Cattlemen should prepare for leaner times
Kay Ledbetter
Southwest Farm Press
Cow-calf producers have made money in recent years, but now they need to be “steeling” themselves for what’s to come. Dr. Ted McCollum, Texas AgriLife Extension beef specialist in Amarillo, speaking at the recent Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show, said steeling as a verb means “to prepare oneself for something difficult or unpleasant.”
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Test forages for quality.
Rick Rasby
Angus Beef Bulleting Extra
All the rain received this spring in some areas was really appreciated and made for a good grazing season. In some cases it was a challenge to get hay in the bale without a lot of rain on it while in the windrow, and this reduces quality. Some producers waited for a “window of opportunity” to windrow and bale the hay. As forages mature, digestibility decreases because of the increase in fiber.
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Did Christmas come early for the cattle market?
Wes Ishmael
BEEF
Whether or not this week ends up marking the turning point to the seemingly endless price decline since summer, there’s no questioning recent signs of life. Cattle futures were mostly limit up last Friday and then again on Monday with expanded limits.
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Preventing calf scours
Leann Martin
News Democrat Leader
“Neonatal” calf diarrhea is defined as scours when it occurs within the first three weeks of a calf’s life. Bacteria, viruses and parasites can attack the lining of the calf’s intestine and cause diarrhea. The decrease in absorption of essential nutrients from milk leads to weight loss and dehydration. If the disease level is severe, calves often die, but even calves that survive will perform poorly for the remainder of their lives when compared to healthy calves.
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Feeding Whole Cottonseed
Dr. Ken McMillan
DTN/The Progressive Farmer
The main problem with whole cottonseed is that it contains gossypol, which is toxic to animals. The level of gossypol varies by cotton variety, as well as by growing season. Non-ruminants, such as swine, chickens and horses, are more susceptible to gossypol poisoning because they don’t have a rumen to detoxify it.
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Lower-cost option for sex-sorted semen
John Maday
Bovine Veterinarian
Researchers at Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) report they have developed a novel technology for sorting semen to produce offspring of the desired sex through artificial insemination, according to an article from everythinglubbock.com.
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Bedwell Named Hereford COO and Director of Breed Improvement
SouthernLivestock.com
Shane Bedwell has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Director of Breed Improvement of the American Hereford Association (AHA). In this role, Shane will lead the AHA performance department and oversee the National Reference Sire Program (NRSP) and Whole Herd Total Performance Records (TPR) program.
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