Land and Livestock Post

August 2018 – Issue II

TICK, TICK, TICK

AgriLife scientists warns about a possible new tick invasion PAGE 5

ON TOUR

New A&M vice chancellor tours AgriLife facilities

THE CUTTING EDGE How to know which cattle to cull and when to do it

PAGE 11

LET US SPRAY

PAGE 12

Ag Commissioner Sid Miller shuts down cattle spray boxes PAGE 16

‘SPA’ EFFECT Standardized Performance Analysis pays dividends PAGE 19

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August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News From the General Manager High-tech feral hog traps may be worth

I

’ve been on a diet for awhile, since this past spring in fact. My wife and I are doing that high protein/low carb deal. I like the diet, it’s been going well. But the thing I like most about it is that bacon-wrapped jalapenos with cream cheese are perfectly accept- JESSE WRIGHT able on this diet.

I buy a package of the things every time I go to the grocery store. That’s not hyperbole, I mean it, every single time. I know, I could make them myself and save a ton of money, it’s not difficult. But, the last time I did that, it didn’t work out so well.

I was standing over the sink, with hot water running and the garbage disposal on, scooping the jalapeno seeds and ribs out into the disposal. I had gotten through about a half dozen or so when I started to cough a little. Then by the seventh or eighth one, I was in an all out panic. I had basically atomized the seeds and ribs, the spiciest part of the pepper, then it mixed with the steam coming

up from the hot water. I basically pepper-sprayed myself.

Not my proudest moment. The pain was compounded because I rubbed my eyes, and of course my hands were covered in jalapenos. It just wasn’t good. But, I now can justify the cost of buying the peppers pre-cut and wrapped.

Sometimes the decisions we make can be costly, but if you can justify that cost you feel a lot better about it. When it comes to culling cows, there are several factors to consider, many of which we will go over in our cover story.

In this issue we also have news from around the ag industry as well as information about upcoming events and sales.

Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for reading. ’Til next time.

the greater investment for producers

By Josh Gaskamp Noble Research Institute

Feral hogs have plagued agricultural lands in Oklahoma for long enough that most landowners have adopted some sort of control strategy on their properties.

Many natural resource management experts recommend an integrated approach as a best practice to control feral hogs.

An integrated approach uses many different control strategies in unison to have a cumulative population reduction.

But is the continued use of some techniques causing more harm than actually reducing Photo by Noble Research Institute populations?

Many producers balk at the price tag on high-tech, human-activated traps, but perhaps these techniques are justified.

See TRAPS, Page 4

z For more information about content or advertising, contact Jesse Wright at jesse.wright@theeagle.com.

Beef producers must control costs to stay in business By kris rinGwall North Dakota State University Extension

Beef production, like any other business, needs to control costs to continue in business.

For the total optimist, the thought would be that price always would offset costs; thus, perpetual dollars would be coming into the business.

Cattle producers know well

that is not true. Seasoned producers have been through the ups and downs of markets and know the need to be cautious and keep records.

Historically, beef producers have not been overly enthusiastic record-keepers.

Thankfully, the North Dakota Farm Management education program (www.ndfarmmanage-

See COSTS, Page 10

The Land & Livestock Post



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August 2018 — Issue II

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News Traps, from Page 3

Cheapest and easiest is not always best

From my experience working with landowners and land management entities, I have found that many control campaigns start with the cheapest or easiest available option. For example, a landowner may use hunting as his or her first line of defense because he or she already owns a rifle and box of ammunition. Or a landowner may use a box trap because the welding shop down the road has one for $300. Often, control strategies such as the aforementioned are conducted for recreation instead of management. When used to control feral hog populations, they are among the least effective options.

Using conventional animalactivated box and corral traps may present new problems after initial trapping efforts. Consider a sounder (group) of hogs approaching a box trap. The average-sized box trap can capture only a handful of hogs, at best.

When a portion of the sounder enters the trap and triggers the gate, the naive segment of the sounder is captured, leaving the wary (trap-shy) segment on the land. Because of this, feral hog

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc. (979) 776-4444 or (800) 299-7355

President - Crystal Dupré .....................................................Ext. 4613 Publisher and Editor- Darren Benson ....................................Ext. 4653 Sales and Marketing Director - Sean Lewis .......................... Ext. 4740 Advertising Sales/General Manager - Jesse Wright ...............Ext. 4721 Finance Director - Rod Armstrong.........................................Ext. 4605 Production Director - Jerry Buck...........................................Ext. 4671 Circulation Director - Greg Parker ........................................Ext. 4752

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populations continue to become more wary than the previous generation and harder to capture.

Many producers balk at the price tag on high-tech, humanactivated traps, but perhaps these techniques are justified. Many of the high-tech traps are capable of capturing entire sounders when users follow best management practices and are disciplined to delay trap activation until all of the hogs enter the trap.

So is a $6,000 to $8,000 trap worth the investment?

In a research study conducted at the Noble Research Institute, researchers demonstrated that intensive trapping with such equipment reduced rooting damage by 90 percent.

In a scenario where several acres of wheat are unable to be harvested due to feral hog damage, the reduction in revenue on a crop that yields 30 bushels per acre at a price of $3.50 or $6.50 per bushel would cost the producer $105 and $195 per acre, respectively. In 35 bushel per acre of soybeans, at a price of $8.50 or $11 per bushel, losses are expected to be $300 and $385 per acre, respectively. Many producers aren’t managing just one commodity, so these losses stack up and are expected annually if feral hog populations persist.

Specialty crops, such as pecans, are another major group of agricultural crops that receive damage and depredation from feral hogs. In a recently completed study, researchers from the Noble Research Institute and Oklahoma State University used GPS collars to track feral hogs in pecan orchards. Preliminary data suggest that feral hog rooting in pecan orchards can result in greater economic losses ($870 per acre) than the aforementioned commodities.

High-tech traps capture more feral hogs

Feral hogs impose significant economic burdens on both crop

4

Photo by Noble Research Institute

The BoarBuster suspended corral trap is one high-tech control option capable or removing 88 percent of a feral hog population. In 2017 alone, reporting BoarBuster users in Oklahoma captured 3,724 hogs in 32 traps. and livestock producers. It often is assumed that a high-tech trap is just a Cadillac type of trap for the user who wants a cool, new toy. Some producers may see it as an expense that will not be recovered, but these human-activated technologies are actually a more effective tool to mitigate damages long-term and save money.

High-tech traps can reduce populations by more than 80 percent. Because conventional traps are animal activated, 50 percent is an ambitious population reduction goal that is not likely to be met.

Producers removing 80 percent of a population will extend the time before feral hogs re-invade because hogs have to immigrate, not just reproduce, to fill the void in the short-term.

Producers trapping only 50 percent of a population typically continue to experience significant damage expenses every year.

August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Texas outdoor enthusiasts, livestock producers, homeowners advised to watch for new tick

By Steve ByrnS Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

STEPHENVILLE — Confirmed reports of the longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in seven states have prompted a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist to alert Texans to its possible arrival here.

Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension veterinary/medical entomologist in Stephenville, said the longhorned tick isn’t named for the iconic bovine symbol of

Photo by James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Longhorned ticks,Haemaphysalis longicornis, pictured on a U.S. dime. The smaller tick is a nymph, the other is an adult female. the Lone Star State, but rather for the distinctive, but underrated “horns” sprouting from a portion of its head.

“This tick is a relative newcomer to the United States and though it has not been confirmed here in Texas, it has been confirmed

See TICK, Page 7

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August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Tick, from Page 5 in Arkansas,” she said. “It’s not at all choosy about who or upon what mammal it feeds on or who it dines with, as it has been found feeding right alongside other external parasites.”

Some ticks, like the cattle fever tick, prefer to complete their life cycle on a single host. Not the longhorned tick, which Swiger said is a three-host tick, meaning it requires three different hosts to complete its life cycle. Animals on the menu include, but are not limited to: cattle, white-tailed deer, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, opossum, birds and raccoon.

Swiger said she has no reports of it feeding on people in the U.S., though it is known to attack people in Asia and the Pacific. She did say the longhorned tick is not a known carrier of the pathogen causing Lyme disease.

“Even though there are no reports of it being a Lyme disease carrier, this tick is a known vector of several bacterial, viral and protozoan disease agents that affect both livestock and humans,” Swiger said. “So, it’s worth keeping an eye on.

“It’s an exotic East Asian tick, originally from China, which moved to Australia and then to different locations in the Pacific andeventuallyhere,”Swigersaid.

“It’s highly adaptive to a broad range of climates as evidenced by the seven states where it’s been documented, which along with Arkansas, include New Jersey,

Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania. So, it’s at home in climates from tropical to temperate and is also quite cold tolerant.”

Swiger said it’s an aggressive biter that frequently builds intensive infestations on domestic hosts such as livestock.

“Their presence causes great stress to the animal, which translates to reduced growth and production, and exsanguination, or serious blood loss,” she said.

To make matters worse, Swiger said the tick is parthenogenetic, meaning females can reproduce without a male, so a single fed female tick can create a whole population by herself.

To prevent and offset concerns, Swiger said producers, homeowners and hunters this fall should consider conducting surveillance of ticks on their livestock, pets and harvested game and submit any suspicious ticks they find to: Texas Animal Health Commission, State-Federal Laboratory and follow instructions at www.tahc.state.tx.us/vets/TicksandFlyLarvaeSubmissions.pdf.

“If historic record is any indication, once it arrives, it appears the longhorned tick is here to stay,” she said. “But with diligence and management similar to that used with other tick species, serious trouble can be kept to a minimum.”

For more information on this and other ticks, access the Tick App attickapp.tamu.edu, or contact Swiger at 254-968-4144, slswigar@ag.tamu.edu.

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Well owner training to be Aug. 22 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

SAN ANGELO — A Texas Well Owner Network training has been scheduled for Aug. 22 in San Angelo.

The Well Educated training, which is free and open to the public, will be from 8 a.m. to noon at the Tom Green 4-H Center, 3168 N. U.S. 67.

The Texas Well Owner Network program was established to help well owners become fa-

miliar with Texas groundwater resources, septic system maintenance, well maintenance and construction, and water quality and treatment, said Drew Gholson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and the program’s coordinator in College Station.

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The Land & Livestock Post

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August 2018 — Issue II

7

News Pros and cons of raising vs. buying replacement heifers Photo by Noble Research Institute

The method for getting replacement females that works for one operation may not be the best option for another. to buy heifers bred to a bull that would roll straight into your program.

By Jason Bradley Noble Research Institute

When it comes to getting replacement females for your

cattle herd, multiple options are available. One would be to use your own cow herd and keep the heifers you need. Or you could

Which one is the best? Like so many things in agriculture, the method that works for one operation may not be the best option for another. That’s why it’s so important to know what the

See HEIFERS, Page 14

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August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Big data in agriculture focus of Houston conference Aug. 20-21

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

HOUSTON — High-tech devices in agriculture such as unmanned aerial vehicles and sensors are leading to immense growth in data collection and deployment, and a Houston conference Aug. 20-21 will feature scholars and industry experts discussing future applications in all aspects of production agriculture.

The invitation-only conference, Identifying Obstacles to Applying Big Data in Agriculture, will be held at the Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

It is sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the U.S. Department of Agriculture— National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“We have had advanced technologies like GPS in agriculture for over 20 years, but only a small handful of these technologies have made a significant impact,” said Alex Thomasson, conference coordinator and Texas A&M AgriLife Research engineer in College Station.

“Thus we want to cast a vision for the practical use of big data in production agriculture so we can take advantage of the current wave of attendant technologies like the so-called Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, wireless communications, the cloud, etc.

“This conference will feature discussion with key business leaders and academics involved in a broad range of disciplines within big data and precision agriculture. We will have introductory talks on agricultural big data issues to set the stage for breakout meetings to illuminate and address specific, common, important obstacles to applying big data and potential means to overcome them.”

Subject areas to be covered include analytics, agronomy,

agricultural economics, crop physiology and modeling, agricultural machinery, cloud software, genetics and breeding, and data ownership, validity and bandwidth capabilities.

Thomasson said conference attendees will be charged with the following: • Identify some common scenarios in which big data have near-term potential to directly bring major improvements in profitability and/or environmental risk mitigation in production agriculture.

• Create a prioritized list of obstacles to using big data in these scenarios.

• Determine potential means to overcome the obstacles identified.

• Generate a comprehensive conference report of compelling big data solutions for production agriculture.

Featured speakers include: • Seth Murray, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist and professor and Eugene Butler Endowed Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology department of soil and crop sciences, Texas A&M University in College Station. Murray’s research program focuses on new approaches in high throughput field phenotyping, including unmanned aerial vehicles, i.e. drones; quantitative genetic discovery; gene to phene data analytics and applied corn breeding in Texas; and perenniality in maize and sorghum.

• James Lowenberg-DeBoer, Elizabeth Creak Chair in AgriTech Applied Economics at Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, UK, and co-editor of the journal Precision Agriculture. Lowenberg-DeBoer’s research focuses on the economics of agricultural technology, especially precision agriculture and agricultural robotics.

• Gerrit Hoogenboom, Institute for Sustainable Food Systems and faculty member of the department of agricultural and biological engineering at the Uni-

The Land & Livestock Post

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Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo

A rotary wing drone captures images over a weed research plot at Texas A&M University in College Station. Identifying Obstacles to Applying Big Data in Agriculture will be held Aug. 20-21 at the Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. versity of Florida. Prior to join- Professor of Precision Agricul- main research focus has been on ing the University of Florida, ture at Colorado State University management of in-field soil and Hoogenboom was the director and global authority on precision crop variability using geospatial technologies for precision manof the AgWeatherNet Program agriculture.

Khosla has generated many agement of crop inputs on large and professor of agrometeorology at Washington State Univer- discoveries in precision agri- and small scale farming systems sity. He has more than 25 years culture, the most widely recog- around the world.

• Craig Stevenson, data scienof experience in the development nized an innovative technique and application of dynamic crop of quantifying variability of tist/modeler with Bayer Crop simulation models and decision spatially diverse soils using sat- Science, Digital Farming.

For more information, go to ellite based remote-sensing to support systems.

• Raj Khosla, Robert Gardner create management zones. His www.agbigdataobstacles.com/ .

August 2018 — Issue II

9

News

Costs, from Page 3 ment.com) and FINBIN (www. finbin.umn.edu/) from the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, help a lot.

Levi Helmuth, farm business management instructor at the Dickinson Research Extension Center, and other North Dakota instructors contribute to the database and help build a good resource of beef cattle financial records.

A review of North Dakota numbers from FINBIN using 2000 as the base shows some slowdown in calf costs since the runup in calf prices a few years ago.

The huge red flag of a couple of years ago — when the cost per pound weaned per exposed cow jumped 200 percent since the turn of the century — is now a yellow flag.

The current cost per pound weaned per exposed cow is a 180 percent increase since the turn of the century.

Some would say the turn of the century comparison is excessively historic, but remember, the beef business is historic, with slow turnover and long-term investments.

Decisions made in the year 2000 still are relevant today.

What has changed with the

10

current numbers?

Simple: Income means nothing without a cost calculation.

While many producers understand that the costs of feed and maintaining the cow inventory are large, obviously total direct and overhead costs are the summation of all costs in the herd.

In 2000, producers spent, on average, $342 per cow for total direct and overhead expenses.

The average costs were $583 in 2013, an increase of 170 percent; $648 in 2014, an increase of 189 percent; $606 in 2015, an increase of 177 percent; $574 in 2016, an increase of 167 percent; and $618 in 2017, in increase of 180 percent.

So in the past five years, cow-calf producers seem to be cognizant of costs, trying to keep them in perspective.

Essentially, during the past five-year span, total direct and overhead costs for a cow have averaged $606. Has marketable calf output kept up with expenses? The answer still appears to be sluggish or perhaps on the negative side.

In 2000, according to FINBIN, the average weaned calf weight was 544 pounds.

The past five years look like this: in 2013, 541 pounds; in 2014, 547 pounds; in 2015, 553 pounds; in 2016, 571 pounds; and in 2017, 576 pounds.

The five-year average actual weight of weaned calves was 558 pounds, an increase of 14 pounds (or 103 percent) since the turn of the century.

The bottom line is a cow-calf producer’s costs increased, with very sluggish progress in the amount of saleable calf weight.

Another way to look at that is to look at pounds weaned per cow exposed because the cow incurs most of the cost.

Pounds weaned per exposed cow were 492 pounds in 2000, 479 pounds in 2013, 471 pounds in 2014, 489 pounds in 2015, 498 pounds in 2016 and 507 pounds in 2017.

The actual five-year average pounds weaned per cow exposed was 489 pounds.

At the turn of the century, cowcalf producers were achieving 492, or 3 more pounds weaned per cow exposed than the average for the previous five years. (I am not going to calculate the negative percentage.) Realistically, for every cow we turn out to the bull, we wean fewer pounds than we did in 2000.

As costs climb, that is not good.

Cow-calf producers need to manage costs and production. Combining costs and production, the cost per pound of weaned calf per cow exposed was 69 cents in 2000.

The past five years are $1.22

(up 177 percent) in 2013, $1.38 (up 200 percent) in 2014, $1.24 (up 179 percent) in 2015, $1.15 (up 167 percent) in 2016 and $1.22 (up 177 percent) in 2017.

Essentially, the cost per pound weaned per cow exposed has fluctuated, with the cost per pound weaned per cow exposed for 2013 and 2017 at $1.22. The actual five-year average cost per pound weaned per cow exposed was $1.24.

This 180 percent increase comes with no increase in pounds of calf marketed, which is not sustainable.

As cow-calf producers interact with the market and the expanded beef industry, individual producers must decide their individual approach to survival and meeting the family and operational goals.

Invariably, those thoughts will include dollars. Remember, nothing is free.

August 2018 — Issue II

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Well, from Page 7 ples are turned in.

Well owners who would like to have their well water sampled can pick up two sample containers from the AgriLife Extension offices in the following counties and addresses: • Tom Green County, 113 W. Beauregard Ave., San Angelo.

• Irion County, 209 N. Parkview St., Mertzon.

• Schleicher County, 203 S. W. Main, Eldorado.

• Runnels County, 608 Sealy Ave., Suite A, Ballinger.

• Sterling County, 609 4th St., Sterling City.

• Concho County, 159 N. Roberts St., Paint Rock.

Gholson said bringing water samples to the training is not required.

Attendees can register at twon.tamu.edu/training or by calling 979-845-1461.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

New vice chancellor tours A&M AgriLife facilities producers, consumers, the environment and the economy.

Stover also has been meeting with growers, agricultural commodity association leaders and industry stakeholders to understand better and assess opportunities and challenges within a

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

OVERTON — Patrick Stover, Texas A&M’s new vice chancellor and dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences continued his statewide tour at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton recently for an on site look at operations and visits with staff and regional stakeholders.

Stover, also acting director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, has been visiting AgriLife centers around the state to get a firsthand look at AgriLife assets and to meet scientists and specialists to glean information about innovations and approaches that better align agriculture with a focus on public health to benefit

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell

Patrick Stover, left, Texas A&M’s new vice chancellor and dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, met with dozens of regional stakeholders during his East Texas tour, including Kenneth Threlkeld of Tyler, businessman and Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. Texas Agriculture Lifetime Leadership Program advisory board member,

diverse state such as Texas and how Texas A&M AgriLife can build new alliances and maintain existing partnerships better to serve industry and the public.

Stover joined the Texas A&M System in March from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

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The Land & Livestock Post

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August 2018 — Issue II

11

News

Making the cut Reasons for culling cattle

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

D

rought continues in many parts of Texas, cattle prices are lower at auction sales, feed supplement prices have increased and hay production is suffering from dry weather.

Culling the cow herd may offer a way to survive these adverse effects on ranch profit.

Culling criteria varies with ranch economics, management styles, business objectives and personal preferences. A few reasons to cull an animal include health and ability to produce and raise a calf.

Health

“Trichomoniasis (trich) is a disease to cull from the herd if it is present.

Trichomoniasis foetus organisms live on the surface of the penis and prepuce of the bull and in the reproductive tract of the cow,” said Dr. Tom Hairgrove of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

“Transmission of the disease occurs during natural breeding. A bull can infect a cow and a cow can infect a bull.

Once a bull is infected, it remains so for life.”

Test bulls for trich if poor conception rates or extended breeding seasons are occurring. When testing bulls, wait two to three weeks after removal from the cow herd. At least two tests are required to confirm the presence or absence of trich organisms. If the two test results are not the same, conduct a third test to confirm whether the bull is positive or negative. Cull positive bulls from the herd and sell them for slaughter.

“While it is commonly stated that

12

Photo by Robert Fears

Test bulls for trich if poor conception rates or extended breeding seasons are occurring. Don’t wait until next season to making culling decisions. most cows and heifers can clear trich infections with 120 or more days of sexual rest, recent studies have shown infected female cattle to become pregnant and have abortions 120 days after conception. Since testing is not the most accurate way of identifying trich in female cattle, reliance on clinical indications is necessary. Clinical indicators of trich

presence in female cattle include reduced pregnancy rates, changes in pregnancy patterns, pus in the uterus and higher rates of abortion anytime during pregnancy. Changes in pregnancy patterns are shifts toward later calving,” Hairgrove said.

“The best method of surveillance is to know the disease status of bulls in each

August 2018 — Issue II

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breeding group,” Hairgrove said. “Trich test bulls before and two to three weeks after breeding season.”

“Prolapses in cattle are a dirty problem and a real health frustration for beef cattle producers,” said Dr. Dee Whittier of Virginia Cooperative Exten-

See CULL, Page 13

The Land & Livestock Post

News Courtesy of the Noble Research Institute

Unproductive cattle should be culled from the herd.The sooner the decision to cull a cow is made, the less money will be spent maintaining an unproductive cow.

Cull, from Page 12 sion. “Prolapses occur when tissues that form a tube inside the body turn inside out and bulge from the animal. The rectum, vagina and uterus commonly

prolapse in beef cattle.

“Short term, cattle treated appropriately for prolapses usually do quite well. Inevitably cows with vaginal prolapses will have the same problem next year, which makes them culling candidates. Rectal prolapses are often hereditary, so it is recommended that these animals be culled as well.”

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August 2018 — Issue II

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Heifers, from Page 8 costs are for a particular method while understanding what benefits you’ll get in return.

Pros and cons

The pros and cons of any method should be considered before making a decision. With home-raised replacements, you should know exactly what you’re getting. You’ll also be able to sell any extra bred heifers at a higher price than feeder heifers that are not bred.

The downside is it requires a much higher level of management in order to have a wellfunctioning breeding program, which means you need to take into account the costs and timelines for general management of your operation.

It also means you’re going to have an animal that’s utilizing the available forage while not producing a calf, and you’ll need a plan to prevent inbreeding.

On the other hand, if you purchase your replacements, there will not be any missed animal production because those heifers

14

will be calving that year. This option also allows for new genetics to be brought into the herd. However, there’s not always a guarantee of what kind of calf you will get if you purchase bred heifers.

Unfortunately, with this option you cannot guarantee the genetics of the calf that will come from the purchased bred heifer. In order to purchase replacements that increase your chances of getting what you want, you will face a higher purchase price.

What’s feasible Before making your decision, take a step back and decide what is feasible from your operational standpoint and management abilities. Are you able to spend more time developing the replacement type you want or would your time be better spent managing purchased replacements that don’t require that commitment or resources?

The options outlined here are just some of the many ways to obtain replacement heifers for your herd.

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August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Cattle, from Page 13 If a good job is done in placing a prolapsed uterus back in the cow, culling may not be necessary. Keep in mind, however, these cows have a higher risk of prolapsing than those that have never experienced the condition.

“Retained placenta is usually defined as failure to expel fetal membranes within 24 hours after birth. Normally, expulsion occurs within three to eight hours after calf delivery,” said Dr. Robert Gilbert, professor emeritus at Cornell University. “The condition is diagnosed by degenerating, discolored, ultimately fetid membranes hanging from the vulva more than 24 hours after birth.

Occasionally, retained membranes may remain within the uterus signaled by a foul-smelling discharge.

“If a first-calf heifer retains a placenta, she has a 7.5 percent risk of a retained placenta at second calving,” Gilbert added. “Cows, that retain placentas with their first two calves, have a 25 percent chance of a retained placenta with their third calves. These numbers show with every episode of retain placentas, the risk increases.

“This may or may not be a reason to cull a cow, however. There are many management factors, including nutrition, that can cause retained placentas.

Before culling, it might be wise to consult with your veterinarian,” Gilbert said.

“The uterine infection, metritis, is caused by bacterial infection following calving,” said Dr. Peder Cuneo of the University of Arizona. “Often cows that have a difficult birth, retained placenta or calved in a dirty environment will become infected. Clinical signs of the infection are a thin, watery discharge from the birth canal. It is red to gray in color and has a foul smell.

“The infected cow may become sick and have increased temperature, depression, no feed intake, diarrhea and ceased milk production. Chronic uterine infections result in problem breeders, so, they are good culling options,” Cuneo said.

Both lumpy jaw and woody tongue are caused by consumption of rough forage such as coarse grass, twigs or stalks.

Chewing the forage causes breaks in the mouth lining allowing invasion of bacteria into the soft tissue.

The Land & Livestock Post

Photos by Robert Fears

Left, a primary advantage of rectal palpation is immediate availability of pregnancy detection. Above, Udder soundness on a cow is an important trait for raising a calf.

Lumpy jaw occurs from hard swellings on the upper and lower jawbones of cattle caused by infection of the bacteria, (Actinomyces bovis). The lumps contain honeycombed masses of thin bone filled with yellow pus. If the animal is in the early stages of the disease, cull the animal because treatment is often ineffective. Only the head normally is condemned by meat inspectors unless the lesions have spread to other parts of the body.

Woody tongue is caused by bacteria (Actinobacillus lignieresii) which enter the cow’s mouth in the same way as lumpy jaw organisms. Woody tongue occurs almost entirely in soft tissue of the tongue and lymph nodes of the head.

The tongue becomes hard, swollen and painful. Affected animals drool saliva and sometimes appear to chew gently.

Nodules and ulcers can occur on the tongue, which may protrude between the lips. Transmission of the disease to other cattle is possible if discharges from wounds contaminate the pasture.

It is important to treat immediately after onset of the disease because early treatment usually is successful. Even if animals recover, relapses can occur, so it is a good idea to cull these animals while they are in good health.

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August 2018 — Issue II

Ability to produce and raise a calf

Open cows do not generate income until they are sold; so, culling these animals as quickly as possible is a great way to reduce herd size and increase production. Utilize one of the methods of pregnancy testing for early detection of open cows. Options are palpation, ultrasound or blood analysis.

“Rectal palpation is an accurate form of diagnosis when done after day 35 of pregnancy,” said Cliff Lamb of Texas A&M University. “The procedure should be performed by a skilled technician or a veterinarian. Rectal palpation only determines whether an animal is pregnant. It does not provide any information on viability of the embryo or fetus.

A primary advantage of this method is immediate availability of results allowing a producer to make culling decisions while the cows are in the chute.

“Transrectal ultrasonography, more commonly called ultrasound, is used to detect pregnancy as early as day 26 of gestation for heifers and day 28 of gestation for cows. The procedure provides a high degree of accuracy and if performed by a skilled technician, it is as fast as rectal palpation. When per-

formed around day 55 of gestation, ultrasound may provide information such as embryo or fetus viability, incidence of twins and potentially the sex of the fetus,” Lamb said.

“At least two primary blood-sample pregnancy test kits are available that are 99 percent accurate: BioPRYN and PG29.

Test heifers 30 days or later after breeding and lactating cows 90 days or more after calving,” Lamb said.

Udder soundness on a cow is an important trait for raising a calf. It affects milk production, milk consumption by calves and ultimately calf weaning weights. A sound udder is firmly attached with a strong, level floor. Weak udder suspension results in pendulous udders that are difficult for a suckling calf to nurse. Balloon or funnel-shaped teats also are difficult to nurse and may indicate past mastitis.

There are many other reasons for culling cattle including body condition, leg structure, body conformation and color.

Hopefully, this article provides a place to start the culling process.

15

News

Commissioner Miller shuts down cattle spray boxes

By ALLYSON WALLER allyson.waller@theeagle.com

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller urged state and federal agencies to work with him to address the possible misuse of the pesticide Co-Ral in spray box operations — a request that came days after he decided to shut down 16 spray box machines used to treat cattle fever ticks in South Texas.

Miller cited lack of ventilation in machines and cattle dying from overexposure of Co-Ral as reasons as to why he decided to shut down the machines.

“Ranchers had complained to me about their cattle dying from these spray boxes, so I went to South Texas to check it out,” Miller said in a press release. “From my personal observation, the insecticide was being used in violation of the label, so I shut them down.”

Sprayed on cattle one-by-one as they enter a spray box, Co-Ral is a pesticide that helps combat fever ticks, which can carry the pathogen babesia, known to cause the disease Texas Cattle Fever.

Early efforts In the early 1900s, the federal government worked to eradicate fever ticks throughout the U.S. after northern cattle quickly died off once exposed to cattle fever, said Sonja Swiger, livestock and veterinary entomologist for Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension in Stephenville.

Today, fever ticks primarily are found in South Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border in a quarantine zone under control of the Texas Animal Health Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

As of now, both ticks and the babesia pathogen reside in Mexico. Ticks in Texas no longer carry babesia, but still can present risk to cattle as they can cause anemia and death because they overpopulate quickly, Swiger said.

Recent episodes of infestations in areas north of the border, Swiger said, have led to increased preventive measures.

“It’s been the last two to three years that we’ve really had to start doing more protocol, which is basically to eradicate ticks from any cattle that come into our side of

16

Photo courtesy of Texas Animal Health Commission

Sprayed on cattle one-by-one as they enter a spray box, Co-Ral is a pesticide that helps combat fever ticks, which can carry the pathogen babesia, known to cause the disease Texas Cattle Fever. the quarantine zone,” Swiger said.

“So, cattle coming into Texas from Mexico are treated or any cattle that are in the Texas side are being checked and treated in actual zones that are under the quarantine.”

Alternatives to spray boxes include dipping cattle in a vat containing Co-Ral or injecting cattle with Doramectin.

Miller suggested in his news release that head gates or similar devices could be installed on spray boxes to assist with ventilation or cattle could be sprayed outside of boxes.

Some effect

Pete Scarmardo, owner of Scarmardo Cattle Company in Burleson County and the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission, said Miller’s decision to shut down spray machine operations could have some effect on his company. Scarmardo, who brokers cattle, said most of the cattle he purchases from South Texas are either sprayed or dipped in Co-Ral to prevent them from getting ticks once they are sold.

“It’s going to make it a little tougher on some of those [inspectors] who were using the spray boxes for us to get these cattle,”

August 2018 — Issue II

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he said. “We’re going to have to be more diligent and do some other things.”

Scarmardo said methods such as spray box operations present more ease for ranchers since, unlike dipping vats, spray boxes are mobile operations.

The Texas Animal Health Commission and other state organizations such as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association spoke out against Miller’s decision to shut down 16 spray boxes in South Texas.

See SPRAY, Page 17

The Land & Livestock Post

News Spray, from Page 16 Andy Schwartz, Texas Animal Health Commission executive director, said in a press release “there has been no indication the application of Co-Ral in spray boxes has led to cattle deaths.”

When asked about Miller’s claim of off-label use of Co-Ral, Schwartz said cattle inspectors use the approved amount to spray cattle.

“Texas Animal Health Commission and USDA staff mix the Co-Ral and water to the approved and directed dilution as written on the label,” Schwartz said in an emailed response to The Eagle of Bryan-College Station. “Texas Animal Health Commission has a standard operating procedure that inspectors utilize each time they spray. As with all approved acaricides and other pesticides, the usage directions were developed by the patent company and

approved by the EPA.” Miller is running for re-election against Democratic candidate Kim Olson, who condemned Miller’s decision to shut down the spray boxes.

“The current Texas commissioner of Agriculture has taken ill-informed and poorly executed action based on unfounded claims,” Olson said. “The result, occurring in the absence of a proper investigation, was the shutting down of facilities vital to combating cattle fever ticks and the livestock disease that it causes.”

Mark Loeffler, spokesman for the Texas Department of Agriculture, said Miller’s decision is no hindrance to overall fever tick eradication.

“Shutting down the spray boxes even temporarily doesn’t mean the fight against cattle fever ticks has stopped,” Loeffler said. “As the commissioner ex-

plained to other agencies, there’s other alternatives.”

State Rep. Kyle Kacal, R-College Station, said he’s mainly concerned about the producers who rely on spray box operations to ensure their cattle are tickfree. As of June, Falls County — which is in Kacal’s District 12 — was under trace investigation for fever ticks, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission.

“By eliminating the use of spray boxes, I am deeply concerned that producers have been stripped of an effective method that has been used for decades to maintain herd health while working to contain and eradicate fever tick and the disease it carries,” Kacal said in an emailed statement. “I’m hopeful that the pertinent state and federal agencies will meet in a timely effort to ensure the safety of our cattle and beef cattle industry.”

Loeffler said Miller plans to meet with representatives from the Texas Animal Health Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to discuss the appropriate use of CoRal in spray box operations.

“As commissioner of Agriculture, one of his functions is to regulate pesticides,” Loeffler said. “If the pesticide is being

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August 2018 — Issue II

17

News

Pregnancy check and cull open replacement heifers

By Glenn Selk Oklahoma State University

Many ranchers choose to breed the replacement heifers about a month ahead of the mature cows in the herd. In addition, they like to use a shortened 30to 60-day breeding season for the replacement heifers. The next logical step is to determine which of these heifers failed to conceive in their first breeding season. This is more important today than ever before.

The bulls were removed from the replacement heifers about 60 days ago, therefore, this would be an ideal time to call and make arrangements with your local large animal veterinarian to have those heifers evaluated for pregnancy. After two months of gestation, experienced palpaters

should have no difficulty identifying which heifers are pregnant and which heifers are not pregnant (open). Those heifers that are determined to be “open” after this breeding season, should be strong candidates for culling.

Culling these heifers immediately after pregnancy checking serves three economically valuable purposes.

• Identifying and culling open heifers early will remove subfertile females from the herd.

Lifetime cow studies from Montana indicated that properly developed heifers that were exposed to fertile bulls, but DID NOT become pregnant were often sub-fertile compared to the heifers that did conceive. In fact, when the heifers that failed to breed in the first breeding season were followed throughout

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their lifetimes, they averaged a 55 percent yearly calf crop. Despite the fact that reproduction is not a highly heritable trait, it also makes sense to remove this genetic material from the herd so as to not proliferate females that are difficult to get bred.

• Culling open heifers early will reduce summer forage and winter costs. If the rancher waits until next spring to find out which heifers do not calve, the pasture use and winter feed expense still will be lost and there will be no calf eventually to help pay the bills.

This is money that better can be spent in properly feeding cows that are pregnant and will be producing a salable product the following fall.

• Identifying the open heifers shortly after (60 days) the breed-

ing season is over will allow for marketing the heifers while still young enough to go to a feedlot and be fed for the choice beef market. “B” maturity carcasses (those estimated to be 30 months of age or older) are unlikely to be graded Choice and cannot be graded Select.

In addition, they may not be eligible for some international beef markets.

As a result, the heifers that are close to 2 years old will suffer a price discount. If we wait until next spring to identify which 2 year olds did not get bred, then we will be culling a female that will be marketed at a noticeable discount compared to the price/ pound that she would have brought this summer as a much younger animal.

Last month, non-pregnant

866-pound heifers brought $1.28/ lb. or $1,108.48 per head in Oklahoma City.

Using a very optimistic guess for next spring, a 2-year old 1,000 pound open cow may bring $0.90/lb. or $900 per head. This calculates to a $208 per head loss plus the expense of keeping her through the winter. In reality, the loss in value probably even will be greater.

Certainly the percentage of open heifers will vary from ranch to ranch.

Do not be overly concerned if, after a good heifer development program and adequate breeding season, that you find that 10 percent of the heifers still are not bred.

Resist the temptation to keep

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August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Agricultural economists recommend ‘SPA’ for cattle producers

By Paul SchattenBerg Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

UVALDE — The Standardized Performance Analysis, or SPA, program is an indispensable tool for helping beef cattle producers determine the production and financial performance of their individual cow-calf enterprise, said the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists now in charge of the program.

Rob Hogan and Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economists in Uvalde and San Angelo, respectively, have assumed responsibility for the SPA program of Texas A&M University following the retirement of Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist at Vernon.

“SPA is an analysis tool, not an accounting or production record system,” Hog an said.

“When used as designed, it allows a rancher to measure one cow herd against another, his or her ability as a rancher against a benchmark, or the financial health and stability of a particular cow herd or ranch.”

He said SPA helps identify potential areas for change and measures the producer’s progress in meeting business objectives.

“The standardized analysis facilitates comparisons between production years, producers, production regions and production systems,” Hogan said.

He said when producer data are pooled, individual data are not disclosed but regional performance averages and ranges can be observed. Participating producers are given a “report card” that shows how they rank with other producers in the database.

“In no area of performance evaluation is there a greater need for standardization of terminology and calculation procedures than in the cow-calf business.”

He said assembling the necessary data is the most important step in the process. SPA data needs include production data, specific cattle inventories and

financial data.

“SPA performance measures for cows include measures related to reproduction, production based on exposed females, g razing and raised feed land measures, and marketing and financial performance measures,” he said.

Hogan and Thompson hosted a booth presenting the Standardized Performance Analysis program to cattlemen and cattlewomen at the Beef Cattle Short Course from Aug 6-8 in College Station. Thompson also will be presenting a program on SPA at the Reproductive Physiology Session of the short course being hosted by Bruce Carpenter, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist in Fort Stockton.

The economists also noted AgriLife Extension has prepared software and worksheets to help producers implement SPA. They said these tools help organize production and financial data into a focused, well-defined performance analysis of the total farm or ranch and the cow-calf enterprise.

Additional information, including summary results for Texas cow-calf producers, is available at agrisk.tamu.edu.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

The Standardized Performance Analysis, or SPA, is an excellent tool for beef cattle producers, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists now heading the program.

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For more information, contact Hogan at 830-278-9151, ext.

270 or RHogan@ag.tamu.edu. or Thompson at 325-653-4576 or bill. thompson@ag.tamu.edu.

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The Land & Livestock Post

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August 2018 — Issue II

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News

Aug. 24 workshop to focus on winter forage options

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

OVERTON — Beef cattle producers can learn about different winter pasture and stockpiled forage options to help reduce winter feeding in a workshop hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Aug. 24 in Overton.

The event will be at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1710 N. F.M. Road 3053.

Sign-in begins at 9:30 a.m., and the program ends at 5 p.m.

Cost of the workshop is $75 by Aug. 22, which includes lunch and program materials.

Two Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, including one

integrated pest management and one general, will be offered.

Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, and Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, both in Overton, will cover the following topics: • Stockpiled forage management and utilization.

• How many acres do you need of stockpiled forage and winter pasture?

• Cool-season forages and variety selection.

• Establishment and fertilization.

• Monthly and seasonal forage production potential.

• Appropriate mineral supplementation.

• Estimated costs.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell

If drought conditions persist, producers could find themselves seeking winter feed options.The program will focus on what producers can do to maximize on rainfall or plan ahead for various scenarios this winter.

“Considering the hot, dry conditions, producers should think about winter pasture potential now, given possible future hay shortages,” Corriher-Olson said.

“We will cover the best options for winter pastures and stockpiled forage options, if dry conditions continue.”

Register online at agriliferegister.tamu.edu, or call AgriLife Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604.

Focused specifically on grazing, hunting, and livestock leases.

Half-day seminar, participants will be able to ask questions, interact with attorneys and economists.

All participants receive their own copy of the Ranchers’ Agricultural Leasing Handbook, which contains checklists and sample lease language.

20

August 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Anderson

Results of the Mid Tex Livestock Commission’s Aug. 2 sale.

Head: 1,668 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $150$220; 300-400 lbs., $145.50-$200; 400-500 lbs., $130-$165; 500-600 lbs., $125-$158; 600-700 lbs., $125-$152; 700-800 lbs., $120-$135 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $130$215; 300-400 lbs., $130-$163; 400-500 lbs., $125-$153; 500-600 lbs., $120-$145; 600-700 lbs., $120-$138; 700-800 lbs., $100-$130 Slaughter bulls: $60-$86 Slaughter cows: $35-$60 Bred cows: $600-$1,100 Cow/calf pairs: $800-$1,400

Brenham

Results of the Cattleman’s Brenham Livestock Auction’s July 27 sale.

Head: 751 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $162$196; 300-400 lbs., $145-$185; 400-500 lbs.,

Check, from Page 18 these open heifers and “roll them over” to a fall-calving herd.

These are the very heifers that you want to identify early and remove from the herd. It just makes good economic business sense to

$138-$178; 500-600 lbs., $127-$162; 600-700 lbs., $120-$154; 700-800 lbs., $113-$150 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160-$196; 300-400 lbs., $144-$198; 400500 lbs., $138-$172; 500-600 lbs., $127-$172; 600-700 lbs., $118-$143; 700-800 lbs., $100$155 Slaughter bulls: $60-$76 Slaughter cows: $28-$60 Bred cows: $650-$1,350 Cow/calf pairs: $850-$2,000

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s July 28 sale.

Head: 2,458 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $160-$200; 300-400 lbs., $145-$197; 400500 lbs., $140-$192; 500-600 lbs., $135-$160; 600-700 lbs., $125-$150; 700-800 lbs., $115$143 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $130-$187; 300-400 lbs., $130-$185; 400-500 lbs., $125-$160; 500600 lbs., $120-$154; 600-700 lbs.,$115-$144; 700-800 lbs., $105-$135 Slaughter bulls: $60-$91

Slaughter cows: $32-$60 Bred cows: $750-$1,000 Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,425

Caldwell

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Aug. 1 sale.

Head: 928 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $175$200; 300-400 lbs., $166-$192; 400-500 lbs., $151-$167; 500-600 lbs., $138-$149; 600-700 lbs., $133-$141; 700-800 lbs., $129-$136 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $150$187; 300-400 lbs., $143-$170; 400-500 lbs., $138-$165; 500-600 lbs., $134-$155; 600-700 lbs., $127-$145; 700-800 lbs., $121-$126 Slaughter bulls: $72-$88 Slaughter cows: $35-$61

identify and cull non-pregnant replacement heifers as soon as possible.

Remember to schedule the cattle working for early in the morning hours to avoid unnecessary heat stress on both the heifers and the people involved.

Bred cows: $825-$1,100 Cow/calf pairs: $525-$875

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s Aug. 2 sale.

Head: 6,834 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $180$200; 300-400 lbs., $170-$200; 400-500 lbs., $155-$184; 500-600 lbs., $145-$167; 600-700 lbs., $135-$159; 700-800 lbs., $128-$137 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $150$175; 300-400 lbs., $145-$164; 400-500 lbs., $155-$184; 500-600 lbs., $145-$167; 600-700 lbs., $125-$160; 700-800 lbs., $115-$129 Slaughter bulls: $70-$85.50 Slaughter cows: $44-$62 Bred cows: $600-$1,400 Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,775

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s July 28 sale.

Head: 1,815 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $115$210; 300-400 lbs., $115-$200; 400-500 lbs., $115-$175; 500-600 lbs., $110-$160; 600-700 lbs., $110-$144 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$195; 300-400 lbs., $115-$170; 400-500 lbs., $115-$150; 500-600 lbs., $110-$146; 600-700 lbs., $105-$143 Slaughter bulls: $55-$75 Slaughter cows: $35-$62 Bred cows: $700-$1,325 Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,425 — Special to The Post

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August 2018 — Issue II

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To adverTise conTacT: Jesse Wright - 979.731.4721 or jesse.wright@theeagle.com

Agricultural

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Stud

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Grandson of unbridled and Secretariat dark Bay/White Points Retired due to mild injury

AI Sires: Basin Payweight 1682, Connealy Thunder, Connealy Packer 547, C C A Emblazon 702, Koupal Advance 28 and Cole Creek Cedar Ridge 1V.

Matt Jones. Franklin, TX. 979.777.7571 www.solidrockranch.com

Call for priCing

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Charolais Bulls, Heifers, and Cows Available!

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9995 County Road 353  Gause, TX 77857

Dr. Roy W Hann Jr.  (979) 255 - 5709 Tyson Hann  (979) 324 - 6659

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August 2018 — Issue II

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South Texas Cattle Marketing

“Cattleman’s Opportunity” Replacement Female Sale Saturday, Sept. 1 • 12:00 noon • Nixon Livestock Commision • Nixon, Texas

Selling 1,250 head of Quality Replacement Females

HIGHLIGHT OF SALE - 225 hd. True F1 Tiger-Stripe and Brown White faced heifer pairs, calves will be sired by Angus and Brangus bulls.

175hd. of these pairs will have calves weighing 350 lbs. plus from three of our ranches. Some of these pairs will be three in ones and some have been held for a Fall calving program.

Watch For A New Feature The Sale Within The Sale

We have had much demand for heifers eligible for the various county stock shows and county fairs who give future cattlemen and cattlewomen the opportunity to exhibit and sell their commercial heifers. Females that will be incorporated into productive herds.

We will be offering 300 open heifers.

Reg. Brahman • Brahman • True F-1 Tigerstripe Brangus • Brangus Baldy and Crossbred Heifers that will be sorted into small groups of 3 to 5 head.

On Monday, Aug. 27th, we will have a complete listing, with over 300 photos of our consignments available on our website: www.southtexascattlemarketing.com.

Consignment details are updated daily.

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August 2018 — Issue II

23

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August 2018 — Issue II

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