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Topics of Interest

Beef Cow Efficiency

Perhaps the greatest single factor affecting your profitability as a beef producer.


Body Condition Scoring

Use body condition scores (BCS) to improve herd nutrition and efficiency.

 

Feeding & Feedstuffs

Maximize pasture utilization and optimize feeding of harvested forages and supplements to efficiently meet the nutritional needs
of your herd.

 


 


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July 20, 2009


HEALTH & NUTRITION...

Test forage

Don’t Stop Testing Forage

The temptation to cut what seems like unessential costs is always greatest during a downturn in cattle prices, but curtailing forage testing could end up costing you a whole lot more money than the price of analyzing samples.

This doesn’t just apply to hay being purchased, but to all forage being consumed by one’s herd. Not knowing the nutritive value of what is going into your cattle during tough times is not that much different than a pilot flying blind through a thunderstorm. Read more.


Effect of Time of Vaccination at the Feedyard

An article from Texas A&M University’s “Beef Cattle Browsing” newsletter reports the following study published in the Journal of Animal Science:

A group of 263 steer and bull calves initially averaging 526 pounds (lb.) were obtained from multiple local auctions in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Four vaccination treatment groups were implemented:

• vaccinated upon arrival with both clostridial and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) vaccines;

• vaccinated upon arrival with clostridial; BRD 14 days later;

• vaccinated upon arrival with BRD; clostridial 14 days later; and

• vaccinated for both clostridial and BRD 14 days after arrival.

BRD was boostered 14 days after initial vaccination. Measured over 56 days from arrival, average daily gain (ADG) and level of sickness did not differ. Sixty-nine percent of all calves were treated with antibiotics at least once. Of calves requiring treatment for BRD, those receiving both vaccinations upon arrival averaged being treated two days earlier than calves receiving both vaccinations 14 days after arrival. There were more chronics (defined as still showing BRD symptoms after three treatments with antibiotic) in the group with upon-arrival clostridial and delayed BRD compared to the group receiving both upon arrival. Otherwise, delayed vaccination did not reduce performance or increase sickness. (Univ. of Arkansas; J. Animal Sci. 87:2409)


Johne’s Disease: A Real Threat

A recent National Animal Health Monitoring Systems (NAHMS) survey indicates that a majority of beef producers are not familiar with Johne’s disease. Yet, it is estimated that 8% of U.S. beef herds are infected with Johne’s disease, says Teres Lambert, director of communications for the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA).

In an article in Bovine Veterinarian, veterinarian Dave Dargatz states, “The beef industry has an opportunity to deal with Johne’s disease when it apparently occurs at a fairly low prevalence.”

To help beef producers learn more about Johne’s disease, The National Johne’s Education Initiative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service Veterinary Services (USDA/APHIS/VS) have provided a valuable newsletter covering the three stages of infection, breakthroughs in Johne’s research, a comprehensive risk assessment and workshop information. Read more.


Texans Weary from Battling Cattle Fever Tick

Texas animal health officials have cast another wide net in the battle to eradicate cattle fever ticks in South Texas, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).

The TAHC announced July 6 it has temporarily quarantined 152,716 acres in Starr and Hidalgo counties. In nearby Zapata County, five-mile quarantine perimeters were being drawn around fever-tick-infested pastures. A foreign pest, the cattle fever tick has the capability to carry and transmit Babesia, a blood parasite that can kill adult cattle.

Since October 2008 (the beginning of the 2009 federal fiscal year), 127 fever-tick-infested premises in eight South Texas counties have been detected and quarantined. This year’s infested premises tally will eclipse last year’s count of 132, and could meet or beat the record set during the 1973 fever-tick outbreak —170 infested premises.

Although the fever tick was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 1943, it has never been wiped out in Mexico, which serves as a continuous source for tick reinfestation in Texas. If not properly controlled, TAHC says the problem could spread to other states. Read more.


Bob Larson

Bob Larson

Vet Link

Take precautions when feeding
sorghum, Sudan crops

As we move into the late summer and early fall, cattle producers in many parts of the United States utilize warm-season cultivated forages such as Sudan grass, forage sorghums and sorghum/Sudan grass hybrids in their feeding programs. These forages are planted fairly late in the year and are drought-tolerant. In addition, they can be grazed until frost or even after frost if precautions are taken. However, two risks are possible when feeding or grazing these forages: nitrate toxicity and cyanide or prussic acid toxicity. Read more.


Michigan Researchers Work to Eradicate BVD

Is it possible to eradicate bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula cattle herd?

This is the question that Michigan State University (MSU) researchers, Extension specialists, and local and state large animal veterinarians are asking as they continue to implement an aggressive three-step animal disease eradication program with the region’s producers. The plan includes incorporating equal doses of education about the disease, disease testing and training to put disease control management strategies into practice.

“One of our objectives is to see if it’s possible to eradicate a specific disease within a geographical area,” says Dan Grooms, MSU associate professor of large animal clinical sciences and a large animal veterinarian. “We chose the Upper Peninsula because of its easily defined region. If we are successful with this program in this area, we will implement it in other regions of the state.” Read more.


Ron Torrell

Rick Rasby

Ridin’ Herd

Dissecting a feed tag

Last month we discussed the “basics” of the content that appears on a feed tag. This month the goal is to get a better understanding of some of the specifics that appear on the tag and application of the information. Read more.

 



Cattle Diseases: Common Conditions/Terms

Click here for a list of common conditions and terms related to beef cattle diseases, such as anaplasmosis, brucellosis, BVD, E. coli, IBR and others.