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MANAGEMENT...


Pain Management Update

Options are emerging for pain management, though not yet approved for use in United States.

Consumers care about pain management for livestock, and they are putting pressure on cattlemen to provide pain mitigation to their cattle when painful procedures are required. That’s not to say cattlemen themselves don’t care; they simply have limited options. The trouble is that there are no approved legal analgesics, or drugs that relieve pain, available to U.S. cattlemen, says Mike Kleinhenz, veterinarian and research graduate assistant at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. He spoke at the fifth International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare (ISBCW) in Manhattan, Kan., June 8-10.


Describing drugs as a management tool in the toolbox, he lamented that in terms of pain management, cattlemen have very few tools available to them. None are legally approved except for extralabel use through the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA). Read more.


$Values to Shift Due to Market Trends

Angus to update selection indexes July 1. Producers to see
$Value changes with the annual update.

Angus breeders and their customers will see some slight changes in dollar value indexes ($Values) beginning July 1 as Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) updates the economic assumptions used to calculate the selection tools included in the American Angus Association weekly genetic evaluation.

“Every July, we update the economic assumptions that go into Angus $Values, like $B (beef value) and $W (weaned calf value),” says Dan Moser, AGI president who oversees the Association’s performance programs. “This allows for the most up-to-date market prices and costs to predict profit differences among animals.” Read more.


justin-sexten.jpg
Justin Sexten

On Target

Finding the ideal mature cow size.

Few topics today are cussed and discussed as widely as ideal mature size for the average beef cow. This is not the first time I have joined in, and it likely won’t be the last, but two recent articles in the Journal of Animal Science provide an interesting platform on the roles of mature size, weaning efficiency and environment.

Paul Beck’s team at the University of Arkansas evaluated the role of mature size on two groups of cows that weighed on average 1,020 pounds (lb.) and 1,258 lb., at stocking rates locally. Across the Plains to the northwest, Derek Scasta led efforts at the University of Wyoming to examine five groups varying 100 lb. in average weight from 1,000 lb. to 1,400 lb. on semi-arid rangelands. Read more.


Forage Producers Face Annual Battle with Weeds

Identifying weeds is the first step to controlling growth.

It’s an annual battle to address range and pasture weeds, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Cool-season weeds have fully matured, and warm-season weeds are emerging amid wet spring conditions and creating problems for some forage producers, said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist in Overton.

The wet weather in East Texas and other parts of the state is also preventing producers from entering fields with equipment to fight unwanted plants, she said. Bermuda grass is starting to grow, but recent cooler temperatures have slowed its progress in some areas and provided growth opportunity for weeds. Read more.


Kris Ringwall
Kris Ringwall

Beef Talk

A good immune system protects cattle against
disease-causing pathogens.

All dogs need a rabies vaccination — regardless of condition, management or feeding program — because the only defense against rabies is the maintenance of a good immune system. The need for a good immune system also is true for cattle.

This discussion is for all living things, but for simplicity, let’s stick to cattle or those critters found near cattle.

Recently, our dogs received their vaccinations. The rabies vaccination for dogs is the most accepted vaccination protocol when the discussion of animal vaccinations comes up, and it’s repeated throughout the dog’s lifetime. Some owners will grumble when the renewal time comes up, but few actually will not proceed with the vaccination.

So why all this discussion about the pros and cons of cattle vaccinations? Being confused by the claims of pharmaceutical companies is easy; but in reality, the focus needs to be on the goal, the achievement of the desired level of immunity within the herd. 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.


Angus Advisor

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


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