Land and Livestock Post

December December2013 2013— —Issue Issue 1

Become a cattle bookie Record keeping critical to success PAGE 12 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRYAN, TX 77802 PERMIT # 23

JAMES THOMPSONGIFTS HO-HO-HOLIDAY

JAMES THOMPSON DYING TO HELP THE HERD

PAGE 3

PAGE 9 3

JAMES THOMPSON WATER WORRIES

JAMES THOMPSON STATES RIGHT

PAGE 4 3

PAGE 19 3

Straight from Extension bookstore the horse's has something mouth. for everyone.

Straight from Increasing salinization the horse's worries mouth. experts.

Straight from Necropsies canthe help horse's protect mouth. remainder of cattle.

Straight Four States from Cattle the horse's Conference mouth. set for Dec. 3.

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December 2013 — Issue 1 

The Land & Livestock Post

AgriLife Extension Bookstore has gifts for every Texan on your holiday list

By Paul SchattenBerg Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

agement of quail, white-tailed deer and wild turkey.

Those interested in marine life and fishing may want to receive Freshwater Fishes of Texas; Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico; Texas Coral Reefs or the Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells as a gift.

Publications of interest for the rancher or farmer include BrushandWeedsofTexasRangelands; Brush Management Past, Present, Future;Grazing Land Stewardship: A Manual for Texas Landowners; Guide to Texas Grasses and Wildlife Stewardship and Recreation on Private Lands.

Other books of interest include Historic Texas Courthouses and the new Pocket Guide to Vegetable Diseases.

Easterly said the bookstore can deliver by Christmas to points in Texas for in-state orders placed by Dec. 17 and outof-state orders placed by Dec. 13.

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eration, it is necessary to keep good records.

In our cover story, we take a look at some suggestions of what to keep records of and the best ways to do it. There are a lot of resources available to help you and we’ll take a look at some of them.

We also have some news from Texas AgriLife Extension about some upcoming programs and events as well as a story about the status of our groundwater that you may want to take a look at.

All this and more awaits you in these pages, and I hope you enjoy every bit. Thanks for reading. ’Til next time,

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

December 2013 — Issue 1

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s online bookstore has a wide variety of publications to match the interests of the Texan on your holiday shopping list.

I

’ve never been very good at keeping records. I always figure I can get by keeping all the facts and figures I need to know in my head. But, the other day, I had to pull out my driver’s license and check the date to figure out how old I was.

This JESSE WRIGHT wasn’t very easy either, because I’m also very bad at math. I ran out of fingers and toes, so I gave up and just asked my wife. I know for a fact I am one year older than she is, and I can do that sort of math. Turns out I’m 23, and have been for quite some time.

If your cattle business relied on my record-keeping and math-figurin’ skills, you may not have a cattle business for very long. In order to maintain a successful and profitable op-



Individuals looking for ideas on what to get the Texan on their holiday gift list may need to look no further than the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bookstore for a unique gift to match the recipient’s interests.

AgriLife Extension publications can be ordered from agrilifebookstore.org.

All publications are authored, co-authored or reviewed by Texas A&M University System experts.

They address a variety of topics and wide array of interests for Texans.

Prices range from $5 to $39.95, plus tax and shipping, said bookstore manager Terry Easterly.

For gardening enthusiasts, the bookstore has books such as Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the Texas Hill Country; Rare Plants of Texas; Texas Cacti; Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife; Earth-Kind Landscape Management; Toxic Plants of Texas; Texas Wildflowers; Heirloom Gardening in the South; A Dazzle of Dragonflies and Herbs Made Easy.

Gardeners interested in fruit and vegetable production might enjoy the Organic Vegetable Production Guide; Vegetable Grower’s Handbook; Texas Pecan Handbook or Texas Peach Handbook.

For the Texas naturalist, the bookstore has numerous publications on birds and wildlife, including A Checklist of Texas Birds; Migration and the Migratory Birds of Texas; Handbook of Texas Birds and Hummingbirds of Texas, as well as Texas Bites!

Venomous Terrestrial Animals of the Lone Star State; Exotic Animal Field Guide and publications on the behavior and man-

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

News

Salinization of Texas groundwater a growing concern

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Degrading potable groundwater quality is a growing concern in Texas, as about 15 percent of all domestic wells in the state are at risk due to high salinity, according to a recent Texas A&M AgriLife Research study.

The work of Srinivasulu Ale, AgriLife Research geospatial hydrology assistant professor, and Sriroop Chaudhuri, his post-doctoral research associate, both in Vernon, has been accepted for publication in the Science of the Total Environment journal.

The study, “Temporal Evolution of Depth-stratified Groundwater Salinity in Municipal Wells in the Major Aquifers in Texas,” was completed using the Texas Water Development Board’s groundwater quality database for the period from 1960 to 2010.

Groundwater withdrawal accounts for about 36 percent of Texas’ municipal water supplies, according to Ale. However, a myriad of water quality issues have been reported from around the state, raising serious concerns over groundwater use due to a rise in concentration of sulfates,

chlorides, fluorides, nitrates and total dissolved solids.

Total dissolved solids is a collective manifestation of all dissolved chemicals and is considered a measure of salinity and an overall indicator of water quality, relating to taste and palatability, he said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets maximum and secondary contaminant levels for drinking water, with the secondary level being a nonenforceable threshold limit dealing mainly with aesthetics or odor, cosmetic or color, and technical effects, such as corrosiveness, staining, scaling and sedimentation, Chaudhuri said.

Water with total dissolved solids concentrations greater than the secondary maximum contaminant level of 500 parts per million can cause substantial damage to plumbing fixtures, he said. Levels above 1,000 and 3,000 parts per million are considered as brackish and moderately saline, respectively.

“In our study, we assessed spatial distribution of total dissolved solids in shallow, intermediate and deep municipal wells in nine major aquifers in Texas for the 1960s-1970s and 1990s-2000s periods,” Ale said.

Previous hydrogeologic investigations of the Edwards-Trinity Plateau, Pecos Valley, Edwards Balcones Fault Zone Aquifer, Gulf Coast, Ogallala, CarrizoWilcox, Hueco-Mesila Bolson, Trinity and Seymour aquifers in Texas have also examined groundwater salinity, he said.

These studies, however, lacked depth-stratified long-term evaluation of groundwater salinization with specific reference to potable use, Ale said.

The objective of this study was to offer a qualitative overview of the spatial, both horizontal and vertical, and temporal extent of groundwater salinization in light of regional differences in hydrochemical processes, or changes to the ambient water composition.

To achieve this goal, the study was divided into three subtasks: map the total dissolved solids concentrations in the aquifers at different well-depths; assess salinity based on drinking water quality standards; and highlight the major clustering of chemicals in certain aquifers that led to groundwater salinization.

“As the importance of groundwater resources continues to rise in the future; and as more of our freshwater reserves are affected by rising salinity and

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other harmful constituents, findings of this study will aid the groundwater and natural resources managers as well as general public to understand geographic distribution and relative extent of groundwater salinization of the state’s drinking water resources and plan for appropriate management actions,” Ale said.

Over time, groundwater salinization across the state has become more “structured,” with certain regions showing remarkable consistency in water quality degradation due to a progressive rise in salinity levels, he said.

“We identified hot spots of groundwater salinization at shallow depths across vast regions of West Texas in the southern Ogallala, northwestern EdwardsTrinity and Pecos Valley aquifers; intermediate and deep depths in the southern Gulf Coast aquifer; and deep depths in North Central Texas in the Trinity region,” Ale said.

Groundwater salinization is a complex process resulting from various natural and human-induced changes of ambient hydrologic conditions, Chaudhuri said.

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Water, from Page 4 “Interestingly, our study revealed that the causes of groundwater salinization differed across Texas, as reflected by noticeable regional differences in groundwater chemical composition,” he said.

Ale said groundwater mixing via cross-formational flow between aquifers, seepage

from saline plumes and playas, evaporative enrichment, hydrocarbon exploration activities and irrigation return flows led to groundwater salinization in West Texas.

In contrast, he said, ion-exchange processes in the North Central Texas and seawater intrusion coupled with salt dis-

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

News Equine reproduction short course scheduled Jan. 8-10

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Horse owners and breeders wanting to learn more about efficiency methods in reproduction and management can attend a short course Jan. 8-10 at Texas A&M University in College Station.

The Equine Reproductive Management Short Course will include classroom sessions on anatomy and physiology of the mare and stallion, control of the estrous cycle, gestation and foaling, feeding the broodmare and young horse, and estrous cycle manipulation of mares.

“Hands-on laboratory activities are scheduled each day and will include semen collection and evaluation, estrous detection, artificial insemination,

body condition scoring, perineal conformation evaluation of the mare and foaling management,” said Martha Vogelsang, senior lecturer for equine science in the department of animal science at Texas A&M. Vogelsang said course content includes a broad range of topics useful for horse owners in any segment of the breeding industry.

“We have been offering these courses since 1979,” she said.

“Previous attendees have indicated that the knowledge they gained from similar workshops has strengthened their confidence level and improved the relationship with their veterinarian concerning horse-breeding activities.”

Lectures will be held in the Kleberg Animal and Food Sci-

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ences Center on the Texas A&M campus, while laboratory sessions will be conducted at the Texas A&M Horse Center on George Bush Drive.

Instructors include several from the department of animal science in College Station: Vogelsang, Dennis Sigler, Clay Cavinder, Josie Coverdale, Dave Golden, Krissy Schroeder and graduate students in equine reproduction.

Each short course will have limited enrollment to ensure adequate time and animals to allow every participant to develop the skill they desire, Vogelsang said.

Enrollment will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served ba-

sis as registration forms with fee payment are received.

In addition to the lectures and laboratory sessions, the registration fee includes a handbook of the lecture material, information from equipment and supply dealers or vendors, lunches and snacks, and a certificate of course completion.

Cost is $600 by Dec. 20 and $650 after. If a registrant requests cancellation 15 days prior to the short course, the refund will be 75 percent.

There will be no refund for cancellations less than 15 days before the program starts, Vogelsang said.

For more information, contact Vogelsang at 979-845-5796 or m-vogelsang@tamu.edu or visit bit.ly/1fEGT5q.

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

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Necropsies are important to the rest of the herd

I

There are four main parts to a beef ranch herd health program. Most of us think of the vaccination program first when herd health is mentioned.

The nutrition program probably is even more important. Ranches with shiny coated, good body conditioned cattle have the fewest disease losses.

A ranch’s parasite control program is very important in our part of Texas

Monitoring herd health

The outcomes of herd health programs are monitored by recording production levels and death losses.

Ranchers can compare the performance of their herds to other Texas herds reported in the Standardized Performance Analyses summaries available from their Texas A&M AgriLife Extension county agent. Ranchers

a necropsy performed by a veterinarian. Necropsies provide a wealth of information that can guide ranch management practices. Results of necropsies indicate success of vaccination programs, identify new diseases to control, and evaluate the nutrition, parasite control and disease treatment programs.

Every necropsy yields immediate, valuable information on the ranch’s nutrition and parasite programs.

Amount of fat surrounding the heart and kidneys indicates energy status of an animal that dies suddenly. Of course, animals with prolonged illnesses will use up fat reserves. Necropsies offer an easy opportunity to evaluate the parasite situation. The abomasum is examined for stomach worm damage and the liver is examined for flukes.

Lungworms are searched for in the larger passages of the lung. The degree of external parasitism, including lice and ticks, is easy to observe .

Sometimes necropsies immedi-

experiencing higher than Standardized Performance Analyses average death losses in their herds would be wise to consult their veterinarian to investigate the cause(s) of excessive losses.

Determination of the causes of livestock disease involves application of a combination of epidemiology, evaluation of animal husbandry practices and veterinary pathology.

Pathology means the study of disease. I was fortunate to spend five years of my early veterinary career in the area of pathology leading to board certification as a veterinary pathologist. That training has been a great asset to me as a food animal veterinarian charged with solving herd disease problems.

The role of necropsies

A necropsy, the dissection of a dead animal to determine cause of death, also is called an autopsy or a postmortem. Necropsies are the foundation of pathology. The quickest way to find out why animals are dying is to have

December 2013 — Issue 1

Keeping cattle healthy

where bermudagrass pastures create “stomach worm heaven.” Cattle and pasture management practices make up the fourth part of a herd-health program.

This includes shelter, amount of crowding, biosecurity practices and grazing management.

Successful control of disease depends on Dr. STEVE proper implementation WIKSE of all four of the main branches of a herd-health program: vaccination, nutrition, parasite control and cattle management practices.



’ve had the privilege of providing veterinary services to beef cattle producers in five states in my veterinary career. The many wonderful ranchers that I’ve met in those different locations invariably believed that their county had more cattle diseases than any other in the nation.

Their assessment was pretty accurate. Disease is a continual threat to the production and profits of ranches throughout the United States. This reality makes herd-health programs critical to the sustainability of cow/ calf operations.

The Land & Livestock Post

Ask the Vet

See NECROPSIES, Page 10

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9

The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

10

Ask the Vet Necropsies, from Page 9 ately reveal the exact cause of death, even the organism responsible. Some diseases have characteristic changes in appearance of damaged organs (lesions) that occur with no other disease. This holds true for diseases due to clostridial bacteria. Cattle that die from redwater (bacillary hemoglobinuria) due to Clostridium hemolyticum always have a large area of liver that is pale and dry called an anemic infarct.

Redwater is a good example of a disease that is spreading into new locations and identified through necropsy as a new disease necessary to control.

Often the cause of death is not found at necropsy and samples of organs must be sent to a diagnostic laboratory for microscopic examination, recovery of infectious agents or detection of toxins. This is especially true in outbreaks of abortion which are the very most difficult herd problems to solve. Luckily, we have one of the best animal disease diagnostic laboratories in the world helping us, the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. I can’t say enough good things about the professionalism of its faculty and staff, and the high quality of its services.

One of the important uses of necropsy is to find out why animals given good treatment die. Necropsy results can reveal the wrong treatment was given.

Years ago in late December my students and I were called to find out why light-weight stocker calves with signs of pneumonia on Brazos Bottoms pastures were dying even though treated with the best antibiotics. I remember watching a final-year veterinary student as he removed the lungs from one of the calves.

“Now use your scissors to open up the large air passages and look for lungworms,” I coached. There they were. The air passages were nearly completely filled with parasites that looked like thin angel hair pasta. Symptoms of lungworm pneumonia are very similar to those of bacterial pneumonia.

Necropsy gave us a pathologic diagnosis and first-hand experience with the fact that antibiotics do not kill parasites.

It’s important to call a veterinarian as soon as possible after an animal dies to get accurate information from a necropsy. Self-digestion (au-

tolysis) starts immediately following death. This process can erase lesions by discoloration of organs and causes some bacteria to proliferate and others to die. The rule of thumb is necropsy within 24 hours of death, the sooner the better. A “fresh post” is a pathologist’s delight.

I sometimes stretch the 24-hour rule in an effort at least to get some information from a dead animal. I once stretched it very far. I was called about two cows that had been dead six months. “Oh,” I said “Nobody would want to necropsy them. Besides, they would have to be dug up.” Well, I was told, we would like you to necropsy them and heck, they’re not buried. I gamely set out to find out what I could on why those two cows died.

The rumen contents were preserved nicely, kind of like silage. They were absolutely loaded with acorn shells. The dead cows were body condition 3 and 4 as were the live cows on the ranch. The pasture was bare and the herd was being fed inadequate amounts of poor quality hay. Tests by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory for various toxins in the rumen contents and kidneys of the two cows were negative.

Toxicologists at the laboratory evaluated samples of rumen contents from each dead cow.

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Bottom Line

Flocks of buzzards circling the back 40 mean it’s time to call your veterinarian to do a necropsy. Dead animals hold secrets that can benefit a ranch.

Results of necropsies indicate success of vaccination programs, identify new diseases to prevent, and evaluate the nutrition, parasite control and disease treatment programs.

It’s definitely bad to lose animals on a beef ranch. Necropsies can yield information that leads to management practices that improve the health and productivity of the ranch. A necropsy can turn bad into good.

• Dr. Steve Wikse is a retired professor of large animal clinical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University.

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

A Special One-Day Priefert Sale!

Saturday, Dec. 7th

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11

The Land & Livestock Post

News

One for the books

December 2013 — Issue 1



Put financial records in good order

By ROBERT FEARS Special to The Post

I

f you don’t keep a good set of financial records on your ranching enterprises, it is certainly time to start getting them in order. Up-todate records are necessary for a commercial cattle business to be profitable with today’s high input costs and fluctuating livestock markets. Financial records show whether a ranch is making money or operating at an annual loss.

Comparing these records across years demonstrates whether the ranch business is growing or is on a downward slide. Financial records aid in preparing annual income tax returns and are required for obtaining loans. Herd production records are necessary because they measure animal performance and can be used to identify poor performing or non-producing cattle. Wellkept records help monitor the financial health and production efficiency of the ranch.

There are various ways to keep accurate records and it is important that the selected method matches the producer’s skills and abilities. If you don’t feel comfortable in using a computer, you probably should not keep records in a software program or on an electronic spread sheet. A ledger and some sharp pencils may be a better option.

If you are proficient in computer use, a variety of software programs are available for most skill levels.

Financial records

12

Financial record keeping often begins with a spreadsheet.

Jason Banta of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at Overton keeps his family ranch expenses on an Excel spreadsheet (Figure 1), which

he uses to prepare income tax returns as well as track expenses against budget. The first column on his spreadsheet, titled “Remarks,” is where the vendor or source of purchase is listed. Examples are Tractor Supply, Joe’s Gas and Diesel, and Mud Creek Vet Clinic. The next column is for the date of purchase and the remaining columns are titled with some of the expense categories from the Schedule F income tax form.

Banta’s expense record has a line for category totals at the bottom of the sheet and the computer calculates these totals as new entries are made.

Additionally, the spreadsheet is designed for calculation of the grand total at the bottom of the first column as new entries are made. He uses a similar spreadsheet to record ranch income. The expense and income records together can be used to prepare financial documents such as balance sheets and cash flow statements in addition to income tax returns.

“We request a balance sheet and three years of income tax returns from a client who applies for a loan,” said Jason Fuchs, vice president and branch manager of Capital Farm Credit in Temple. “A balance sheet is a statement of the financial health of a business at a specific time.

Comparing past and current balance sheets reveals trends that show where the operation is heading.”

“The amount of funds the owner has in the business is shown on a balance sheet and is determined by listing owned assets and liabilities with their values,” said Danny Klinefelter, economist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “The difference between assets and liabilities is net worth, or the

See RECORDS, Page 15

Figure 1

Figure 2

Confirmed West Texas anthrax case rekindles need for awareness of the indigenous disease

By Steve ByrnS Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

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Rural Land Loans Country Home Loans Farm & Ranch Loans Livestock Loans Equipment Loans Operating Capital Leasing

of the danger,” Blanek said.

F loron “Buddy” Faries, AgriLife Extension state veterinarian at College Station, said, “Rainwater erosion concentrates anthrax spores in the soil in localized areas called ‘hot spots’ in contaminated pastures. Active infectious spores surface from the soil under dry, dusty conditions. Surface water from fall rains will relocate the

Land and Cattle Co.



SAN ANGELO — A recent case of anthrax in a cow southwest of San Angelo — confirmed by the Texas Animal Health Commission — should serve as a reminder to those in areas with a history of the disease to vaccinate their animals, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service official.

Josh Blanek, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Tom Green County, said instances of livestock and deer losses to anthrax though rare, are certainly not unheard of in our region.

“Anthrax is an ancient disease caused by spore-forming bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, that most often occur in lowlying areas following drought and then subsequent rains, which can expose the spores in the soil to grazing animals,”

Blanek said.

“Non-vaccinated livestock and deer can become infected by ingesting, and on rare occasions, by inhaling the anthrax spores in the soil and on vegetation while grazing contaminated areas. Such cases are invariably fatal.

“There is usually a history of previous outbreaks in the area, but since years may go by between outbreaks, new landowners or leasees may be unaware

Graham

The Land & Livestock Post

News

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

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Figure 3

RECORDS, from Page 12

A simple, easy to maintain production record keeping system on Excel spreadsheets was designed by Banta. A ledger and a pencil can be used to maintain this system as well as computer spreadsheet software. Banta has used his

Figure 4

spreadsheets to keep records for his family’s commercial beef cattle operation for the past 10 years. During this period, he has made small modifications to the system and now feels it provides all of the information he needs to manage his ranch. Banta also uses his spreadsheet system to introduce other cow-calf operators to the practice of keeping records. His spreadsheets are available on the Texas A&M beef cattle website at animalscience.tamu.edu/ academics/beef/publications/.

The spreadsheets are titled “Record Keeping Examples” and can be found under the Business and Marketing section.

One of Banta’s tables is a herd inventory (Figure 2). This record requires three vertical columns that are repeated across the page. The date cattle are counted is entered into the first column, the head count is written in the second column and the last column is left for notes. The notes column is for recording observations that may require action

or monitoring such as a lame cow or one that is losing body condition. It is also used to list sales, purchases or deaths of animals to explain why the inventory numbers change.

Most good managers require that cattle be checked regularly so that sick, injured or sto-

len cattle can be noted within a reasonable period after the occurrence. Banta said that inventory records are very helpful when determining the average number of cows on the ranch for the year and calculating expenses per cow per year or for a particular season.

Additionally, they can be useful when applying for animal loss reimbursements under the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Livestock Indemnity Program.

December 2013 — Issue 1

Production records



owner’s equity in the business.

A balance sheet is often called a net worth statement. Net worth is the value that would be left after business debt obligations are paid in full.”

“We also require projected cash flow statements,” Fuchs said. “A projected cash flow statement is a listing of all anticipated cash inflows and outflows for the coming year.

Using cash flow statements, we can evaluate changes such as drought, market price fluctuations and changing input costs. Cash flow statements show the size and scope of the business. These projections show when and where infusions of cash will be needed to sustain the business.”

Fuchs said, “A projected cash flow statement can be used to prepare an annual budget, monitor day-to-day receipts and payments, and determine when management changes need to be made to keep the operation solvent.

Projections of cash needs will aid marketing decisions as to when and how to market your cattle.”

Most loan agencies have forms that can be used to develop financial and cash flow statements. There is also bookkeeping software available to create these documents from your entered expense and income numbers or you can use a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).

The Land & Livestock Post

News

See ACCURATE, Page 16

Questions About Cattle Health?

Ask the Vet! Steve Wikse - Retired DVM Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University

WIKSE

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15

The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

News ACCURATE, from Page 16 A second form in Banta’s system is for cow records (Figure 3). Banta identifies his cattle with numbered ear tags and each animal’s identification number is recorded in the first column on the cow record sheet. Most cows and heifers have a metal clip tag used for identification in the brucellosis vaccination and testing program. This number is placed in the second column of the cow records. Banta records both sets of numbers so if an animal loses either its ear tag or the metal clip, identification can be made from the remaining number. A calf’s birth date is entered into the third column and its sex (heifer or steer) is noted in the fourth column.

Banta weighs his calves at weaning or 35 to 40 days after weaning and calculates a weight per day of age for each animal. This performance measurement is derived by dividing the calf’s weight by its age in days. Weight per day of age at weaning provides a method for measuring a calf’s rate of gain from birth to weaning and the cow’s milk production. That number is entered into the fifth column of the cow record sheet. One benefit of calculating weight

Saline, from Page 5

16

solution and irrigation return flow in the southern Gulf Coast regions caused groundwater salinization.

For both time periods, the highest average groundwater total dissolved solids concentrations in shallow wells were found in the Ogallala and Pecos Valley aquifers, and those in the deep wells were in the Trinity aquifer, he said.

In the Ogallala, Pecos Valley, Seymour and Gulf Coast aquifers, about 60 percent of the observations from shallow wells exceeded the secondary maximum contaminant level for total dissolved solids in both time periods, which indicates persistent concern over potable water quality, Chaudhuri said.

In the Trinity aquifer, 72 percent of deep water quality observations exceeded the secondary maximum contaminant level in the 1990s-2000s, compared to 64 percent observations in the 1960s-1970s, he said.

per day of age 30 to 45 days after weaning is that it allows a producer to measure performance from birth through weaning and identify any cows that may produce calves that don’t perform as well during the weaning process.

Banta stressed that the weight of calves on sale day is ultimately more important than weaning weight.

A third spreadsheet in Banta’s record-keeping system is the breeding and calving records (Figure 4).

Data recorded in Columns 1 through 15 include: 1. Calving season (spring, summer, fall, or winter) 2. Date bulls turned in 3. Date bulls removed 4. Length of breeding season in days 5. Date calving starts 6. Date calving ends 7. Number of cows exposed 8. Number of open cows 9. Number of abortions 10. Number of calves that died at birth 11. Calves that died between birth and weaning 12. Number of pregnancies 13. Number of calves weaned 14. Pregnancy percentage 15. Weaning percentage Information in the breeding and calving records allows producers to monitor herd In the Ogallala, EdwardsTrinity Plateau and Edwards Balcones Fault Zone aquifers, extent of salinization decreased significantly with well depth, indicating surficial salinity sources.

Among all the major aquifers of Texas investigated in this study, the Edwards Balcones Fault Zone aquifer appeared to have the “best” potable groundwater quality with the lowest salinity levels and concentrations of major inorganic con-

Photo by Robert Fears

Up-to-date records are important for the profitability of a cattle operation. performance trends from year to year and compare their data with the Standardized Performance Analysis averages for their area.

Banta buys his replacement heifers and keeps their records

stituents, Ale said.

on a separate spreadsheet. He records when a group of heifers or cows are purchased, the number of deaths, the number of culls, and the remaining inventory.

These data allow him to calculate percentage of the original purchase that is still in production.

Record keeping is as important as feeding cattle or maintaining a herd-health plan, so make it a routine ranch-management practice. There are plenty of people who can help you get started: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists, loan officers, software companies and others.

A major challenge faced during the course of this research was the decreasing number of observations over the years and a lack of adequate spatial representation of groundwater quality data for each aquifer, he said.

It was therefore necessary to establish a more intense and “informed” water quality monitoring network, especially for regions that registered longstanding salinity issues.

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Anthrax, from Page 7

difficulty breathing, trembling or fever and suddenly die should be left alone and a veterinarian called as soon as possible.

“People become exposed to anthrax through handling an infected dead or sick animal,” Blanek said. “The carcass of an animal killed by anthrax usually shows little or no rigor

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spores in the dusty soil and create additional hot spots.

“Exposure occurs when an animal happens to graze the vegetation in the hot spot. This restricted exposure to spores limits the number of deaths on the contaminated pasture,” Faries said.

Faries said an inexpensive annual vaccine readily is available specifically for livestock and horses, but to be effective, it must be given before the animal is exposed to the bacteria.

Anthrax vaccine is produced

by Colorado Serum Company.

A distributor guide and online purchase are available at www. colorado-serum.com. The sale price of the vaccine for a 50-dose bottle is about $50 or about $1 per dose. Most producers in known anthrax areas routinely vaccinate in early spring.

“Fall and winter seasons are not correct timing of anthrax vaccination,” Faries said. “Immunity is protective after a few weeks following vaccination.

Protective immunity reduces after several months, so annual boosters are necessary. Since

anthrax is a summer disease, the correct timing of vaccination is during the spring so animals have protective immunity during the summer season,” Faries said.

Infected animals usually show symptoms within three to seven days and die within two days once symptoms occur, Blanek said. Deer or livestock that show signs of staggering,

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

News Disease, from Page 17 mortis or the stiffness that occurs soon after death.

“Never cut into a suspect animal, because if it actually does have the disease, doing so will release the anthrax spores into the environment exposing you and the surrounding area to the disease. And hunters, do not process a suspect deer for meat, and given the graphic symptoms of the disease and the possibility of infection to you, I have no idea why you would,” Blanek said.

Faries said hunters can be exposed to anthrax by handling antlers and bones of even decayed deer that died of anthrax.

“Shed antlers are safe to collect, since the antlers are shed from healthy bucks, not infected with anthrax,” Faries said. “The risk comes from antlers from carcasses of bucks that died of anthrax, in which case the antlers are still attached to the skull and are not shed.”

Blanek noted that anthrax tends to go dormant in cooler weather, which coincides with Texas’ traditional deer season, so exposure though possible, is significantly less likely. He said

the proper handling of deer by only harvesting healthy animals, wearing latex gloves and long-sleeved shirts when field dressing the animals and thoroughly cooking the meat before eating it, should preclude possible problems.

Faries said Texas Animal Health Commission regulations require owners and/or caretakers of animals that died of anthrax to burn each carcass until they are thoroughly consumed to prevent further contamination of the soil with the organism. Burning carcasses is the only method to ensure that the anthrax bacteria will be killed.

Faries strongly advises wearing a mask and gloves when handling sick or dead animals.

For more information on anthrax see the following: • www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_health/anthrax/anthrax. html.

• www.tahc.state.tx.us/ news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_Anthrax.pdf.

• www.tahc.state.tx.us/ news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_Anthrax-SPANISH.pdf.

• aces.nmsu.edu/ pubs/_b/b-120.pdf.

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Four States Cattle Conference set Dec. 3 in Texarkana, Ark.

By RoBeRt BuRns Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

 December 2013 — Issue 1

TEXARKANA, Ark. — The Four States Cattle Conference in Texarkana on Dec. 3 is a great opportunity for livestock producers, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agent.

“Beef cattle production is a very important agricultural enterprise for northeast Texas,”

said Brian Triplet, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Bowie County.

“This is a conference that brings together speakers from four different universities in one location, where a producer can gain valuable information in one day that they would have to travel to four states to get otherwise.”

See 4 STATES, Page 21

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20

December 2013 — Issue 1 

The Land & Livestock Post

LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Brazos Valley

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Marketing’s Nov. 9 sale: Head:1,373 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $200$260; 200-300 lbs., $195-$255; 300-400 lbs., $190-$240; 400500 lbs.,$170-$230; 500-600 lbs.,

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Exchange’s Oct. 7 sale: Head: 396.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $200$250; 400-500 lbs., $185-$225; 500-600 lbs.,$165-$189; 600-700 lbs., $160-$180.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $185$230; 400-500 lbs., $170-$210; 500-600 lbs.,$160-$180; 600-700 lbs., $147-$172.

Slaughter bulls: $94-$98.

Slaughter cows: $60-$85.

Stocker cows: $800-$1,500.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,000-$1,200.

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Nov. 6 sale: Steers: 200-300 lbs., $200$225; 300-400 lbs., $200-$235; 400-500 lbs., $185-$220; 500600 lbs.,$165-$195; 600-700 lbs., $145-$150.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $195$210; 300-400 lbs., $185-$245; 400-500 lbs.,$175-$185; 500-600 lbs., $160-$175.

Slaughter bulls: $80-$90.

Slaughter cows: $71-$80.

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction Market Nov. 7 sale: Head: 1,901.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $190$240; 400-500 lbs., $185-$210; 500-600 lbs.,$150-$172; 600-700 lbs., $145-$165.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $170$200; 400-500 lbs., $1,650-$190; 500-600 lbs.,$145-$160; 600-700 lbs., $135-$155.

Slaughter bulls: $96-$106.

Slaughter cows: $70-$92.

Stocker cows: $850-$1,400.

Milano

Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s Nov. 12 sale: Head: 617.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $132$245; 400-500 lbs., $120-$237; 500-600 lbs.,$125-$211; 600-700 lbs., $110-$175.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $130$261; 400-500 lbs., $125-$217; 500-600 lbs.,$117-$183; 600-700 lbs., $111-$175.

Slaughter bulls: $85-$95.

Slaughter cows: $60-$84.

Stocker cows: $985-$1,325.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,250-$1,900.

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s Nov. 2 sale: Head: 951.

Steers: 150-300 lbs., $150$275; 300-400 lbs., $150-$260 lbs., 400-500 lbs., $125-$250; 500-600 lbs.,$120-$200; 600-700 lbs., $115-$180.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $135-

$230; 300-400 lbs., $130-$210; 400-500 lbs., $120-$185; 500600 lbs.,$115-$180; 600-700 lbs., $115-$150.

Slaughter bulls: $75-$98.

Slaughter cows: $60-$90.

Stocker cows: $750-$1,975.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$2,100.

— Special to The Post

4 States, from Page 19 The conference will be held at the Four States Fairgrounds, 3700 E. 50th St, in Texarkana, Ark. Registration is $30 and includes lunch and educational materials.

To register or for more information, contact Paul Beck, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Hope, Ark., 877-777-9702 or pbeck@uaex.edu.

The full program brochure and a mail-in registration form can be found online at swrec. uark.edu/pdf_files/4-StatesBrochure.pdf.

December 2013 — Issue 1

Buffalo

Groesbeck

Caldwell



Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission’s Nov. 5 sale: Head: 719 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $205$260; 300-400 lbs., $195-$240; 400-500 lbs., $180-$220; 500600 lbs., $154-$195; 600-700 lbs., $144-$173; 700-800 lbs., $140-$148.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $185$220, 300-400 lbs., $174-$210; 400-500 lbs., $160-$200; 500600 lbs., $140-$163; 600-700 lbs., $130-$150; 700-800 lbs., $128-$140.

Slaughter bulls: $86-$95.50.

Slaughter cows: $62-$82.50.

Bred cows: $1,050-$1,230.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,150-$1,425

$155-$197; 600-700 lbs., $145$185; 700-800 lbs., $140-$161.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $190$245; 200-300 lbs., $180-$240; 300-400 lbs., $175-$230; 400500 lbs.,$155-$210; 500-600 lbs., $145-$180; 600-700 lbs., $135$165; 700-800 lbs., $125-$150.

Slaughter bulls: $82-$98.

Slaughter cows: $55-$87.

Bred cows: $975-$1,550.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$1,900

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Events Calendar

January – Jan. 8 – 10 - Equine Reproduction

Short Course. College Station, TX Jan. 11 - Live Oak Bull Sale,. Three December Rivers, TX. Dec. 6 - Lone Star Angus Alliance Jan. 17 - Fort Worth Stock Show & Bull Sale. Hallettsville, TX. Rodeo starts Dec. 7 – Brazos Valley Livestock Jan 23 - Special Bull Offerings, Commission’s 16th Annual Fall Stocker Cow Sale. Bryan, TX. 979-272- Jordan Cattle Auction. San Saba, TX 3109 Jan. 24 - Texas Angus Association Dec. 7 - Special Replacement Female Bull Sale. Fort Worth, TX. Sale. Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Jan. 25 - Texas Angus Association TX. Female Sale. Fort Worth, TX. Dec. 8 – 21st Stockman’s Special All Breed Bull and Female Sales. Industry, TX, 979-885-2400 Do you have a sale or event you’d like listed?

Dec. 10-11 - Texas Plant Protection Association Conference. Bryan, TX. Call Jesse Wright at http://tppa.tamu.edu (979) 731-4721 or email jesse.wright@theeagle.com Dec. 19 - TSCRA Ranch Gathering.

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December 2013 — Issue 1 

The Land & Livestock Post

LEGENDARY EQUIPMENT

The Land & Livestock Post

Quality and Integrity at Prices You Can Afford.



• 140 hp^ John Deere engine • Superb front axle Triple Link Suspension • Variety of transmissions available

Gator™ XUV 825i

5045D Utility Tractor

• Speeds up to 44 mph • Biggest cargo box in its class • Excellent low-end torque for towing and hauling

• 45 hp^John Deere engine • 2WD and power steering • 8F/4R transmission, synchronized shifting

December 2013 — Issue 1

6104M Utility Tractor

Visit the newly redesigned

CPTRACTOR.COM

BRYAN, TX

979-822-7684 ^Manufacturer’s estimate of power (ISO) per 97/68/EC.

NAVASOTA, TX 936-825-6575

TEMPLE, TX

254-773-9916

CAMERON, TX 254-697-6551

TAYLOR, TX

512-352-5296 &)3 ; %&( &

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The Land & Livestock Post  December 2013 — Issue 1

2013 EXPO

It’s the Place to be!

Saturday, Dec. 7th 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Great Show Specials z Super Door Prizes Earn CEU Credits z Meet your favorite Vendors

1800 N. Texas Avenue 24

979.778.6000

www.producerscooperative.com