Daily Archives: October 7, 2015

Anaplasmosis in Beef Cattle

Anaplasmosis in Beef Cattle

Dee Whittier, D.V.M., M.S., Nancy Currin, D.V.M., John F. Currin, D.V.M

Virginia Tech

Editor’s Note: We have just received reports of anaplasmosis in several southern Indiana beef herds. The publication in this link does an excellent job of describing the disease, what causes it, how to minimize exposure risk, and how it can be treated. Dr. Ron Lemenager

Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease of cattle caused by several species of the blood parasite Anaplasma. A. marginale is the most common pathogen of cattle. Anaplasmosis is also called “yellow bag” or “yellow fever” as affected animals can develop a jaundiced appearance.

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Body conditioning scores key to beef profits

Body conditioning scores key to beef profits

Johnny Morgan

Delta Farm Press

“We’re trying to hit the middle of the scale at a 5 for the mature cow herd or 6 for replacement heifers,” Holmes said. “We have excellent forages here, so we are able to stay in the 5 range pretty easily.”

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Nearly a million cattle still roam, yet they’re fewer, but bigger, than 1964

Nearly a million cattle still roam, yet they’re fewer, but bigger, than 1964

Tom Tracey

Verde Independent

Andy Groseta is a third-generation rancher, a living icon of the American West that some feel is fading like a desert sunset. Folks growing up in the Verde Valley may have seen Groseta on horseback, riding on his family’s ranch, located between Cottonwood and Camp Verde.

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Bull shot and killed on K-State campus

Bull shot and killed on K-State campus

Topeka Capital Journal

According to the K-State Police Department’s Facebook page, a bull was found to have been shot and killed on the campus’ Purebreed Beef Unit. According to K-State’s website, the unit raises almost 3,000 cows each year. The program provides students with breeding, feeding and management knowledge. Cattle raised in the program have also been used for cloning technology and DNA marker research.

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Minerals subjected to winter and spring weather may shortchange your cow

Minerals subjected to winter and spring weather may shortchange your cow

Morning AG Clips

More than 75 percent of fetal growth occurs in the last trimester,[1] due in part to the rapid growth of a calf’s tissues. For many beef producers the period of rapid development also coincides with extremely variable weather conditions that often include rain, wind, sleet and snow. These conditions not only put a drain on cows’ energy stores, but may also have adverse effects on the quality of your mineral sources, says Greg Eckerle, Ph.D., beef technical consultant with Purina Animal Nutrition.

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Record carcass weights strain market weakness

Record carcass weights strain market weakness

Wes Ishmael

BEEF

There are too many heavy cattle yet to come to town—a bubble of excess tonnage forged by record-heavy carcass weights and decreasing currentness in marketing.

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Winter Feed Math

Winter Feed Math

Victor Shelton

On Pasture

Days are shorter and heat units waning, so in most areas, good growth days, even if we get some adequate rain, could be limited. That means that we need a plan for taking our livestock through the winter.

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Selecting the right bull for your commercial herd

Selecting the right bull for your commercial herd

Robert Fears

The Eagle

A common practice for many small or part-time ranchers is to maintain a herd of commercial cows and breed them to purebred bulls. The tough decision is what type of bulls to buy.

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Anne Burkholder shares her experiences as Nebraska feedyard operator

Anne Burkholder shares her experiences as Nebraska feedyard operator

Blair Fannin

Angus Beef Bulletin Extra

Anne Burkholder, Nebraska feedyard operator and author of the Feed Yard Foodie blog, says cattle producers should tell their story and become more transparent in developing relationships with consumers.

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Registration Open for 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show

Registration Open for 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show

Registration and housing for the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show opens today. The 118th Annual Convention will be held in San Diego, Calif., Jan. 27-29, 2016. Advanced registration is open until Jan. 4, 2016. Convention participants will hear from industry leaders, gather insight on industry trends, enjoy an evening of stars and stripes on the USS Midway and this year’s Cowboy Concert Series will feature Martina McBride. NCBA President Philip Ellis said this convention is a must for everyone involved in the cattle industry.

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