Baxter Black, DVM: Public Signs

Baxter Black, DVM:  Public Signs

Public signs and announcements are often unclear. Hidden meanings lurk beneath even the simplest directive.

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Preconditioning Options Abound

Preconditioning Options Abound

John Maday

Drovers

Recognizing that verifiable health programs add value to feeder cattle, numerous animal-health companies, cattlemen’s associations, auction barns, seedstock producers and others offer marketing programs for qualified preconditioned cattle.  These programs help link producers who invest in proven health protocols with buyers who recognize the positive impact those protocols have on feedyard performance and carcass value.

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Prepare to avoid heat stress on cattle

Prepare to avoid heat stress on cattle

Tom Steever

Brownfield Network

As temperatures begin to warm, livestock producers need to be prepared to help animals avoid heat stress.  South Dakota State University cow-calf specialist Warren Rusche tells Brownfield Ag News that the risk of animals being harmed by the heat depends on the kind of cattle that are in the lot.

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Gut Health First

Gut Health First

Heather Smith Thomas

Angus Beef Bulletin Extra

The veterinary feed directive (VFD) will become effective in December 2016. At that point, any cattle producers who plan to add antibiotics to feed or water will need to have a veterinarian’s authorization to do so, and these antibiotics can only be used for the purpose of disease treatment or prevention rather than for growth promotion.

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Conference to highlight silage use in beef operations

Conference to highlight silage use in beef operations

Iowa Farmer Today

An abundance of new information on an age-old feed has led Extension specialists from Iowa State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln to offer a one-day conference for cattle producers, nutrition consultants and Extension personnel.Galen Erickson, beef feedlot Extension specialist with UNL, said the June 17 Silage for Beef Cattle Conference will capitalize on the resurgence of silage in beef diets.

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Feeding Whole Cottonseed

Feeding Whole Cottonseed

Dr. Ken McMillan

DTN/The Progressive Farmer

I love whole cottonseed (WCS), but there are definitely some issues with it that need consideration.  To answer your question, I started by checking with several equine experts. What do they think about feeding WCS to horses? Some felt the small amounts you are talking about would probably be safe for mature horses, but no one actually advised feeding it to them.

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A current update on baleage technology

A current update on baleage technology

Gonzalo Ferreira

Progressive Forage Grower

Last March, Dr. Wayne Coblentz, a forage scientist from the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center, updated us about baleage technology during the Virginia Tech 2016 Area Dairy Conference.

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