MANAGEMENT...

Pull the Bulls

Using a bull pasture controls breeding season and increases
profit potential.

Bull management is an important part of managing beef cows. A key to successful bull management is having and using a bull pasture, said Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, earlier this month.

"This is the time of year (early July) when owners of well-managed cattle herds are pulling their bulls from their cow herds," said Cole. "The bulls likely were put with the cows and heifers in late April, and by early July they've had a 75- to 90-day breeding season." Read more.

Ron Torell with his wife, Jackie

Cow Camp Chatter

Leasing cows

Given the current record-high livestock market, many stockmen who find themselves short on cattle with extra feed and not enough money are considering leasing cows.

Historically, beef cows have been leased on either a cash or share of calf crop basis, with share leases being the most common. A calf share-lease arrangement is a good way to transfer ownership of cows to others over time with the possible benefit of income tax reductions compared to an outright sale. Share-lease agreements have been used very successfully as a means to enter or re-establish a herd with minimum borrowed capital.

So, what is a fair and equitable share-lease agreement? It depends. Read more.

Kentucky Grazing Network Expands

With one grazing network up and running, the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture's Master Grazer program is looking to create similar regional networks across the state.

The Kentucky Grazing Network is for forage and ruminant producers. Participants share ideas and advice with other group members with the goal of improving everyone's forage operation. The first network began earlier this summer in Northern Kentucky with a pasture walk at UK's Eden Shale Farm in Owen County.

"A lot of it is hands-on instruction and show-and-tell teaching, which is a good learning tool for farmers," said Don Sorrell, Campbell County agent for agriculture and natural resources with the UK Cooperative Extension Service. Read more.

Be on the Lookout for Hopperburn

Potato leafhoppers are the greatest single pest to alfalfa, causing stunted growth and lost nutritional value.

As alfalfa growers hit the fields, now is an important time to be on the lookout for potato leafhoppers (PLH). This is the single pest most affecting alfalfa production in the central United States, causing devastating effects to alfalfa leaves and stunting plant growth.

With ideal conditions, 50 or 60 potato leafhoppers can produce from 500 to 1,000 offspring within a five-week period. These insects bite into the alfalfa leaf vein and stop nutrients from flowing to the rest of the leaf, thereby causing a yellow triangle, or hopperburn, to develop. Subsequently, nutrient values are diminished, and alfalfa volume is lowered. Read more.

Kris Ringwall

Beef Talk

Bulls furloughed until mid-August.

Plans change. However, with change comes the need to tweak them as they are implemented.

It was not that long ago (early April) that the Dickinson Research Extension Center decided to furlough the bulls for a month. As the breeding plans were being finalized and additional discussions were had, the bull turnout dates were set for mid-August. The change pulls the center's calving date further from the grips of winter and closer to the warmth of summer.

No one is hiding from the fact that calving times are subject to weather, as are all events in life. Yes, calving can have its bad days and the weather can be difficult. However, the consensus was that it was time to move to a grass-based operation. That consensus was arrived at with a little advice and lots of thought speckled with a little bit of data. Read more.

New Products

Industry affiliates provide a wide array of products and services to assist you on the farm and ranch. Here's an assortment of new products to hit the market recently.

Fly Control Around Concentrated Animal Facilities

Flies may be a nuisance, but they are also an economic concern due to transmission of disease, reduction in growth or production, and the threat of nuisance lawsuits. Generally, the plaintiffs in a nuisance suit cite odor, dust and flies together as constituting a nuisance.

Effective fly control cannot be achieved with insecticides alone. Proper manure management and sanitation must be the major element in a good fly control program. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind. Read more.

Angus Advisor

Click here for July herd management tips from cattle experts across the nation. Advice separated by region.

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