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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 # 657
Corn Ear Rot and Potential Mycotoxin - Pierce Paul, Dennis Mills, Plant Pathology, OSU Extension and OARDC
We have had several reports of ear rot problems in corn. This disease is caused by one or more of several fungi capable of infecting, colonizing and damaging the ear. The most common members of the ear rot complex are Gibberella zeae (causes Gibberella ear rot), Stenocarpella maydis (causes Diplodia ear rot) and members of the genus Fusarium (causes Fusarium ear rot).
Gibberella ear rot, is the most common of the ear rots this year, however, we have also received reports of Diplodia ear rot in some fields. Diplodia causes a thick white mass of mold to grow on the ear, usually initiating from the base of the ear and growing toward the ear tip. Diplodia infections can begin before tassel emergence up to silking. With Gibberella ear rot, the fungus enters the ear tips through the silk channel. A visible white to pink mold covering the ear tip or more of the ears is characteristic of this disease. Gibberella ear rot is generally most severe when rain and wet weather is prevalent during the 7 to 10 days after silking.
The Gibberella ear rot fungus produces mycotoxins that are harmful to animals. These include deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) and zearalenone and T-2 toxin, all of which may cause health problems in livestock. Therefore, suspect grain should be tested for these mycotoxins by chemical analysis before being fed to animals. As a general rule do not feed any grain with 5% or more Gibberella moldy kernels. Hogs and young animals are particularly sensitive to these mycotoxins. Diplodia ear rot is less of a concern from a mycotoxin standpoint. There have been no reports of Diplodia producing mycotoxins that are harmful to animals in Ohio, but animals do refuse to eat grain with high levels of Diplodia-damaged kernels. Additionally, severely affected grain has low nutritional value.
Certain hybrids are more susceptible to one or more ear rots than others. Examine ears to determine the presence of ear molds. Make a note of which ear rots are present and hybrids that are most affected. Make future hybrid choices based on this information.
Growers are advised to follow certain harvest and storage guidelines to minimize problems associated with kernel rots and mycotoxin contamination:
1. Harvest at the correct moisture and adjust harvest equipment to minimize damage to kernels. Mold and mycotoxins tend to be higher in (machine or insect) damaged kernels.
2. Dry harvested grain to 15% moisture and below to prevent further mold development in storage.
3. Store dried grain at cool temperatures (36 to 44 F) in clean, dry bins. Moderate to high temperatures are favorable for fungal growth and toxin production.
4. Periodically check grain for mold, insects, and temperature.
5. If mold is found, send a grain sample for a mycotoxin analysis to determine if toxins are present and at what level. For more on moldy grain, mycotoxins, and mycotoxins sampling and analysis visit the following websites: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ohiofieldcropdisease/Mycotoxins/mycopagedefault.htm or http://ohioline.osu.edu/b802/ear_kernel_rots.html
Forage Focus: Overgraze Pastures This Fall Before Over-Seeding a Legume - Marvin Hall, Penn State Forage Specialist
Adding legumes to cool-season pastures is the best way to increase forage quality and animal performance. Legumes increase protein, forage digestibility and intake when added to a grass pasture. As a bonus, legumes make their own nitrogen which reduces fertilizer costs.
The biggest challenge to establishing legumes into an existing grass pasture is competition by the grass on new, slow growing seedlings. Anything you do to reduce competition and slow down grass growth will help. One of the best ways to slow down spring grass growth is to graze it hard now. Heavy grazing this fall prior to frost seeding this winter or no-till seeding next spring will weaken the existing grass, reduce its spring growth and remove much of the old dead thatch. This will give the new legume seedlings a better chance to get started.
While you're at it, also collect some soil samples. Then analyze them and apply any needed fertilizer. Legumes often need extra phosphorus and sometimes lime to improve soil pH.
Cow/Calf Schools are Planned
Get the latest on pasture management, herd health, grain outlook and other livestock related topics at an Ohio State University Cow/Calf School being held in November.
The school will take place on Mondays throughout November (Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 23) at the OSU Extension Belle Valley Regional Office, State Rt. 215, Belle Valley, Ohio. The school will begin at 6 p.m. each day.
Topics being covered during the Cow/Calf School include:
* Nov. 2 - Water systems, pasture and grazing, presented by Clif Little and Mark Landefeld, OSU Extension.
* Nov. 9 - Herd health, vaccinations and health-related issues, Phil Lowe, DVM.
* Nov. 16 - Mineral supplementation and cow winter supplementation, presented by Steve Boyles, OSU Extension; Grain outlook, presented by Matt Roberts, OSU ag economist.
* Nov. 23 - Feeding options for wintering calves and yearlings, presented by Francis Fluharty, OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
The cost for the event is $5 per person for all four classes. For more information, contact Steve Schumacher at (740) 695-1455, Mark Landefeld at (740) 472-0810, or Clif Little at (740) 732-5681, or the OSU Extension South Central Regional Office at southcental@ag.osu.edu.
The event is sponsored by OSU Extension offices in Belmont, Guernsey, Monroe and Noble counties.
A similar program entitled Cow/Calf 101 will be held in Logan (Hocking County) during January and in February a four week follow up to last year's Managing Dynamic Change series in Hillsboro and Athens are presently in the planning stages. More details, including registration information will be available in coming issues of this publication.
Cull Cow Marketing Considerations - Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
Cull cows have the most pronounced seasonal price pattern of any class of cattle and one of the most reliable patterns as well. Cull cow prices typically bottom in late October through November and rise from December through the first half of the year. A ten-year average shows that cull cow prices in the Southern Plains tend to increase from the November low by eight percent into January; 15 percent into February; and about 18 percent into March and April.
This means that more years than not a producer can take a thin cull cow in November and add some weight and sell more pounds at a higher price by holding the cow until February or March. Additionally, a thin cow that moves up, say one body condition score may bring an additional carcass premium compared to her condition at culling. Obviously the economic feasibility of this depends on the costs and availability of feed resources and a number of management considerations. The costs of gain are significant as cows are relatively inefficient in terms of feed conversion. Additionally, retaining cull cows is not recommended for cows that are not fundamentally sound and healthy.
There are some unique considerations as well as typical market considerations for culling this fall. Cull cow prices weakened in July and have remained soft into the fall. Much of the weakness is due to softness in the processing meat sector, driven by ample competing meat supplies and the availability of competitively priced imported processing beef. Additionally, the dairy sector has funded dairy cow liquidation programs that have added price pressure in specific weeks and in specific locations. After two rounds of dairy cow buyout that resulted in spikes in cow slaughter in May/June and in September, the dairy industry (Cooperatives Working Together or CWT) has announced a third buyout for 2009. The timing of the slaughter of these cows will likely be in November, precisely on top of the seasonal peak in beef cow culling. This may add another reason for beef cow-calf producers to consider retaining and feeding their cull cows this year.
The concern for the timing of this third round of dairy cow buyout is not so much that it drastically changes the overall supply and demand picture for cull cow markets. The fact is that so far this year the increase in dairy cow slaughter has been matched by decreased beef cow slaughter and total cow slaughter for the year is up only slightly from year ago levels. The problem is more localized in that the two to three week surge in dairy cow slaughter in November may seriously impact cull cow prices in certain locations where the dairy cows are being marketed.
A New Technology for Determining Pregnancy in Your Cows - Dr. Les Anderson, Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky
Last month I discussed the importance of obtaining a pregnancy diagnosis on your cows this fall. Pregnancy rates appear to be lower than normal this year likely due to the cows suffering through two consecutive years of drought. I received several questions regarding a fairly new technology for determining pregnancy in cattle. Researchers have developed a method to determine pregnancy in cattle via blood sampling. The blood test is called BioPRYN and is marked by a company called Bio Tracking LLC.
The blood test method to determine pregnancy is simple and accurate. First, a blood sampling kit needs to be ordered from the company. The easiest method is to go to biotracking.com and look for their products. Usually, the cost is about $1.55 per cow for the kit. All the tubes should be labeled according to the instructions in the kit. The most difficult part of this process for most producers will be obtaining the blood sample. Cows must be at least 30 days pregnant and 90 days from calving for the test to work. Also, producer's who have no experience taking a blood sample will need to schedule this test with their local veterinarian. Once the sample is obtained, the samples are packaged and sent to one of Bio Tracking's 25 laboratories located across the US. The cost for the test is $2.40 per cow. So the total cost per cow will be the cost of the kit ($1.55), plus the test cost ($2.40), plus the cost of mailing and any costs associated with obtaining the sample if you cannot do it yourself. Likely the cost per cow will be less than $5 for most producers.
The results are normally obtained with 2-3 weeks and the accuracy of the test is very high. If the test calls the cow open, then the producer is 99+% sure the cow is open. When the test determines a cow pregnant, you can be 93-95% sure they are pregnant. This test will not determine stage of pregnancy (i.e. 90 days versus 120 days).
Many beef producers in Kentucky have limited access to large animal veterinarians. Using this blood sampling technique for pregnancy determination may be a solution to these producers who have been unable to obtain a pregnancy diagnosis in their cows.
Cool, Wet Weather has Weakened Feeder Cattle Prices in the Southern Plains - Derrell S. Peel, OSU Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
More years than not, a September rain in Oklahoma will result in higher stocker cattle prices because the challenge of establishing wheat pasture is usually one of not enough moisture. This year, wetter and cooler than normal conditions much of the time since August have delayed stocker cattle demand for wheat pasture. The cool, wet weather has generally been favorable for rapid development of wheat stands despite some difficulties in planting and some washout of young wheat during heavy rains.
However, producers have been reluctant to receive cattle in the prevailing sloppy conditions of the past month. Calf and stocker prices declined through September and early October but have shown signs of stabilizing the past week. The weather forecast brings hope of more sunshine and dry conditions in the next 10 days or so and stocker demand will likely pick up. Both demand and supply of stocker cattle are expected to increase for the next month so the price impact is uncertain but likely will be stable to a slight increase.
Cattle markets have generally struggled recently under the weight of mostly unhelpful news from several fronts. Heavy feeder cattle prices continue to be limited by very weak fed cattle and boxed beef prices and there is no sign of improvement in consumer beef demand. The latest trade numbers confirm that beef exports weakened in August under the weight of cheap competing meats. The December corn futures price rallied by roughly $0.70/bushel from the early September lows despite USDA's confirmation of a 13 plus billion bushel corn crop this year. However, the corn market rally appears to have topped out in the last few days.
USDA released the October Cattle on Feed report Friday which confirmed another month of relatively large placements and smaller marketings. September placements were 105 percent of last year and marketings were 96 percent of a year ago. This brings the feedlot inventory on October 1 to 101 percent of year ago levels. This is the first time on-feed totals have exceeded year earlier levels since April of 2008. This situation does not suggest an immediate problem in fed cattle markets but a continuation of sluggish marketings in future months will inevitably add supply pressure to a fed cattle market already struggling with weak demand.
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 OCT'09LC contract, scheduled to expire on October 30, closed up $0.600/cwt at $84.700/cwt; $2.500/cwt higher than this time last week. DEC'09LC futures closed at $86.450/cwt; up $0.650/cwt and $1.150/cwt over last report. The 5-area USDA average price was placed at $80.86/cwt; $1.37/cwt lower than this time last week. Position squaring was noted ahead of Friday's USDA Cattle-on-Feed report. Analysts estimate cattle-on-feed numbers to be 100.3% of last year's figures. September placements are expected to average 105.2% of last year. September marketings are estimated at 96% - 98.8% of this time last year. USDA put the choice beef cutout at $135.87/cwt; up $0.50/cwt and $1.95/cwt higher than last report. Cash cattle are expected to trade $0.50 - $1.00/cwt higher by Wednesday. According to HedgersEdge.com, average packer margins were raised $23.15from a week ago to a positive $7.75/head based on the average buy of $81.09/cwt vs. the average breakeven of $81.68/cwt. It is a good idea to sell cattle when ready.
FEEDER CATTLE at the CME finished mixed on Monday. The OCT'09FC contract closed at $94.800/cwt; up $0.250/cwt but $0.775/cwt higher than a week ago. NOV'09FC futures closed at $95.525/cwt; up $0.400/cwt and $1.350/cwt higher than last Monday. MAR'10FC futures finished at $96.700/cwt; off $0.350/cwt. Feeders followed live cattle higher in nearby contracts. The firmer tone to live cattle is expected to stimulate additional interest later this week. Cash feeders at the closely watched Oklahoma City auction were steady. The CME feeder cattle index for October 14 was placed at $93.25/cwt; up $0.22/cwt but $0.30/cwt lower than this time last week. Look for corn prices to remain steady to firm for this week.
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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