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Previous issues of the BEEF Cattle letter
Issue # 615
December 17, 2008
Black Vulture Control: Part 2a, How to Apply for a Depredation Permit - Tim Fine, PA, OSU Extension Miami County
In the previous BEEF Cattle letter I discussed the steps that a producer must take in order to receive compensation if there was a loss due to a black vulture kill. In this issue I will discuss steps a producer can take to apply for a depredation permit and how to properly hang a vulture in effigy as a deterrent. To start off, let's talk about the depredation permit process.
If you are experiencing problems with black vultures, here are some options:
1. Understand that black vultures are federally protected birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Under this act, it states the following: "No person shall take, possess, barter, or offer for sale, purchase or barter any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, eggs of such bird…"
2. Harassment may be an option. Harassment of black vultures does not require a permit unless the birds are found to be actively nesting. USDA APHIS has a fact sheet available that outlines some harassment options. For a fact sheet on black vultures, their habits, harassment techniques, and more, log onto http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/statereports/NJ/vulturenj.pdf
3. Producers in Ohio who are experiencing predation losses from black vultures may apply for a Federal Depredation Permit allowing for a very limited take of birds to reinforce harassment efforts. In Ohio, producers may also apply for a permit as a pro-active measure to prevent predation to livestock if they have black vultures harassing their livestock. Typically a permit would cost $100, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife is funding the permit fees in these situations. Please contact USDA, Wildlife Services at (614) 861-6087 to initiate the application process.
4. After a permit has been obtained it is recommended to follow the "Guidelines For Using Effigies to Disperse Nuisance Vulture Roosts". These guidelines are published in the next article of this newsletter.
Black Vulture Control: Part 2b, Guidelines for Using Effigies to Disperse Nuisance Vulture Roosts - John S. Humphrey, Eric, A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services-National Wildlife Research Center, Florida Field Station, 2820 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641
WHAT IS AN EFFIGY? : An effigy as defined in Webster's dictionary, is a "full or partial representation . . . likeness" of a person or object. For dispersing a vulture roost, an effigy can be a fresh carcass, a taxidermic preparation, or an artificial likeness.
OVERVIEW : These guidelines were developed principally for wooded roosts, but the same principles apply for roosts in towers and other sites. Furthermore, these procedures might also be applicable to nuisance situations caused by daytime vulture activity. Regardless of the situation or roost habitat, proper placement is the single most important aspect in successfully using an effigy to disperse vultures.
Important factors to consider when deciding where to hang an effigy include:
THE EFFIGY : Once a bird has been acquired under a legal permit, it should be determined whether a long term or temporary placement is needed. If long term placement or multiple usage is required, it is advised that the bird be prepared by a taxidermist and then treated with a spray on preservative, such as Scotch Guard for leather. The posture of the prepared bird should resemble that of a dead bird hung by its feet with one or both wings hanging down in a outstretched manner. For short term placement (up to 3 months, depending on weather conditions) and if odor is not a concern, then an intact carcass can be used.
RECOMMENDED MATERIALS : The materials that are needed for hanging effigies in the roost can be found at most outdoor or general merchandise stores. The basic materials include:
PLACING THE EFFIGY ATTACHMENT LINE : In wooded roosts, the attachment line can be readily placed using a compound bow fitted with a commercially available fishing set-up (such as Zebco 808 reel mounded on a small rod attached to the stabilizer hole and a fishing arrow). Alternatively, it is possible to use a standard fishing rod with fishing arrow (fiberglass field point arrow with a small hole near the nock for line attachment), however this requires a second person to hold the rod and ensure that the line does not become tangled. It is recommended that 20-lb monofilament line be used due to its strength and flexibility.
Choose a branch or attachment point that is high and prominent. For best results, the effigy should be highly visible to vultures entering the roost. The space directly below this point should be free of branches or other obstructions that could entangle the effigy during heavy winds. Optimally, the bird should hang no farther than the distance from the attachment point to any other branch or structure to the side (e.g., from an attachment point 5 feet out on a branch the effigy should hang down no more than 5 feet to prevent it becoming tangled in the trunk of the tree).
Shoot the arrow over the attachment branch. Attempt to limit the number of branches the line goes over by putting tension on the line after it passes over the attachment branch. Remove the arrow and secure the attachment line to the fishing line. Pull the effigy attachment line over the branch, remove the fishing line, and attach a heavy duty snap swivel to the effigy attachment line. If this line has gone over multiple branches, it may be necessary to pull back the line from all but the main attachment branch. This can be done by attaching a smooth-edged weight to the end of the line closest to the excess branches, pulling the weight over the branches until it reaches the effigy attachment branch, and then lowering the weight.
For lower attachment points, it may be possible to use a throwing bag slung over the branch or attachment point. For towers or other structures, a professional climber or other authorized maintenance person should install the effigy from a prominent point.
ATTACHING THE EFFIGY : To attach the effigy, take 2 - 3 feet of the same material as the attachment line, fold it in half and tie a small loop at the midpoint. This is the point at which the attachment line and snap swivel are connected. Next, tie the ends of the looped line to the legs of the effigy just above the feet, making sure to wrap the line twice around the leg before tying a secure knot. The knotted loop ensures that in the event one of the leg knots comes loose, the effigy will remain in place.
PUTTING THE EFFIGY TO WORK : Raising the effigy into place may require two people depending on the weight of the bird , the height of the attachment point, and the number of branches the line contacts. It often helps to get the effigy moving by having one person push up on it while a second person pulls on the other end of the line.
Raise the effigy as high as possible while evaluating the factors of visibility, entanglement, and accessibility to perching vultures. It is advisable to back away from the roost and look at it from different angles to determine if the height and prominence of the effigy is satisfactory. Finally, tie the trailing end of the attachment line to a secure location that minimizes potential interference by pedestrian, wildlife, or other traffic. Wrap and secure the excess line so that it will be available at a later time should the effigy need to be lowered for maintenance or replacement. Avoid tying to places (such as along a fence top, horizontal branch, or other movement corridor) where chewing damage by rodents is likely. The effigy should now be visible to incoming birds, hanging upside down with its wings outstretched, and ready to disperse the roost.
EDITOR's NOTE: This article came from an already published article by the USDA APHIS service. Mention of brand names does not constitute endorsement by the USDA. For technical questions regarding effigy use and installation please contact John S. Humphrey at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center's Florida Field Station - 352-375-2229; email: john.s.humphrey@aphis.usda.gov
Forage Focus: 2008 Ohio Forage Performance Trials - Mark Sulc, OSU Extension Forage Specialist
The 2008 Forage Performance Trials Report is now available. It has been published in a special supplement to Ohio's Country Journal, cut is also online at http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf/ and can be requested at any Ohio State University Extension office.
The report includes the performance of varieties of alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial and annual ryegrass, teff, sorghum x sudangrass, sudangrass, and forage sorghum in tests planted in 2005 to 2008 across three Ohio sites: South Charleston, Wooster, and Jackson.
The alfalfa trial established in 2007 at Wooster had the highest alfalfa yields, averaging 8.3 tons/acre. High yields were also harvested in the Wooster trial seeded in 2006 (7.6 tons/acre) and at South Charleston in 2005 (7.1 tons/acre). Alfalfa weevil populations were low at all sites. Insecticides were used at all locations for control of potato leafhopper (PLH) in the standard yield trials. No insecticide was applied to the potato leafhopper resistance trial planted in April at South Charleston. High leafhopper populations resulted in significant yield differences among the alfalfa varieties in that test. The best varieties yielded 33 to 35% more than the susceptible check varieties in that trial.
Forage yields of red clover were just under 5 tons/acre in 2008, which was remarkable for a third-year stand. The results demonstrate how newer varieties of red clover yield more and persist longer than "common" red clover.
Orchardgrass varieties differed greatly in yield over the season and all varieties went dormant for part of the summer due to dry weather. The tall fescue trial of endophyte-free varieties at Jackson had low yields in 2008, a trend that began in 2007. Only two harvests were collect in 2007 and three in 2008 due to dry weather at Jackson. A perennial ryegrass trial at South Charleston also had low yields in 2008.
Annual ryegrass varieties were evaluated at South Charleston. They were seeded September 2007, and all survived the winter to varying degrees. Large yield differences were recorded, from a low of 1.74 tons/acre to a high of 5.76 tons/acre.
Warm season grass trials were seeded in June 2008 to compare varieties of teff, sorghum x sudangrass, and forage sorghum. The teff varieties yielded 3.3 tons/acre over three cuttings. Sorghum x sudangrass and sudangrass varieties yielded around 4.0 tons/acre in three cuttings. Forage sorghums yielded from 4.0 to 4.7 tons/acre at one single harvest.
Feeding Cows During Cold Weather - James B. Neel, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, University of Tennessee
Many cow/calf producers are not aware that cold weather brings added nutritional needs for cattle. Or, if they recognize that their cattle are stressed, they aren't sure how - or what - they should do to offset it. Cold stress occurs when animals are exposed to weather conditions which put them below their lower critical temperature. For cattle with a dry winter coat, the lower critical temperature is 32 F. If the coat is extra heavy, that number drops to 18 F. If the normal coat is wet, however, the lower critical temperature may become 60 F.
When the environment results in an effective temperature below the animal's lower critical temperature, the animal must increase heat production to maintain a constant body temperature. To produce more heat, the animal either must receive an increase in energy from the ration or draw on body stores. To compensate for the energy deficit created by the cold stress, follow this rule of thumb: Increase the amount of feed 1 percent for each degree of cold stress. If a wind chill is present, use that temperature. Keeping hay in front of cattle will not take care of the problem. If the hay is good (cut before it matured and baled before it was rained on), cattle will probably make it through cold weather in good condition. If hay quality is poor, the cattle may be in trouble. A 1,200 pound cow, in good body condition, needs a ration that has a minimum total digestible nutrient (TDN) value of 50 percent and crude protein (CP) value of 8 percent under neutral environmental conditions. The TDN value is often used to indicate the energy level of a feed. Concentrates have higher TDN values than forages, but do not generate as much heat. In comparison, shelled corn has a TDN of 90 percent and soybean hulls, 80 percent. If hay falls below the 50 percent TDN minimum, producers should consider supplementing with an energy-dense feed.
If protein levels are too low, rumen microbes cannot efficiently digest fiber. In that case, adding supplemental protein can increase hay consumption and digestion. High-protein feedstuffs include soybean meal (49 percent CP), cottonseed meal (41 percent CP) and corn gluten feed (19 percent CP). If both energy and protein are low, the supplement should contain a balance of both.
Provide some type of shelter such as woods, hills or buildings to protect cattle from winds. Reduce mud in and around feeding areas. Cold mud on cattle draws on their energy stores and body temperature, especially in young calves. Monitor weather reports and make adjustments in feeding 2 to 3 days before the weather front hits the area.
Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report - Mike Roberts, Commodity Marketing Agent, Virginia Tech
LIVE CATTLE futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) were up on Monday. The DEC'08LC contract closed at $84.150/cwt; up $0.825/cwt and $1.05/cwt higher than a week ago. FEB'09LC futures closed up $1.000/cwt at $83.800/cwt and $1.125/cwt higher than last Monday. Strength was noted on short-covering and increased boxed beef values. A weaker U.S. dollar, beginner exports to South Korea, and higher Box Beef values were supportive.
USDA placed choice beef at $144.07/cwt, up $2.85/cwt. Cash cattle on Monday were weaker as USDA put the 5-area price at $83.96/cwt; $2.28/cwt lower than last Monday. Gains were checked by a lower U.S. stock market. Early estimates for Cattle on Feed are expected to be light as federally-inspected cattle slaughter declined last week by 2.3% compared to slaughter rates 6.7% lower than this time last year. According to HedgersEdge.com, the average packer margin was raised $14.95/head from last week to a negative $64.00/head based on the average buy of $85.15/cwt vs. the average breakeven of $80.27/cwt.
FEEDER CATTLE at the CME followed live cattle up on Monday. JAN'09FC futures finished at $88.125/cwt, up $0.95/cwt and $0.225/cwt higher than last Monday. The MAR'09FC contract settled at $87.925/cwt; up $1.000/cwt and $2.925/cwt higher than this time last week. Cash feeders in Oklahoma City were off as much as $3.00/cwt. The CME Feeder Cattle Index for December 11 was placed at $88.57/cwt, down $0.01/cwt.
CORN futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) closed up on Monday. The DEC'08 contract has expired. MAR'09 corn futures closed at $3.752/bu; up 1.75¢/bu and 45.25¢/bu (13.7%) higher than last Monday. A weaker U.S. dollar and bull spreading in corn/soybeans were supportive. One report stated that some analysts are expecting corn acreage to fall by as much as 3.6 mi acres in 2009. We'll see. If input costs are high and corn prices stay relatively non-profitable at these levels it just may happen. Producers try to go where the money is . . . just like anyone else. Other support for corn came from exports. USDA reported on Monday that 29.3 mi bu had been inspected for export vs. estimates for between 22.0-26.0 mi bu. China released news that it would be "perfecting" reserves of oil, coal, and grain. What does that mean for the U.S. corn market? I guess we'll see. Weather in South America was favorable for crops there and is expected to remain so for the next 10 days. Farmers are waiting on prices to rise further as they hold onto stocks. Cash corn prices in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states were 22.0¢/bu - 29.0¢/bu higher on Monday. Large speculators decreased net bear positions in CBOT corn as funds bought over 4,000 lots. It should still pay to store. A put option is still not out of the question.
Visit the OSU Beef Team calendar of meetings and upcoming events
BEEF Cattle is a weekly publication of Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County and the OSU Beef Team. Contributors include members of the Beef Team and other beef cattle specialists and economists from across the U.S.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868
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