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BEEF Cattle questions may be directed to the OSU Extension BEEF Team through Stephen Boyles or Stan Smith, Editor
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Previous issues of the BEEF Cattle letter
Issue # 588
Look Back at the Calving Season and Start to Make Improvements Now - Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Cattle Reproduction Specialist
Only 1 to 2 months ago the spring calving cows were calving, the temperature was cold and the calving pastures were muddy. Experience would say that you do not want to ask cow calf operators how "calving" is then, because the response would be less than objective, reflecting bone-chilling cold and not enough sleep. However if you wait too long, perhaps until this fall, time will have mellowed most of the events and one soon has difficulty matching a calving season with particular problems. Now is perhaps the best time to make a few notes on what to change for next year.
The first step is to list the dead calves. Hopefully, your cattle are in a record system that will provide that information. If not, grab a piece of paper and pencil and list the calves. Your calving notebook should have the dead calves checked off and a brief notation on what happened to each. Until all the calves are listed, the shock of lost opportunities has not had its full impact.
Can you identify a pattern of problems?
Was most of the death loss right at delivery and involved two-year old heifers? This could indicate that sire selection needs to be done more carefully, with attention being paid to low birth weight EPD sires for heifers. Perhaps the heifers were underdeveloped. This could contribute to more calving difficulty than necessary. Do you provide assistance to heifers after they have been in stage II of labor for one hour? Longer deliveries result in stress on both calf and cow.
Was the death loss more prevalent after the calves had reached 10 days to 2 weeks of age? This of course often means that calf diarrhea (or scours) is a major concern. Calf scours will be more likely to occur to calves from first calf heifers. Calves that receive inadequate amounts of colostrum within the first 6 hours of life are 5 to 6 times more likely to die from calf scours. Calves that are born to thin heifers are weakened at birth and receive less colostrum which compounds their likelihood of scours. Often, these same calves were born via a difficult delivery and adds to the chances of getting sick and dying. All of this means that we need to reassess the bred heifer growing program to assure that the heifers were in a body condition score of 6 (moderate flesh) at calving time.
Do you use the same trap or pasture each year for calving? There may be a buildup of bacteria or viruses that contribute to calf diarrhea in that pasture. This particular calving pasture may need a rest for the upcoming calving season. Plus it is always a good idea to get new calves and their mothers out of the calving pasture as soon as they can be moved comfortably to a new pasture to get them away from other potential calf scour organisms.
Pre-calving scours vaccines (to the cows) may be recommended by your veterinarian for next winter and spring. This should be considered an important short-term plan to reduce the incidence of calf diarrhea. The above suggestions are more long-term solutions to the problem.
The Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo Explores The Economics of Recycling
As fertilizer prices continue to soar, crop producers may be turning to manure for their fertility needs. Manure management will be the focus of a one-day event, being held this summer at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
The 2008 Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo will take place July 9. The event is sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Michigan State University, Purdue University, Penn State University and Cornell University. Additional sponsors include Ohio Composting and Manure Management and the Midwest Professional Nutrient Applicators Association.
The theme of the Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo is "The Economics of Recycling" and will include commercial field demonstrations, educational demonstrations, educational sessions, and commercial vendor displays. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
The following is a sample of some of the educational sessions being offered at the event:
* Manure 101: The Superior Fertilizer. Understanding how the application rate and timing affect utilization of nutrients is key to maximizing the value of manure. Learn to calculate the value of manure nutrients as well as the role of calibration. Presented by Robert Mullen, Ohio State University soil fertility specialist.
* Records: What? Why How? Good documentation of manure application can save time and money. Records are important in determining nutrient needs and essential evidence in the event of an accidental spill. Presented by Kevin Elder, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Livestock Environmental Permitting Program.
* Growing a Management Team. Good communication between producers and applicators is the key to a successful team. What key pieces of information do producers and applicators need to ask and tell each other? Presented by Bill Knapke, Cooper Farms.
* Safety Concerns. Livestock buildings and other spaces where manure is confined may create safety issues such as high emissions of gasses or particulates. How can these emissions be reduced and what safety measures should workers follow? Presented by Dee Jepsen, Ohio State University Extension state safety leader.
Case studies will also be presented at the Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo. Such case studies will include:
* Using Liquids on Crops. How do manure application rates and timing affect crop production, the environment and the bottom line? Experiences from two farms will be shared.
* Brokering and Custom Application of Poultry Manure. Excess manure nutrients can provide an additional source of income. How can a third party help market those nutrients? What are the potential risks and liabilities?
* Environmental Management. The role of the custom applicator is expanding to include assessing the whole farm nutrient balance and recommending application practices. How can the producer and applicator ensure quality control to enhance economic and environmental goals?
* Extending the Application Window. Management of manure storage is important to maximizing value and minimizing risks. How can practices such as side dressing help?
Educational demonstrations will round out the Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo. Topics to be covered include calibration of manure handling equipment and application rates; best management practices of stockpiling manure; slurry seeding application; and the importance of maintenance and proper handling of equipment to ensure safety.
To learn more about the Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo, log on to http://ohio-environmental.org, http://oema.osu.edu, or contact Tami Combs at 614.292.6625 or combs.155@osu.edu.
Ohio Beef Heifer Development Program Announces Field Days
The Ohio Beef Heifer Development Program, now in its second year, was established to serve as an educational opportunity as well as a business and marketing opportunity for Ohio's beef producers. This year 224 heifers are enrolled in the program compared to 73 in the program's first year. Field days will be held at each of the three participating heifer development centers in the upcoming months. On June 17, there will be a field day at Heifer Development & Breeding Services at 7:00 p.m., located at 8035 Buchannan Road, Russellville, Ohio, 45168. On July 8, there will be a field day at Dennis Blakeman's farm at 7:00 p.m., located at 1664 Cherry Fork Road, Oak Hill, Ohio, 45656. On July 23, there will be a field day at Mick Ritchie's farm at 7:00 p.m., located at 4904 Hamburg Road SW, Lancaster, Ohio, 43130.
The goal of the Ohio Beef Heifer Development Program is to establish on-farm heifer development programs with cooperating operations that will serve as both educational centers and provide business/marketing opportunities for Ohio's beef producers. The Ohio Beef Heifer Development Program has been modeled after successful heifer development programs in Kentucky and Missouri. The concept is that small to moderate sized cow-calf operators cannot economically afford to manage replacement females due to time, facility and management requirements. Therefore, beef producers can send heifer calves to these specialized facilities to be developed from approximately weaning to one year of age, until they are confirmed bred. The cooperating heifer development centers follow a set of criteria established by the OSU Animal Sciences Department and OSU Extension Beef Team for optimum heifer development. Management techniques including proper nutrition, heat synchronization, utilizing calving ease genetics and modern identification systems. After females are confirmed bred, they can be returned to the consignors herd as replacement females or offered for sale to the public as replacement females for other herds. For more information about the Ohio Beef Heifers Development Program, call Bill Doig at 614-873-6736 or e-mail bdoig@ohiobeef.org.
Forage Focus: Have You Seen This Weed? Cressleaf Groundsel - Stan Smith, PA Fairfield County OSU Extension
In recent years, cressleaf groundsel - Senecio glabellas - has become an increasing problem in minimum and no-till row crop fields and aging hay fields with less than acceptable stands. This year due to the late planting season, I think I've seen more locally than ever before. Of significance to livestock producers is the fact that cressleaf groundsel is currently included in Ohio's Noxious Weed List due to its poisonous characteristics.
OSU Extension beef and sheep veterinarian Dr. Bill Shulaw tells us that under typical grazing conditions in Ohio, it is unlikely that animals will consume significant quantities of cressleaf groundsel because of the availability of higher quality, more palatable forages. However, Shulaw says poisoning could result under unusual conditions, such as drought, where good quality forage is not available. Hay containing significant amounts of the plant may pose an even greater risk according to Shulaw.
Poisoning usually occurs as a result of consumption of the plants over several days to several months. Because the effect on the liver is cumulative, signs of poisoning can occur weeks to months after consumption of the plant ceases. The signs are directly attributable to liver degeneration and failure. Affected animals usually show depression and loss of appetite initially, and progress to neurological signs with head pressing, aimless walking, incoordination, and rectal straining.
In the OSU publication Cressleaf Groundsel the plant is described as a member of the Aster/Composite family. It goes by many other names, including butterweed, yellowtop, golden ragwort, and yellow ragwort. It has a winter annual life cycle, meaning that it emerges in the fall and flowers in the spring. Cressleaf groundsel reproduces only from seeds. Each plant produces many (probably 100's of thousands) seeds that are readily moved by wind currents. It grows well in many different environments including saturated soils.
Nearly all species of Senecio are considered potentially toxic plants because they contain compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These are metabolized in the liver to other compounds that are toxic, primarily to the liver cells. The PAs are found in the plant throughout the growing season but appear to be at their highest levels when the plant is in the bud to flower stage. The flowering portions of the plant and the youngest tissues generally contain the highest concentrations. PAs are not destroyed by the hay-making and curing process. Ensiling of forages may reduce the concentration of PAs, but will not entirely eliminate them. Sheep are considered more resistant to the effects of PAs than cattle and horses, and have been used in some areas to control the plant. However, sheep are susceptible to poisoning if they consume sufficient amounts.
For more information on identifying cressleaf groundsel, see OSU Bulletin 866 at this link: http://ohioline.osu.edu/b866/b866_12.html
For more information on management and control of the plant, go to this PDF version of the publication Cressleaf Groundsel: http://agcrops.osu.edu/weeds/documents/Cressleaf_groundsel_article_-_p.pdf
Preharvest Application of Glyphosate in Alfalfa and Other Legumes - Bill Curran, Weed Science, PA Extension
In the FCN article I wrote last week, I neglected to mention the option of using glyphosate as a preharvest application for stand removal in alfalfa and clover. Glyphosate may be applied to declining stands to help control the legumes and other plant species. This can be particularly helpful for control of perennial grasses including quackgrass. If the crop is harvested or grazed by livestock, use up to 1.5 lb ae/acre (2 quarts of a 3lb ae/gal) in alfalfa or 1.125 lb ae/acre (1.5 qt of a 3lb ae/gal) for clover. The minimum interval between application and harvest is 36 hours for alfalfa and 3 days for clover. This treatment will not provide sufficient control of the legume, but it will suppress it and potentially allow for more timely control and reduced competition in no-till corn. In no-till corn, a postemergence application should be made to control the legume regrowth. As discussed in last weeks article, the plant growth regulator herbicides (including 2,4-D, Banvel, and Stinger or clopyralid) are most effective for control of alfalfa. In Roundup Ready corn, glyphosate can also help suppress the legume, but will probably not be sufficient alone for complete control.
Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report - Mike Roberts, Commodity Marketing Agent, Virginia Tech
LIVE CATTLE futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) were down on Monday. The JUNE'08LC contract closed at $93.100/cwt, down $0.775/cwt and $1.200/cwt lower than last Monday. AUG'08LC futures were off $1.200/cwt at $97.900/cwt and $2.200/cwt lower than a week ago. Fund selling, sell stops and worries over premiums pressured prices. According to two floor sources, traders were thinking that packers would back off buying having filled needed orders prior to heading into the holiday weekend but countered that Monday's downturn was exaggerated and prices could rebound on Tuesday and Wednesday. Providing some support for prices was USDA's monthly cattle-on-feed report and the 5-area average for live cattle; placed at $94.06/cwt vs. $93.86/cwt this time last week. The Cattle-on-Feed report showed April marketings 111% of last year while putting April placements at 98% of a year ago. USDA's boxed beef was placed at $156.57, up $0.01/cwt. The estimated packer margin for Monday was placed at $34.95/head vs. $41.40/head a week ago, according to HedgersEdge.com. This was estimated on the average packer buy of $93.90/cwt vs. a breakeven buy of $96.75/cwt. Cash sellers should consider pushing cattle off the feed lot as soon as they are ready. It is a very good idea to price more corn inputs at this time.
FEEDER CATTLE at the CME were off on Monday. The May'08FC contract finished at $107.875/cwt, down $0.600/cwt but only $0.05/cwt lower than a week ago. The May contract expires on May 22. AUG'08FC futures were down $1.325/cwt at $111.750/cwt but $0.975/cwt higher than last Monday. Spot selling ahead of the end of the May contract, board premiums to the CME Feeder Cattle Index and spillover from live cattle pressured prices. Feeder futures started the day with the RSI overbought in many contracts and ended up that way as well. This could trigger selling later in the week. Cash feeders in Oklahoma City last week were up $1-$2/cwt. The latest CME Feeder Cattle Index for May 15 was placed at $106.73/cwt, up $0.13/cwt. It might be a good idea to price more corn needs now if you don't have grass.
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
Fairfield County Agriculture and Natural Resources
