cents approach and by learning from others’ experiences.”

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BeefTalk: The Tag Takes a Team

BeefTalk: The Tag Takes a Team

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Sale Summaries Sale Summaries

It takes a team and everyone on that team must be on the same page.

News of an animal identification system seems to be slowly, but methodically, percolating through the newws again. News is ongoing and quite competitive in a strange way, so getting some space is always significant.
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False Assumptions Don’t Settle Cows

Mel DeJarnette, reproductive specialist, Select Sires

Remember the last time an assumption got you in trouble? I wish I had a nickel for every time that I had heard (or said myself) the phrase, “I’m sorry, but I assumed that you”. As a great theologian (my boss, Clif Marshall) once said, “To ass-u-me is to make a four-legged beast of burden out of you and me.”

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Rush Limbaugh Deceived by Humane Society in New Ad

Wesley J. Smith

Opposing Views

HSUS is masterful in masking its true animal rights ideological agenda. Now, it has scored a real coup: Rush Limbaugh has tooted his considerable horn in praise of HSUS.

Rush is right that dog fighting is wrong and shelter dogs need to be adopted. But HSUS runs no shelters. It pushes the animal rights agenda by bringing lawsuits against animal industries and seeks to bring an end to activities such as hunting, meat, and research via the death of a thousand cuts.

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Purdue Workshop Spotlights Reproductive Efficiency

Thebeefsite.com

Beef producers who are considering using an estrous synchronization and artificial insemination program will have an opportunity to learn how the Purdue University farms manage cattle in these programs during a two-part workshop at three Indiana locations.

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Self-fed Supplements for Range Cattle

Self-fed Supplements for Range Cattle

John Paterson, Extension Beef Specialist, Montana State University

During the late summer and early fall months, range grasses are deficient in both crude protein and energy for cows in lactation. Because of limited forage quantity and (or) quality, supplemental feeding of protein-energy, minerals and vitamins is practiced by the producer. Nationally, the USDA estimated that ninety four percent of cattle producers utilized pasture or crop residues, while 83% fed hay from November to March and, 49% provided supplements.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Coccidiosis?

cattlenetwork.com

The severity of disease depends on several factors, including the number of eggs eaten, the species of coccidia present, and the age and condition of the animal. The symptoms usually include diarrhea varying in severity from watery manure to containing blood. Dehydration, weight loss, depression, loss of appetite and occasionally death may also occur. Even less severe infection, where there are no signs of the disease, may affect the growth and health of an animal.

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Q&A: Would pelletizing corn screenings help reduce the risk of feedlot bloat and increase the percentage allowable in a ration?

Dr. Terry Mader, Professor of Animal Science, Northeast Research and Extension Center

A: Pelleting will likely not effect the bloat potential of a feed but will decrease bulk and enhance feed intake, which would allow them to be fed at higher levels.

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USDA Still Asking Questions About Animal Identification

USDA Still Asking Questions About Animal Identification

Hoosier AG Today

  Wednesday in Washington, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a roundtable discussion with a variety of stakeholders on the National Animal Identification System. The event kicks off a listening tour to gather feedback and input that will assist the Secretary in making decisions about the future direction of animal identification and traceability in the United States. USDA not only heard stakeholders concerns but potential or feasible solutions to those concerns.

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BVDV Type 1 &; 2 Infections

cattlenetwork.com

Despite the devastating outbreaks caused by emerging type 2 BVDV in dairy and veal cattle, not much is known about acute type 2 BVDV infections in beef cattle. In recent years, type 2 BVDV has been isolated from beef cattle with mucosal disease, and serological studies have demonstrated the appearance of antibodies to type 1 and type 2 viruses in feedlot cattle (J. van den Hurk, unpublished data). The impact of acute type 2 BVDV infections on beef cattle seems to be much lower than on dairy cattle.

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Feeding Carrots and Sugar Beets to Cattle

 

Steven Rust and Dan Buskirk, Michigan State University

Root crops such as carrots and sugar beets can be fed to beef cattle. The nutrient contents are shown in Table 1. Root crops can have ash contents greater than listed in the table due to soil contamination. Long term storage may be a problem with root crops.

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Here is where we stand

Cattle Business Weekly

World ag supply numbers available

Last Thursday, the USDA released its latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report.

Wheat

U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2008/09 are projected to be 16-million bushels lower this month as a 5-million bushel increase in imports are more than offset by higher projected domestic use.

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Ag Secretary Vilsack Seeking Dialogue on NAIS

Ag Secretary Vilsack Seeking Dialogue on NAIS

Thebeefsite.com

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack yesterday held a roundtable discussion with a variety of stakeholders representing the full spectrum of views on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

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Eliminate Weeds to Improve Pastures

 

W. Kenneth Kelly, Anthony G. Wiggins

Cattle Today

Webster’s dictionary defines a weed as “a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially: one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.” This is especially true in pasture and hayfield situations. Weeds are plants that compete with desirable forages for sunlight, water, nutrients, and space, thereby reducing yield.

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Video Feature: Body Condition Scoring Beef Cattle

Video Feature:  Body Condition Scoring Beef Cattle

A short video clip of the method used for body condition scoring beef cattle

Rush Limbaugh Records Audio Spots for The HSUS

Rush Limbaugh Records Audio Spots for The HSUS

HSUS

Rush Limbaugh has recorded two statements of support for The Humane Society of the United States and its work to protect animals from cruelty and abuse: The first spot is on our partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the country to crack down on organized dogfighting and other animal cruelty crimes.

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Consider castration

Consider castration

Bob Larson

Angus Journal

Castration is one of the oldest and most common surgical procedures done on beef cattle. The reasons that bulls are castrated include controlling which males are allowed to breed females, to produce animals that are easier to manage due to decreased aggressive and sexual behavior, and to produce a carcass that is higher in quality.

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Conference Addresses Antibiotics in Food Chain

Conference Addresses Antibiotics in Food Chain

Thebeefsite.com

USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service recently co-hosted a conference to address the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant microbes in the food chain, which is becoming a global food safety and public health concern.

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Well Managed Ranch Horses Get the Job Done

Well Managed Ranch Horses Get the Job Done

Clifford Mitchell

Cattle Today

Many have idolized John Wayne and given him the “Ultimate Cowboy” title. The swagger, the stellar walk and confident voice give off a romantic glow of a lifestyle that is anything but a Hollywood movie. Besides the cast of supporting actors, most of these films had something else in common, good looking horses.

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