Land and Livestock Post

October 1, 2012

Good Bull

THINGS TO CONSIDER SO YOU GET THE BEST BULL FOR YOUR COWS

Annual Bull Issue SOWING OATS

PAG E 20

KEEP ‘EM COMIN’

New oat, winter wheat varieties released.

Increase breedback in first-calf heifers.

PAGE 6

PAGE 25

LOW COTTON

HAY FEVER

Cotton declines as grain prices rise.

Stock up on hay to get through the winter.

PAGE 12

PAGE 27

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From the General Manager have several articles on how to get the most work from your bull and keep him healthy, happy and productive. We also have some suggestions and things to look for if you’re looking to buy a new bull.

In addition to the articles, we also have a lot of advertisements for sales and events coming up this fall. For those looking to rebuild after the drought, or upgrade your herd, some of the top leaders in the industry are in these pages and they have the knowledge and the stock to get you started up again and on the right track.

Along with the bull information, and the ads, we have a pretty good mix, including stories about cotton, feral hogs, and upcoming educational opportunities, just to name a few. I’m sure you can find something you like and, as always, thanks for reading. ’Til next time,

By Steve ByrnS Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Hardly a day goes by that the feral hog invasion doesn’t draw media mention, but the math associated with many of the reports has been mostly speculative — until now, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Jared Timmons, AgriLife Extension Plum Creek Watershed Feral Hog Education Program assistant in San Marcos, said the new publication “Feral Hog Population Growth, Density and Harvest in Texas” (SP-472) has solid numbers backed by research to substantiate many of the claims made by those following the feral hog invasion. The publication available for $1 per copy joins more than a dozen other feral hog-related publications available at agrilifebookstore.org.

“It’s pretty well accepted that feral hogs cause at least $52 mil-

lion in agricultural losses each year in Texas,” Timmons said.

“But what’s poorly understood are the pests’ population dynamics; their survival, reproduction and density for example. The work represented in this publication literally puts facts to figures when it comes to this invasive species that exhibits the highest reproductive capability of any hoofed animal.

That trait alone makes population reduction difficult.”

The publication reports the number of feral hogs in the state as between 1 million and 4 million.

These estimates are not based on scientific fact, though increased reports of damage suggest the statewide population is growing and expanding in range.

By examining a number of scientific studies throughout the southeastern U.S. and Texas, the publication authors were able to create a statewide mathematical

• October 1, 2012

obert Earl Keen, Texas country singer, songwriter and fellow Aggie, came to town recently to help kick off the Texas A&M football season. I’m sure Keen did the best he could, so he can’t be blamed for the first game’s outcome.

But, I am glad to see that at least some of the music I thought was “cool” back in my college days is still socially acceptable among the college kids of today. One of my favorite REK songs is Front Porch Song, and with this being our Annual Bull Issue, the first verse has been stuck in my head all week: This old porch is a big ol’ red and white Herford bull Standin’ under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce, Texas He keeps on playin’ hide and seek with that hot August sun Sweatin’ and a pantin’ cause his work is never done ... .

Being a bull, (or just putting together a Bull Issue), is a lot of work. In this issue we

New feral hog publication reportsaccuratenumbers

The Land & Livestock Post

News

See Learn, Page a4

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October 1, 2012

• The Land & Livestock Post

News

Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Billy Higginbotham Feral hogs cause millions of dollars in damage in Texas each year. A revised A&M AgriLife Extension Service publication will help producers deal with the wild animals.

Learn how to control the wild hog population Continued from A4 model of feral hog populations using sex, age and reproductive characteristics.

“The population model estimated an 18-21 percent annual population growth with the current average statewide population being 2.6 million head,” Timmons said. “Using these improved population figures, agencies and landowners can understand better the scope of the feral hog problem in Texas.

“Bottom-line, it’s not good.

In order to hold our feral hog population at its current level, the annual harvest rate needs to be at least 66 percent for the next five years or more. This alone should be a major cause for concern since the estimated annual harvest is currently only 29 percent.”

Joining Timmons as coauthors for the publication were Billy Higginbotham and Jim Cathey, AgriLife Extension

4

specialists at Overton and College Station, respectively; Roel Lopez, Janell Mellish and Jonathan Griffin with Texas A&M University’s department of wildlife and fisheries sciences; Aaron Sumrall, AgriLife Extension agent in Newton County; and Kevin Skow, GIS specialist with Texas A&M Institute of Renewable and Natural Resources and the Texas Water Resources Institute in College Station.

Support for the Plum Creek Watershed Feral Hog program is provided through Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source funding from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information regarding feral hog management efforts in the Plum Creek watershed, visit plumcreek.tamu. edu/feralhogs/ or contact Timmons at 254-485-4886, jbtimmons@ag.tamu.edu.

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• October 1, 2012

Oak Creek Farms Sale Facility, Chappell Hill, Texas

The Land & Livestock Post

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News Two new oat and winter wheat varieties released by A&M AgriLife Research small grains breeding team

By Kay LedBetter Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Two new cultivars have been released by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research small grains breeding team, according to Amir Ibrahim, small grains breeder and geneticist in the department of soil and crop sciences.

The release of TAMO 411 oat variety and TAM 305 hard red winter wheat was approved recently by Mark Hussey, director of AgriLife Research.

Ibrahim said TAMO 411 is a dual-purpose winter oat developed by the statewide small grains breeding program under the leadership of Ibrahim, who is in the College Station Center of Excellence, and Jackie Rudd, an AgriLife Research wheat breeder in the Amarillo Center of Excellence.

TAMO 411 resulted from the cross of TAMO 405 and PlotSpike oats made in 2003, he said. Due to a combination of crown rust resistance and winter hardiness, this line will be suitable for growth in South, Central and Northeast Texas, as well as adjacent states with similar adaptation requirements.

“This new and improved cultivar combines excellent grain yield, test weight, forage potential, winter hardiness and straw strength to resist lodging,” Ibrahim said.

“It also has excellent resistance to current races of crown rust in Texas and moderate resistance to current stem rust races prevalent in Texas,” Ibrahim said.

TAMO 411 requires an average of 104 days to reach maturity and averaged 42 inches in height, while TAMO 405 is

slightly earlier at 101 days and shorter at 36 inches, he said.

While some taller oats have weak straw and tend to lodge, Ibrahim said TAMO 411 provides the added biomass but does not lose straw strength.

Ibrahim said TAMO 411 has been submitted for Plant Variety Protection.

Authorized seed classes of TAMO 411 in the U.S. will be foundation, registered and certified. Breeder and foundation seed of TAMO 411 will be maintained by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Foundation Seed unit.

TAMO 411 will be available for licensing to competing private entities and some certified seed should be available to producers for planting in fall 2013, he said.

TAM 305 wheat was approved for production in the Rolling Plains, South Texas and the Blacklands, Ibrahim said.

These areas suffer losses from leaf and stripe rusts, and “TAM 305 will provide excellent resistance to these diseases.”

“Three years of performance testing indicated that TAM 305 is well adapted and will be competitive in these regions,” he said.

“We’ve watched TAM 305 come up through the selection process and it should be a great fit for these areas,” Rudd said.

“Common parents used in the development of TAM 305 include TAM 200, TAM 105, and Century, which is a sibling of Fannin, as well as two different wild grass relatives.”

The test weight of TAM 305 was 60 pounds per bushel when averaged over 31 sites, the same as TAM 112, and higher than TAM 401, which averaged 57 pounds per bushel, Ibrahim

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Forage yield trials involving TAM 305 were conducted in 10 environments during the 20092010 and 2010-2011 growing seasons. Initial results indicate that this new hard red winter wheat cultivar has good forage production and re-growth potential following clipping, he said.

Also, Ibrahim said, milling and baking quality characteristics of TAM 305 were rated as “very good” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s Hard Winter Wheat Quality Laboratory in Manhattan, Kan. Loaf volume was higher than the three check varieties and all other Texas entries evaluated.

TAM 305 also will be available for licensing and, like TAMO 411, should be available to proTexas AgriLife Research photo ducers for planting in fall 2013, TAMO 305 wheat recently was approved for production in the Rolling Plains, South Texas and the Blacklands. he said.

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Higher grain prices could have long-lasting effect

By Blair Fannin Texas AgriLife Extension Service

been, this rally is only a couple of months old. It started in midJune and it will take some time get through this.”

Moderate energy prices have helped curtail any drastic increases in food prices, Welch said.

Gasoline and diesel prices have been absorbed by manufacturers of food products and transportation costs have been held in check.

In the meantime, Welch said he doesn’t see a dramatic increase in Texas corn acres in 2013.

Texas does not have ideal growing conditions for corn due MARK WELCH to hot temperatures and water on the exports market. Given the restrictions in some aquifers, high prices that we are seeing, hampering irrigation potential, we are probably about where we he said. Welch noted the Ogallala aquifer as an example. need to be.”

“Farmers are squeezing all of Meanwhile, food prices will continue to be a target of higher the efficiencies they can and trying to hang onto the acres they corn prices.

“It certainly will have some in- have for existing crops,” Welch fluence over time,” Welch said. said. “There is the possibility for “We need to remember as dra- a dryland shift into grain sormatic a price jump as this has ghum, but I think that’s limited.”

Special to The Post

CONROE — Michael Potter has been named Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for horticulture in Montgomery County.

The announcement was made

by Dale A. Fritz, district AgriLife Extension administrator, and the Montgomery County Commissioners Court.

Potter assumed his new duties on Sept. 17 and fills the position previously held by Tom LeRoy, who retired at the end of June.

• October 1, 2012

High grain prices continue to take a toll on the livestock sector as higher feed costs erode profit margins and lower bids for beef cattle, pork and related markets, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist.

“The high grain prices have had more of a direct impact on the livestock sector than anything,” said Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension grains marketing economist in College Station.

“It will take some time to adjust to this. We are seeing fewer broiler chicks placed on feed through 2012. The sow slaughter is above the five-year average.

The drought has pushed more cattle to feedlots, but also has

increased herd culling.”

Welch said over time the profit potential in the livestock sector and the long-term implications for feed in the future “will mean lower feed demand in response to lower livestock and poultry numbers.”

Overall, Welch said economists are still trying to get a firm number on the nation’s overall grain supply for 2012.

“The early indications are 2 billion bushels below last year’s crop,” he said. “U.S. Department of Agriculture reports are stabilizing now, but we are at yieldreduction levels comparable to the 1988 drought.”

Welch said latest field surveys indicate a national yield of 120 bushels per acre, three bushels below USDA’s August yield report.

“It looks like we are on track for 120 bushels an acre,” he said.

“The question is once we get the supply situation settled, how far have we cut back on usage?

We’ve cut back on ethanol use, feed use, and we’re pulling back

AgriLife Horticulture agent appointed in Montgomery County

The Land & Livestock Post

News

7

• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News Ranch Management University to address forage, livestock issues at A&M Oct. 29-Nov. 1

By Kay LedBetter Texas AgriLife Extension Service

COLLEGE STATION — The fall session of Ranch Management University is approaching rapidly and limited seating is beginning to fill up, according to Larry Redmon, workshop coordinator and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state forage specialist.

The five-day program targeting novice landowners is scheduled Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 at the G. Rollie White Visitor’s Center on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.

“This unique workshop provides a foundation of knowledge for those who are new to owning land in Texas,” Redmon said. “It is designed to help new landowners improve their understanding regarding management of the various resources they find on their ranch properties.”

Registration is $500 and attendance is limited to the first 40 people who enroll. To register online and to obtain additional information, go to agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter “ranch management” as the keyword.

The fall workshop topics include: soils and soil fertility,

forage species selection, hay production, weed and brush management, winter pasture establishment and utilization, beef cattle breed selection, nutrient requirements and feeding strategies for livestock, grazing management strategies, live-animal handling and demonstrations of vaccinating, dehorning and cattle castration.

There will be sessions on sheep and goat production and management, as well as a session for horse owners.

“An agricultural economist will also be part of the agenda, discussing a number of topics including how to plan for profit, how to develop a marketing plan and a look at alternative enterprises,” Redmon said.

Several wildlife management topics are also on the agenda, ranging from white-tailed deer and turkey management to fisheries management in ranch ponds and feral hog control.

Meals and break refreshments are covered by the registration cost, as well as a resource CD containing more than 100 publications covering ranch resource management.

For additional information, contact Redmon at 979-845-4826 or l-redmon@tamu.edu.

Seminar on forage, DNA testing to be held Oct. 26 Special to The Post

Developing cattle on forage will be the main topic of an Oct. 26 seminar in Chappell Hill.

Larry Pierce, county agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will speak at the seminar at the sale facility of Oak Creek Farms in Washington County.

Pierce’s speech will be fol-

lowed by Kevin Milliner of Pfizer, who will speak on the latest technology in DNA testing.

The seminar will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The seminar is part of the presale activities, including a ribeye dinner, that will take place before the Oak Creek Farms annual bull sale.

For more information call Oak Creek Farms at 979-836-6832.

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

10

News

Many parts of West Texas still short of rain

By RoBeRt BuRns Texas AgriLife Extension Service

All parts of the state received rain Sept. 11-18, with many areas getting 2 to 3 inches, and isolated areas getting more than 5 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Large parts of the Panhandle and the Rolling Plains areas received 1 inch to 1.5 inches.

Even the Far West received rain, with large pockets getting 1 inch to 1.5 inches or more, but most areas getting a trace to 0.5 inches, according to the weather service.

Though the rains were welcome and helped crops, soilmoisture levels in many western parts of the state remained short or very short, according to this week’s reports by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agents. And some areas still remained far behind

in rainfall for the year.

In the Panhandle, the drought is causing big changes in the way farmers — especially those who irrigate — manage water and cropping rotations, said Nich Kenny, AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist in Amarillo.

Despite the recent rains, the Panhandle remains about 7 inches behind for the year, he said.

“Irrigation needs in the Texas High Plains have opened some farmers’ eyes in the last couple years,” Kenny said.

“After two years of severe drought, they’ve come to admit the drought is likely here to stay and that cropping patterns are going to have to be adapted accordingly.”

Kenny said that during the last two years, irrigators have Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Steve Byrns A summer shower moves across the dry lake bed of O.C. Fisher Reservoir near San Angelo in September.

By Blair Fannin Texas AgriLife Extension Service

• October 1, 2012

COLLEGE STATION — Brant Poe has joined the Texas A&M University department of animal science as a lecturer and will transition into coordinating the Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team in 2013, according to Russell Cross, department head.

Poe will be responsible for teaching livestock evaluation, general animal science and meat evaluation, and will begin working with members of the junior livestock judging team this fall in preparation for the start of the 2013 spring competition season.

Poe will work in cooperation with Jake Franke. Franke has served as livestock judging team coordinator since 2009 and will continue to coordinate the 2012 senior livestock judging team this fall with the assistance of Jake Thorne as coach. Franke is due to graduate from Texas A&M with a doctorate in animal science this December and has accepted a position with XF Enterprises as a manager of the company’s supply chain management program in Amarillo.

“The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team is one of the strongest in the country and for this we can thank the talented leadership,” Cross said. “We are excited to bring Brant Poe on board. His proven record of success at Blinn College along with his experience in livestock judging at Texas A&M makes him highly qualified to lead our program and continue the tradition of excellence.”

Cross said Franke has provided the team with “outstanding leadership and knowledge.”

“Under his direction, the team has won numerous national competitions and continued to set the standard for livestock judging across the country,” he said. “We are proud of what he’s done for our livestock judging program and what he’s accom-

The Land & Livestock Post

News Poe joins A&M animal science department

BRANT POE plished academically. We only wish the best for Jake as he enters the next step in his career.”

Since 2002, Poe has worked at Blinn Junior College in Brenham as an animal science instructor and as coach and coordinator of its livestock judging team. As an instructor, he taught introduction to animal science and livestock evaluation courses.

Poe led the livestock judging team to numerous championship finishes at national competitions including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Exposition, the National Western Stock Show and the Southwestern Exposition. In 2009 and 2011, Poe was named Junior College Coach of the Year by the National Junior College Coaches Association.

A two-time graduate of Texas A&M University, Poe earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2000 and a master of education in agriculture education in 2003.

As an undergraduate student, Poe was a member of the 1999 National Champion Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team.

That same year, he finished in the top 10 at eight intercollegiate national contests.

11

• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News

Shift in cotton acres could occur as grain prices rise

By Blair Fannin Texas AgriLife Extension Service

COLLEGE STATION — High grain prices as a result of continuous drought in the Midwest could cause a potential shift in some Texas cotton acreage looking ahead to the 2013 crop year, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists.

John Robinson, AgriLife Extension cotton economist in College Station, said you would have to look back six years to when the Lone Star State last saw a significant change in cotton acres.

“The last time we had a major reduction was over 20 percent in 2006-2007 as a result of higher grain prices,” he said. “Even though we don’t grow a lot of soybeans, I hear stories of high sorghum prices that will tempt a lot of growers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see our acreage drop down 20 percent to about 5 million cotton acres.”

Welch said, as prices continue an upward trend over the past three months.

“If we get a bunch of rain, this could lead to a lot of opportunity,” he said.

Texas plants approximately 6 million wheat acres. If the state receives ample rain this fall, there could be an increase in harvested acreage and possibly an increase nationwide. This is in response to wheat following the recent run-up in corn prices, eclipsing more than $8 a bushel, Welch said.

“We are certainly setting ourselves up for a very large grain crop in 2013,” Welch said.

Robinson said cotton prices will “pretty much stay in a sideways channel.”

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand “They’ve been just under 70 Cotton stands thick and tall awaiting harvest by Joe Wilder in his cotton picker in cents a pound to most recently Brazos County. Cotton prices are predicted to be in a tight range in the near term.

77 cents a pound,” he said. “I’m “There is the possibility, but if they have a failed cotton crop. expecting a continuation of a it is limited,” said Mark Welch, Overall, cotton farmers are cot- range, sideways action pattern bouncing around with some outAgriLife Extension economist in ton farmers.”

College Station. “Grain sorghum The outcome of the 2013 wheat side news. I’m expecting prices in the High Plains is secondary crop is the biggest question, to trade anywhere from 80 cents

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12

to the low 70s.”

Robinson said prices could react accordingly to some type of world supply news, such as India, which hand harvests its cotton and could possibly come up a million bales short of expectations.

“That might generate a market rally,” he said.

Marketing strategies for cotton producers this late in the season are limited.

“There is not much in the options world you can do at the moment,” Robinson said.

“I think right now just getting the best cash offer you can is the main thing. If you are shopping around for call options you might be able to catch any upside surprise.”

Robinson said producers could take advantage of any possible volatility on the December 2013 futures by buying options “way in advance, so it may be worth shopping and thinking about what is affordable and what the price direction is.”

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• October 1, 2012

pumped as much water as they typically pump in three growing seasons, which has caused Ogallala Aquifer levels to further declines.

The Ogallala Aquifer stretches across eight states, from Texas through Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming, Kenny said. It supplies about 30 percent of the nation’s groundwater for irrigation, and drinking water for many communities, and its decline is dictating big changes for irrigated agriculture.

“To maintain the sustainability of agriculture in the region – especially irrigated agriculture – they know they’re going to have to look at different crop rotations, look at splitting fields, incorporating more cotton, more sorghum, more winter wheat, into typical corn-cropping patterns,” he said.

“The idea that they can rely on so much rainfall, and always bank on it, has become a bit of a fallacy. They’ve had enough crop damage and real risk from drought that they’re just managing differently.”

Kenny also noted that modern center pivot and drip irrigation systems are approaching 100 percent efficiency, which means sustainability is going to have to come from dif-

ferent water and crop management systems.

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at agrilife.tamu.edu/ drought/.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries for Sept. 10-17: Southeast — Burleson County had scattered showers, with some areas getting 2.5 inches. However, most of the county remained very dry. Brazoria County also reported scattered showers. Orange County weather allowed producers to harvest hay. The cotton harvest was ongoing. The first reports of fall armyworm activity on Bermuda grass in the hay fields came in from the Damon area, south of Houston.

Central —— Producers were expecting rain and planting small grains. Pecans made good progress with most trees having heavy nut loads. The cotton harvest was ongoing, with some producers nearly finished. Pastures were beginning to show severe moisture stress. Some producers were preparing fields for the winter wheat crop, with planting to begin early October. Overseeding of Bermuda grass pastures with small grains and ryegrass was expected to begin late September.

The pecan harvest was predicted to start soon, with good yields expected.

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

14

News

Parts of Texas doing all right with rainfall amounts Continued from A13 Coastal Bend — The region received much-needed rain, which halted fieldwork, including cottonstalk destruction. Producers completely finished harvesting grain sorghum. Producers were also preparing fields for the next growing season. About 5 percent of the first rice crop was yet to be harvested.

Those with earlier-planted rice expected to get a ratoon crop. Rangeland and pastures were improved by recent rains. However, more rain was needed.

East — The region had spotty showers and cooler temperatures.

Most counties received from 1 inch to 5 inches of rain, with only a few counties getting no measurable amount. Soil-moisture levels improved in most counties, and many producers were taking another hay cutting. Farmers were planning winter forages. Some earlier plantings were already emerging. Army-

worms were damaging pastures and hayfields. Cattle remained in good condition. Livestock producers continued weaning and backgrounding calves. Hunters were planting food plots for white-tailed deer. Pecan growers reported heavy nut loads.

Southwest — The region received widespread, much-needed rain, with accumulations from 0.25 inch to 5 inches. Cooler temperatures accompanied the rain. Winter perennials were expected to improve because of the rain. However, surface water remained very low.

Medina Lake, a major source of irrigation, was at 13 percent capacity. The cotton harvest was nearly complete, and some wheat and oats were being planted. Fall corn made good progress.

Far West — Highs were in the upper 90s, and lows were in the mid- to upper 60s. Some counties received scattered showers. Presidio County reported 0.5 inch to 2 inches

of rain; Val Verde County had 1.2 to 3.2 inches. Ward County reported that rangeland and pastures improved slightly due to the recent rains, but the rain came too late to expect much grass growth. Cotton in that county looked fairly good and was just beginning to open bolls. Showers in Pecos County allowed farmers to shut off irrigation.

Brewster County reported cattle were in fair condition, with stockers gaining weight. Farmers continued to supplement livestock.

North — Soil moisture was short to adequate in most counties, making good conditions for plowing. The weather cooled, but there was no rain was received, and stock ponds were getting low. Most producers who plan to grow winter pastures were getting ready to plant or had already started. Hay producers were preparing to take a last hay cutting. No armyworms or insect problems were reported, but feral hogs issues continued. Livestock

were in good condition.

Panhandle — Temperatures were slightly above average un-

til midweek when a cold front

Use caution, go slowly when restocking herds

By Blair Fannin Texas AgriLife Extension Service

See Don’t, Page A16

• October 1, 2012

BRYAN — Beef producers considering restocking herds should do so slowly, allowing time for pastures to recover and effectively choose cattle that are a right fit for their operation, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

At the Brazos Valley Beef and Forage Expo and E.D. “Doug” Davidson Hay Testing program held recently at the Brazos County Expo, a number of experts discussed topics of interest to area ranchers. Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in College Station, said producers need to choose replacement heifers and cattle that are best adapted to their environment.

“You also need to find cattle that you can breed to the right bull, producing the calf quality and traits that you need,” he said.

“Appropriate frame size is another thing to consider. We tend to get cattle that are big. When we go back in and restock, get some cattle that are more moderately framed perhaps so (ranchers) can run more of them on a given piece of land and produce more calves. Your total pounds produced per acre normally goes up when you have smaller cows on an operation. If you look at total pounds produced, that’s the business we are in: selling pounds and getting more pounds per acre.”

Gill said he sees some Texas ranchers holding off and patiently waiting before restocking.

“I think they are waiting and I’m encouraging them to wait until the timing is right,” he said.

“We need to be ready to rebuild and look for some bargains.”

Gill said some cattle shipped out of state last year during the Texas drought may need

The Land & Livestock Post

Annual Bull Issue

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin Ron Gill, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist and associate department head for animal science at Texas A&M University, discusses replacement heifer options with producers at the Beef and Forage Expo in Bryan.

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

Annual Bull Issue

Don’t just buy the first bull you come across Continued from A15 to come back to the Lone Star State as drought has ravaged the Midwest and parts of the southeastern U.S. He said there may be potential to pick up some cattle at bargain prices for these type of cattle, but overall urges producers to ease back into restocking and be mindful of good biosecurity practices.

“Biosecurity is a huge component to this restocking deal,” he said. “It’s also another reason to ease back into it.”

Gill advised producers to be aware of trichomoniasis or “trich,” a sexually transmitted disease that can cause female cattle to abort.

“If you are buying bred females in the last two-thirds of gestation, trich is normally not an issue,” he said.

“If you are buying open cows or short-bred cows, trich is something you should be concerned about because they can

abort,” Gill said.

Bovine Viral Diarrhea is a virus cattleman also should be mindful of when purchasing cows, Gill said.

“If a cow has been exposed to it during a small window during gestation, the calf could become persistently infected or the (purchased) cows could be persistently infected themselves,” Gill said.

“If you are bringing in a set of cows, I strongly recommend they be tested. When you buy cattle, don’t mix with your home cattle until you are sure they are straight. Be sure and get with your veterinarian and develop a biosecurity program to take every precaution you can to prevent introduction of health problems into your herd.”

Gill said generally cattle producers should be cautious and stock conservatively.

“Don’t jump back in as most Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photos by Blair Fannin pastures haven’t recovered anyRon Gill,TexasA&MAgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist and associate department head for animal science atTexas way,” he said.

A&M University, said producers need to choose replacement heifers and cattle that are best adapted to their environment.

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Readying fields for next season Continued from A14

the summer and played out. After the rain, some ranchers were planting wheat, hoping to get the crop up and growing quickly so it could be grazed. For many, getting wheat up soon will be the only way they can hold cattle through the winter, as hay supplies are mostly gone.

South — Some parts of the region received rain, somewhat improving rangeland and pastures.

But there was not enough rain to significantly improve soil-moisture levels, which remained short to very short throughout most of the region. Where rain fell, accumulations varied from 0.4 inch to 4.4 inches.

Livestock producers continued to sell off remaining cattle a few at a time. Only the bigger ranches still had large herds after culling.

Supplemental feed prices remained high, and supplying water for cattle remained a challenge for many livestock producers. However, cattle body-condition scores remained good to fair. Peanuts continued to

See Starting, Page a18

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brought rain and cooler weather.

Accumulations ranged from a trace to 2.5 inches. Soil-moisture levels continued to be mostly very short to short. The corn and sorghum harvests were ongoing. Cotton was in very poor to good condition, with most counties reporting fair. Wheat planting resumed after the rains.

Rangeland and pasture conditions were mostly in very poor to poor condition.

Rolling Plains — Cool, wet weather prevailed in most of the region. Some areas received as much as 4 inches while others remained dry. In some areas, the rain greened up pastures overnight and grass quickly grew a couple of inches. The wet weather also helped cotton, but for some it was too little, too late.

Late-planted cotton needed more warm weather. Other cotton growers expected to be contacting crop insurance companies to determine if some fields were worth harvesting. Early planted cotton seemed to have been overly stressed during

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News Trusted livestock pest control publication gets revamped

By Steve ByrnS Texas AgriLife Extension Service

STEPHENVILLE — One of the Texas A&M AgriLife Ex-

tension Service’s old standby livestock pest control reference publications has been updated, revamped and split in two.

The first installment is now available to the public, said the effort’s coordinator.

Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension entomologist at Stephenville, said the original publication was known as “Managing External Parasites of Texas Livestock and Poultry”B-1306, but now is being released as two separate publications The first, “Managing External Parasites of Texas Cattle” (E-570), is available electronically now at the AgriLife Bookstore (agrilifebookstore. org) and emphasizes pastured beef cattle.

The second, “Managing External Parasites of Horses, Pigs, Sheep and Goats” will follow next year.

She said the poultry component was redone previously and released as “Poultry Pest Management” (E-445).

“The original work was written a decade or two ago,” said Swiger.

“It addressed external parasites that attack all livestock and was the reference most AgriLife Extension agents grabbed when questions arose concerning livestock pest control.

“But I wanted to provide more in-depth information on the insect species involved, along with pictures for visual identification, so producers would know without a doubt what they were dealing with.

With all the added information, it was clear some of the livestock species had to be dropped to keep the publication manageable.”

The new publication stresses the integrated pest management approach which uses the most effective, environmentally safe strategies available, Swiger said.

Starting to rebuild herds Continued from A17

18

develop in Atascosa and Frio counties. Row crops in the Jim Wells County area were all harvested, and fields in that area of the region were being plowed for the next crop season. In Zavala County, cotton ginning was ongoing, producers were planting cotton and preparing seedbeds for planting spinach, broccoli and onions. In Hidalgo County, harvesting of summer row crops was finished, preparations for harvesting early oranges were under way and fall vegetable planting continued. In Starr County, growers were planting fall onions.

South Plains — Thanks to a cold front that came through Sept.

12, most counties got 0.5 inch es to 2 inches of rain. Temperatures dropped about 15 degrees as the front passed, with northerly winds and blowing dust.

Highs were only in the 60s on Sept. 13, and in the 70s through the weekend. Most cotton producers stopped irrigating, but were

still monitoring for weeds and insect pests. Bolls were opening in most fields. Some producers had applied harvest aids. Crosby County reported some cotton was already harvested. The harvesting of sunflowers and grain sorghum began. Rangeland and pastures were mostly in fair to good condition, depending upon how much rain was received. Cattle were in mostly good condition.

West Central — Days were warm with much cooler nights.

Most areas reported rain, which was expected to raise soil-moisture levels. Wheat and oat planting was in full swing as fields dried out. Most irrigated cotton was in good to very good condition.

The rain was expected to improve pasture and rangeland conditions. Livestock remained in good condition, with supplemental feeding increasing. Stock-tank levels continued to be a concern for producers, though there was some replenishment from the recent rains.

The Land & Livestock Post

â&#x20AC;˘ October 1, 2012

19

• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

Annual Bull Issue

Bullish on the herd

How to get the most out of your bull selection

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

C

ommercial cow/calf operators regularly purchase purebred bulls from seedstock producers for a good reason. A bull contributes 50 percent of the genetics in calves born from 15 to 35 cows and the sire’s genetics become more concentrated if he is bred to his daughters and granddaughters Investment in a good bull usually can be recovered within two to three years through additional calf weights. The longer a bull can be kept in service, the more he will add to the bottom line. So buying the right bull is very important.

Selecting a bull is a big challenge because there are so many factors to consider. Most seedstock producers have EPDs (expected progeny differences), DNA markers, ultrasound data, health records and BSE (breeding sounding exam) results available for potential purchasers to examine. Additionally there is the structural correctness of the animal to evaluate.

Information overload easily can occur when trying to consider all of the bull buying fundamentals at one time.

To alleviate this problem, a buyer needs to choose bull characteristics that are most important to the operation. Seedstock producers build their reputations on supplying the type of animals that are desired and as a result, they will help buyers make the right decisions.

What universities recommend

20

Joe Paschal, livestock specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service and a rancher in Corpus Christi, suggests that cow/calf producers ask for expected progeny differences when buying herd sires.

He said that when looking at EPDs, it is important to consider the environment in which the animal will be used and the marketing program through which your calves will be sold.

“An important EPD data point is weaning weight,” Paschal said.. “Weaning weights help determine the selling price of a calf. Producer income is based on the number of calves they sell, weight of the calves and what the buyer is paying on sale day. Good calf growth

Photo By Robert Fears The right bull can pay for itself within a year or two through an increase in the number and size of its offspring. Experts caution that selection of the right bull is critical to a producer. is essential for producing profits and herd replacements. Bulls that can produce calves with good growth potential should be selected.”

Martha Thomas of the University of Florida presents several factors to consider when buying bulls.

She suggests researching marketing ability of the various cattle breeds by visiting markets and bull sales.

Through the market research, determine which breed will produce a calf with the highest demand.

“You want to select bulls that are acclimated to your ranch’s climate and management conditions,” Thomas said.

“It is also important to determine if they will produce the type of calf you want such as replacement heifers or feeders. You want a moderate frame

on a bull and conformation, structural soundness and temperament must always be evaluated,” she said. “ Other traits to evaluate include carcass qualities such as fat thickness, ribeye area and marbling. Scrotal circumference is an important trait because it affects fertility and early maturity of the bull’s offspring.

“The common-sense process of buying bulls has not changed much,” said Kris Ringwall, North Dakota State University beef specialist. “The requirements are simple. The bull needs four decent legs, a bit of appropriate muscle indicative of the product and a functioning reproductive system. Cost usually determines which bull is taken home.

“Producer evaluation needs to focus

on phenotype (what a bull looks like) and genotype (the genes a bull will pass to his progeny),” Ringwall said. “Breed associations publish the evaluations of purebred bulls for appropriate traits that are indicative of performance and associated with the genes that will be passed to their offspring. These publications are called sire summaries and contain a tremendous amount of data.

Use of these data will help producers make an informed decision.

“Numbers work and the producer should compare managerial and production expectations with the evaluations of the bull’s performance. If one needs high growth, why not look for bulls that rank high in their weaning

See Careful, Page a22

2011 drought may lead to vitamin A deficiencies in cattle

By DonalD StottS Oklahoma State University

• October 1, 2012

STILLWATER, Okla. — Cattle producers in Oklahoma and other Southern Plains states need to be aware that drought conditions potentially can cause vitamin A deficiencies in their animals.

Vitamin A is rarely a concern in range cattle nutritional programs because it is readily synthesized from carotene that is common in green growing plants. In drought situations where plants become dead or dormant, however, the carotene content becomes practically devoid and may lead to a deficiency of the precursor to vitamin A. “Carotene is very low in mature, weathered forages, grains and many crop residues, and will be lost in stored hay crops over extended periods of time,” said Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension emeritus livestock specialist. “If hay that was stored throughout all of last fall and winter is to be fed in the upcoming winter, the vitamin A content will be considerably less than when that forage was originally harvested.”

In addition, some scientists have suggested that high nitrate forages common in drought years can exaggerate vitamin A deficiencies.

“Deficiencies of vitamin A usually show up first as weak, blind or stillborn calves,” Selk said. “Other signs are scours, re-

spiratory problems, poor gains and poor reproduction.”

Fortunately, the liver of cattle is capable of storing vitamin A for long periods and frequent supplementation is not necessary. A singular injection of one million international units of vitamin A provides sufficient vitamin for two months to four months in growing and breeding cattle.

“It is important to remember that vitamin A and A, D and E injections have been found — on very rare occasions — to cause a severe reaction to the vaccine,” Selk said. “Producers should consult their veterinarian about the use of these products.”

Because the daily requirements of beef cows range from 30,000 to 50,000 international units, depending on size, stage of production and level of milk production, supplements can be fortified with vitamin A to supply the minimum daily requirement.

“Depending on the quantity of range supplement being provided, vitamin A can be added to supplements at the rate of 5,000 to 10,000 international units per pound of feed,” Selk said.

Anyone interested in obtaining additional information about vitamin and mineral needs for grazing cattle should consult the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service circular E-861, “Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition of Grazing Cattle,” available through all OSU Cooperative Extension county offices or at osufacts.okstate.edu.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

10522 FM 2095 • Gause, Texas 77857 Billy Stein • 979.200.1300 billy@fluhartyfarms.net

21

• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

Annual Bull Issue

Careful selection of a bull can lead to big dividends Continued from A20 weight EPD or yearling weight EPD.”

Bull power is real

“The reason that I believe in bull power is that you can see a difference in the calf crop the first year you add a good sire to the herd,” said Ronald Lastovica, who owns and operates Milano Livestock Exchange in Milano with his brother, Steven. “For this to happen, however, you must purchase a bull that matches your cows.”

“Buying a bull is the most important investment a rancher can make,” Steven Lastovica said. “The right bull can make a cattleman a lot of money.

Before you decide what type of bull you want, it is important to make sure you know your objectives for that animal. Is it to increase weaning weights, to

raise good replacement heifers or some other goal? After you have determined your objective for the bull, select a reputable breeder from whom to buy your new herd sire.”

“Make sure that the bull you select merits the cost,” Steven Lastovica said. “The bull should look like a bull. He should have good muscle, good bone, an adequate frame and testicular development. Determine if the bull is structurally sound and then look at his genetics.

“We find if you put a really good bull with fertile cows that produce an adequate milk supply, you can top the market with the calf crop. The cow has to give the calf the ability to live up to its genetic potential.”

Ronald Lastovica gives an example of investment returns that can occur when a

See Matching, Page a23

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Photo by Robert Fears A factor in bull selection is the type of cows to which it will be bred. Producers are urged to check animal health thoroughly before making a purchase.

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Matching the bull to the cows is important for success Continued from A22

Buying influences

“Eye appeal of a bullis important to me,” said Mike Garrett, owner and operator of the Garrett Angus Ranch near Rosebud. “I like a bull with a lot of length and depth and a meaty-looking animal.

The animal should have a bull head and look like a bull. Birth weight and weaning weight are the two EPDs that are important to me. I sell my calves soon after weaning and I want them weighing heavy.”

“There are some basic deci-

sions to make before you even look at a bull,” said Wayne Cockrell of Carter Ranch in Oakwood.

“You first have to decide which breed you want to buy.

All the breeds have different characteristics and capabilities and you must determine which one best fits your ranching operation and environment. We run Angus and Brangus, so at least, we can narrow it to two breeds,” Cockrell said.

To capture bull power, it is necessary to select herd sires that will fit the ranch environment, management system, breeding program and marketing channels. Selection tools include conformation, individual production records, expected progeny difference and DNA markers. Different combinations of these tools are used by Photo by Robert Fears producers depending on their Producers don’t need Match.com, but they should match a bull they are considering buying with the herd that bull will service. objectives.

• October 1, 2012

bred bull is matched with the right cows. He assumes that the newly purchased bull breeds 25 cows resulting in a 90 percent calf crop which is 22 calves.

The bull produces calves with an additional 50 pounds weaning weight than produced by the previous herd sire for a total additional weight for the 22 calves of 1100 pounds.

If the calves sell at a dollar per pound, the new bull has provided an additional $1,100 income to the ranch. With this amount of return, it won’t take long for the bull to pay for itself.

“It continually becomes more difficult to make money in the cow/calf business,” Steven Lastovica said. “Most cattlemen have reduced their variable costs as much as possible without affecting income. The

remaining avenue available for increasing income and profit is through improved efficiency and genetics of the cow herd.

A key area on which to focus is buying the right bull. Some of our customers spend as much on their bulls as do seedstock producers and the investments are making them money.”

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Increasing breedback on first-calf heifers

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• Start the replacement heifer breeding season 21 days before the cow herd breeding season and limit it to two or three heat cycles. This will give the first-calf heifers three extra weeks to involute their reproductive tract and begin

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estrus cycles. It also will assure that all heifers calve early in the calving season. A late calving replacement heifer often becomes an open first-calver.

• Have replacement heifers in excellent body condition at calving. First calvers have a greater requirement for protein and energy than mature cows because first calvers are still growing. Thus, they need to be calved in better body condition than mature cows. Recommendations are for cows to calve at a body condition score (BCS) of 5.5 to 6.0 out of a possible 9 in the Texas beef cow body condition scoring system.

Replacement heifers should calve at a BCS of 6.0 to 7.0.

Many ranchers worry that heifers at a BCS 7 will have an increase in dystocia rates.

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with liver flukes along the Gulf Coast found much lower pregnancy rates in untreated heifers compared to heifers treated for liver flukes.

• Consider early weaning of calves of first –calf heifers.

Early weaning of calves (at three to four months) is a highly successful way to increase pregnancy rates in first-calf heifers, especially if the heifers calved in lower than ideal body condition.

Herds that I have advised that early weaned the calves of heifers had excellent pregnancy rates (around 90 percent).

Many beef herds routinely early-wean calves of replacement heifers because of its high effectiveness.

If you never have earlyweaned calves, see your ranch veterinarian to plan the

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ferent BCS at first calving find no difference in dystocia rates between heifers calving at BCS 6 or BCS 7. Apparently a heifer at BCS 7 does not carry enough fat within her birth canal to produce a narrowing that could interfere with passage of a calf. It is, however, possible to increase dystocia rates by fattening heifers to a BCS more than 7.

Proper nutrition is key to calving heifers at a recommended BCS. In addition, a parasite control program is a must in these young animals not resistant to detrimental effects of parasites. In addition to stomach worms, be sure you take steps to control external parasites including face flies and lice. If your ranch is infested with liver flukes, you must include fluke control in your parasite control program.

Studies done in heifers infected

• October 1, 2012

uestion: “I need to do a better job on breedback in my first-calf heifers.

They always have the lowest pregnancy rates in the herd. I don’t think disease is the problem. I’ve got a good vaccination program and my cows don’t have trouble with abortions.

What advice do you have to get my first-calf heifers to breedback?”

Answer: You have a great question. Getting heifers with their first calf at side pregnant is the hardest reproductive job on most beef ranches. So, many ranchers could benefit from the answer to your question.

High pregnancy rates in beef cattle only result when the 4 B’s of fertility are properly managed: body condition, bulls, bugs and balanced minerals. Management of bulls (nutrition and breeding soundness examinations) and bugs

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Get bull management problems under control (high voltage, high joule rating) charger. With these systems, bulls usually can be controlled with a single electrified wire.

However it is done, producers should strive for a controlled breeding season. Without this single element, most other management becomes difficult if not impossible. lenges” cows by breeding them to a bull from a more muscular and growth oriented breed. Remember no replacement heifers will be kept so you don’t have to worry about “maternal” traits when selecting bulls. And because all of the cows are at least 3 years old, they should be able to give birth safely to a larger calf.

You can now focus on the production of the best market calf.

Breeding mature cows to sire breeds with more growth and muscularity is known as “terminal crossbreeding.” Of course the term “terminal” only applies if all calves are marketed (no replacement heifers are kept).

October 1, 2012

• The Land & Livestock Post

Annual Bull Issue

Photo courtesy of bullpictures.org Failure to take care of bull health issues early can affect herd success.

By John Winder The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

We often think about the bull as the means of introducing new genetics into a beef herd. Management of the bull (or lack of it) after purchase, however, is often the “Achilles Heel” of cattle production. Failure to pay attention to important management practices affecting the bull often results in reduced calving rates, increased calf mortality, and loss of uniformity and marketability.

Poor bull management practices result in three critical pitfalls. Let’s examine each of these and consider ways that these

problems can be avoided.

Uncontrolled calving

Controlled calving, of course, means that you have to remove your bull or bulls from the cowherd for most of the year. Often small producers with limited pastures have a difficult time housing the bull when not breeding. Also when the bull is held behind traditional fences, he often escapes and breeds cows out of season. Perhaps the easiest way to keep the bull away from cows is with electric fencing.

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When bulls with greater growth potential and muscularity (Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, etc.) are mated to moderate sized cows with adequate milk production potential, weaning weights often increase by 50 to 100 pounds. Of course, quality “terminal” bulls must be used to get these results.

Disease transmission

Unfortunately many producers buy mature bulls for breeding. This practice always is dangerous. There are several reproductive diseases that can be spread by the bull. Most cause abortion (death and expulsion of the fetus). Though some reproductive diseases are prevented adequately by vaccination of the cow herd, there are others that are much more difficult to prevent. One of these diseases is “trichomoniasis” or “trich.”

Protozoa carried by the bull cause trichomoniasis.

Because of anatomical differences, older bulls are much more likely to carry the organism than younger bulls.

As bulls age, small indentations occur in tissues on and around the penis. This is where the trichomoniasis organism resides in infected bulls. Because the organism is largely protected within these “crypts”, they are difficult to find and culture. As a result, diagnosis of trichomoniasis in the bull is fairly difficult.

Tests often result in false negatives. In other words, organisms are not cultured even though the bull is infected.

When bulls transmit trichomoniasis to the herd, cows frequently abort. It is not uncommon to see 30 to 40 percent calf crops in trichomoniasis infected herds.

Fortunately, good bull management largely prevents the occurrence of this disease. First,

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Photo courtesy of Natural Resources Conservation Service Having adequate supplies of hay available is critical as producers make plans for winter management. ture condition ratings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture places 43 percent of Oklahoma pasture and ranges in “very poor condition,” with another 37 percent in “poor condition.”

“These ratings reflect the lack of rainfall this summer,” Peel said. “In the last 120 days, Oklahoma has received only 52 percent of its average rainfall totals, with a deficit of 6.81 inches of rain for the period.”

Some regions of the state are well below this average, including the North Central region with 39 percent of average rainfall, the West Central region with 45 percent of average rainfall

and the Panhandle region, with 48 percent of average rainfall.

“Having adequate supplies of hay available is critical as producers make plans for winter management,” Peel said.

“Though current conditions are not as extreme as this time last year, it could be a very long win-

be very tight with Arkansas having the worst hay situation, with Kansas and Missouri in roughly the same hay situation as Oklahoma,” he said. “Nationally, hay supplies will be down 14 percent from the 2006-2010 average and hay prices are projected at records levels. Hay may not be available or affordable.”

While hay flowed into Oklahoma for many months last year, there are calls from surrounding regions this year with cattle producers looking to buy hay or relocate cows from other drought areas.

Last winter, mild weather and late season rains that provided wheat pasture came to the rescue of many cattle producers. It might happen again this year, or it might not.

“Preparing for January and February conditions now is a good investment in time, energy and effort, and may save a producer’s wallet come next year,” Peel said.

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S T I L LWAT E R , O k l a . — Although Oklahoma’s 2012 drought conditions typically have not caused as much distress this summer as a year ago, many cattle producers are still in a reduced stocking situation, and that could make for painful business decisions.

Oklahoma auction market totals show the contrast between the two years, with reported feeder cattle volume since July 4 having decreased 30 percent from the same period last year, while cow and bull sales decreased a whopping 69 percent from the severe destocking rates of 2011.

“This likely means that cattle producers have made much less adjustment to drought conditions this year compared to 2011,” said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist. “The current situation in Oklahoma is still very severe.”

The latest Drought Monitor indicates that 91 percent of Oklahoma is in the worst two drought categories, with 40 percent in the D4 “exceptional drought” category. The latest range and pas-

ter for producers tending to the nutrition needs of their herds.”

Oklahoma hay production in 2012 is significantly higher than 2011 but still well below average.

Projected alfalfa hay production has increased 54 percent compared to last year, but is still 61 percent below the 2006-2010 average. Similarly, other hay production is projected to have increased 56 percent compared to 2011, but that number is still 27 percent below the five-year average.

“Hay production projections for Oklahoma, combined with May 1 hay stocks that were down 41 percent from the 2006-2010 average, mean that hay supplies for the winter will be well below average,” Peel said.

Peel added that there seems to be considerable variation around the state, with some producers reporting ample hay supplies while others appear to be short of needed supplies.

“Regional hay supplies will

The Land & Livestock Post

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

Bull Issue Head off problems before they become serious Continued from A26

lenges” cows by breeding them to a bull from a more muscular and growth oriented breed. Remember no replacement heifers will be kept so you don’t have to worry about “maternal” traits when selecting bulls. And because all of the cows are at least 3 years old, they should be able to give birth safely to a larger calf.

You can now focus on the production of the best market calf.

Breeding mature cows to sire breeds with more growth and muscularity is known as “terminal crossbreeding.” Of course the term “terminal” only applies if all calves are marketed (no replacement heifers are kept).

When bulls with greater growth potential and muscularity (Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, etc.) are mated to moderate sized cows with adequate milk production potential, weaning weights often increase by 50 to 100 pounds. Of course, quality “terminal” bulls must be used to get these results.

Disease transmission

the organism is largely protected within these “crypts”, they are difficult to find and culture. As a result, diagnosis of trichomoniasis in the bull is fairly difficult.

Tests often result in false negatives. In other words, organisms are not cultured even though the bull is infected.

When bulls transmit trichomoniasis to the herd, cows frequently abort. It is not uncommon to see 30 to 40 percent calf crops in trichomoniasis infected herds.

Fortunately, good bull management largely prevents the occurrence of this disease. First, producers always should avoid buying bulls that have been bred to cows in other herds unless they are absolutely certain that the herd was clean. It is best to avoid buying mature bulls (those more than 2 years old) altogether.

Producers who buy mature bulls at the sale barn for breeding are playing “Russian Roulette” with their herds. Cows carry the disease for relatively short periods (180 days).

Because the disease is only transmitted during breeding, cows in herds with controlled calving seasons (less than 120 days) do not become “reservoirs” of disease organisms.

This is yet another good reason for controlled, seasonal breeding and calving. If breeding and calving seasons are controlled (less than 120 days), if only virgin bulls are purchased, and if bulls are culled at 5 to 7 years old, trichomoniasis can usually be avoided.

The saying that a chain is no stronger than its weakest link is very applicable to beef cattle production. Bull management is one of the key links that needs to be fortified before other progress becomes possible.

Unfortunately many producers buy mature bulls for breeding. This practice always is dangerous. There are several reproductive diseases that can be spread by the bull. Most cause abortion (death and expulsion of the fetus). Though some reproductive diseases are prevented adequately by vaccination of the cow herd, there are others that are much more difficult to prevent. One of these diseases is “trichomoniasis” or “trich.”

Protozoa carried by the bull cause trichomoniasis.

Because of anatomical differences, older bulls are much more likely to carry the organism than younger bulls.

As bulls age, small indentations occur in tissues on and • This article originally appeared in around the penis. This is where the trichomoniasis organism re- the Ag News & Views publication of sides in infected bulls. Because TheSamuelRobertsNobleFoundation.

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Health care and nutritional management of beef bulls Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

Disease prevention

A preventive herd health plan always should include bulls. A comprehensive plan for bulls should be developed with the herd veterinarian and include purchasing decisions (health status of the herd of origin), vaccinations, deworming and nutrition. Vaccinations are generally the same as for the cow herd, but additional or more frequent vaccinations may be warranted based on the value of the bulls.

Bulls are generally more susPhoto courtesy of ubiabulls.com ceptible to parasites, so attention Genotype and phenotype are important factors in bull selection, but information about health also should be considered. to both internal and external A breeding soundness evalu- other area, such an injury may parasite control is crucial. diseases prior to purchase, test Any disease that impacts the ation does not evaluate a bull’s render it incapable of breeding while in quarantine. libido or actual mating ability, cows. Therefore, it is important health of bulls can impact fertilHealth maintenance nor does it ensure that a bull to observe bulls closely through- ity. In the South, heat stress is • Breeding Soundness Examina- will remain a satisfactory poten- out the breeding season for li- a major cause of bull infertility tion should be completed each tial breeder the entire breeding bido, mating ability, health and and decreased libido. High temyear at least three months be- season. peratures, especially combined injuries. fore breeding season. This leaves If a bull suffers injury to its For more information on See Caring, Page a35 time to recheck questionable feet, legs, reproductive tract or BSEs, see “Bull Breeding Soundbulls and locate replacements if necessary.

A BSE is a uniform method of assessing a bull’s likelihood of accomplishing pregnancy in an appropriate number of open, healthy, cycling cows or heifers in a defined breeding season.

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• October 1, 2012

Bulls usually are purchased from outside sources.

Genotype and phenotype are important factors in bull selection, but information about health should be considered also.

The following health issues should be considered: • Breeding Soundness Examination (BSE) are critical. Only purchase bulls that have been classified as Satisfactory Potential Breeders following a complete BSE. • The recommended minimum requirements for scrotal circumference, sperm motility and sperm morphology as outlined by the Society for Theriogenology should be met.

• Purchase only virgin bulls to avoid introducing venereal diseases. Although there are tests for ve nereal diseases such as Trichomoniasis, they are not 100 percent in determining that a bull is not a carrier (see “Bovine Trichomoniasis” at www. lsuagcenter.com).

• Testing for other diseases such as Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Johne’s Disease and Anaplasmosis, etc., should be considered and discussed with the herd veterinarian.

Testing prior to purchase is preferred.

• Purchase bulls from local sources. Heat stress has a major impact on fertility and libido in bulls.

Bulls from herds developed in the Southeast will be acclimated to heat and have fewer problems.

• Quarantine bulls for four weeks prior to introducing to native bulls or cows.

If bulls were not tested for

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The Land & Livestock Post

Annual Bull Issue

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News

Company sues ABC for ‘pink slime’ defamation

By GRANT SCHULTE ANd CHET BROKAW Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. — Beef Products Inc. will face a steep climb in its “pink slime” defamation lawsuit against ABC News as the South Dakota-based meat processor works to rebuild its public image, legal experts say.

BPI sued ABC News Inc. for defamation last month over its coverage of a meat product that critics dub “pink slime,” claiming the network damaged the company by misleading consumers into believing it is unhealthy and unsafe.

The Dakota Dunes, S.D.-based meat processor must prove that the network knowingly spread false information and intended to harm its business. A lawyer for BPI expressed confidence that the company would prevail.

But defamation- and food-law experts said the case would be difficult to win.

The lawsuit seeks damages under South Dakota’s defamation law, as well as a 1994 state law that allows businesses to sue anyone if he or she knowingly spread false information that a food product is unsafe.

The company is seeking $1.2 billion in damages for roughly 200 “false and misleading and defamatory” statements about the product — officially known as lean, finely textured beef — said Dan Webb, BPI’s Chicagobased attorney.

The 257-page lawsuit names American Broadcasting Companies Inc., ABC News Inc., ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer and ABC correspondents Jim Avila

and David Kerley as defendants.

It also names Gerald Zirnstein, the USDA microbiologist who named the product “pink slime”; Carl Custer, a former federal food scientist; and Kit Foshee, a former BPI quality assurance manager who was interviewed

by ABC. ABC News, owned by The Walt Disney Co., denied BPI’s claims.

“The lawsuit is without merit,” Jeffrey W. Schneider, the news station’s senior vice president, said in a brief statement.

“We will contest it vigorously.”

Webb expressed confidence that the company would win.

The lawsuit filed in a Union County Court in South Dakota cites network reports that said the product was made with “low grade” meat, including “scraps” and “waste.” ABC News also allegedly said the beef was made from connective animal tissue, when, in fact, it’s made from muscle, according to the lawsuit.

Company officials have long insisted that the product is safe and healthy, and blamed the closure of three plants and roughly 700 layoffs on what they viewed as a smear campaign.

The lean, textured beef trimmings were the subject of many media reports earlier this year, and also have drawn comments from television chefs and food commentators. This year’s social media uproar prompted Beef Products to suspend operations at plants in Amarillo; Garden City, Kan.; and Waterloo, Iowa. Beef Products’ plants in Iowa and Kansas each produced about 350,000 pounds of lean, finely textured beef per day, while the one in Texas produced

about 200,000 pounds a day.

Nick Roth, director of engineering for BPI, said the company is “absolutely dedicated to rebuilding,” but he conceded that it’s going to be hard to get back to where they were before the controversy. Company officials said there are no plans to file for bankruptcy at this time.

“The U.S. places great importance on free speech and the value of open public debate,” Hamilton said. “A jury may have a very difficult time finding the news stories involved here were defamatory, or that there was any intent to harm the company.”

South Dakota is one of 13 states that have enacted a fooddisparagement law, but there’s virtually no history of the laws being used in lawsuits, said Neil Hamilton, a Drake University professor and director of the Agricultural Law Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

AP Photo/Nati Harnik The beef product known as lean finely textured beef, or “pink slime,” is frozen on a large drum as part of its manufacturing process at the Beef Products Inc.’s plant in South Sioux City, Neb.

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procedure. The single most important requirement for success is to feed the calves a high-protein/high energy diet.

This usually is accomplished by a combination of good hay free-choice and a grain ration fed daily. It’s important that the calves have received vaccinations against pneumonia agents before they are weaned.

A covered shelter to protect the calves from bad weather also is necessary. Details of earlyweaning have been covered in past LLP articles. Early-weaning must be planned and done right to work well.

• Provide replacement heifers and first-calving heifers with a balanced salt/trace mineral supplement. There has been much research on the relationship between mineral status and reproductive performance in beef cattle.

While there is controversy on the effect of some minerals in the diet on fertility, especially trace minerals, it’s clear that phosphorus is important for the fertility of replacement heifers and first-calf heifers.

The importance of the trace mineral copper for fertility has been debated extensively in Texas. Dr. Dennis Herd and I conducted many clinical trials on copper concentrations in Texas cattle. Replacement heifers with low copper body levels and a diet containing excessive levels of molybdenum, so called secondary copper deficiency, got pregnant later than heifers with adequate copper status. Only last year, a Canadian study reported that cows with low serum copper concen-

trations were more likely to be open than cows with adequate serum copper.

At our present level of understanding of minerals versus health and fertility of beef cattle it’s prudent to offer all cattle, especially the young, a balanced salt/trace mineral supplement. It will not increase breedback of first-calvers on most ranches as much as the above three management practices, but may help a little. You can get good advice on its composition in Dr. Dennis Herd’s Extension Service bulletin “Mineral Supplementation for Texas Beef Cattle.”

The Land & Livestock Post

News Increasing breedback can be a challenge

Bottom Line

Getting good breedback on first-calf heifers is a difficult job. Starting the breeding season for replacement heifers three weeks before the cow herd, calving heifers in excellent body condition, early weaning and providing a balanced salt/trace mineral supplement are management practices that result in excellent breedback in first-calf heifers. If you implement these 4 management strategies, use bulls that have passed a breeding soundness examination and have a proper vaccination program, the improvement in breedback of your first-calvers definitely will give you bragging rights at the coffee shop.

SALE EACH SATURDAY 31

• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

Commentary

Having a bone to pick with the farm dog I

was talking to Okie.

He’s the Farm Dog. He doesn’t care to go out on the range with the cow dogs.

His job is mostly guarding, barking and putting up a big front. He does it well. I found him under one of the trucks.

He’d dug a little bed in the dirt. It was in the shade. He seemed to be pondering.

“So,” I asked, “what are ya thinking?”

“School,” he said, “maybe goin’ to college.”

This was a new one for me.

He never seemed to be the studious kind.

“What would you major in?”

“Bones, I guess.”

“An anatomy student?” I questioned, “Archeologist?

Musician? Witch doctor? Osteopath?”

“No, I was thinking about

becoming a chef. Specialize in bones. You know, like Colonel Sanders specialized in chicken, Wilford Brimley specialized in oatmeal, and Eve specialized in apples.”

“Have you ever cooked anyBAXTER BLACK thing?” I On the Edge of asked.

Common Sense “No, but I’ve eaten a lot of bones,” he said.

“That’s for sure,” I said remembering the thousands of times a wide variety of carcass remnants were left tortured and mangled on the porch. “What kind of menu

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would you have? I mean, a bone is a bone, right?”

“Oh, you plebian hominid,” he waxed eloquently, “Not to a bone connoisseur.

That’s like saying a rope is a rope to a cowboy, or a dress is a dress to a bride, or all road kill is the same to a buzzard. When the only caviar you have ever eaten is that Powerball fluorescent fish bait, you have a very limited sense of the bountiful taste sensations that await you!”

“I guess you’re right,” I conceded, chastened by the breadth of his vision. “Do you actually have to cook the bone … ?”

“Not just cook the bone!” he said, looking down his nose at me, “It can be marinated, served au slime ro-

Baxter Black offers humorous look at rodeo cowboys Noted cowboy humorist Baxter Black has released his third novel, Ride, Cowboy, Ride, 8 Seconds Ain’t That Long, he describes as a funny, fast-paced inside look at the lives of rodeo cowboys and they women they love — or want to love.

Cooney Bedlam is a saddle bronc rider and a bull rider who has just fallen in love with the indefatigable Pica DeTroiT, but every time he tries to win her affections, he makes a fool of himself. When Pica is framed for felonious crimes by the diabolical Oui Oui Reese, Cooney and his traveling partner Straight Line pull out all the stops to try to prove her innocence and to compete at the National Finals Rodeo.

The 352-page hardcover book is available from TwoDot Publishing for $22.95.

Events Calendar

October-

Oct. 5: Return to the Remuda. 2012 Annual Sale, 6666 Ranch. Guthrie, TX 806-596-4424 Oct. 6: Heart of Texas Special Replacement Female Sale. Groesbeck, TX . 903-599-2403 Oct. 9: Powell Herefords 15th Annual Production Sale. Ft. McKavett, TX. 903-5992403 Oct. 10: R.A. Brown Ranch 38th Annual Bull, Female & Quarter Horse Sale. Throckmorton, TX 940-849-0611 Oct. 11: Jordan Cattle Auction, Special Bull Offering. San Saba, TX. Oct. 11: Dudley Bros. 51st Annual Bull Sale.

Comanche, TX. 325-356-2284 Oct. 13: Central Texas BBA Beef “On” Forage Performance Bull Sale, Brenham, TX Oct. 13: Milano Livestock Exchange, Fall Special Female Replacement Sale. Milano, TX. 512- 455-7641 Oct. 19: W4 Ranch, Annual Production Sale.

Morgan, TX. 817-595-1121 Oct. 19: Briggs Ranches 9th Annual Santa

Gertrudis Bull Sale. Bloomington, TX. 361573-7141 Oct. 20: 35th Annual Tri-Star Santa Gertrudis Sale. Bloomington, TX. 361-573-7141 Oct. 21: Texas Hereford Fall Classic. Buffalo, TX. 903-322-4940 Oct. 22: Farm Ranch & Equipment Auction.

Sealy, TX. 979-885-2400 Oct. 24: Texas Hereford Fall Classic. Buffalo, TX. 817-821-3544 Oct. 25: Central TX ICA All-Breed Bull & Female Sale. Gonzales, TX. 210-215-1139 Oct. 27: Oak Creek Farms Forage Tested Bull Sale. Chappell Hill, TX. 979-836-6832 Oct. 27: 3rd Annual Beef Production Field Day. Hearne, TX. (979) 828-5531 Oct. 27: Texas Limousin Association’s Fall Sale. College Station, TX. 303-220-1693 Oct. 27: 44 Farms Fall Bull & Female Sale.

Cameron, TX. 254-697-440 1

November –

Nov. 17: Collier Farms Performance Bull Sale.

Brenham, TX. 979-251-4642

Do you have a sale or event you’d like listed? Call Jesse Wright at (979) 731-4721 or email jesse.wright@theeagle.com

Livestock market reports Brazos Valley

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $200$225; 300-400 lbs., $170-$200; 400-500 lbs., $150-$165; 500-600 lbs., $140-$160; 600-700 lbs., $130-$140; 700-800 lbs., $120$130.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $170$210; 300-400 lbs., $150-$180; 400-500 lbs., $140-$170; 500-600 lbs., $130-$160; 600-700 lbs., $125-$140; 700-800 lbs., $108$130.

Slaughter bulls: $75-$90.

Slaughter cows: $60-$80.

Stocker cows: N/A. Cow/calf pairs: N/A.

Caldwell

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Exchange’s Sept. 13 sale: Head: 733.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $185$220; 400-500 lbs., $180-$200; 500-600 lbs., $150-$166; 600-700 lbs., $140-$155.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $175$185; 400-500 lbs., $145-$160; 500-600 lbs., $135-$145; 600-700 lbs., $120-$135.

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Sept. 12 sale: Head: 805

Something to gnaw on Continued from A32 sado, sliced into bone dollars, as ground bone burgers, served bone tartare with or without gristle and ligaments, as bone stew flavored by pieces of offal, hair and toenails, or simply wrapped in a tortilla á la bone burrito.”

“Wow!” said I, “I had no idea … .”

“Not only that, the menu could offer organic bones from wild animals who’ve never been vaccinated for distemper, treated for tapeworms, or eaten canned dog food. Ethnic restaurants draw big crowds, too.

Look at Burger King.”

“That’s not ethnic,” I said.

“King?” said Okie. “Like the King of England. There’re no kings in America. I’m guessing they dig up old kings in England and make burgers out of them. I could serve up King

Henry the 8th Clavicle with au jus of Ann Boleyn.

“And, when in Rome, do as the Roman dog chefs do. You’ve heard of Caesar Salad, why not Caesar Vertebrae?”

“Sounds interesting,” I said, “but where you gonna get a regular source of bones?”

“I’ve got a cousin in Miles City named Badget. His owner misspelled Badger on his birth certificate.

“He said they’ve dug up thousands of dinosaur skeletons up there. He said they were just like sheep, covered the country.” I looked at Okie.

I knew he’d never make it to Montana. He won’t even go to the mailbox unless I drive him.

But, I thought to myself, it’s nice to know that even good ol’ farm dogs dream big. Kinda like good ol’ farmers.

Groesbeck

Slaughter bulls: $87-$103.

Slaughter cows: $62-90.

Stocker cows: $850-$1,400.

Cow/calf pairs: $850-$1,600.

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction Market Sept. 13 sale: Head: 1,902 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $200$227.50; 300-400 lbs., $185$197; 400-500 lbs., $160-$184; 500-600 lbs., $140-$155; 600-700 lbs., $130-$145; 700-800 lbs., $120-$130.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160$187.50; 300-400 lbs., $150$187.50; 400-500 lbs., $135-$171; 500-600 lbs., $130-$151; 600-700 lbs., $120-$141; 700-800 lbs., $115-$140.

Slaughter bulls: $85-$99.50.

Slaughter cows: $65-$84.

Stocker cows: $850-$1,340.

Cow/calf pairs: $960-$1,475.

Milano

Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s Sept. 11 sale: Head: 655.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $152-

$209; 400-500 lbs., $150-$190; 500-600 lbs., $129-$168; 600-700 lbs., $110-$143.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $130$174; 400-500 lbs., $125-$162.50; 500-600 lbs., $117-$147.50; 600700 lbs., $111-$140.

Slaughter bulls: $92-$99.

Slaughter cows: $61-$88.

Stocker cows: $900-$1,175.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,275

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s Sept. 8 sale: Head: 1,364.

Steers: 150-300 lbs., $150$290; 300-400 lbs., $150-$220; 400-500 lbs., $125-$195; 500-600 lbs., $120-$163; 600-700 lbs., $115-$139.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $135$275; 300-400 lbs., $130-$185; 400-500 lbs., $120-$165; 500-600 lbs., $115-$155; 600-700 lbs., $115-$138.

Slaughter bulls: $80-$106.

Slaughter cows: $50-$82.

Stocker cows: $850-$1,300.

• October 1, 2012

Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission’s Sept. 11 sale: Head: 901 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $190$230; 300-400 lbs., $180-$225; 400-500 lbs., $154-$205; 500-600 lbs., $134-$160; 600-700 lbs., $120-$140; 700-800 lbs., $121$129.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $165$195, 300-400 lbs., $150-$180; 400-500 lbs., $130-$164; 500-600 lbs., $125-$144; 600-700 lbs., $116-$134; 700-800 lbs., $110$118.

Slaughter bulls: $85-$93.50.

Slaughter cows: $63-$80.

Bred cows: $830-$1,260.

Cow/calf pairs: N/A.

Marketing’s Sept. 8 sale: Head: 1,590 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $175$285; 200-300 lbs., $170-$230; 300-400 lbs., $165-$212; 400-500 lbs., $155-$180; 500-600 lbs., $130-$162; 600-700 lbs., $120$141; 700-800 lbs., $115-$134.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $150$225; 200-300 lbs., $145-$182; 300-400 lbs., $140-$180; 400-500 lbs., $135-$170; 500-600 lbs., $130-$157; 600-700 lbs., $125$142; 700-800 lbs., $115-$128.

Slaughter bulls: $84-$101.

Slaughter cows: $55-$84.

Bred cows: $925-$1,525.

Cow/calf pairs: $950-$1,575.

The Land & Livestock Post

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

Commentary

Both sides of the battle were locked and loaded

L

et me preface this story with the caveat of yes, alcohol was involved. Most good cowboy stories do and never have I heard one that started with, “Right after we had a salad or two … .”

In the years following this event, however, repeated sober recall has fine-tuned and layered the tale with unadulterated enhancement.

There had been a cowboy get-together of one sort or another, the occasion not the point, just the camaraderie of old friends, good food, cold beverages and unending laughter.

It was the kind of evening that makes memories and threatens reputations.

Often referred to as “The Shoot Out at Cedar Hills,” today’s version from the point of view of the shooter is something for the archives of New Mexico history. Time has allowed him — in his mind — to

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spin infamy into fame.

It all began with hard core ridicule for a bad shot taken at a skunk that was slinking around in the dark.

“This rotten skunk was threatening the household of women,” he explains today. “And I, as a dutyJULIE CARTER bound agent Cowgirl Sass and of the law, Savvy was dispatched to the scene. I found the culprit that I believed to be cocked and locked, so in return I took a defensive position, fired and saw a dangerous threat fall. However, the bullet did also penetrate the home of the women folk.”

“It is my belief, that in spite of the taint on my abilities to

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fire accurately under the circumstances of that night, and the ridicule that followed over the hole in the house, this will be recorded in history along with the likes of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett.

After all, it was Lincoln County, and I am sure I heard the skunk utter the words, ‘Quien es? Quien es?’just before my first shot was fired.

Give it a hundred years. I’ll be famous.”

The story has been told and retold and according to the law of legends, after the fifth telling it becomes fact.

“The investigators may try to prove that my aim was diminished by alcohol consumption,” the shooter defended,

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Later, it was discovered with a great deal of mirth that a couple of pilgrims who had rented a cabin nearby, Easterners who came to the West believing all buildings would have false fronts like a movie

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“but no one actually checked that night. Mr. 100 Percent Never Give a Drunk a Rifle, handed me the rifle to dispatch the skunk. The hole in the house is only inches above the ground, not through the living quarters.”

set and Indians still raided for scalps, were hiding under the kitchen table terrified of the gunfire.

There are some details that will never survive with the legend. The “agent of the law” is indeed an agent. An insurance agent. The first well aimed shot that killed the foundation of the house was not the bullet that actually killed the perpetrator, but in the end (the end of a pistol manned by a better shot) the skunk fell as intended.

A line from the movie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance fits this story perfectly. The newspaper man, understanding the truth about the killing of Valance, burns his notes and states, “This is the West, sir.

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

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Caring for bull’s health Continued from A29 with high humidity and high nighttime temperatures, especially are detrimental to bull health and fertility.

Bulls can be nutritionally classified into one of three categories: 1) Mature bulls in good body condition — Mature bulls can subsist on a 100 percent foragebased diet of moderate quality (7-10 percent crude protein and 50 percent TDN). They will consume approximately 2 percent of their body weight. For example, a 2,000-pound bull will need approximately 40 pounds of dry matter daily.

2) Mature bulls that need to gain weight — Mature bulls that need to gain weight will require forage plus potentially a grain supplement. Their diet will need to consist of 8-10 percent crude protein and 55-65 percent TDN. The greater the weight gain

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• October 1, 2012

Nutrition

needed, the greater the energy concentration needed in the diet.

3) Young bulls (2 year olds and yearlings) — Young bulls should be targeted to be about 75 percent of their mature weight at 2 years old.

Young bulls need to gain up to 2.5 pounds per day from weaning to 15 months.

Growth should continue at 2 to 2.5 pounds per day until 3 years old.

Supplemental feed should be fed to young bulls during breeding season if needed. Young bulls may lose 100-300 pounds during breeding season.

Follow this advice: • Full feed hay plus grain.

• Amounts will vary based on required gain.

• High quality forages may be used.

• Don’t bring bulls back too fast.

• All bulls should be maintained on a good, balanced mineral program similar to the rest of the herd.

The Land & Livestock Post

Bull Issue

Selling Approximately 100 Forage Developed Beefmaster Bulls

35

• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News

BPI Inc. officials say their product is safe Continued from A30

circuit court anywhere in South Dakota.

BPI will have to produce “extreme” evidence that the network acted irresponsibly, such as proof that their research used obviously unreliable sources, said University of Wisconsin journalism professor Bob Drechsel, who teaches media law.

Drechsel said he wasn’t surprised to see the lawsuit but questioned whether it would succeed. Most defamation cases end with a settlement or a judge’s order dismissing the case before it goes to trial, he said.

“It’s always an uphill battle for anyone to win a libel suit,” Drechsel said. “They’re going to have to prove that ABC falsely reported information, and they’re going to have to prove that ABC News knew that the stories were false or they had serious doubts about the truth.”

Drechsel said the lawsuit also may be a tool to generate publicity and restore the company’s image.

“Sometimes, you don’t always sue to win,” he said. “You win when you sue.”

Food-disparagement laws are also in place in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. Hamilton said the most recent state to approve a law was North Dakota in 1998, and the issue has since received little attention.

One of the most high-profile cases involved Oprah Winfrey, who was sued in 1998 by a group of Texas ranchers for a show in which she swore off eating hamburgers because of mad cow disease. The Texas law forbids false and disparaging remarks about agricultural products. A jury eventually sided with Winfrey and another defendant, animal welfare activist Howard Lyman.

Greg Sattizahn, chief legal counsel for South Dakota’s judicial system, said no appeal dealing with the food disparagement law has come before the state Supreme Court. The judicial system does not track civil cases filed in circuit court by • Chet Brokaw reported from Pierre, S.D. Assothe section of law cited, but he does not remember hearing of any lawsuit based ciated Press writer Kristi Eaton contributed from on the disparagement law being filed in North Sioux City, S.D.

AP Photo/Beef Products Inc. This September photo provided by Dakota Dunes, S.D.-based meat processor Beef Products Inc., shows a sample of its lean, finely-textured beef. BPI filed a defamation lawsuit on Sept. 13 against ABC News for what it alleges was misleading reporting about a product that critics have dubbed “pink slime.”

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• The Land & Livestock Post October 1, 2012

News 3 seminars planned for small acreage growers AUSTIN — Three program sessions for people interested in producing agricultural crops on small-acreage sites will be held during October and November at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Travis County.

The office is located at 1600-B Smith Road in southeast Austin.

“This program is being offered in three parts and will be helpful for both home and small-plot producers, including producers who grow for farmers markets or are involved in sustainable food efforts or community gardens,” said Daphne Richards, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture in Travis County.

Program sessions will be from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 25, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8.

The program will cover vegetable and crop production, as well as how to plan, manage and find resources and possible funding to help support a small-scale farming operation, Richards said. There is also a field tour of a local urban farm.

The Oct. 25 session will address planning a small-scale farming operation and include a presentation and field tour at certified organic Green Gate Farms.

The Nov. 1 session will cover TE PRIVA Y T A E TR

rk A n a l C

vegetable production, recommended fruit crops, insect and disease management, and permaculture basics.

The Nov. 8 session will focus on programs and resources available to the small-acreage farmer, plus provide information on zoning, soil surveys, organic certification and grants.

Instruction will be given by AgriLife Extension personnel and representatives of other agencies, including the Texas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“This three-part program is particularly relevant, given the growing public interest in smallscale local food production and home-based backyard farming,” Richards said.

Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units in the general and/or integrated pest management categories will be available for pesticide licensees attending the sessions.

Cost is $50 per session or $100 for all three. To register, go to the AgriLife Extension Conference Services website at agriliferegister.tamu.edu/.

Attendees should RSVP to Richards at 512-854-9600 or drichards@ag.tamu.edu.

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â&#x20AC;˘ October 1, 2012

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October 1, 2012

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