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Beef Production Newsletter Available by Mail or Online A monthly beef cattle production newsletter written by Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, is available to producers and others involved in supporting the beef industry in southwest Missouri. The letter contains a list of coming events, research items related to beef and forage production and practical ideas from cattlemen. In addition, reports on events such as the Missouri Steer Feedout, Show-Me-Select program and performance tested bull sales are featured when timely. “I try to keep the newsletter personal and easy to read,” said Cole. “Over the years, the letter has proven to be a popular way to communicate to farmers.” There is no charge for being on the mailing list. Those with Internet access may subscribe to the e-mailed version. The names and addresses are only used by the extension center for educational mailings. To receive the letter, call (417) 466-3102, e-mail Cole at colee@missouri.edu, or fill out the newsletter survey at http://extension.missouri.edu/lawrence/lawrencecosurvey.asp.
The newsletter
is also posted on the Lawrence County Extension
Center website at
http://extension.missouri.edu/lawrence/Lawrence/beef_newsletter/beef%20news.html. Corn Stover for Cattle Seldom Used to its Best Advantage The last two years have seen an increase in the number of acres planted to corn in southwest Missouri according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “This was prompted by the upturn in corn prices and the opportunity to use the valuable corn crop as a smother crop in the endophyte-infected fescue fields conversion to another variety of pasture or hay,” said Cole. A portion of the corn will be harvested as silage. However, estimates indicate 70 percent will be harvested as grain. This latter acreage has the potential to provide several thousand acres of economical grazing in each county. “Stalk fields are used very effectively in ‘corn country,’ but in this part of Missouri it is not used to its best advantage,” said Cole. The corn stover remaining in the harvested field consists of corn grain, husks, leaves and stalks. Cattle consume them pretty much in that order. Estimates show a 140-bushel per acre corn yield produces roughly four tons of stover. Even with good grazing management techniques, such as getting on the field soon after harvest and strip grazing, only 30 percent of the stover will be consumed. The remaining material provides ground cover and organic matter to return to the soil. “When the corn fields are fenced and water is available they present a good opportunity to salvage some feed. If grazing begins soon after grain harvest, weaned calves or yearlings should be placed on the stover so they have access to the highest quality feed,” said Cole. Later in the fall, after the stover loses quality, dry cows can finish up the remaining material. Cole says it is difficult to estimate the nutrient content of the stover, but the protein will be low, 5 percent or so, and the percent TDN (total digestible nutrients) will be near that of average grass hay in the mid- to upper-50’s. “If the corn field is near a fescue field or small grain field and the cattle graze both, supplemental protein may not be necessary. Alfalfa hay can be provided as a protein source,” said Cole. Baling the stover can be done in years of short hay supplies. However, in 2008 an abundance of hay and the expense of baling makes it less attractive than grazing. Cole says that rarely is there enough grain left in the field to create concern about founder. Once in a while in wet years, high nitrate levels may be found in the sprouted grain residue and this can cause reduced gains, even death. “Cattle owners who did not have corn this year may want to check with neighbors who will have corn stover to graze about renting it for a few months. It could be a good deal for both parties,” said Cole.
Taste
Wins Among
Members of the Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association were willing participants in a taste test at a meeting Sept. 4 in Mt. Vernon. The test was between grass finished beef and conventional Choice beef. The strip loins used in the taste test were cut to one-inch thickness by Terry Shively at ALPS Super Market in Mt. Vernon. The resulting strip steaks were then cut in half so each person would have one-half steak from each source. Grilling of the steaks was handled by Jim and Jason McCann, Miller and Rod Lewis, Stotts City. Identification of which steaks came from which source was not known by any of the taste test participants and cooking and seasoning was the same on each. During the meal, members were instructed by Dr. Bryon Wiegand, associate professor of meat science at the University of Missouri, about the scoring system to be used in the steak evaluation. Participants rated each steak for tenderness, juiciness and flavor on a scale of one to five, with one being the least and five the most desirable for each attribute. Seventy-four usable surveys were returned. Wiegand, assisted by Mary Lou McCann, computed the results so they could be revealed during the meeting. Survey averages for the conventional Choice beef was 3.96 for tenderness, 3.88 for juiciness and 4.05 for flavor. The grass-fed beef averaged 3.40 for tenderness, 3.34 for juiciness and 3.34 for flavor. “A statistical analysis of these values showed there really was no difference in the various traits of the steaks with this audience,” said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Most of the audience agreed that they could not tell which was the grass-finished beef. Most also said the grass-finished beef rated better than they had anticipated. The grass-finished or grass-fed beef, as some call it, was purchased from U.S. Wellness Meats of Monticello. John Wood represented that firm at the meeting and spoke about how difficult it has been to establish a niche market. “The average consumer for U.S. Wellness Meats resides east of the Appalachians and west of the Rockies and are wealthy,” said Wood. “Many of our buyers purchase the grass-fed beef for health reasons and may not have even been meat eaters prior to trying this product.” According to Wood, the preferred genetics at U.S. Wellness Meats are British bred cattle like Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn and British Whites. The company prefers medium frame size with a carcass weight around 700 pounds. Most are harvested before they reach 24 months of age. As for forages used in their program, Wood says U.S. Wellness Meats likes to use annual ryegrass and orchard grass with legume mixes. During non-grazing periods, haylage works well. The beef is also typically wet-aged for 30 days or more to enhance the tenderness. “The bottom line is that niche markets like the grass-fed one, attract a different audience than conventional beef. From a beef industry standpoint it’s important to move beef regardless of how it’s raised,” said Cole. Grain Stretches Limited Hay Supply Feeding grain with limited hay may not keep cows happy, but it will get them through the winter according to Gary Naylor, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “A decade of below average rainfall, combined with winter storms and frigid temperatures, have left many beef producers with less hay than needed until green grass is here,” said Naylor. Limited rainfall and the farmer’s decision to not purchase record high fertilizer have also limited the supply of hay this year according to Naylor. “Cattle producers are faced with tough decisions, but the first step would be to get rid of nonproductive, open cows. There are always a few cows that can be culled to make more feed available for the productive ones,” said Naylor. The next step for producers that need to stretch their hay supply is to estimate the size of their bales, the weight of their cows and calves and the remaining days of feeding. “The rule-of-thumb for feeding hay is that a cow will eat 2.5 pounds of hay per one hundred pounds of body weight. A 1,000 pound cow will eat about 25 pounds of hay per day,” said Naylor. Cows can get by on half the hay fed normally, according to Naylor, but the protein and energy must be made up with grain or grain by-products. “This 1,000 pound cow in late gestation needs two pounds of protein and eleven pounds of total digestible nutrients (TDN) per day to stay healthy and produce a quality calf at birth,” said Naylor. Naylor calculates that 13 pounds of nine percent protein hay that tests 50 percent TDN and six pounds of a 15 percent protein grain ration would meet the cow’s minimum nutritional requirements. “The grain would cost about 50 cents per day while additional hay could cost as much as 65 to 70 cents, making it cheaper to feed limited hay and more of a grain mix,” said Naylor. Dried distillers grains, a by-product of the ethanol industry and soyhulls, are a good source of reasonably priced and high quality protein and energy according to Naylor. Cattle Can’t Shake Salt on Their Food but they Like and Need it Salt, which is made up of sodium and chlorine, plays an important nutritional role in the diet of cattle according to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. But intake levels can vary just like the methods of getting salt in the cattle. “Cattle like salt just like some people like salt. But in a herd of cattle you’ll likely find extremes on intake. Some eat a lot while others may seldom touch it,” said Cole. Most forages contain ample amounts of chlorine, but most species of grasses tend to be short or borderline on sodium according to Cole. Legumes usually contain sufficient sodium to meet the needs of both the cow and stocker animal. “As a rule, mature beef cattle need one ounce or less a day of salt. Research has shown the ounce can be obtained sufficiently either from a block or as loose salt,” said Cole. Salt was one of the original items to add convenience to cattle feeding. When added to protein or concentrate feeds at varying amounts, the intake levels can be controlled. “You could put out several days worth of supplement and the animals would be expected to have a uniform, daily intake of the feed. Other feed ingredients are now being used that help control intake, but salt still works,” said Cole. Cattle normally voluntarily consume about 0.1 pound of salt per 100 pounds of body weight. A 1,200 pound cow would eat about 1.2 pounds of salt each day when mixed with a palatable concentrate. The salt used should be plain white salt without other minerals in it. Cole says one frequent question is whether or not this high salt intake will cause problems to the animal or even to the pasture (where the urine is excreted). “The answer is, it doesn’t seem to, so long as the cow or yearling has ample water available. Research and producer observations have not come up with any effect on fertility, calf crop percentage, weaning weight or animal appearance from high salt intakes,” said Cole. Using salt to control intake is not perfect and intake levels need to be monitored closely, especially when first introduced to cattle according to Cole. Overeating sometimes can occur or some animals may refuse to eat expected amounts. Other drawbacks to using salt to limit intake is it is corrosive to metal storage bins, feeders and farm vehicles. “Plus, any type of self-feeding tends to make cattle a bit more nervous compared to seeing them daily when you put feed in a bunk for them,” said Cole. Blending the salt in with some forms of supplement doesn’t work very well according to Cole and poor distribution, thus erratic intakes, may also result
Strip Grazing Can Extend Forage
Many livestock producers have been sweating bullets this summer anticipating short hay supplies this winter. In some cases, cow herds have already been reduced because hay supplies are shorter than usual and the anticipated cost of hay is expected to increase. “For those who are concerned, but would rather hold onto cows, one of the best options is to do more controlled grazing on pastures as we go into the winter months,” said Tim Schnakenberg, rural development and agriculture specialist, University of Missouri Extension. There are many elaborate systems that can be adopted on livestock farms today. With the availability of cost-share programs, the expense can be offset to make them more doable. Management-intensive Grazing systems are set up with numerous paddocks that provide water in each paddock for efficient and convenient grazing. “This creates the opportunity to more than double the grazing efficiency on a farm, essentially doubling the forage resources available. That can pay for a lot of hay,” said Schnakenberg. If it rains in September, the potential for fertilized stockpiled fescue to provide the necessary feed for cattle becomes more likely. “The first thing to do to make this a reality is to close existing gates to fescue pastures on the farm and keep them closed until late fall or early winter. This saves this resource for when you need it the most,” said Schnakenberg. To further increase pasture efficiency in stockpiled fields without spending a lot of money, Schnakenberg encourages producers to use strip grazing methods with high-tensile electric fence. This involves running an electrified high-tensile wire from the water source through the middle of a pasture using t-posts or fiberglass posts set 40 to 150 feet apart, depending on terrain. The hot wire can be powered by electricity, a rechargeable car battery or by a solar unit. A wire gate at the water source can be used to shut off one side of the paddock from the other. Once this high-tensile wire is in place, a reel with polywire can be run from the high-tensile wire dividing the field to the permanent fence on either side using an occasional step-in post for support. Schnakenberg says this polywire can be used on either side of the divided pasture and gradually moved further from the water source to make more pasture available as needed. He advises keeping livestock within 800 feet of water at all times for greatest pasture efficiency. “Better grazing systems can be developed but this system is a good start and will greatly improve the forage utilization in a pasture. Producers using this strip grazing system find that it doesn’t take much time to move the polywire every few days as needed,” said Schnakenberg.
Dry Weather Has Some Farmers Cutting Soybeans for Hay
Dry weather conditions have some Missouri farmers harvesting drought stressed soybeans for hay according to Jay Chism, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Barton County. “Many area soybean fields are in the stage of development where pods should be starting to form,” said Chism. “The low soil moisture level in the fields and the lack of any rain in the forecast makes reaching a profitable bean crop questionable, especially on thinner soils. Baling soybeans for much needed forage may be a good option.”
According to Rob Kallenbach, state forage specialist with University of Missouri, soybean hay should be harvested when 50 percent of the pods have immature beans. However, soybeans can be cut for forage at any stage from pod formation until the beans are almost fully developed. “Quality of soybean hay is variable but typically it contains 16 to 19 percent crude protein and 50 to 55 percent TDN if harvested when 50 percent of the pods have immature beans,” says Kallenbach.
Under drought conditions, once leaf drop starts, forage quality will also drop, cautions Chism. “If leaf drop is severe, soybeans probably should not be harvested,” said Chism. “With the conditions we are seeing now, soybean fields will yield two to three tons per acre of hay.” If leaves are dropping off of the plant and no pods have been formed, Chism says yields may be reduced to one ton per acre.
One limitation to harvesting soybeans for hay is that few herbicides are cleared for use on soybeans as a forage. Be sure to check all herbicide labels that were used on the soybean crop.
Roundup ready soybeans treated with Roundup can be harvested for hay or silage in most cases. “Restrictions on herbicide labels change frequently; read the label of any herbicide that has been applied to soybeans before harvesting as a forage,” said Chism.
Winter Annuals Can Reduce Winter Feed Costs
Dry weather and higher hay costs are making many livestock producers think about using a winter annual (like cereal rye, wheat or annual ryegrass) to supplement pastures this winter. “The use of winter annual forages can add to the availability of quality feed for cattle over the winter months, leading to reduced feed costs,” said Tim Schnakenberg, agriculture and rural development specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Stone County.
According to Schnakenberg, cereal rye can provide a larger amount of forage in the fall than wheat and ryegrass, though the cost of growing wheat may be less expensive. Wheat can provide more early spring forage. “Annual ryegrass typically provides the most forage of the three and its availability can extend further into the spring and early summer next year. It also has a tendency to reseed itself, if allowed, and it is more tolerant of poor soils than the cereals,” said Schnakenberg.
Another common question is whether or not this practice will pay off if done using no-tilling directly into a fescue pasture. Schnakenberg says if the fescue stand is still strong and thick, the payoff from this practice may not be good. “If dry weather continues in the fall, the growth from both the winter annual and the fescue will be minimal. If we have good growing conditions, the fescue will take off and grow by October and will directly compete with the winter annual,” said Schnakenberg.
In fact, university research has shown this to be the case. There is potential for the practice to pay if the fescue stand is minimal and full of crabgrass. It is especially helpful if a herbicide is used to kill off or stunt the current vegetation first. “The best approach is to establish winter annuals into a killed field or a warm-season grass pasture like Bermuda grass. Producers are better off fertilizing fescue pasture now and using it solely as stockpiled forage this winter,” said Schnakenberg.
Farmers interested in wheat or rye can establish them with a no-till drill as early as the last week of August through mid-October. The earlier dates are better for forage use. Wheat or rye can be sowed at rates of 90 to 120 pounds per acre. Schnakenberg says annual ryegrass can be sowed starting in late August and should be completed by mid-September. Recommended planting is 20 to 30 pounds per acre.
Pasture should be grazed extensively or cut low before no-tilling with clover. This will allow sunlight to germinate clover seeds and the new clover plant to develop a root system before freezing weather. “There is another advantage in seeding in the fall, lack of weed competition. There are many weeds that are a concern in the spring and early summer, but offer little competition in a fall establishment of grass,” said Hobbs.
The recent increase of
cattle thefts have caused cattle producers to ask questions
about branding cattle and the Missouri brand law. Eldon
Cole, livestock specialist for University Missouri
Extension, says branding is probably as good a deterrent to
rustlers as locked gates and neighborhood watches.
“Missouri has a brand law and about 5,000 brands have been
recorded. But really, that’s just a drop-in-the-bucket when
you consider there’s over 60,000 beef operations statewide,”
said Cole. The brand, if clearly legible, does seem to make thieves to think twice about stealing those animals. According to the state law, slaughter houses and markets that receive branded animals must keep a record of the number of animals received, date received and the name and address of the seller, along with a copy of the brand, for at least two years,” said Cole. Branding does require a bit of skill and a reasonable brand design according to Cole. He also recommends the use of an electric iron as the temperature is more uniform and should give a more readable brand than a fire brand. “Freeze brands tend to be more time-consuming to apply and many of them lack clarity, especially on light colored animals,” said Cole. If you want more information on Missouri’s branding law, or if you want to look through the brand registration book, contact Al Decker, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialists in Bates County. 660-679-4167 Each county recorder should also have a copy of the brand book.
Study Proves Cattle Temperament The “calmer the better” now appears to also apply to cattle according to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist, University of Missouri Extension. Based on data from over 13,000 head of feeder cattle fed in the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity in southwest Iowa, gentler, calmer cattle had a per head profit of $62 more than wilder, more aggressive herd mates. The $62 figure was arrived at when daily gains, feed conversion, death loss and carcass grade differences were calculated. “Included in the 13,000 head studied were a number of Missouri calves that were a part of the Steer Feedout program,” said Cole. To rate each animal on temperament, a six point, subjective score was given each of the four times the cattle were processed at the lot. Cattle receiving a “one” score are considered docile, gentle and handle quietly. At the other extreme, with a score of “six,” are cattle with very aggressive and attack behaviors. Of the 13,000 plus head, 72 percent were rated a one or two and for analysis were called “docile.” Twenty-two percent were rated three or four and considered “restless.” The “aggressives” – which made up six percent of the group -- were rated five or six. Daily gain differences between each of the three groups were significant with a range from 3.17 pounds down to 2.91 pounds for the aggressive cattle. Feed to gain differences were similar between the docile and restless cattle, but the aggressive ones required 0.10 to 0.13 more pounds of feed to put on a pound of gain. “Sickness was greatest in the docile cattle, but actual death losses were almost twice as much among the aggressive cattle,” said Cole. As for beef quality, docile cattle had 74 percent in the Choice/Prime grade. The restless cattle had 69 percent in the Choice/Prime grade while the aggressive cattle had only 58 percent in the higher quality rating. Twenty-nine percent of the docile cattle, but only 14.3 percent of the aggressive cattle, reached the popular Certified Angus Beef grade. “Although not a part of this project, other research shows that more excitable cattle have a greater tendency to produce less tender beef and more dark cutting carcasses,” said Cole. Nervous, hard-to-handle cattle are not only less profitable, they also create stress and anxiety among cattle owners and handlers and require stronger facilities. Research into temperament or docility has been done and shows it to be a moderately heritable trait. This means progress can be made by selecting more docile animals. “While genetics obviously plays a role in temperament, management methods can be equally important,” said Cole. Fall Missouri Steer Feedout Proves Value of Genetics The Missouri Steer Feedout for fall-born calves ended Nov. 22 when the last of the 39 steers were harvested in Iowa. The bottom line showed the steers returned an average of $16.90 per head,” said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist, University of Missouri Extension. The calves gained an average of 3.79 pounds per day and the total cost of gain per hundred was $41.11. Profits were scaled back because one steer died, only 54 percent graded Choice, and the initial set-in price was $114. “Freight charges from southwest Missouri to the feedlot and from the lot to the packing plant averaged $37 per head which was higher than in the past,” said Cole. The failure to grade Choice ended up costing about $85 per head since the average price spread between Choice and Select carcasses was $11.13. The average carcass weight of the cattle was 769 pounds.“Marbling or intramuscular fat is one of the factors in cattle attaining the Choice carcass grade. Based on previous feedouts, plus observations by the Iowa State extension specialist who supervises the program, the fall-born cattle typically have a lower percentage Choice,” said Cole. One exception to the failure to reach Choice was a set of six Angus steers that all made low Choice with four of them achieving Certified Angus Beef designation. This was good for an added $6.26 per hundred return. “The steers were all from the same sire which had exceptional intramuscular fat expected progeny differences (EPD) adding support to the fact that genetics do play a role in carcass grades,” said Cole. University of Missouri Extension is your one-stop source for practical education on almost anything. Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of people throughout the state. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to these unbiased resources and programs.
Extremely cold weather, combined with critical stages of pregnancy in many beef cows, requires expert management from cattle producers, says Gary Naylor, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “The first step in evaluating the winter feeding program is to determine the quality of the forage available. The easiest way to do that is with a forage test,” said Naylor. A forage test costs about $15. However, knowing the exact forage analysis will help producers meet the nutrient requirements of the various stages of production in the beef cow. Naylor says even without a forage test to pinpoint protein and energy content, producers can make educated guesses based on the stage of maturity and the amounts of legume in the forage. “Cows in the last one-third of pregnancy require about nine percent protein in their diet. Early cut forages that contain a few legumes most likely will need no supplementation. Cows fed late-cut, mature, forages might need a few pounds of grain daily to keep from losing weight,” he said. Wind-chill factors are important to consider when feeding cattle. Cattle exposed to wind chills near zero degrees Fahrenheit require one-third more energy than at 32 degrees. “They need more hay or supplement during colder weather to meet their energy requirements,” said Naylor. Poor-quality forages also move through the cow’s digestive tract very slowly. When feeding low-quality mature forages, Naylor recommends using both protein and energy supplements to speed up rumen activity and passage through the digestive system. “Winter feeding accounts for the biggest expense in the cow business so producers should be critical of the type of supplement purchases,” said Naylor. “Convenience feeds like cubes, salt mixes, liquid supplements, and blocks are more expensive on a per-unit of protein and energy basis. Grain and grain-byproducts require more labor in feeding but are less costly in meeting the energy and protein requirements of the cow.” Naylor recommends hand feeding because it gives the producer the advantage of closer inspection and management of the cow herd. “Stockpiled fescue provides economical winter feeding of the cow herd. Forage tests of stockpiled fescue show that the protein and energy content are greatly reduced after periods of extremely cold weather. Dry cows in late gestation and cows with calves will need additional supplement to meet their nutritional needs,” said Naylor. According to Naylor, proper management and feeding of the cow herd during critical periods means a healthy set of calves this spring. “Nutrient deficiencies can mean small and weak calves at birth, and cows that will be late in rebreeding in spring and summer,” said Naylor.
Shortages of fall fescue pasture and hay, especially higher quality hay, has increased interest in adding supplements to cattle’s diets according to Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist. “In some years, the need for supplement is there, but the relative cost of feed, compared to the price of feeder cattle, makes the economics of buying much feed questionable,” said Cole. However, Cole says this year -- with $125 per hundred being paid on feeder cattle and corn in the low $2 per bushel range -- supplement is a good buy. "The cost of adding the supplement should be justified when the calf is sold or a thin cow calves and breeds back on time in 2006,” said Cole. The biggest question facing beef producers is which feed is the best buy? Cole says commercial companies all have good feeds, but with different additives and convenience feeding features. This results in different prices which the farmer must allow for during the comparison shopping process. “By-product feeds have become popular among larger producers who can take advantage of trailer-load delivery. There is considerable savings when you can unload and store 22 tons of corn gluten feed versus buying small quantities to feed 12 or 15 calves you’re wintering,” said Cole. Corn gluten feed, soybean hulls and dried distillers grain are the by-products most often seen on farms and at feed mills in southwest Missouri. Crude protein levels of these feeds run from 12 percent to the mid-20’s and they all are very digestible. That means they provide about an equivalent amount of energy to the animal as corn. At the levels normally fed -- five pounds or so per head, per day -- digestive problems should not occur. However, gluten and distillers products contain higher levels of phosphorus than calcium so when providing mineral supplements, the phosphorus level should be low. The University of Missouri Extension Animal Science Division provides a useful weekly tool that will help farmers evaluate by-products for their true value. It’s referred to as the “By-Product Feed Price Listing” and can be accessed at http://agebb.missouri.edu/dairy/byprod/bplist.asp. The list includes a variety of by-products, the sources, including phone numbers, current price and relative value calculation based on corm, soybean meal, dicalcium phosphate and limestone prices.
Bad Johnsongrass Year or Not, Watch For
Problems
Although farmers say there is not an unusually high johnsongrass problem this year, at least one extension specialist says he has had questions this summer about grazing cattle on it.ear in and year out we have few cattle-death problems reported from prussic acid or cyanide poisoning," said Cole, livestock specialist, University of Missouri Extension. According to Cole, poisoning is more likely when the johnsongrass plants are under stress, such as drought, frost or following spraying with a herbicide. “Problems also can develop when the plant is young and rapidly growing,” Cole said. Poisoning symptoms include excitability, rapid breathing, salivation and excessive tearing. Animals will stagger and struggle before collapsing, and death follows because of lack of oxygen. But according to literature on the topic, if animals survive for two hours they recover. There is no simple and accurate field test to determine the safety of johnsongrass, sorghum and sudan. I usually tell the producer to put one or two of the lower-value animals in the pasture first," Cole said. "Here's where Jersey bull calves come in handy.” Before turning the bull calves in, Cole recommends filling them up with hay or pasture. Watch them closely for the first hour. If the plant material is toxic, you normally see animal reactions in 30 minutes or even less. If they're fine, turn the rest in. But Cole advises farmers to know where their veterinarians are. "It's smart to call ahead of time to alert them that you are turning cattle into a pasture that has johnsongrass in it." He says johnsongrass cut for hay won't be a problem as far as prussic acid is concerned. But it can be a nitrate threat. "Farmers worried about that can have a lab check the hay for nitrate quantity," he said. For more information on johnsongrass, contact the University of Missouri Extension center nearest you. One guide sheet, G4872 “Johnsongrass Control” is also available online at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore.
Pinkeye Season Starting; Take Steps to Minimize it
A combination of dry and sunny weather along with dust and flies usually hits this time of year. Along with it comes pinkeye in cattle according to Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist at Mt. Vernon.
“So far this year it doesn’t appear that there is a high incidence of the bacterial disease among southwest Missouri cattle. Any occurrence is too much though. Weaning weights can be lowered to the tune of 20 to 50 pounds per infected calf,” said Cole. In addition to true pinkeye, other causes of eye problems can be infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and mechanical injury.
Pinkeye is transmitted to other cattle by direct contact. More commonly it is spread by flies, especially face flies. “As a rule the young calves in the herd are more susceptible to pinkeye because they have not developed immunity to the bacteria causing pinkeye,” said Cole.
Moraxella bovis is the most common infective bacteria, but there can be different types of M. bovis which make it hard to develop a highly effective vaccine against pinkeye. To minimize losses from pinkeye, Cole offers these suggestions:
Cole says calves eyes may heal in three to six weeks if nothing is done, but eye scars and loss of sight can result. This is especially critical for prospective breeding animals. “Even feeder cattle buyers may be wary of calves that show signs of an earlier bout of pinkeye,” said Cole
Prevention by vaccination doesn’t give a high degree of protection from pinkeye, but may lessen the severity of the outbreak. Some producers have even resorted to having an autogenous bacterin developed for the specific organism in their herd.
“Pinkeye problems are cyclical and if serious outbreaks were noted one year, they may be much less the next. The best thing you can do is keep a close watch and act quickly,” said Cole.
What Determines
When to Wean The choice of that age may be tied to the standard age used by universities and breed associations in computing the 205-day weaning weight. Cole says this is a good average age to base cow performance and early calf growth on, but don’t feel compelled to wean at that age if other factors indicate a better age or time to wean. “Even breed associations are backing off some from 205 days and a few now will adjust weights of calves weaned earlier and later than 160 and 250 days,” said Cole. According to Cole, weather and cow condition should be taken into consideration -- especially in dry short forage years. At those times early weaning can give thin or young cows a few more weeks to regain some body condition before winter arrives. First and second-calf females respond the most to this extra rest, according to the specialist. “A new theory being is that when considered early weaning is done, younger calves may still be benefiting from their dam’s colostral immunity and have less sickness when weaned around 150 days or less,” said Cole. Otherwise, calves older than that will have less protection and most certainly will need a better immunization program before heading into the marketing channels. “This year, at the first of August, most of southwest Missouri is blessed with green pastures and lots of hay so early-weaning for the cow’s sake probably isn’t a big concern,” said Cole. However, producers might want to consider earlier weaning as an aid in keeping calves healthier. Plus the weather will likely be better and less stressful in late August and September. “This gives producers at least a 45-day period to add weight to the calves and prepare them to go into market channels in October and November. They could still sell a comparable amount or more weight calf than if calves are allowed to nurse until they are eight or nine months old,” said Cole. Plus Cole feels the 45-day period will produce larger and more efficient gains than if the calf remains on the cow right up to sale date. (back to menu) “The last step is controlling water plants by the careful use of herbicides or by various non-chemical methods,” said Moore. Before choosing a herbicide, Moore recommends that you carefully read the label to find out which plants may be controlled, and when to apply. Also check for the safety of humans, livestock and fish. The label is the final authority “Chemical control isn’t permanent; re-treatment may be necessary and it can become quite expensive. That is why non-chemical methods are also important to consider,” said Moore. Possible non-chemical methods for water plant control include stocking the pond with grass carp, deepening the pond’s edges, weeding and removing new growth by hand or shading the pond with black plastic to prevent sunlight from reaching the plants. “Another key step is the elimination of nutrient sources. Runoff from animal manure, septic tank fields and fertilizer encourages weed growth. Keep these nutrient sources away from ponds or divert the runoff and the plant growth should slow down,” said Moore.
For more help with
weed control in lakes and ponds contact your local University of
Missouri Extension Center to request Guide
sheet 4856, “Aquatic Weed Control in Missouri,” or contact
the Missouri Department of Conservation, Fisheries Management
Division.(back
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According to Rickard, to accurately answer this question, you need to look at the nutritional requirements of a dairy cow. “Research shows that each pound of dry matter intake above a dairy cow’s maintenance requirements will result in a production response of two to three pounds of milk. That makes it pretty clear that intake drives milk production,” said Rickard. While dairy cows in the Ozarks typically consume 3.5 to 4 percent of their bodyweight, Rickard says producers may be setting their sights too low. For example, a few years ago a dairy cow in Indiana produced over 60,000 pounds of milk and she was consuming over 5.3 percent of her body weight as dry matter. “If that cow was capable of consuming that much feed, why don’t we see that here in the Ozarks? The answer is, her owners worked hard to achieve that consumption level,” said Rickard. If a producer wants to increase the dry matter intake of their dairy cows, there are several different factors to consider. One of the most important factors is the quality of the forage fed. “Intake is inversely related to neutral detergent fiber levels in the forage so it is critical that the forage have a relative feed value (RFV) of 150 or better since RFV is an indication of fiber levels. Values less than this will result in a higher fiber level in the rumen, but will be achieved at less intake,” said Rickard. Other factors to consider include providing adequate feed, ensuring the feed is fresh, feeding more often, providing adequate bunk space, cooling the cattle during the summer, providing windbreaks during the winter and having an adequate water supply close to the feed. In a confinement system, water should be located within 50 feet of the feed bunk and in a grazing system cows should not walk more than 600 feet to a water source. “There are a multitude of factors that affect milk production, but if you don’t get feed in the cows it is a moot point whether you change other things or not,” said Rickard(back to menu) High Tensile Electric Fencing Is Stronger, Easier to Install Intensive managed grazing systems have lead to new thinking about fencing according to Ed Browning, natural resource engineering specialist, University of Missouri Extension. High tensile fencing has been introduced in the United States from Australia. Although materials to construct a high tensile fence cost more than a conventional fence, it is easier to construct. Browning says there are two other important advantages to high tensile fencing. First, it has a breaking strength up to almost 1,800 pounds as compared to 950 pounds for barbed wire. It is also easier to handle than barbed wire because it’s smooth. “For the same reason, you could say it’s safer for livestock. It makes a very attractive fence and can be electrified to provide greater restraint characteristics,” said Browning. Lighter weight high tensile wire is also available, but will have a lower breaking strength. “Wire spacing and the number of wires will depend on the type of livestock you’re trying to restrain and whether or not the fence is electrified,” said Browning. For a non-electrified fence, eight to ten wires are recommended with sheep and cattle for a 46” to 52” high fence. For an electrified fence, five wires are common for boundary line fences, one to three for interior fences. “The most common electrification arrangement for boundary fences is probably three hot wires and two grounded,” said Browning. “But I do have concerns about using electrified boundary line fences because it could increase the landowners liability from injury to uninvited guests.” The Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service has a booklet that gives details on designing and construction of a high tensile fence. That booklet, “High-Tensile Wire Fencing,” can be purchased through your local University of Missouri Extension Center. Feed Costs Are Single Biggest Factor in Determining Profit In the cow-calf business, it is feed costs that separate profitable and losing operations according to Wesley Tucker, agriculture and rural development specialist, University of Missouri Extension. A 2001 study done in Iowa shows the nation's most profitable cow-calf producers are making $128 per cow because of steps to control feed costs. "Many cow-calf producers, me included, often say we’re willing to settle for minimal returns because of the quality of life we enjoy. In fact, reports from around the country show the average cow-calf producer is earning a negative return," said Tucker. A large divide exists when comparing the top 25 percent of profitable cow-calf producers to the bottom 25 percent least profitable producers. Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) records of Iowa cow-calf producers from 1995 to 2000 show the average producer is losing $10 per cow. However, the top 25 percent of producers earned $128 per cow while the bottom 25 percent lost $145 per cow. For these operations, the feed costs it took to produce a pound of calf ranged from $29.71/cwt (cost per hundred weight) for the top 25 percent most profitable operations to $63.84/cwt for the bottom 25 percent. "Feed costs constitute the largest portion of a cow-calf budget but they vary greatly among producers," said Tucker. Another research study looked at operations ranging from 20 to 373 cows and found that 82 percent of the variability in returns to labor and management could be explained by eight cost and production variables. The variation in feed costs was equal to 56.7 percent of the variability in returns. By comparison, herd size accounted for less than 1 percent of the variation. Production variables (such as calf weight) and price were only 4.6 percent and 2.7 percent respectively. Depreciation accounted for 8.6 percent; operating costs were 4.9 percent and capital charges equaled 2.4 percent. "It is pretty apparent from this study that controlling one variable, feed costs, can mean the difference between being in the high profit group or the bottom," said Tucker. According to Tucker, the best way for a producer to reduce feed costs is with high quality forages that ruminant animals (any hoofed animal that chews its cud) can harvest cheaper than a producer can with mechanical harvesters. "As more and more machinery is used the cost of harvesting increases. The cost of supplying a unit of energy to a ruminant animal in the form of hay more than doubles as compared to letting the animal graze it," said Tucker. Likewise, grains and concentrates supply energy at a cost of more than three times that of good quality standing pasture. According to Tucker, the Iowa study makes it apparent that making profits in the cow-calf industry is not a myth. "Although the average producer may be earning negative returns, many are making money by doing everything possible to reduce the costs of machinery and investment and by utilizing the best forage harvester known to man - the ruminant animal," said Tucker.(back to menu)
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Influences Profit
Getting Dairy Cows to Eat More Can
