BeefTalk: The Right Bulls Produce the Right Calves

BeefTalk: The Right Bulls Produce the Right Calves

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

What is important is to look at the numbers and find a bull that will work within your herd.

The discussion when to breed cows has to end eventually. Spring and breeding time is here at the Dickinson Research Extension Center.

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In the eyes of the judges

In the eyes of the judges

STEPHANIE FARLEY

Garden City Telegram

It might have appeared to someone not paying much attention Wednesday that Marcine Moldenhauer was just standing in a pen full of cattle.

Look a little closer, though, and one could see Moldenhauer’s eyes moving from one steer to another, and then her eyes judging cattle in the heifer category as Moldenhauer judged the 41st annual Live Show Wednesday.

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Farm Bureau urges more comment on costly EPA rule

Farm Bureau urges more comment on costly EPA rule

Suntimes News

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to use the Federal Clean Air Act to implement a non-conclusive finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and welfare. Missouri Farm Bureau President Charles Kruse sent a letter to Missouri’s Congressional Delegation asking them to urge EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to extend the public comment period another 60 days beyond June 23rd.

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Are UFOs responsible for cattle mutilations?

Are UFOs responsible for cattle mutilations?

Fred Spriggs

webstercountycitizen.com

Although we’ve yet to receive any reports of cattle mutilations in Webster County, a couple of recent macabre crimes in both Wright and Douglas counties have been brought to my attention.

On Friday, I was making an ad call at See-More Auto Sales with Derek Terry when Raymond Wilson told me about a friend of his in Wright County who had a cow mutilated.

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Delta Fair/Mid-South Fair will fill livestock void as big show relocates

Delta Fair/Mid-South Fair will fill livestock void as big show relocates

Linda Moore

Memphis Commercial Appeal

For city people, the cattle, sheep and pigs at regional and state fairs offer a simple look at rural life.

But to the young people who raise, groom and breed those animals, competing in local fairs increases the animals’ value and helps them potentially earn money for college.

The Mid-South Fair was for 152 years the place area youths went to show. But its transition status in Southaven this year means no livestock competitions.

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Spring pastures can be deadly

Spring pastures can be deadly

TERRI ADAMS

The Prairie Star

The sight of new green grass in spring pastures is a welcome one but it can also be a deadly one. Grass tetany, also known as staggers or pasture poisoning, is fatal in 30 percent or more of untreated cases. Every year cattlemen in Montana and Wyoming lose livestock to tetany. Dr. Donal O’Tooele, a professor of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Wyoming, admits “we don’t see all the cases that are out there since many producers know the clinical signs.”

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Post Protocols To Improve Consistency Of Calf Health

Post Protocols To Improve Consistency Of Calf Health

cattlenetwork.com

Despite efforts by many dairy producers to refine their management practices for newborn calves there is still room for improvement. The most critical factor is feeding colostrums. This important management practice continues to be a constant challenge to attain consistent colostral passive immunity transfer to calves within the first 24 hours after birth.

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Calf Vaccination Guidelines

Calf Vaccination Guidelines

John Wenzel, Clay P. Mathis, Boone Carter, New Mexico State University

 Calf vaccination is an important part of every herd health program. An effective vaccination protocol can be developed to fit most operation and management approaches. This guide describes three calf vaccination approaches that have been successfully implementedin cow-calf operations in New Mexico. However, producers should consult with their local veterinarian to design a vaccination program that fits their particular operation.

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Vilsack supports livestock tracking to help trade

Vilsack supports livestock tracking to help trade

Gregory A. Hall

Louisville Courier Journal

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a group of Kentucky farmers yesterday that he supports a controversial livestock tracking system that some producers fear will be made mandatory.

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VA Livestock Producers Part of Federal Survey

VA Livestock Producers Part of Federal Survey

WHSV

Cattle, sheep and goat producers in Virginia will be surveyed in July as part of a national livestock inventory.

Herman Ellison with the National Agricultural Statistics Service says about 150 cattle producers and nearly 100 sheep and goat producers in Virginia will be contacted.

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Montana Range Days teaches rangeland importance to youth, adults

Montana Range Days teaches rangeland importance to youth, adults

Prairie Star

More than 300 youth and adults learned the ins and outs of Montana’s No. One resource – range – during annual Montana Range Days conducted on the historic Graham Ranch located near Conrad, Mont.

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County resident Charles Hatcher named state veterinarian

County resident Charles Hatcher named state veterinarian

The Tennessean

Charles Hatcher, co-owner of Hatcher Family Dairy on Arno Road, was named state veterinarian today by Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens.

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Hereford genetics popular with young cattle producers

Hereford genetics popular with young cattle producers

Lura Roti

The Cattle Business Weekly

Economics have always driven the genetic decisions made on the Wiese and Sons Hereford operation in Manning, Iowa. Gene Wiese, 78, says that’s what has sustained the Hereford operation his grandpa, Ed began in 1912.

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Advice for Stresses Herds

Advice for Stresses Herds

WHITNEY PANDIL-EATON

Minot Daily News

For producers this year, as with many, troubles seem to start and end each new endeavor.

Snowstorms and frigid temperatures throughout the winter caused many to become dangerously low on feed. Early spring snowstorms greeted producers in the beginning of their calving season and flooding saw them through until the end. Late spring saw cool temperatures and damp conditions that delayed grass growth on grazingland and stunted nature’s ability to get rid of excess water on the land.

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AngusSource adds value and builds buyer demand

AngusSource adds value and builds buyer demand

Southwest Farm Press

Like commercial producers everywhere, Teresa and Doug Mondani, who ranch near Ione, Calif., have been looking for ways to capture more dollars from their cattle so they can remain competitive during these tough economic times.

So back in 2005, the Mondanis enrolled their calves in AngusSource, an industry-leading, process-verified program developed by American Angus Association that verifies the age, source and genetics of their calves.

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Video Feature: State of the Beef Cattle Industry: Quality Considerations

Video Feature:  State of the Beef Cattle Industry: Quality Considerations

NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen

Lee Leachman discusses why quality and added value programs are important to the beef cattle industry during these tough economic times.  Our experts have tips on how producers can work to improve their bottomline.

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Search committee announces final candidates for dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Search committee announces final candidates for dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Mark Owczarski

The search committee for the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, chaired by Senior Vice President and Provost Mark McNamee, announces three final candidates selected from a deep applicant pool.

Each candidate will visit the Blacksburg campus for two days and meet in Richmond with external stakeholders at the Virginia Farm Bureau headquarters. An open forum will be held at each location.

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Feeding Beef Cows Based on Body Condition Scores

Feeding Beef Cows Based on Body Condition Scores

Shane Gadberry, Ph.D. Extension Livestock Specialist, University of Arkansas

The amount and type of supplementation required for satisfactory performance in beef herds is greatly influenced by the body condition or body reserves, both protein and fat, of the cattle.

To optimize performance, body condition scores of cows should fall within a range of 5 to 7 (optimum condition) at the initiation of the calving season and remain in this range throughout the breeding season.

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Q&A: Can a person run into problems feeding too much distillers?

Q&A:  Can a person run into problems feeding too much distillers?

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

A:   We do not routinely run rations because we would need to know much more information. For example, I would need to know all possible ingredients available, their nutrient composition (we could get close on this), but most importantly, the cost of these ingredients. In the case of backgrounding calves, it is also very important to know what type of performance you would like to have (mainly ADG for backgrounding calves).

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Who is SDSU’s next Dean?

Who is SDSU’s next Dean?

The Cattle Business Weekly

Two finalists have been named in the search for the next dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University.

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