May 2015 by Cattle Business in Mississippi

Join us for our 40th Annual...

Charolais Female Sale

Saturday, May 9, 2015 At the Ranch - Collins, MS Sale Starts at 12:30 PM Join Us for Lunch at 11:30 AM

Cattle Backed by Proven Performance

• 127 Females in the Breed’s Top 1% Milk EPD • 201 Females in the Top 1% TM EPD • Our Cattle’s Pedigrees are Stacked with Trait Leaders • Our Cow Herd is Run in the Real World on Grass

Selling 62 Lots

Cow/Calf Pairs - Fall Splits - Bred and Open Heifers Also Join Us Saturday, October 17, 2015 12:30 PM Rogers Bar HR

Fall “Turn-Out” Bull Sale Selling 75 Charolais Bulls 20 Charolais Heifers 20 Brangus Cows

Rogers Bar HR

Dorotheann Rogers Managing Partner: Doug Rogers

Cell: 601-765-7751

P.O. Box 1718 - Collins, MS 39428

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1-800-343-5051

May 2015 Cattle Business 3

The official publication of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association 680 Monroe St., Suite A Jackson, Mississippi 39202 (601) 354-8951 (601) 354-8957 (601) 355-7128 (fax) May 2015

VOLUME 62,

No. 5

31 36 42 52

USDA Awards Three Million in Research Grants Three Things To Look At In Your Cattle Mineral Tips For A Successful Synchronization And AI Program Beware Of Dr. Google: Grass Tetany Myths Debunked

10 12 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

MCA Report by Andy Berry President’s Report by Dr. Harold Newcomb Agronomy Notes by Dr. Rocky Lemus Vet Notes by Dr. Carla Huston NCBA Washington Report Beef Production Strategies by Cobie Rutherford Rings from the CattleWomen by Nancy Strickland Stocker Cents by Dr. Brandi Bourg Karisch Run Like The Dickens by Chase Dickens Market Notes by Dr. John Michael Riley

14 33 48 56 57 58

New Members Mississippi Beef Council Allied Industry Members Choice Stockman Members Buyers Guide Advertisers’ Index

4 Cattle Business May 2015

Andy Berry, Editor LeAnne Peters, Managing Editor

On the cover.... Brahman and Brahman-influenced cattle are found in many of Mississippi’s beef cattle herds.

Cattle Business in Mississippi (ISSN #08972737) is published monthly except bimonthly in June-July and November-December by the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association. Periodical postage paid at Jackson, Mississippi and additional address. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Cattle Business In Mississippi, 680 Monroe St., Suite A, Jackson, MS 39202, Tel. (601) 354-8951.

Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association 2015 Officers

Dr. Harold Newcomb President

Paul Whitlock First Vice President

Tony Thames Second Vice President

200 Watts Street Batesville, MS 38606 (662) 609-6364

91 CR 197 Iuka, MS 38852 (662) 423-3279

187 Carmel New Hope Rd Jayess, MS 39641 (601)587-7230

Area Vice Presidents Area 1

Area 6

Ken Henry Hewlett

Jeff Davis

58 CR 332 Taylor, MS 38763 (662) 234-0006

8176 Russell-Topton Rd Meridian, MS 39305 (601) 679-9931

Area 2

Area 7

David Beane

Shaunna Melancon

3856 Peppertown Road Fulton, MS 38843 (662) 862-9053

P.O. Box 836 Woodville, MS 39669 (601) 888-3224

Area 3

Area 8

Dr. Nancy Jackson

Greg Crosby

2800 Crow Crossing Rd Eupora, MS 39744 (662) 418-7927

443 Hwy 590 E Seminary, MS 39479 (601) 722-4804

Area 4

Area 9

Elton Dean

Roger Jefcoat

7200 Hwy 46 Cedar Bluff, MS 39741 (662) 295-3326

246 Shady Grove Moss Rd Laurel, MS 39443 (601)428-7848

Area 5

Area 10

Richard Peden

Mike Mitchell

2035 Shiloh Rd Pelehatchie, MS 39145 (601)854-8393

199 Mt. Carmel Rd Carriere, MS 39426 (601) 798-0522

Andy Berry Executive Vice President

680 Monroe St., Suite A Jackson, MS 39202 (601) 354-8951

PAST PRESIDENTS C.S. Whittington, Greenwood* Walter Swoope, Columbus* A.B. Freeman* J. Rupert Baird, Amory* Fred W. Klyce, Jr., Sardis* Dorris L. Ballew, Natchez* C.D. Maddox, Kosciusko* Frank T. Brumfield, Inverness* Donald Bartlett, Como* Luther W. Wade, Greenwood* Harris Swayze, Benton* Ethan A. Porter, Pattison* Ernest Minor, Paulette* J.Q. DeMoville, Okolona* Les Fletcher, Indianola Fred Taylor, Oxford* J.D. Rankin, Canton* Bowmar Virden, Jackson* Fred A. Moore, Morton* Mickey Black, Greenwood Jerry Lyon, Ellisville Bruce Brumfield, Inverness John Hewes, Woodville* Pete Armstrong, Tupelo* Ted Kendall III, Bolton Malcolm Commer, Jr., Jonestown* Jack Ross, Madison* Avery H. McKinley, Natchez* John Howarth, Jr., Cleveland* Sam Fletcher, Sumrall*

Bill Harris, Benton James P. Wood, Waynesboro* Danny Ross Ingram, Water Valley* Bob Anderson, Okolona* Bob Warren, Hazlehurst Gerald Sumrall, Monticello Sledge Taylor, Como Clifford Dance, Winona* Joe McGuffee, Mendenhall Otis Nicholson, Philadelphia* Sammy Blossom, Columbus Peter Pattridge, Batesville Dudley Bozeman, Flora* Wilbur Parsons, Crystal Springs* Charles Hull, Vaiden Ted Kendall IV, Bolton Dr. Jim Anderson, Brandon Larry Jefcoat, Soso Phil Slay, Crystal Springs George Alley, Vaiden Gale Martin, Brandon Joe Magee, Mendenhall David Houston, Oxford Ronnie Herrington, Laurel Lee Herren, Utica Pete Harper, Yazoo City Steve Elgin, Holly Springs Jacob Megehee, Macon Price Wallace, Mendenhall *Deceased

May 2015 Cattle Business 5

4 2 3 2 2 2 E 5 5 1 1 JUN 0 220

S S K K C C A A R R T T G G N N I I K K A M MA

Junior Cattleman! Let’s get our groove on and have some fun! Register today for our leadership workshop MAKING TRACKS! The Wax Junior Beef Leadership Conference will be held June 22-24, 2015 and is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Foundation, Mississippi State University and The Wax Company. Build your future on a strong understanding of the cattle business and work with other young cattle people this summmer!

Farm Tours • Leadership Workshops • Ropes Course • Build-A-Burger • Much More! Only the first 50 applications received by May 26, 2015 will be accepted. A $75 fee will be billed to you if you are selected. You must be entering the 9th grade next fall or older. ®

To apply, write a brief paragraph describing why you want to attend Making Tracks 2015 and what you wish to gain from it. Mail your application by May 26, 2015 to: MJCA, 680 Monroe Street, Suite A, Jackson, MS 39202. Send no money now... you will be billed upon selection.

Or you can email the following information and your paragraph in an email with subject “MAKING TRACKS” to: cbmag@att.net Go ONLINE at www.mscattlemen.org for an application.

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At Mississippi State University Starkville Co-Sponsored by Mississippi State University, Mississippi Cattlemen’s Foundation and The Wax Company, LLC. 6 Cattle Business May 2015

Events: July 5-11, 2015 - AJSA National Classic - College Station, Texas

Mississippi Simmental/Simbrah Association Mark Smith, President - (601) 310-6695 Shani Hay, Vice President - (601) 934-1069 Beth Tartt, Sec. - (601) 737-8718 Debbie Smith, MJSSA Advisor - (601) 310-6685 May 2015 Cattle Business 7

YOU’RE HERE..

SO WE’RE HERE FOR YOU. Because of our members, cattlemen have a voice on Capitol Hill fighting for the industry. Tackling issues like: • • •

The 2015 Dietary • Guidelines for Americans • EPA’s proposed “Waters of the United States” rule Trade •

Foreign Animal Diseases A much-needed modernization of the Endangered Species Act and many more!

KEEP US FIGHTING FOR YOU! JOIN TODAY! To join call 866.233.3872 or visit us online at www.beefusa.org Join now and receive a free liter of Dectomax® Cattle Dewormer! Raising cattle is your priority. Keeping you in business is ours. 1 8 Untitled-2 Cattle Business May 2015

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May 2015 Cattle Business 9

Busy Summer Ahead by: Andy Berry, Executive Vice President, MCA

680 Monroe St., Suite A Jackson, Mississippi 39202 (601) 354-8951/8957 www.mscattlemen.org Andy Berry Executive Vice President andy@msbeef.org fax: (601) 355 -7128 Carol Ryan Administrative Assistant mscacr@telepak.net fax: (601) 487-2711 Cassie St.Amant Director of Member Services cassie@mscattlemen.org fax: (601) 487-2722 LeAnne Peters Director of Communications cbmag@att.net fax: (601) 487-2713 Nancy Strickland missbc@msbeef.org fax: (601) 487-2712 The Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association and Cattle Business in Mississippi assumes all information submitted for publishing, whether editorial or advertisements, is correct and will not be held responsible for any information submitted incorrectly. Cattle Business in Mississippi reserves the right to refuse any and all material submitted for publication. Advertising rates available upon request. Advertising deadline: First of month preceding publication date, i.e. January 1 for February issue. Dues: $40 per year National Advertising Representatives Livestock Advertising Network 176 Pasadena Drive • Lexington, KY 40503 859-278-0899

BEEF

10 Cattle Business May 2015

I hope this issue finds each of you well. As I sit down to write this month’s article, the sun is shining bright after at least a week of rain. I have never been one to complain of receiving moisture, but it certainly is nice to see the sun out! Beef Council I, along with Price Wallace, recently had the privilege to attend an orientation for state Beef Council directors and staff. For two days, we heard and saw how our check-off dollars are being used on a national level. When we think of the check-off and what it does, most first think of the “Beef, It’s What’s for Dinner” campaign. While that slogan is still at the forefront of current advertising campaigns, that is not all that is happening with today’s beef promotion. We have some very bright and passionate people working to get consumers, both in America and globally, to purchase more beef. From market research, digital and social media campaigns, studies of worldwide consumer trends, and managing the reputation of our industry, beef enthusiasts are working tirelessly to promote beef in various ways. There is also new recipe and preparation research being done to make sure beef stays in the American consumer’s diet as taste and preferences change. I don’t have to tell you that it is a fast-paced world we live in today and our check-off dollars are making a difference in keeping beef a viable and healthy option in consumer’s diets. Making Tracks If you are a MJCA member or have child or grandchild who will be entering the 9th grade, mark your calendars this June 22-24 for Making Tracks, which will be held at Mississippi State

University. I want to encourage you to make this a priority on your summer schedule. I was fortunate to have attended the first Making Tracks in 1992. The knowledge and relationships I gained by attending have been invaluable to me since that time. I made lifelong friends and contacts that have benefitted me personally and professionally through my MJCA and Making Tracks participation, so I encourage you to be involved or make sure your child is involved. Beef Improvement Federation Mississippi is this year’s host state for the annual BIF Research Symposium and Convention. The convention will be held in Biloxi on June 9-12, and is a wonderful opportunity to receive education on issues facing the beef industry as well as meet producers from other areas of our country. Membership I want to take just moment to thank all of you for making your membership a priority! I also encourage you to reach out to your friends and neighbors to encourage them to join or renew. Each added member helps your association when we need to comment or weigh in on political issues. Let us in the office know if we can help or do anything to assist you. We work for you!

Did you know?

You can now pay your membership dues online at: www.mscattlemen.org

First-Calf Cows: High Nutrient Demand Can Slow Breed-back by: Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension First-calf cows (3-year-olds) are traditionally the most challenging animal to get bred on the farm. As we approach breeding season, cattlemen need to be aware of this challenge and make sure they do not drop the ball on getting first-calf cows re-bred. First-calf cows are dealing with a large demand for nutrition. Nutrients are needed to support maintenance (normal bodily processes), lactation (milk for her calf), growth, and reproduction. Mature cows do not have the demand of growth… they are done growing. Virgin heifers do not have the nutrient demand for lactation... they do not have a calf. Thus, first-calf cows experience the most demand for nutrients and are the most difficult to get re-bred. The flow of nutrients results in reproduction being one of the last served. This should make some sense.

Cows not able to support themselves and their newborn calf are not good candidates for re-breeding. They likely will not offer longevity and productivity in the given environment. However, if the farmer is delivering the feed in a drylot, it is his fault for not supplying the correct amount to the cow. Proper heifer development and setting the stage before she calves is the most important. I suggest having bred heifers in a BCS of 6 or even 7 knowing they will lose some weight during their first lactation. I think it is crucial that you select for moderate milk genetics that allow cows to maintain themselves on forages and does not require continuous supplement. If you find yourself looking at thin 3-year-olds right now, you will need to start feeding an energy dense supplement to get them gaining weight. Research has shown thin cows gaining

weight will cycle and breed much faster than thin cows just maintaining or especially losing weight. Young cows are an investment yet to pay off. In general, it takes roughly 6 calves for a cow to pay herself off. Knowing this, mismanagement of 3-year-olds can be a costly mistake to a beef farm. If you are trying to build your cow-herd it will start with getting those currently in it to re-breed.

Save the Date! Making Tracks June 22-24 Starkville, MS

Must be entering the 9th grade and be a MJCA member to attend. For more infromation visit www.mscattlemen.org

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2015 County Presidents Kenny Carlton.............………Adams Jimmy McNair…..………………Alcorn Jacog Poole............……………Amite Bobby Bell..............................Attala Mitchell Ormon....................Benton John Allen Leachman…………Calhoun Jamie Darnell, Jr.…........…Chickasaw Dr. Eddie Lipscomb…………Claiborne Dudley Williams…………………Clarke Tracy Lofton.……....….…………Clay Mike Whitfield....Carroll-Leflore-Mont. Alton Walters…......……………Copiah Greg Crosby.........…………Covington Marvin Ladner…………Forrest-Lamar Jeanette Hunt……….…………Franklin Greta Thornton...….…George-Jackson Patton Byrd......………………Greene Kyle Wilson....…...…...………Grenada Marcus Ladner....…Hancock/Harrison Danny Martin...........……………Hinds Kenneth Weeks....….…………Holmes David Beane.......…..………Itawamba Jim Sims……………..……………Jasper Curt Bass, Jr....…..…………Jeff Davis Mike Murry…..……..……………Jones Andrew Dabbs..…….....………Kemper Keith Brown...........…………Lafayette Jeff Davis......…...……….…Lauderdale Wally Givens..…..….…..……Lawrence Brian Burns….….……..........……Leake Pete Fava…....…….…………………Lee Mike Smith………..….…………Lincoln Craig Canull...........….………Lowndes D.R. Bozeman................……Madison Billy Raybourn......…..…………Marion Mike Haimsohn….……………Marshall Matthew Herndon………..……Monroe Jay Jayroe.....................……Neshoba Jim White……..………….……Newton Lester Estes......................…Noxubee John Byrd.........………….…Oktibbeha Jeff Magee............…Panola/Quitman Greg Ladner..…......………Pearl River Lee Henderson..……………..……Perry Mike Tynes............…..……………Pike Hershell Ferguson, Jr...…..…Pontotoc Wilson Buffington ...…....………Rankin Michael Smith………………………Scott Ned Walker............…………Simpson Joe Hancock......…………………Smith Carl Baxter..........………………Stone Terry Mabus..................Tallahatchie Sammy Ashe…....….....…Tate/Desoto Ronnie Hall….....………………Tippah Charles Burns.…..…………Tishomingo Breland Randle….………………Union Doug McLaughlin...……………Walthall John Coccaro……….…..………Warren Robert Coxwell…….……………Wayne Dr. Nancy Jackson……………Webster John Patrick..........…………Wilkinson Rusty Suttle................………Winston Terry Jones.......................Yalobusha Pete Harper………………………Yazoo

12 Cattle Business May 2015

Greetings from North Mississippi by: Dr. Harold Newcomb President, MCA

It seems that spring came in along with Easter this year, and both were certainly welcome around our farm. Along with spring came the annual NCBA Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. that Sammy and I attended. With this thought in mind I want to take a few moments to talk about our trip to our nation’s capitol. This may have been one of the most educational trips I have taken. To see democracy in action is truly an amazing thing. The legislative process sounds so simple; however, I came away feeling the only thing simple in D.C. was me. I also came away with a much greater appreciation for what MCA and NCBA does to convey and protect the interest of the cattle producers in our state and nation. While in D.C., we saw people protesting on the capitol grounds. Amongst that, we also saw congressional staffers eating in a restaurant that proudly served free-range chickpeas. I’ll be the first to say that I didn’t know chickpeas were so sensitive as to where and how they were grown. My point is that it’s these

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people that are shaping the issues and stories representatives and senators hear, despite the fact that most of them have no idea or care which end of a cow is intake or output. Several legislators told us how much they appreciate the common sense approach NCBA brings to issues affecting rural America and cattlemen across the United States. While in Washington, Sammy and I saw most of the Mississippi congressional delegation and presented MCA\NCBA position on several issues such as the Waters of the US, Country Of Origin Labeling, and renewal of the Trade Promotion Act. MCA/NCBA are your voice to the world, and as producers we need to support both organizations with membership and participate in the process of forming and conveying our positions. If you don’t participate in the process, you have no reason to complain about the outcome. Also remember that if we, as an organization, don’t present our story, someone else will and it will most likely not be in our best interest as producers and rural Americans. You can go to beefusa.org to see position statements from NCBA. I have asked LeAnne to include one in this magazine. I ask each of you to go online and read them carefully. If you agree with the policy then I encourage you to join and/or recruit membership in MCA/NCBA and your county cattlemen’s association. Until Next Time: “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm if his hand.” -An Irish Blessing”

Healthy Animals for Healthy Food Why Use Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are an important tool to prevent, control, and treat disease in cattle.

Antibiotics made specifically for cattle help animals regain or maintain superior health. Healthy cattle are the foundation of safe food.

Is Antibiotic Use in Cattle Safe?

Yes. All antibiotics used in beef cattle production go through a rigorous

testing process before being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This process helps protect human health while giving veterinarians and beef producers the tools to keep animals healthy.

Highlights from the Beef Producers Guide for Judicious Use of Antimicrobials in Cattle Prevent Problems: Emphasize appropriate husbandry and hygiene, routine health examinations, and vaccinations. Select and Use Antibiotics Carefully: Consult with your veterinarian on the selection and use of antibiotics. Have a valid reason to use an antibiotic. Therapeutic alternatives should be considered prior to using antimicrobial therapy. Avoid Using Antibiotics Important In Human Medicine As First Line Therapy: Avoid using as the first antibiotic those medications that are important to treating strategic human or animal infections. Treat the Fewest Number of Animals Possible: Limit antibiotic use to sick or at risk animals. Treat for the Recommended Time Period: To minimize the potential for bacteria to become resistant to antimicrobials. Extralabel Antibiotic Use Must follow FDA Regulations: Prescriptions, including extra label use of medications must meet the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA) amendments to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and its regulations. This includes having a valid Veterinary-Client-Relationship. Subtherapeutic Antibiotic Use Is Discouraged: Antibiotic use should be limited to prevent or control disease and should not be used if the principle intent is to improve performance.

By law, no beef with antibiotic residues that exceed FDA standards is allowed in the food supply.

All products approved by FDA for use in food-producing animals must pass significant human food safety benchmarks.

What about Disease Resistance?

Cattle producers avoid using antibiotics that are important in human medicine.

In multiple studies, no connection has been found between antibiotic use in cattle and antibiotic-resistant foodborne or other pathogens.

The U.S. government closely tracks antibiotic resistance and monitors and reviews products and interventions.

Through our Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA), NCBA has been training beef producers about the safe and appropriate use of antibiotics for more than two decades. NCBA has guidelines for “Judicious Use of Antimicrobials.” See highlights of that document in the blue text box. Prohibiting all low-level applications of antibiotics used in livestock will reduce our ability to address disease in cattle. ~ www.beefusa.org ~ May 2015 Cattle Business 13

New Members March 23 - April 21 CJesse Andrews Tylertown Donnie Arender Magee Archie Baker Aberdeen Chad & Cristy Bath Raymond Ryan Berry Kosciusko Justin Boone Forest Gene Boone Forest Millard Brock Carthage Don Burge Carriere Hugh Byrd Mize Kim & Tonia Caldwell Carthage Tommy Champayne Poplarville Chris Cohn Terry Hayden Craft Mendenhall Christina Custred Plantersville Wayne & Marilyn Ebeling Carthage Jimmy Edwards Carthage Flora Lardy Ephfron John Fondren Bellefontaine Jonny Freeman Mize Jared Freeman Mt. Olive Carl Gable Taylorsville Taylorsville Bruce Gable Benjamin Garner Corinth Michael Graham Perkinston Justin Green Columbia Matt & Cindy Hebert Union Church Southhaven Alvin Henderson C.F. Hudson Saltillo Craig Jackson Wesson Lashuntay James Columbus Tony & Pat Jones Lumberton Lexington Caleb Kellum Jerald Kim Key Forest Curt Lacy Stoneville Paul Little Mt. Olive Rebecca Longoria Hattiesburg Bassfield Anthony McNeese Luke McQueen Seminary Robert Moore Poplarville Laura Starnes Moulder Pattison James Neill McCarley Carolyn Norris Sumrall Lucedale Clarence Pierce Delois Powers Starkville Loretta Reed Brookhaven Kyle Rutledge Meridian Mark Rutledge Guntown Mitchell Smith Morton Jason Smith Magee Steven Smith Moss Point Curtis Snell Starkville Jake St. Amant Union Church Bruce & Tracey Stogner Tylertown Joshua Stringer Seminary 14 Cattle Business May 2015

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE by Baxter Black, DVM

Take Care of Yer Friends Friend is a word that I don’t throw around Though it’s used and abused, I still like the sound. I save it for people who’ve done right by me And I know I can count on if ever need be. Some of my friends drive big limousines Own ranches and banks and visit with queens. And some of my friends are up to their necks In overdue notes and can’t write a check! They’re singers or ropers or writers of prose And others, God bless ‘em, can’t blow their own nose! I guess bein’ friends don’t have nothin’ to do With talent or money or knowin’ who’s who. It’s a comf’terbul feelin’ when you don’t have to care ‘Bout choosin’ your words or bein’ quite fair

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‘Cause friends’ll just listen and let go on by Those words you don’t mean and not bat an eye. It makes a friend happy to see your success. They’re proud of yer good side and forgive all the rest. And that ain’t so easy, all of the time Sometimes I get crazy and seem to go blind! Yer friend just might take you on home Or remind you sometime that you’re not alone. Or ever so gently pull you back to the ground When you think you can fly with no one around. A hug or a shake, whichever seems right Is the high point of givin’, I’ll tell ya tonight, All worldly riches and tributes of men Can’t hold a candle to the worth of a friend.

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Cattle Market Roundup by: Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State Univ. Extension Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly May and the April showers continue in the southern plains bringing May forage. For the first time in a long time parts of western Oklahoma are experiencing flash flooding. Not only are we enjoying more rain than in many months, but the cumulative effect of continued rains, heavy in some locations, will provide better soil moisture penetration and surface water replenishment than the same moisture total in sporadic rains. The April Cattle on Feed report pegs March feedlot placements fractionally above year ago levels, higher than expected. Placement consisted of a large increase in placements over 800 pounds with reduced placements for all weights under 800 pounds. March marketings were 98 percent of year earlier totals with one extra businessmay2015.pdf day this1 4/14/2015 year. 9:34:41 TheAMApril 1

on-feed total was equal to the same time last year. Feedlot placements were up in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska but down in Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. Nebraska had the largest state cattle on feed total for April 1; exceeding Texas for the third month in a row. Nebraska briefly exceeded the Texas total last year on May 1 for the first time in the current cattle on feed data series back to 1992. One third of the way through 2015, total cattle slaughter for the year to date is down 7.5 percent and beef production is down 5.3 percent. Total steer and heifer slaughter so far this year is down 7.3 percent, with heifer slaughter leading the decrease, down 8.2 percent. Total cow slaughter for the year to date is down 7.2 percent, with dairy cow slaughter up 2.1 percent and beef cow slaughter

down 17.5 percent. Reduced heifer and beef cow slaughter indicate that herd expansion is continuing and perhaps accelerating in 2015. The April 1 inventory of heifers on feed was the lowest quarterly heifer on feed total since October, 1996; near the end of the last complete cyclical expansion in the U.S. beef cattle industry. Improving moisture conditions in Texas and Oklahoma increase the likelihood that herd expansion plans in those areas will continue. On January 1, 2015, the combined beef replacement heifer inventories in Texas and Oklahoma accounted for 58 percent of the year over year national increase in beef replacements, which was up 4 percent.

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May 2015 Cattle Business 15

Pearl Millet: Pinpoint Forage for Summer Grazing by: Dr. Rocky Lemus, Extension Forage Specialist Sometimes producers are trying to decide what forage might fit into a summer grazing and hay production systems to follow land that was planted in annual ryegrass for winter grazing. Pearl millet is a tall annual growing grass that can produce several tillers (stems) from the base of the plant and can be used primarily for summer annual forage production for grazing, hay or baleage across Mississippi. Establishment – Pearl millet should be established in a well-prepared seedbed to avoid weed competition.

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Seed usually germinates very quickly (within 5-7 days) after planting when temperatures are ideal for growth.

hay production or emergency forage production. Total yield decreases as seeding date is delayed from earliest

Pearl millet seed germination is best when soil temperature is 65 °F or higher and soil moisture is adequate. Two weeks after planting, pearl millet can initiate a rapid growth phase. Pearl millet has relatively fast root development. Its extensive fibrous root system can grow both laterally and downward into the soil profile. This annual forage crop has a high temperature requirement for growth. Optimum growth occurs between 91 and 95 °F, minimum growth occurs at 54 °F with a soil temperature of 64 °F and minimum nighttime temperature of 50 °F. Pearl millet is one of the most drought tolerant summer annual forages. It prefers very well-drained soils and it is probably the less tolerant of the summer forages to water logging and flooding. Although pearl millet can be planted throughout the summer, best planting dates are from May to June. Later planting dates can affect forage production and should be considered for short-term grazing,

planting. Seeding rates for pearl millet can vary depending on the type of utilization. Seed rates of 15 to 25 lb/ac at ½ depth are recommended when planting in a prepared seedbed and using a drill or 30 to 40 lbs/ac when broadcasting the seed. When using pearl millet for grazing, the lighter rate is recommended to allow more tiller production per plant. In a hay system, a heavier seeding rate is recommended to increase tiller competition and to have finer or thinner stems that that could reduce drying time. Keep in mind that when broadcasting the seed, the cost of establishment can be increased significantly. To avoid rapid maturity and extending the grazing capability over the summer, it recommended to make multiple plantings (stagger planting) of at least a twoweek interval. Fertility – Although pearl millet can grow at low pH (>5.5) and fertility, lime is recommended with application

at least 6 months before planting to allow lime to react and neutralize soil acidity. Phosphorous (P2O5) and potassium (K2O) should be applied based on soil test recommendations.

Phosphorous can be applied at planting while potassium should be applied in split-applications if the recommended rate is above 60 lb K2O/ac. If this the case apply half of the K2O at planting and the remaining K2O after the first grazing along with the recommended nitrogen rate. Nitrogen should be apply at a rate of 40-50 lb N/ac when the plants have reached 3-inches in height. Apply an extra 40-50 lb N/ac after the first grazing or haying period. Forage Production – Seasonal production is generally from June to September with yields in Mississippi ranging from 1,100 to 6,800 lbs DM/ac (Table 1). When pearl millet is planting in May, it should be ready for grazing within 30 to 45 days after planting and if managed properly it could provide from 80 to 110 days of grazing depending on variety, fertility, growing conditions, and grazing management strategy. It is important to note that millets are most productive during the first 60 days of the life of the stand. During those first 60 days of production, a well-fertilized milled should be able to carry three to four stocker cattle (500-550 lbs) or two to three mature cows (1,000 lbs) per acre under rotational grazing. Forage Utilization – Pearl millet should be subject to relatively frequent, but uniform defoliation to maintain quality. When grazing pearl

millet, animals can be allocated when plants have reached 18 to 24 inches in height. Animals should be removed at a target stubble height of 6 to 8 inches to allow plant recovery and regrowth,

but best animal performance might occur when a 10 to 12 inches stubble height is maintained. New improved varieties are available and they can be combined with summer legumes such as cowpeas, lablab, or forage soybeans (Fig. 1) to improve forage production and animal performance. Pearl millet can also make good quality hay or baleage if cut when plants reach 24 to 36 inches. If forage reaches the boot stage, then baleage production can be considered to avoid loses in forage quality. The drying rate of millet hay can be sped up by the use of a roller/ crimper-style conditioner. Forage Quality – Pearl millet can produce good quality forage, especially under frequent defoliation. Millets are moderately to highly digestible when the total biomass has a large leaf to stem ratio. Higher leave concentration contain higher protein and digestible nutrients and lower fiber concentration. Crude protein can range from 10 to 12 % when unfertilized to 14 to 16% under nitrogen applications. Millets are known to have high calcium and iron, but low in sulfur-containing amino acids. One of the advantages of pearl millet is that it does not produce prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid) and contain no tannins when compared to other species such as sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum/sudangrass hybrids. However, pear millet can

accumulate high nitrate levels during drought stress. Nitrate accumulates in the plant when fertilized with high nitrogen rates due to insufficient moisture or by other factors such as cloud cover, shading, cool temperatures or frost. Several pearl millet types and varieties have been developed for utilization across the southern USA. Although millets have the ability to produce good forage, the main factors that will determine yields are plating date, length of the growing season, season’s growing conditions, and time of forage utilization. Research at Mississippi State University is continuing to look at the best agronomic practices of variety selection, fertilizer rates, legume competition, weed control and utilization methods (grazing, hay and baleage). Producers must also consider how pearl millets could compliment other available forages to meet their livestock’s nutritional requirements.

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Heifer Health by: Carla L. Huston, DVM, PhD, ACVPM Beef Extension and Outreach Coordinator, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University A well-known economist recently estimated the worth of a bred heifer in 2015 to be a record value of $2,925/ head. Few can argue that replacement stock represents a significant investment on the part of producers, and current economic conditions are sending strong signals for herd expansion across the southeastern US. Investment in the health of young females now will lead to increased cow herd profitability for the future of your herd. Good nutrition is fundamental to successfully raising replacement heifers. Maintaining a productive cow herd requires that heifers become pregnant early, rebreed early, and have favorable conception rates. First service conception rates are lower

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which provide a more complete proin heifers than 2nd or 3rd -service tection over killed vaccines, since they conception rates. Therefore, we want are not pregnant nor stressed from them to reach puberty early so that weaning and should have had previous their breeding season can start sooner, vaccine exposure through calfhood at approximately 13-15 months of age, vaccination protocols. In addition to or 55-65% of their expected mature proper vaccinations, a good dewormweight. ing program is needed to improve Earlier growth efficiency so that heifers can breeding reach their desired weight pre-breedalso allows ing and maintain optimal condition heifers to throughout pregnancy and lactation. start calvHealth programs for heifers should ing earlier be targeted at reproductive diseasthan the es. Infectious diseases are a primary rest of the reason for suboptimal production in herd so female beef cattle. Depending on the that they cause, these can manifest as concepcan be tion failure, early embryonic death, watched abortions, or still-born or weak calves. m o r e Vaccination programs should be taiclosely and lored for each individual herd accordgiven a little extra time post-calving ing to the animal’s risk of exposure to to start cycling and return to heat. potential pathogens. Your herd veterNutrition can also affect fetal develinarian can help you develop proper opment, calf survivability, colostrum vaccination protocols to help maximize and milk production, and potentially protection and minimize potential vacrebreeding during the next season. cine side effects. Approximately 60 days pre-breedCommon diseases causing pregnancy ing, heifers should have a reproductive losses in exam to Example Heifer Health Protocol*: beef cattle examine • Calfhoood vaccination prior to weaning with that have reproducvaccines tive tract modified-live IBR and BVD components available • Pre-breeding examination of reproductive maturiinclude ty, pelvic tract, BCS, temperament size, body • Pre-breeding vaccination against IBR, BVD, infectious bovine condileptospirosis, campylobacteriosis, and clostridi- rhinotration score cheitis ( B C S ) , al diseases and tem- *Health programs should be tailored to an indi- ( I B R ) , bovine perament. vidual operation v i r a l On a scale diarrhea of 1-9, (BVD), leptospirosis, and campyloheifers should be at a body condition bacteriosis, also known as vibriosis. score of 5 to 6. Pre- breeding vacStudies have shown that fetal proteccination should take place 30-45 days tion against pathogens such as BVD prior to breeding. Heifers are good virus, IBR virus, and some strains candidates for modified-live vaccines,

of leptospirosis can also be obtained through proper vaccination. While not found commonly in US cattle, vaccination against the disease brucellosis may also be considered after considering animal movements and risks of exposure. Vaccines also available against histophilus somnus (which can cause infertility, and rarely, abortions) and trichomoniasis. A booster vaccination against clostridial diseases can also be given at this time. Once entering the cow herd, adults should be vaccinated yearly with boosters to continually protect them from infectious diseases, and in some areas, certain vaccinations may be required more frequently than once a year. Not all diseases have vaccines available to protect animals from. Furthermore, no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing diseases, so a good biosecurity plan is essential to keep infectious agents out of the herd. Any new additions or replacements which have been reared off-farm should be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days, which allows for testing of diseases such as BVD and Johne’s, and to administer vaccinations. Pregnant heifers are one of the most susceptible groups in your herd, so they shouldn’t have contact with other high-risk cattle such as purchased stocker cattle, cattle that attend shows or exhibits, or any other animal whose health history is unknown. If using natural service, the health of the bull can also affect the heifer. Venereal diseases such as trichomoniasis can be introduced with breeding bulls, so bulls should be tested for and vaccinated against potential disease-causing pathogens. Your herd veterinarian can play an active role in planning and administering beef heifer development strategies. Managing disease risk though vaccination and biosecurity requires knowledge of disease history on the farm, previous vaccinations, and previous disease outbreaks. Fostering a good veterinary-client-patient relationship now will result in positive impacts in your herd for the future.

House Votes to Repeal the Death Tax due,” said Ellis. “Unfortunately, all The House voted 240 to 179 On too often at the time of death, farming April 16, for full repeal of the death and ranching families are forced to sell tax, a tax that is threatening the livelioff land, farm equipment, parts of the hoods of farmers and ranchers across operation or take out loans to pay off the country. National Cattlemen’s tax liabilities and attorney’s fees.” Beef Association President Philip Ellis Ellis added, “We urge the Senate to said H.R 1105 Death Tax Repeal Act act soon and vote for full repeal of the of 2015 is commonsense legislation death tax to prevent an undeserved necessary for rural America. death sentence to many family-owned “When did it become appropriate to farms and ranches.” tax death?” said Ellis, a multi-generational rancher from Wyoming. “This is a punitive tax on farmers and ranchers that is inaccurately framed as a tax on the rich. The U.S. Department of Agriculture even names the death tax as one of the top contributors to the breakup of multigenerational farming and ranching operations.” You can now pay your dues At the end of 2012, Congress online at: passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act, narrowly avoiding a return to a www.mscattlemen.org $1 million estate tax exemption with a 55 percent tax rate. This legislation provided a permanent exemption of the estate tax of $5 million per individual, 10 million per couple, and raised the top tax rate to 40 percent. While ATRA provided some relief for some farmers and ranchers, fixing the underlying problem is critical. With rising farm land values across America the estate tax will continue to plague farm and ranch families until it is repealed. “The estate tax is a disservice to agriPole Barns • Hay Sheds culture because we Agricultural Shops • Equipment Sheds are a land-based, Deer Camp Buildings capital-intensive industry short of funds, and with few options for Examples paying estate taxes 30x40x10 • 40x60x12 • 50x80x14 when they come

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May 2015 Cattle Business 19

NCBA Updates and Issues Compiled from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Publications Finance & House Ways and Means Committee Passes TPA Legislation The Senate Finance Committee passed Trade Promotion Authority legislation (S. 995) by a bi-partisan vote of 20 to 6. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and Chugwater, Wyo. cattleman Philip Ellis highlighted the importance of this legislation. “We were very happy to see the Committee pass a TPA bill, without amendments that would hinder progress on future free trade agreements,” said Ellis. “Trade Promotion Authority gives our negotiators and trading partners a clear signal to negotiate the best deal for our products, knowing it will receive an up or down vote in Congress. Current and future free trade agreements give us the ability to take our beef, the best protein in the world, to the 96 percent of the world’s population that lives beyond our borders. Trade and greater access to markets around the world mean the future to my ranch, my kids and my

the

grandkids; and I urge Congress to pass this legislation without delay.” The House Ways and Means Committee passed Trade Promotion Authority legislation (H.R. 1890) by a bi-partisan vote of 25 to 13. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis issued the following statement upon passage: “We appreciate the House Ways and Means Committee’s efforts to pass this legislation following Senate passage last evening. As we have repeatedly stated, trade is critical to the success and future profitability of our industry and TPA is critical to negotiating future free trade agreements. Cattlemen urge swift passage of this legislation by the full House and Senate.”

Committee for sending a clear message to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers that the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule is an expansion of federal jurisdiction that strips rights from private property owners. Passing the full Committee today by a vote of 36 to 22, H.R. 1732 Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 requires the EPA and Army Corps to withdraw the WOTUS proposal within 30 days. NCBA President Philip Ellis said cattlemen and women appreciate the Committee’s efforts for moving legislation forward that addresses the problematic proposed rule. “The subjective and ambiguous language of the proposed rule would significantly broaden the federal government’s power to regulate waters House Committee Calls for Repeal and adjacent lands that convey water,” of WOTUS said Ellis. “We also appreciate the The National Cattlemen’s Beef legislation requiring the federal govAssociation and the Public Lands ernment to work with state and local Council applaud the House governments, further protecting states’ Transportation and Infrastructure rights.” The bill also charges the agencies with developing a new proposed rule that must take into consideration all of the comments received and reach consensus with the state and local governments on the Rub onto the face, giving effective defining “Waters of the United pinkeye protection and face fly control. Each pack contains Flyps for one Rub. States.” “The Administration’s proposed rule is nothing more than regulatory land grab vastly expanding federal authority,” said Brenda Richards, PLC president and rancher from Idaho. “Instead of proactively reaching out to stakeholders before proposing the rule, the Administration pushed forward a rule that didn’t take into account the concerns of agriculture.” NCBA and PLC urge Congress to act on this important piece of legislation without delay.

20 Cattle Business May 2015

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Warmer Temps Mean Increased Water Needs by: Ryan McGeeney, University of Arkansas Extension As summer approaches and high mid-day temperatures become the norm, cattle producers should give extra attention to making sure their herds have plenty of water to deal with extreme heat for the next several months. “Water is probably the most overlooked feature on a livestock farm,” said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor-forages for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Clean, abundant drinking water is important for optimal animal importance.” Philipp said that access to drinking water typically increases the amount of dry matter, such as hay and other forage, that cattle ingest, which in turn helps regulate body temperature. Insufficient water intake in cattle can result in decreased rates of rumination and respiration and increased concentrations of urea and potassium in blood serum. Severe shortages over extended periods of time will result in animal losses, Philipp said, with the chance of survival under temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit limited to three or four days. The water needs of individual animals depend on several factors, including outdoor temperature, the age of the animal and the moisture content of the animal’s forage diet. Philipp recommended producers make sure their cattle get approximately one gallon of water per pound of dry matter consumed. While a typical beef cow needs 20-30 gallons of water per day, lactating beef cows need 25-35 gallons; lactating dairy cows need 30-40 gallons of water each day. Weaned calves need about 10-15 gallons of water each day. A higher pace of production can place additional demands for water consumption on cattle than the animals would typically need for daily “body maintenance,” Philipp said. Additionally, calves need proportionally more water than mature cows, Philipp said, because water needs are actually linked more to body surface

area than to body weight. “Mature animals have about 10 times more water reserves for metabolic functions than calves,” he said. “Therefor, young animals are much more sensitive to water-related stress and distress, such as diarrhea.” Philipp said that the best approach to making water readily available to herds is to set up dedicated, waterline-fed

access points. Examples include freezeproof watering stations, tire tanks that can be connected to ponds and stock tanks that are filled periodically with fresh water or hooked up to a water line. Dedicated pond and stream access points are better than nothing, Philipp said, although bacteria, pathogens and parasites are often abundant in those situations, due to the high contamination potential from cattle feces.

May 2015 Cattle Business 21

Sharing My Story by: Cobie Rutherford, Beef Cattle Extension Associate

As you are picking up this issue of Cattle Business in Mississippi, I am starting my second month as a Beef Cattle Extension Associate for Mississippi State University. While I am still getting my feet wet, I have quickly seen a great infrastructure for beef cattle programming. I look forward to getting out on your farms and being involved in Mississippi’s beef community. For my first article, I would like the opportunity to introduce myself. A recurring theme across today’s beef community revolves around sharing your beef story. The advantages to sharing the beef story from the farmer’s and rancher’s point of view enables the consumer to put a face on who is producing their food. While my multi-faceted beef story is still being written, the chapters logged thus far have set the stage for a long term career as a servant to the beef industry. As a beef producer, my beef story is dynamic and filled with emotion. As an Animal Scientist, my beef story is factual and science based. My beef story begins with my legacy, is driven by my education, and is evolving through my careers within the beef

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industry. My beef story begins on my family’s farm in Hatton, Alabama – a rural farming community in the Northwest corner of the state. Rutherford Angus Farm is a quintessential family farm that required efforts across three generations to be successful. From a young age, I took on a significant role in the operation as both of my parents worked off the farm. I began showing cattle at the age of nine and enjoyed a successful career showing steers and Angus heifers. My parents, teachers, and 4-H/FFA advisors encouraged me to pursue leadership roles in local and state organizations and become connected within Alabama’s agriculture industry. While working toward my M.S. in Animal Breeding, I was exposed to many new facets of the industry I thoroughly enjoyed. I had the opportunity to work closely with the Alabama Beef Connection (ABC) program, which worked to form relationships between Alabama cattle producers, feedlots and processors. Perhaps my favorite role as a grad student was my ability to teach and mentor the undergraduate students. My graduate education certainly prepared me for the career I have led to date. Working for trade associations has been rewarding. Both the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) and Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) have given me a broad spectrum view of the agriculture industry and a deep appreciation for the farmers and ranchers who grow our food. At KCA, I served as the Marketing Coordinator of the Kentucky Beef Network. Muck of my work there revolved around their co-mingled, graded feeder calf sales and the USDA-approved process verified program for source and age verification. As the Director of Industry Relations

and Youth Programs for the ACA, I worked with state checkoff-funded projects. My primary responsibilities included: serving as the advisor for the Alabama Jr. Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA), managing the Alabama Jr. Beef Expo in a superintendent role, coordinating the AJCA Roundup, serving as the staff lead for the Emerging Leaders program. At both associations, I had the opportunity to work very closely with their associated land grant universities. I understand the importance of the strong relationship between MSU and MCA. I plan to get involved in the local cattlemen’s association and volunteer at beef promotion and checkoff events. It will be really nice to wear a ‘member’ hat for once and participate in events without planning them! By returning to my land grant roots, at Mississippi State University, I can continue my career of service to the southeastern beef cattle community. I hope to be able to build upon existing extension programs and develop new concepts that will help increase the profitability and sustainability of Mississippi cattle farmers. I look forward to hearing your beef story and learning more about our Mississippi beef community. Please make plans to attend the Mississippi State University Beef Unit Field Day on May 2nd. If you would like to contact me, my email address is cobie.rutherford@msstate.edu and phone is 662-325-4344.

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February Beef Exports Bounce Back While still impacted by severe congestion in West Coast ports, February exports of U.S. beef bounced back to some degree from the totals posted in January, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. Conditions are steadily improving on the West Coast, where congestion related to a labor dispute slowed container traffic during the last four months. But the tentative contract agreement that eased tensions on the West Coast was not reached until Feb. 20, so the congestion still had a significant impact on February beef exports. “We won’t see much relief from the shipping backlog until March results are in, and container traffic in some ports still has not returned to normal,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “However, the new labor contract agreement definitely sent positive signals to our Asian buyers and allowed the U.S. meat industry to begin putting this crisis behind us. The momentum exports regained in February is encouraging, and we’re looking forward to further improvement when March results are published.” In addition to port congestion, February exports also continued to face other significant challenges, including the strong U.S. dollar, large supplies from key competitors, and market access barriers. February beef exports totaled about 183 million pounds – down 3 percent year-on-year but a 4 percent improvement over January. Export value of $535.3 million was up 12 percent from a year ago and 6 percent higher than in January. January-February volume was 359 million pounds, down 11 percent from the first two months of 2014, though value – at $1.04 billion – remained 4 percent ahead of last year’s pace. Japan, Korea, Mexico fuel results February beef exports accounted for 14 percent of total production and 11

percent for muscle cuts only – ratios similar to a year ago, but higher than in January 2015. Export value-perhead of fed slaughter was $318.26 in February (up 15 percent from a year ago) and $293.47 for JanuaryFebruary (up 12 percent). Beef exports to Japan rebounded significantly in February, up 11 percent from a year ago in volume to 35.1 million pounds and 23 percent in value to $112.6 million. For the twomonth period, exports to Japan, at 65.6 million pounds, were still down 1 percent in volume from a year ago but increased 11 percent in value to $204.1 million. The trend was similar for South Korea, as February exports climbed 16 percent in volume to 24 mil-

lion pounds and 24 percent in value to $80.4 million. January-February exports, at 39.6 million pounds, were still 7 percent lower in volume but increased 3 percent in value to $137.9 million. Mexico posted another strong month, driven by large beef variety-meat exports. February exports to Mexico were 40.9 million pounds – up 7 percent year-on-year -- valued at $93.6 million, up 5 percent. Twomonth totals were up 3 percent in volume to 85.5 million pounds and 9 percent in value to $198.7 million. Get the latest updates by “friending” MyBeefCheckoff on Facebook or following @MyBeefCheckoff on Twitter. Or for additional information visit www.MyBeefCheckoff.com

May 2015 Cattle Business 23

Greetings from the CattleWomen by: Nancy Strickland, President, Mississippi CattleWomen’s Association Hello fellow BEEF lovers! It’s been a great spring, we’ve received so much more rain than normal for this time of year. Sometimes more than we needed at one time, but welcome nonetheless. You know farmers are never happy, either it’s too much or too little, but we take whatever comes. Membership has its rewards. I would like to expand on that as membership also has its responsibilities. If you are a member of MCWA and not involved in anyway, large or small, you should ask yourself why. Are you too busy at work? Maybe now is not the time for you to be deeply involved, but think about it for the future. Are your kids keeping you busy? Maybe there is a committee you could help with that wouldn’t take much of your time, but would certainly help us achieve our goals. Do you think you don’t have anything to offer, that you aren’t sure how we could use you? Just ask! You’d be surprised at the different types of

Mississippi CattleWomen’s Association President Nancy Strickland Vice-President Julia Rigby Second Vice-President Beckey Holifield, D.V.M. Treasurer Sheila Hughes Secretary Regina Herren 24 Cattle Business May 2015

things we do so I know we could find a perfect fit for you. We have been guilty, like any organization of only looking to the few who always volunteer and don’t expand our vision to other ladies in the organization. That’s a mistake as we can innocently overlook someone who’s just waiting to be asked. On the other hand please don’t sit back and wait! Offer yourself to come help. Did you know that a 3-ounce serving of beef gives you 51 percent of the daily recommended value for protein? It seems like America is obsessed with protein these days. You can find protein-enhanced granola bars and even protein-enhanced water and even protein-enhanced brownies! Why not get “true” protein from the best tasting source there is – BEEF?! Because beef is an animal-based protein, when it is broken down it is more easily absorbed by your body compared to plant-based proteins, which may be found in some of the plant fibers; thus, you may not be getting all of the great benefits protein provides. After eating a meal, protein is the compound that keeps you satiated or feeling full, thus reducing your hunger during the day and, hopefully, keeping your hand out of the cookie jar! It’s hard to believe, but we’re approaching Mother’s Day and graduation. So be sure you fix some good beef for your event! Try this recipe. BEEF ROAST WITH GREEN BEANS & ONIONS INGREDIENTS: 1 beef Sirloin Tip roast (4 pounds) 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper 1 jar (12 ounces) beef gravy 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Green Beans & Carmelized Onions: 4 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 large onions, cut into 1/2 inch wedges 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 package (16 ounces) frozen green beans, cooked, warm INSTRUCTIONS: Heat oven to 325°F. Combine garlic and pepper; press onto beef Roast. Place Roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef, not resting in fat. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 325°F oven 2 hours for medium rare; 2-1/2 hours for medium doneness. Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp; remove bacon. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Add onions; cook over medium-low heat 35 to 40 minutes or until very soft, stirring occasionally. Stir in vinegar and sugar. Cook over medium-high heat 1 to 2 minutes or until liquid is evaporated. Add beans and bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Remove Roast when meat thermometer registers 140°F for medium rare; 155°F for medium. Tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 5°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.) Remove rack from pan; stir in gravy, Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 cup water. Cook and stir over medium-low heat 3 to 5 minutes or until bubbly. Carve Roast. Serve with sauce and vegetables. Total Recipe Time: 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours Makes 6 to 8 servings

Keep Or Cull Open Replacement Heifers? by: Glen Selk, Oklahoma State Univ. Extension For some cow calf operations, the bulls go into the breeding pasture with replacement heifers in mid-April. As the bulls are being removed from the replacement heifers in two months, this would be an ideal time to call and make arrangements with your local veterinarian to have those heifers evaluated for pregnancy after another 60 days. In two months after the breeding season, 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 very useful purposes. 1. Identifying and culling “open” heifers early will remove sub-fertile females from the herd. Lifetime cow studies were conducted at a USDA experiment station in Montana. Over the span of 23 years, 1589 replacement heifers were exposed to bulls. Over that number of years 266 heifers were found to be “open” after their first breeding season. All of these “open” heifers were kept in the herd for an average of about 4 years. From the 1006 opportunities to become pregnant that followed, only 551 calves were produced. In other words, when the heifers that failed to breed in the first breeding season were followed throughout their lifetimes, they averaged a 54.9% 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. 2. Culling open heifers early will reduce production costs. If the rancher waits until next spring to find out which heifers do not calve, the winter feed expense will still be lost and there will be no calf to help eventually pay the bills. This is money that can better

the temptation to “roll them over” to a fall-calving herd if they have failed to breed in a spring breeding season. Producers that are buying replacement females (at a quite hefty price) need to be wary of heifers that were exposed to bulls or artificial insemination/clean-up bulls and remain non-pregnant. This is the easiest opportunity to become pregnant that they will have. If they are still open after that first breeding season, they may be infertile at worst, or sub-fertile compared to other heifers. Remember the old Montana data that suggests that they will be 55% calf crop females the rest of their lives.

be spent in properly feeding cows that are pregnant and will be producing a salable product at weaning time. 3. Identifying the open heifers shortly (60 days) after the breeding 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. The grading change of several years ago had a great impact on the merchandising of culled replacement heifers. “B” maturity carcasses (those estimated to be 30 months of age or older) are much less likely to be graded choice. Therefore, it is imperative to send heifers to the feedlot while they are CheyenneAdFinal15.pdf young enough1 2/18/2015 9:59:37 AM to be fed for 4 to 5 months and not be near Highly productive and palatable forage and hay for all classes of grazing livestock the “B” maturity age group. Certainly Cheyenne II is an exclusive, certified variety of bermudagrass developed in the percentconjunction with Texas A&M University. It is a single variety and not a age of open bermudagrass blend, so it will not revert or change over time. Cheyenne II heifers will is well adapted across the bermudagrass growing region as a long-lasting perennial. It produces leafy, high yielding horse quality hay and is excellent vary from for grazing livestock. Cheyenne II offers an economical and easy alternative to ranch to sprigging because it is established from seed. Plant with your own equipment ranch. Do and on your own time. Can be used to plant large or small acreage or to not be conthicken existing thin hybrid bermudagrass stands. cerned, if A New and Improved Variety that is after a good University Tested and Farmer Proven heifer develForage Bermudagrass Yield Trials opment proOverton, TX - Starkville, MS - Tifton, GA Variety Yield (lbs DM/A)* gram and Cheyenne II 9736 adequate Coastal** 8738 Common 8392 breeding *3 yr. avg. yield - 2006-2008. season, that **hybrid variety you find High Yielding that 10% of the heifers Excellent for Grazing or Hay Production still are not bred. These Highly Palatable & Digestible are the very Deep Rooted for Increased Heat and Drought Tolerance heifers that you want Improved, Stable Single Variety (not a blend and will not revert to common) to identify early and Penkoted® Seed for Increased Establishment Success r e m o v e For more information about Cheyenne II seeded bermudagrass or from the to find your nearest Pennington dealer, contact Pennington Seed at 1-800-285-SEED or visit www.pennington.com. herd. Resist

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Getting Newly Weaned or Received Calves Started on Feed by Dr. Brandi Bourg Karisch, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Mississippi State University A goal of any receiving or weaning plan should be to minimize stress on newly received calves. Starting new cattle, whether they be newly weaned or freshly received into a stocker operation, can often be a challenge. A goal of any receiving or weaning plan should be to get calves started on feed quickly and eating well. Management of their diets can have long term impacts on performance. The receiving phase offers unique nutritional challenges as compared to other phases of a calfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Proper nutritional management during this phase is critical to ensuring success and profitability. These calves are often stressed upon arrival or after weaning, and will likely have low feed and water intake for several days. Some calves may even be naĂŻve to feed, hay, or even water troughs, and calves should be carefully observed during this time. Due to their often low feed intake, receiving diets should be formulated to be highly palatable, stimulate intake, and provide a more concentrated source of key nutrients. Some guidelines to follow include: 1. Provide access to clean fresh water: Water is an essential nutrient, and should be readily accessible. Be sure that water troughs are free of mold and algae growth. Consider the fact that calves may be accustomed to drinking from ponds or streams, and may not immediately recognize an automatic waterer. 2. Provide access to free choice hay: Calves will likely be able to easily recognize and consume hay. They should have access to good quality grass hay to stimulate proper rumen function. 3. Provide palatable feed with greater concentrations of nutrients: On average, feed intake of newly 26 Cattle Business May 2015

received calves is low. Because of this, diets for calves starting on feed should be formulated both to maximize intake and provide greater concentrations of required nutrients. Receiving diets must be highly palatable, stimulate intake, provide acceptable levels of critical nutrients, and minimize the potential for nutritional disorders. Generally, receiving diets containing more than 55 percent concentrate can lead to digestive problems, resulting in higher medication costs. 4. Formulate diets based on age and size of calf: Diets should be formulated so the calf receives at least maintenance requirements for protein, vitamins, and minerals when feed consumption is 1.0 to 1.5 percent of body weight. Lightweight (350 pounds or less) and early-weaned (weaned at or before four months of age) calves may need more nutrient dense diets than larger, later-weaned calves. These lighter calves require a higher percentage of protein and a good source of digestible energy in their diets than do larger calves. 5. Be mindful of protein source: The source of protein is also critical in receiving diets. Non-protein nitrogen (urea) is not recommended in receiving diets for calves less than 600 pounds and should be avoided altogether for feeding lightweight calves. Plant protein sources such as soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and alfalfa are acceptable protein supplements for these calves. 6. Offer a good quality mineral: Providing proper mineral supplementation is an essential component of a good nutritional program for calves. Phosphorus levels are typically low on forage-based diets, so next to sodium and chloride, phosphorus is a key mineral to supplement to balance the diet. Trace minerals such as zinc and

copper, along with vitamins A and E, are also important in meeting the nutritional needs of calves. 7. Place feed and water along the boundaries of pens: Calves initially walk the boundaries of their new pens searching for a way to escape. Placing feed bunks and water troughs along the fence lines of receiving pens, as opposed to in the center of the pens, increases the frequency of calvesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; walking past the bunks and troughs. 8. Provide adequate feed bunk and water trough space: Timid calves may not receive sufficient shares of feed if bunk space is limiting. At least 12 linear inches of bunk space per head is recommended for incoming cattle. A good guideline is to provide 18 to 24 linear inches of bunk space per calf. 9. Be consistent with feed deliveries: Feed cattle approximately the same time each day to establish a routine, consistent eating time. Twicea-day feedings can be worthwhile the first two to three weeks of the receiving period for highly stressed, young, or lightweight cattle. Sick calves may be slow to come to the feed bunk, so it is useful to observe feeding behavior to help identify potential health problems. For more information about beef cattle production, contact an office of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

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Foglesong Tells House Ag Committee the Waters of the U.S. Proposal is Problematic Steve Foglesong, former president of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, appeared before the House Committee on Agriculture to explain how the proposed Waters of the United States rule, will impact famers and ranchers. “I am extremely concerned about the devastating impact this proposed rule could have on me and other ranchers and farmers,” Foglesong said. “As a livestock producer, I can tell you that after reading the proposed rule it has the potential to impact every aspect of my operation and others like it by regulating potentially every tributary, stream, pond, and dry streambed on my land.” According the Environmental Protection agency, the proposed rule is designed to explain and clarify the Clean Water Act. The EPA, along with the Army Corps Of Engineers began researching, brainstorming and drafting new rule in 2010. Both agencies had hoped the new rules would make reinforcing the Clean Water Act possible. Ranchers and farmers however, don’t believe the rule is an improvement. “This rule doesn’t provide clarity, it just adds to the confusion,” he said. “This ambiguity over key definitions will result in massive interpretation by bureaucrats across the country and it’ll place all landowners in a position of uncertainty and inequity.” Although the EPA and the Army Corps said they consulted farmers, ranchers and small business owners when drafting the rule, most disagree. “There was zero outreach to us in the agriculture community before the rule was proposed,” said Foglesong. “And despite what the EPA and Army Corps are saying, they did not have a meaningful dialogue with the small business community as a whole.” While animal agriculture and property owners nationwide do not support the proposed rule, they are not opposed to clarifying the Clean Water Act.

“There’s no argument, clean water must be protected but this rule will only provide chaos,” he said. “Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, we’re all ready for a chat, but you really need to listen to what we have to say.” The NCBA and all of animal agriculture are calling on the EPA and

the Army Corps to withdraw the proposed rule and engage in a serious and meaningful dialog with the agricultural and business communities to find the necessary solution that will provide the clarity and certainty we require. For more information go to beltwaybeef.com.

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Kicked and Carried by Chase Dickens I was fairly accident prone as a child. Not clumsy per se, I just had a knack for finding danger and two brothers more than willing to help in the search. During the summer of my seventh year of life, I’d racked up an impressive six visits to the emergency room for an assortment of stitches, broken bones, and concussions. The doctors joked with Mom that they probably would’ve reported her for child abuse if I hadn’t been so excited telling them the wild and clearly exaggerated stories behind each of my injuries. (My career as a liar and story

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teller began pretty early in life.) However, by the end of the summer I’d managed to stay out of the emergency room long enough to keep Mrs. Dickens off my case. Then one afternoon, through no real fault of my own, I kicked myself right back out of her good graces. Mom walked out the front door to a chorus of music, laughter, and screams. My brothers and I were in a rather heated game of basketball. The music blared from the truck radio as we played, and the laughter came from BJ and Corey. The screams were the product of a new defensive strategy BJ was testing out on me, which involved him holding me down on my stomach and trying to comb my hair with my left foot. The new defense was proving very successful when our game was interrupted by the most dreaded sound in existence. “Ba-oooyyyysss!” Author’s note: Tina Dickens could somehow give the word “boys” forty-seven syllables. It’s similar to a farmer calling pigs to the trough but only if the farmer has a megaphone and really hates pigs. The Call, as it’s known, was how Mom caught our attention and woke us up every morning. The Call hasn’t been heard in many years, but my brothers and I still speak of it on occasion—though only in hushed whispers lest it come and find us in our sleep. With her children properly deafened, Mom continued, “Stop playing so rough or don’t come crying to me when one of you gets hurt.” After trying one last time to turn his brother into a pretzel, BJ let me go. We all stood up and did our best to look properly chastised. Of course this illusion only lasted for about two seconds because as soon as BJ was distracted I took the opportunity to give him a nice jab in the kidney. Corey, always the calmest of the three, caught BJ by the arm before he could

retaliate and said, “We promise to take it easy.” Mom’s expression softened at that. “I have to check on a pregnant cow and do a few things at the barn. Promise to play nice, and I’ll walk so y’all can keep listening to the truck radio.” We agreed, and she began walking across the field shouting back over her shoulder, “I’ll be back in an hour. Honk the horn if you need me.” With our game restricted by Mom’s Communistic regulations, my brothers and I quickly grew bored with the lack of bloodshed and set off to find something else to do. We played outside for a while but eventually decided to watch television. The first channel we clicked on was airing an old Jackie Chan movie, and a collective cheer went up in the living room. Jackie Chan was a favorite of ours growing up. Something about watching a man take out fifteen armed thugs with nothing but a milk crate and a ladder really got the blood pumping. I believe I can speak for all little boys in the world when I say that when you watch a Jackie Chan movie, you pretty much want to do some Kung Fu. And before long BJ, Corey, and I were running around the living room karate chopping, kicking, and throwing invisible ninja stars at each other. It began innocently enough as a fun play fight, but as play fighting is oft to do, it quickly deteriorated into a real fight. Being the youngest and already small for my age, I was getting spectacularly pummeled. In a last ditch effort for victory I channeled my inner Jackie, and time seemed to slow. I ran, put one foot on the couch, jumped, spun, and landed a roundhouse kick to BJ’s face. He fell back with a split lip, and I landed on my feet striking my best ninja pose. The crowd went wild, and Bruce Lee probably applauded from

the grave. We’d called a cease-kick and were trying to stop BJ’s bleeding when Mom returned home to find a trail of blood running through the house. Using her keen detective skills, she followed the trail to the locked door of the bathroom. She knocked and asked, “Alright, how bad is it?” Still hiding behind the door, Corey answered, “Not bad. We just kinda busted BJ’s lip playing earlier.” He said “We” instead of “Chase” because snitching was considered a capital offense by the Dickens brothers. “Well come out so I can have a look at him,” Mom said with the gentle patience that comes from raising three boys. We slowly filed out of the bathroom, and Mom put a hand on BJ’s chin and examined his battle wound. After a moment’s thought she said, “It definitely needs stitches. Y’all put on some shoes, and we’ll go to the emergency room.” The three of us all looked back and forth at each other, guilt written plainly on our faces. I spoke up, “Um, don’t be mad, but we sorta left the radio on, and the truck’s battery died before we came inside.” Mom closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if to tell herself, No Tina, you shouldn’t kill your children. Someone is bound to notice they’re gone, and you might actually miss them once you’ve caught up on sleep. After a moment she opened her eyes and calmly said, “Then we’ll have walk to the barn and take the farm truck.” Corey chimed in, “Why don’t you and BJ go to the hospital? I’ll stay here and look after Chase for you.” Her patience shattered. She pointed angrily towards the front door, “Shoes, barn, now!” Before she could get any angrier I came clean, “I’m sorry Mom, but I can’t walk that far. When I kicked BJ I think I broke my toe on his face.” I lifted my foot for her inspection. My right big toe was bent sideways at the middle joint, looking like a black and blue capital “L”. As Mom stared at my toe, her angry expression slowly

melted away. She met my eyes and gave small laugh. Then she gave a bigger laugh. Soon, she was sitting on the floor gasping for air and wiping tears from her eyes. In all honesty, the memory of my mother, laughing hysterically on the floor at the absurdity of her life, is how I picture insanity to this very day. Tina Dickens, being a dangerously clever woman, found an excellent way to not only get us all to the barn but also punish us at the same time. She made BJ carry me on his back the entire half mile walk, while I held a rag to his bleeding lip. Reaching the barn on my mule/patient/victim, we loaded up in the truck and drove to the hospital to have BJ’s face stitched

back together. I, however, had apparently reached my hospital visit quota for the year because I didn’t get treated by the doctors. Mom set my right angled big toe herself and braced it with a Popsicle stick because in her words, “The doctors would’ve charged a couple hundred dollars just to do the same thing.” The moral of the story is: Never lead a roundhouse kick with your big toe. But more importantly, cherish your family because, no matter your differences, they will always carry you.

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May 2015 Cattle Business 29

Corn and Soybean Market Update: Acres and Inventories by Dr. John Michael Riley, Assistant Extension Professor Ag Economics, Mississippi State University The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) recently released two highly anticipated reports for the crop sector on Tuesday, March 31. The first was the annual Prospective Plantings report, which highlights crop producer’s intentions on acreage allocations. The second was the quarterly Grain Stocks report. The plantings report revealed that U.S. producers plan to plant 89.199 million acres of corn and 84.635 million acres of soybeans. These are the two dominant crops in the U.S. and are, typically, the most important within the livestock sector. The Prospective Plantings report also indicated that producers intend to plant 14.616 million acres of spring wheat in addition to the 40.751 million acres of winter wheat that were planted this past fall, while cotton acres are expected to fall to 9.549 million. Expected hay acres to be harvested during the summer totaled 57.093 million which is in-line with the year ago hay acreage allotment of 57.092 million. Producers are polled from late February through early March to determine these acreage intentions.

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Planned corn acres were higher than market analysts had expected (88.731 million acres), while soybean acres were below expectations (85.919 million). This resulted in a large price move for both crops within the trading day, with corn experiencing the larger swing. Price dynamics, for the most part, did not provided a clear path for crop producers in choosing one crop or another. The ratio between soybean and corn price has historically averaged 2.25, from 1995 to 2014, in the weeks leading up to planting (determined here as: November soybean futures divided by December corn futures, both during the entire month of February). This year’s ratio was very near this average at 2.30, and therefore very little direction from market prices was evident. Most likely, producer’s gauged anticipated crop returns, risks – both market risks and production risks, and their own stage for rotating crops to guide their planting decisions in 2015. However, heavy and prolonged rains during the month of March in the deep south have idled planters at a time when corn is typically going into the ground. These acreage amounts will continue to be updated, with the next report hitting the press on June 30, after the majority of planters have been stored away. In Mississippi, crop producers intend to plant 570,000 acres of corn (compared to 510,00 last year); 2.3 million acres of soybeans (vs. 2.22 million last year); 350,000 acres of cotton (vs. 425,000); 211,000 acres of rice (vs. 191,000); 90,000 acres of grain sorghum (vs. 110,000); 33,000 acres of peanuts (vs. 32,000); 22,000 acres of sweet potatoes (same as last year); and the plan is to harvest 570,000 acres of hay during the summer (vs. 600,000 last year). This

past fall Mississippi producers planted 170,000 acres of winter wheat (vs. 230,000 last year). On that same day, USDA-NASS released the quarterly snapshot of grain inventories, both in elevators as well as in on-farm storage facilities. The stocks report was somewhat overshadowed by the Prospective Plantings report, however, it held very interesting trends. Corn in storage in the U.S. as of March 1, 2015 totaled 7.745 billion bushels, which was composed of 4.380 billion on farms and 3.364 billion in elevators. Soybeans in storage totaled 1.334 billion bushels, with 0.609 billion on farms and 0.725 billion in elevators. The on-farm soybean inventory marked a 59.5% increase over last year and on-farm corn storage was up 13.5% year-over-year. Furthermore, March 1 on-farm inventories were up 21.5% and 24.1%, for soybeans and corn compared to the prior five-year average covering 2010 to 2014. The signal of higher on-farm storage first appeared in the previous quarter’s (i.e., December 1, 2014 inventories) report as soybean and corn storage increased 27.5% and 11.1%, respectively compared to the previous year. So, it appears crop producers are holding onto to more grain and this seem logical due to the fall in prices through the 2014 growing season. Prices to this point have remained lower with only limited encouragement to sell. The question to bear moving forward is, when will producers release this grain and what impact will that have on the market? A slow pace of farmer selling will have a smaller impact than a rushed move, but the clock is ticking until those on-farm storage facilities will be needed for the 2015 crop.

USDA Awards Almost $3 Million in Research Grants The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced three grants designed to boost food security by minimizing livestock losses to insects and diseases. The awards to support research, education, and Extension efforts were made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “These grants will allow scientists to discover the new tools and technologies necessary to deal with the threats insects and pathogens pose to livestock production in our nation, which ultimately benefit consumers through abundant, affordable food.” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. NIFA made the awards through the AFRI Food Security challenge area, which seeks to increase sustainable food production. Priority was given to projects that will improve prevention, early detection, rapid diagnosis, or recovery from new, foreign, or emerging diseases or arthropods (like fleas and ticks) that have the potential to cause major impacts on food security. NIFA will make additional awards later this spring through the AFRI Food Security challenge area that focus on minimizing crop losses by arthropods and diseases. The fiscal year 2014 awards are: Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., $47,464 – To create a portable computer and communication center for training veterinary students, graduate students, practicing veterinarians, and other food production stakeholders to use system dynamics modeling, other forms of stochastic and deterministic modeling and health data management or analysis software to protect livestock from pests and disease. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $1,460,000 - Develop knowledge-based integrated approaches to detect, control, and prevent poul-

try respiratory diseases in the United States through new and improved diagnostic tools, vaccines, and novel preventive measures. University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., $1,480,000 - Reduce the impact of new, emerging and foreign pests and diseases to domestic production of cattle, swine and small ruminant foods and byproducts. Today’s grants include research on alternatives to antimicrobials, such as improved vaccines, which could lead to a decrease in antimicrobial use. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been an area of focus during the past two decades as USDA plays a dual role in protecting animal agriculture and public health. Recognizing AMR as a potential and serious threat, USDA’s AMR activities focus on surveillance;

research and development; and education, extension, and outreach. The purpose of AFRI is to support research, education, and Extension work by awarding grants that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture. AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill and supports work in six priority areas: 1) plant health and production and plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) bioenergy, natural resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) agriculture economics and rural

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Hay Moisture And How To Measure It Making good hay is not a guessing game – especially where moisture levels are concerned, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Hay making is challenging in the South, where rain can be abundant in the spring and early summer, and that means “producers have to deal with sometimes narrow windows for curing and baling hay,” he said. The irony of overly wet hay is its tendency to heat to the point of combustion, thanks to microorganisms in the hay that are made active by too much moisture. The optimum moisture levels for round bales is15 percent and for square bales 18 percent. However, “there’s no easy method to accurately measure moisture, but a few methods are worth learning and practicing to consistently produce high-quality hay,” Philipp said. The first is microwave drying. Start

by collecting samples across the fields from different windrows, or areas of the field custom baling. “Moisture levels will differ if the hay was close to wooded areas, or by elevation, and exposure to wind,” he said. Using a food scale, place about four ounces of hay in the microwave, recording the exact weight. Then dry the sample, one minute at a time, until no further change in weight is detected. Record the end weight and calculate percentage moisture by subtracting the after-microwave weight from the before-microwave weight and divide it by the before-microwave weight and multiply by 100. “This will take about 15 minutes with just about any microwave and food scale,” he said. “This is the most accurate method for producers.” There are moisture meters on the market, but Philipp said their readings can vary by 5 percent or more; they require high hay density around

contacts which may make windrow measuring difficult and require calibration which may only work in certain ranges. “Don’t count them out, however,” Philipp said. “I met a very successful custom hay baler in Texas who relies on a hand-held moisture meter and who is obviously able to consistently put up high quality hay at optimum moisture levels.” The bottom line for producing high-quality consistent hay is that “producers shouldn’t just guess what moisture is,” he said. “The only accurate and reliable method for determining hay moisture is to dry the forage down and measure dry matter percentage. “Although many claim that they know what hay moisture is by ‘feeling’ the hay, this can be very deceiving,” Philipp said. Source: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

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BEEF

Nancy Strickland, along with MSU Extension Agent Natasha Haynes, will appear on an upcoming episode of Farmweek to discuss purchasing beef and why it is helpful to know what part of the animal the cut comes from.

Over 350 school children attended the Environmental Day in Copiah County. Beef Council had a stop about “Things we can learn from a Cow and a Worm,” the kids also learned that we use 99% of that beef animal.

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Families attending the Annual Ag Museum Easter Egg Hunt were treated to Beef Hot Dogs, complements of the Beef Checkoff. Beef Ambassador, Sara Terrell along with MBC staff, Andy Berry and Nancy Strickland distributed recipes and beef nutritional information. Over 1,600 people had the opportunity to hear the beef message.

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MEAT PACKER Dr. John Blanton, Miss. State May 2015 Cattle Business 33

The Material Participation Test Can Trick Taxpayers by: John Alan Cohan, Attorney At Law Often enough taxpayers who are audited in connection with their farming or livestock activities are questioned on the issue known in the tax law as the “material participation test.” Under this legal test, you are permitted to deduct losses against outside salary and wages only if, among other things, you “materially participate” in the activity. Many duties, such as training of animals, showing of show horses and racing of race horses, are delegated to qualified experts, and sometimes the IRS will question the validity of your own participation in decisionmaking, in an effort to say you have failed to meet the material participation test. This usually happens in the context of ventures that involve a partnership or joint venture. For instance, Joseph Machado of Long Beach, California, entered into the LB

Partnership with four other partners to purchase a broodmare named La Barbara. One partner was the managing partner and was responsible for maintaining the books and records of the partnership and for paying all expenses. The partnership made decisions by majority vote of all six partners. The broodmare was bred to a number of stallions, but the partnership generated losses over a period of 7 years. The Tax Court denied Mr. Machado the right to write off these losses against his income from a trucking business he owned because it held he did not materially participate in the partnership. Accordingly, his losses were limited by the passive income rules of Section 469 of the IRS Code and could not be used to offset his nonpassive income. This case illustrates the importance

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of obtaining advance legal guidance whenever you enter into a partnership if you intend to write off possible losses against nonpassive income sources. The material participation test is something you must plan on meeting and complying with, and is not something to be treated lightly. As a general rule, a taxpayer will be regarded as materially participating in a partnership if he is involved in the operation of the activity on a “regular, continuous, and substantial” basis. What does that mean? A threshold requirement for meeting this test is that the taxpayer has participated in the activity for more than l00 hours during each taxable year. A taxpayer can establish the extent of his participation by any reasonable means including “the identification of services performed over a period of time and the approximate number of hours spent performing such services during such period, based on appointment books, calendars, or narrative summaries.” But in the case of Mr. Machado, the only evidence he presented at trial regarding participation in the partnership was his uncorroborated testimony that he spent hundreds of hours researching potential stallions to breed with La Barbara, and a calendar log that reflected l5 entries for phone calls he made relating to the partnership. Even with that meager

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evidence, the number of hours shown was less than l00 hours per year. The kind of activities that a taxpayer should be able to document during each year may include the following: consulting with advisers, other breeders and veterinarians, attending horse shows, horse sales, or races, seeing horses being worked, keeping business records, discussing matters with one’s spouse and other partners, implementing or formulating business plans and revising them, reviewing finances, making cost projections, making disbursements, speaking with vendors on the telephone or in person, talking to potential customers, grooming horses and tending to the physical labor that is part of proper animal husbandry, and performing other tasks and decision-making functions. But it is imperative that records be kept to reflect the number of hours involved, and the number must be l00 or more hours per year. In my opinion, the material participation test does not apply to ordinary

stallion syndications, which are not partnerships in the technical sense, but instead are co-ownership entities where each owner has a fractional interest in the stallion. Still, the IRS has been known to challenge taxpayers on the material participation test in these contexts. I think part of the reason is that some revenue agents are confused as to the application of this provision of tax law. It is important to keep in mind that the material participation test is supplemental to the overall IRS Regulations concerning the objective intention to make a profit. Even if you can prove material participation in a horse activity, the IRS could still find the venture was merely a hobby by arguing that you do not have the overall intention to be engaged in a trade or business for profit or that there are other elements, such as recreation, lack of reliance on experts, or insufficient showing of the amount of time expended in the venture—-to satisfy IRS Regulations on the subject.

John Alan Cohan is a lawyer who has served the horse industry since l98l. He serves clients in all 50 states, and can be reached at: (3l0) 278-0203 or by e-mail at johnalancohan@aol.com. His website is www. JohnAlanCohan.com.

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Three Things To Look For In Your Cattle Mineral Whether you buy a mineral off the shelf at a retail store, walk into your local dealer and request their ‘standard’ mineral or work closely with your nutritionist to select a mineral supplement for your herd, sorting through the various mineral types can sometimes be a daunting task. It may even be a purchase decision that’s so complex you simply cling to the generic or most popular mineral available in your area. But, the generic or popular option may not be the best choice for your herd’s mineral requirements. If you’re not feeding a quality supplemental mineral, you may see the consequences of mineral deficiencies later in the form of decreased calf weaning weights, small or weak calves, decreased milk production, reduced or delayed conception and even poor immunity. “Not all minerals are created equal, and it’s important to recognize the differences in minerals that are out there,” says Dr. Greg Eckerle, beef technical consultant with Purina Animal Nutrition. “Even though mineral nutrition is complicated, you can easily evaluate or ask questions about a few different elements of a mineral supplement.” Here are three things to look for in your cattle mineral: 1.) Balanced mineral nutrition. A complete mineral should contain

36 Cattle Business May 2015

the proper balance and ratios of all 14 essential cattle minerals. Those minerals include: calcium, copper, cobalt, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulphur and zinc. “A proper zinc-to-copper ratio is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a mineral, with a ratio of 3-to-1 being preferable,” says Dr. Eckerle. Zinc and copper are commonly deficient microminerals in cattle, and the ratio is critical because of how closely zinc and copper absorption are tied. 2.) Large particle size ingredients and rain protection. Rain and other elements can quite literally wash a mineral investment down the drain, or can alternately turn your mineral into a brick-type substance which cattle often refuse to eat. But, minerals should also be wind resistant according to Dr. Eckerle. “A weatherized mineral should not just be water-resistant, it should be wind-resistant as well,” says Dr. Eckerle. “You don’t want the particles to be so small that the wind picks them up and blows them away. A weatherized mineral that includes a larger particle can remedy this problem.” “The biggest drawback of a non-weather resistant mineral is that cattle just aren’t going to consume it. Daily mineral needs to be consumed, and if you’re not seeing consumption

because the mineral has been turned into a hard block or because the particles are being blown away, then your investment is a loss,” adds Dr. Eckerle. 3.) Organic, bioavailable mineral sources. Another important aspect when choosing a mineral is to make sure it has bioavailable mineral sources. The bioavailability of a mineral source alters the absorptive ability of the trace minerals eliciting their full benefit. “Mineral sources that are more bioavailable may be a bit more costly, but they can be a good fit for herds with marginal trace mineral status, consistent reproduction issues, overall herd health problems, foot problems or in areas with forage or water issues,” says Dr. Eckerle. Some key trace minerals that you might look to for bioavailability would be zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt. These minerals are required for a variety of functions including, but not limited to, immunity, reproduction, growth and fiber digestion. Minerals are just one piece of a comprehensive cattle nutrition program. A high plane of nutrition during all three trimesters increases the probability of superior health and performance genetics passing to the calf. Sustained® Nutrition assists in keeping the pregnant heifer or cow in optimal condition for the long-term programming of future generations. Source: Purina Animal Nutrition

Proper Management Increases Weed Control Success by: Eddie Funderburg, Noble Foundation Many factors must be considered to implement a weed control program for summer pastures. This article deals with the basics that must be done for your weed control program to be successful. First, scout your pastures to see if you have enough weeds to justify spraying. Sometimes, the inclination is to spray without looking to see if you should. A well-managed and properly stocked pasture should not need herbicides every year. A little time spent scouting may save you a lot of unnecessary time and money on spraying when your weed population is not high enough to justify it. If you have enough weeds to spray, identify the species present. Correct weed identification is essential to select an herbicide that will control your weed spectrum. Incorrect weed identification can lead to two types of errors. You may choose an expensive herbicide when a less expensive one would have done the job, or you may choose an herbicide that does not adequately control the weeds you have, regardless of its cost. Refer to plant identification sites on the Internet and reference books, or take the plants to someone you trust to help you with identification. Once you have identified the weed species in your fields, get prices on pasture herbicides sold in your area and check their labels for the weeds they will control. Herbicide labels are attached to their containers or can be found on different sites on the Internet such as agrian.com or www.cdms.net. Match this information with the price per acre to determine the best and most economical herbicide to fit your weed spectrum. Time spent examining your herbicide options can either save you money or save you from having a weed control failure. When you have decided on a herbicide, scout the fields again to make sure the weeds are in the correct growth stage to achieve good control.

Most weeds should be sprayed when they are small and actively growing, but there are exceptions to this. The label will usually show the weed height or growth stage that is optimum for control. Before you spray, calibrate your sprayer. This is an essential step that many farmers and ranchers omit. There is no way to know how much herbicide to put into the tank if you do not know the output of the sprayer. Sprayer calibration is not difficult and does not take a lot of time. The Noble Foundation has calibration guidelines for boomless sprayers and for sprayers with booms. The Noble Foundation also has online calculators to aid in calibrating boomless sprayers and boom sprayers. Read the label carefully to determine if additives are required for the herbicide to work at an optimum level. A nonionic surfactant is usually required, but some herbicides may require a different adjuvant. Also, some herbicides contain surfactant and no more is needed. The only way to know is to read the label. After you have done all the things listed above, make sure the correct environmental conditions are present before you spray. The major environmental considerations are wind speed and direction. If the wind speed is too high, the herbicide will not be properly deposited on the weeds. If the wind is from the wrong direction and your spray drifts onto sensitive plants belonging to a neighbor, you may be in legal difficulty. Keep accurate records of your spray activities. Learn and follow the rules and regulations that pertain to your state. Implement these simple rules when you plan your pasture weed control program and your chances of success should be good. Ignore these rules and your chances of success are much lower.

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Basic Knowledge And Practices Assist New Cattle Producers by: Clay Wright, Noble Foundation As livestock producers, it is our responsibility to contain our animals, be able to address problems as they arise, to know diseases and parasites that can harm them, to provide protection from those diseases and parasites, to know the nutrient requirements of all classes of livestock at all stages of production, and ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition. When I started at the Noble Foundation in the late 1970s, agriculture in the Southern Great Plains was still dominated by traditional producers engaged primarily in forage-based beef production. Most operations were fairly large and run by experienced full-time farmers and ranchers. Over the last two decades, the number of these producers has declined. Being sandwiched between

the metro areas of Dallas/Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in small, often novice landowners. What hasn’t changed in 30-plus years is the fact that most producers seek our consultation services after they’ve been in business long enough for issues to arise that range from minor to critical. Rarely do we get an initial request for consultation before someone has chosen and invested in an enterprise and has begun operation. When we can get in on the ground floor with a new producer, there are some basic concepts that we make sure are grasped immediately, and management of a livestock enterprise is at least third down on the hierarchy. First are the soils and forages on the property and realistic expectations of the amount of dry

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matter that can be grown. That number determines stocking rate, which must be appropriate for anything else to work. Once an appropriate stocking rate is determined, there are five basics I believe should be in place before a livestock enterprise is undertaken. Ensure that you have a sound perimeter fence that will contain the class and species you will run. Be aware that small ruminants have different fencing requirements than beef cattle. Have a corral and a means to restrain the animals. It certainly does not have to be elaborate, but it does need to be functional. This is needed to be able to receive and ship, implement health protocols, and address other health-related issues that will arise from time to time. Develop a good relationship with a veterinarian, including a mutually agreed upon comprehensive health protocol for all classes you will be managing. The protocol should be in place and ready to implement when the livestock arrive. I also believe every producer should be Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified, which is usually accomplished through the state extension service. BQA is a nationwide program from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, but the principles are applicable to other species as well. Have a sound understanding of the factors that affect the nutritional requirements of all classes of livestock – factors like age, sex, weight, stage of reproduction, level of milk production, body condition score, desired rate of gain, weather, etc. It is an eye opener to many new producers to learn that a lactating cow needs twice as much protein and at least 50 percent more energy than when she was not nursing a calf. There are many sources of nutrient requirements for all livestock. Be aware that adequate nutrition and health is paramount to reproductive performance. Reproductive performance is a direct indication of appropriate stocking rate, effective health and nutrition programs, and management in general. Reproductive performance drives the amount of product you eventually sell, which

will determine income and personal satisfaction. As livestock producers, it is our responsibility to contain our animals, be able to address problems as they arise, to know diseases and parasites that can harm them, to provide protection from those diseases and parasites, to know the nutrient requirements of all classes of livestock at all stages of production, and ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition. There are many sources of information and education for producers. Success depends on understanding that soil and forage management, health, nutrition, reproduction, and marketing are interconnected and interdependent. It is our job as livestock producers to use this understanding to care for our livestock.

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May 2015 Cattle Business 39

Are You Working Your Pastures “Hard” or “Smart”? by: Hugh Aljoe, Noble Foundation The “summer” growing season in our geographical region is usually considered to be from about mid-April through mid-November. Most of the grass growth should occur by early July. In fact, 70 percent of the annual production of summer perennial grasses is expected by the first of July. If you are not purchasing hay to extend the grazing season (i.e., providing all forages for your livestock from your property as standing hay or baled hay), you should be about halfway there by the first of June. Now is the time to make an assessment of your pastures, think about what you are seeing and determine if your forage production is on track. Ask yourself, “Am I working my pastures smart or just hard?” To determine if you are working your pastures hard or smart, consider your pasture and grazing plan. What was your plan this spring? Were fertilizer and/or weed control measures

implemented? What kinds and classes of livestock will be present, how many and for how long? Have you made efficient use of the forage types in your pastures? Do you have the production you planned for by now and what are the prospects of achieving your endof-season goal? If your response is: “Whoa, Aljoe! I did not want to get into complicated considerations this time of year. I am just running a few cows,” then my gut instinct tells me that odds are you’re working your pastures hard, not smart. If your response is: “Fertilizer and herbicide were applied as planned to meet my stocking rate needs. My pastures have responded according to expectations relative to rainfall. The grazing plan is allowing for some accumulation now with excess to be hayed or set aside for winter grazing,” I’d suspect that you are working your pastures smart. Now there are those that get by

Bull Master • Saves those expensive minerals from rain, wind and tippage • Ideal for loose or block minerals Bull Master is a field-proven, inexpensive, non-tip-able, weather proof mineral feeder. Livestock nose under and raise edge of overlapping, circular, flexible shield to feed on minerals. Use with cattle, horses, sheep, goats, etc. 1-800-647-7137 or 372-8434 40 Cattle Business May 2015

pretty well without some sort of plan. Some of these folks are just plain lucky, but most are managing their stocking rate at a very conservative number. There is nothing wrong with this method if your revenues are exceeding your costs. You could, however, be leaving extra returns on the table. Without a little planning, your luck might not hold and you will not know if there is a better alternative. Working smart requires planning before the grazing season begins, conducting regular forage production assessments and making adjustments to the plan throughout the season. It usually starts with knowing your pastures and soils, and their productive capabilities. It requires knowing the grazing requirements of your livestock for the duration they will be grazing on the property. It also helps to know the effect of management practices on soils, pastures and livestock. Of course, plans made during the winter or early spring won’t always be your final actions throughout the season, but with appropriate monitoring and adjustments, the outcomes should be very similar. The original plan may not be worth the paper it is written on, but going through the thought process is more than worth the effort. If your pastures tend to remain short most of the year, your pastures are working harder than optimal. Unfortunately, there are a lot of pastures that have that overworked appearance most of the year. The good news is that there are professionals at the Noble Foundation, and at county extension and NRCS offices in your state that are willing to assist you in remedying that overworked appearance of your pastures. Remember even in June, it is not too late to start this year. We all can work hard, but our goal should be to work hard at working smart. It is usually more productive and certainly leads to better land stewardship. So take a look at your pastures and ask yourself “Am I working my pastures smart or hard - or am I just plain lucky?”

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Tally Time: Tips For A Successful Synchronization And AI Program

by: Sandy Johnson, Kansas State University The foundation for reproduction is a sound year-round nutrition program that includes animals being in a positive energy balance (more energy coming in than being expended) before the breeding season and during early embryonic development. Subclinical trace mineral deficiencies can result in reduced conception rates but adding more of the same or a different source of a trace mineral above requirement may or may not increase level of reproduction. Partner with your veterinarian to develop a sound animal health and biosecurity program to minimize drags to reproductive response. Presence of even one animal persistently infected with BVD will reduce herd fertility. A herd that typically achieves 85% or greater pregnancy rate in a 60 day breeding season makes a good candidate for an artificial insemination and estrous synchronization program. The following checklist should draw attention to the details that make these programs more successful. • Responses will be highest in cows that are 45 days from calving or greater at the time of AI and in a body

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condition score of 5 or greater. • Use a synchronization system with a CIDR or MGA if you suspect some females are not cycling. • Moving a later calving co w to an earlier calving date generates roughly 40 lbs more calf per cycle advanced. Consider use of more economical semen on these females that are in good condition and at least 30 days since calving at AI. • Select from the short list of recommended synchronization protocols published in major sire catalogs. • Follow the protocol as outlined. Pay particular attention to the recommended intervals between the last injection of prostaglandin and timed AI. • Use the Estrus Synchronization Planner or www.estrussynch.com for mobile devices to plan and schedule your synchronization program. Double check the necessary help is available on the scheduled dates. • Only synchronize as many animals as you can inseminate in your facilities in a 3 to 4 hour time window. • For timed-AI, don’t overestimate your ability to inseminate a large number of females. Have a back-up plan or more help available. • Double check you have the necessary doses of synchronization products on hand. Give the correct product on the correct day and at the proper dosage via the correct route. These items are easy to confuse when you only use them once per year. • Make sure each animal receives the treatment, accuracy is more important than speed. Use 1.5” 18 gauge needles to give intramuscular injections. Follow BQA guidelines. • Before the season starts, check the accuracy of an automatic thaw unit and monitor while in use. Clean thaw unit on a regular basis. • Use thawing instructions from semen provider; generally in the range of 90-98° F for 30 to 45 seconds.

Use a watch or timer, do not guess. • Clean and inventory supplies in AI kit; ensure an adequate supply of gloves, sheaths, lube and paper towels. • Handling facilities should be in good working condition to minimize stress on animals and people. • Replace missing or unreadable ear tags. • Use a Certified Semen Services (CSS) provider. A check of semen quality prior to freezing is not part of the routine processing done in smaller collection facilities. • Keep accurate inventory records of the semen tank(s). • Canisters should not be raised above the frost line in the neck of the tank for more than 5-8 seconds. Thermal injury is permanent. In- creased handling increases the risk of damage. • Thaw no more semen than can be used in 10 minutes or less. Prevent straw to straw contact when thawing. • If breeding on heat keep de tailed records at each check. Inseminate 4 to 12 hours after first observed standing heat. • Keep natural service sires out of breeding pasture until 10-14 days after AI if you want to identify AI-sired calves without DNA parentage testing. • Avoid stressors such as those caused by transportation, nutritional changes or ambient temperature/ humidity strain during early embryonic development. Most sensitive from day 5 to 18 (embryo arrival in uterus through maternal recognition of pregnancy) and still sensitive until attachment is complete at day 42.

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www.broadlawnherefords.com Jim O’Mara • (601) 654-3584 (omaraj@phelps.com) Jimmie Harrell (601) 320-5590 May 2015 Cattle Business 43

Reducing The Risk of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex During Transportation The widespread and economically devastating cattle disease known as Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRD), was for many years referred to commonly as “Shipping Fever,” because the disease was most often seen shortly after cattle had been shipped from one location to another. This was especially true of calves that had been shipped from ranches or markets to feedlots. Producers, veterinarians, researchers and others have long known that there was a strong correlation between transporting cattle and their susceptibility to respiratory disease. Transporting cattle, especially young cattle, can dramatically increase plasma cortisol levels, indicating that the animals have experienced significant stress (Crookshank, et al., 1979; Filion et al., 1984). This stress can

also have significant effects on animals’ immune systems, affecting not only circulating hormones, but also the functioning of neutrophils and leukocytes, and the expression of certain genes (Buckham-Sporer, et al., 2009). Even though it is recognized that transportation stress is associated with BRD, there is not a simple cause and effect relationship between shipping and BRD. Some studies have found that cattle shipped longer distances are more likely to contract BRD (Cernicchiaro, et al., 2012; Sanderson, et al, 2008), but other studies have found that there is no relationship between distance shipped and incidence of BRD (Cole, et al., 1988). Some researchers have suggested that it is the stresses of sorting,

loading and early transport that are the most stressful aspect of overall transportation, and therefore possibly the major factor affecting cases of BRD (Taylor et al., 2010a). If this is the case, then this supports the observation by Grandin (1997a) that cattle shipped from the Southeast to Texas in a non-stop 32-hour trip have fewer health problems than cattle shipped the same distance where they are unloaded and reloaded at “rest stops” along the way. Grandin suggests that these so-called rest stops may indeed be more akin to “stress stops.” It is also not well understood whether it is the transportation itself, or other factors related to transportation that are the primary predisposing factors for BRD infections (Taylor et al., 2010a). Factors such as cold, heat, ventilation, dust, extreme temperature swings, dehydration, hypoxia, cold coupled with wetness, crowding, sanitation of the truck, driving habits

g Cedar Herefor n i n ds L ea Herman Nunley Family 204 CR 995 (Airport Road) Iuka, MS 38852

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Check us out on Facebook Email: leaningcedarherefords@gmail.com 44 Cattle Business May 2015

Mississippi Charolais Breeders CGC

“Registered Full French Charolais Cattle”

Cheryle & Greg Crosby

Addkison Charolais Farm

Crosby Farms 443 Hwy 590 Seminary, MS 39479

(601) 466-7377

crosbyfarms.ms@gmail.com

WC Passport 3127 PET

Crosby Farms on Facebook Member of JDJ Maximo A18P Syndicate

and others vary tremendously in the transport of cattle. Research has not yet been able to sort out which of these factors are major factors in the stress that can contribute to cases of BRD, although there is evidence that many of these factors play a part in the complex etiology involved in BRD. On top of this, the handling of the cattle just prior to shipping undoubted- ly plays a major role in how cattle respond to the stress of transport. Many studies have shown that commingling of cattle from different sources is a major factor affecting incidences of BRD (Alexander, et al. 1989; Ribble et al., 1995; Step et al., 2008). Commingling of cattle from different sources not only increases the stress upon the animals as they struggle to establish dominance and social order, but it also likely increases the exposure to more and different pathogenic organisms in the group that is commingled. When cattle are commingled and then quickly shipped, such as groups put together from auction yards, this can lead to severe stress and major outbreaks of BRD. In a study by Step et al. (2008) it was found that cattle put together from auction sales yards (MARKET) had a BRD morbidity rate of 42 percent. When MARKET cattle were commingled with calves all from one ranch (COMM) the BRD morbidity rate was 22 percent. When cattle were

Polled and Dehorned

• Bulls & Heifers For Sale • Larry & Jan Addkison P.O. Box 727 Louisville, MS 39339 (662) 773-6824 kept together as a group all from one ranch (RANCH) the morbidity rate was 11 percent. In this same study the authors also compared calves all from one ranch that were weaned 45 days before shipping (RANCH45), ranch calves weaned and vaccinated 45 days before shipping (RANCHVAC45), and the RANCH calves from the same ranch that were weaned and shipped immediately. The study found BRD morbidity rates of 35 percent, 6 percent and 9 percent, respectively, for the RANCH, RANCH45 and RANCHVAC45 treatments. The study con- cluded that not only did commingling significantly increase BRD morbidity rates, but that the combined effect of weaning and shipping in a short time period also significantly increased incidence of BRD. Mitigating Transportation Stress as a Contributing Factor for BRD There is no doubt that the various stresses associated with transporting cattle can contribute significantly to the combination of factors causing BRD. However, research to date has not been able to definitively identify the major aspects of transportation that cause the most stress. That said, most experts agree that whatever can be done to reduce or eliminate various stressors before, during and immediately after transportation should help to reduce cases of BRD.

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(601) 354-8951 Loading & Unloading As suggested in previous sections, there is evidence that the stress of loading and unloading may be as stressful, or even more stressful, than the actual transportation once inside the truck. Grandin (1997b) and others have convincingly made the case that proper design of handling facilities, coupled with well-trained handlers who are familiar with low-stress cattle handling techniques, can dramatically reduce the stress cattle experience when being loaded or unloaded, as well as at other times during the overall ordeal of being sorted, penned, processed and transported from one location to another. Commingling Evidence is clear that commingling alone of cattle from different sources can increase the incidence of BRD. Commingling coupled with transportation adds another level of stress that likely increases further the chances of BRD. When possible it is best to ship cattle that are familiar with one another; cattle that come from the same source. Pre-conditioning The study by Step et al. (2008) clearly demonstrates the benefit of weaning calves 45 days before shipContinued to page 48 May 2015 Cattle Business 45

ANGUS BREEDERS • Raising Performance Cattle For Profit-Minded Cattlemen

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ANGUS BREEDERS • Lakeview Farms “A Family Tradition of Angus Cattle Since 1958” Presented with the Historic Angus Herd Award by the American Angus Association

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SEDGEWOOD PLANTATION Bill and Nancy Howard

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Reg Angus Bulls & Females Angus/Source Commercial Heifers Nothing Fancy But the Cattle Tony, Sherry, Luke & Jake Thames Home (601)587-7230 • Cell (601)756-1357

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Continued from page 45 ping to the feedlot. BRD morbidity was dramatically reduced simply by allowing the calves to recover from the stress of weaning before shipment. Preparing cattle to better handle the stress of transportation by properly pre-conditioning them before the trip can dramatically reduce cases of BRD upon arrival. Weather In reviewing the research on how weather impacts, BRD Taylor et al. (2010a) suggest that the link between weather and BRD is still not well understood. They cite several studies which indicate that BRD incidences are highest in the fall. However the authors caution readers not to assume that this is a causal link, as fall is the busiest time for marketing cattle. They suggest that various management factors such as fatigue, being hurried, inadequate time to identify and treat sick animals, etc., as well as potentially more crowding, commingling, etc.

might explain why BRD occurrences seem to increase in the fall. Ribble et al. (1995) found some evidence that BRD cases increase during periods of extreme shifts in temperature, but Taylor et al. (2010a) also noted that other studies failed to support this finding. While the find- ings on weather and BRD are still somewhat inconclusive, it is still suggested by many in the cattle industry, that if possible, it is best to avoid transportation of cattle during extreme weather. Extreme heat and extreme cold can both be highly stressful, as can periods with wide swings between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Air Quality and Sanitation BRD has often been linked to poor air quality and poor air ventilation (Lago et al., 2006). Therefore, anything that can be done to improve air quality and ventilation during transport might help mitigate against BRD. Trailer designs that improve air flow could potentially reduce risk of BRD. Overcrowding of trucks can contrib-

ute to degradation of air quality and should be avoided. The cleaner the trailer the cattle are being hauled in, the less likely that the trailer itself might be a source of BRD pathogens. Therefore, if possible, it is best that trailers be cleaned between loads, especially if they are to haul calves that might be considered at high risk for BRD. Metaphylaxis Research has shown that treating cattle with long-acting antibiotics either just before transport, or upon arrival at the feedlot, can significantly reduce occurrences of BRD (Lofgreen, 1983; Schunicht et al. 2002; Cusack 2004). However, cost and labeling restrictions on these antibiotics preclude their mass usage to prevent BRD (Taylor et al., 2010b). If calves with high risk of BRD can be identified prior to shipment, or immediately upon arrival (e.g., lightweight, non-preconditioned, commingled calves coming from a sales yard) there

ALLIED INDUSTRY MEMBERS The Nowell Agency, Inc. Greg Bost (662) 844-1944 Merial Makers of Ivomec Mark Searles • (256) 298-0058

Merck Animal Health Danny Jones • (601) 942-7380

Zoetis Robert Pegues • (601) 896-2300

Positive Feeds Mike Inglish • (662) 560-3822

Novartis Animal Health Lewis Mashburn • (601) 622-7052

48 Cattle Business May 2015

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE I-55 NORTH • Jackson, MS 601-977-9040

DuPont Crop Protection Ronnie Thompson

Apex Valves • AgriLabs Harold Geddie • (601)498-4569

Graham Land and Cattle Co. Custom Feedlot & Growing Programs

* 30,000 Head Feedyard * 14,000+ Feeder Calf Growing Program * Personal Customer Service *Licensed Feeder for Nolan Ryan Tender Aged Beef.

Mississippi Beefmaster Breeders Sand Hill

Cattle Company

“The Trusted Brand”

BEEFMASTER

P.O. Box 925, Gonzales, TX 78629

(830) 672-6504

Dr. Charles Graham, Owner Tyler Graham, Owner

Come by and see how cattle from Sand Hill Cattle Company can work for you!

Cain Cattle Company

Ronald & Gwen Byrd (601) 989-2127 Darryl, Adam & Gail Byrd (228) 872-3365

Bill Felton, Gen. Mgr., Holly Springs 901/494-9626 cell David Bass, Wiggins Mgr. Robert Leathers, Pickens Mgr. 662/582-4581 228/236-7875 David Bass, Wiggins Mgr. 228/236-7875

22960 Hwy. 42, Richton, MS 39476

Contact one of these breeders for your next Beefmaster is evidence that BRD incidences can be reduced by using recommended long-acting antibiotics (Taylor et al., 2010b). Castration & Dehorning Research has consistently found that castrating and dehorning of cattle is best done early (i.e., before two months of age if possible). Given that these surgical procedures are in themselves highly stressful it is important that they not be done immediately before or immediately after a stressful transportation trip. If calves are not castrated or dehorned while young, then it is best to do these procedures early on in a preconditioning period so calves can recover prior to transport. If these procedures must be done after arrival at the feedlot, cattle should be allowed time to reduce circulating cortisol levels (at least 48 hours), re- hydrate, and hopefully get started eating again before these procedures are done. Size and Age of Calves Most research has consistently found that lighter, younger calves are more susceptible to BRD after shipping than larger, older calves (Taylor et al., 2010a). Management systems that

e-mail: cowladygb@tds.net

therefore increase weaning weights may also somewhat reduce risk of BRD. Management systems such as fall-calving operations that market their calves at a year of age should have significantly fewer incidences of BRD once these heavier, older calves arrive at the feedlot. Nutrition Research on how rations and nutrition affect BRD in calves after arriving at feedlots has yielded no clear data on whether the type of ration fed affects susceptibility to BRD. Research has shown, however, that feed intake is important as a preventative measure in dealing with BRD (Taylor et al., 2010b). Acclimating calves to feed bunks and water troughs during preconditioning prior to shipment can help calves to get started eating after arrival, and therefore somewhat mitigate risk of BRD after shipment (Taylor et al., 2010b). Regardless of preconditioning, whatever can be done to get calves started on feed and water soon after shipment should provide some prevention of BRD. Use of older “trainer” animals to teach new arrivals how to use feedbunks and wa- terers has been shown by some research to reduce BRD incidence;

www.caincattle.com

however the research on this is limited and somewhat inconclusive (Taylor et al., 2010b). Historically, Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex results in 75 percent of cattle morbidity and 50 percent of cattle mortality in feedlot cattle (Smith 1998). The vast majority of these cases occur within a few weeks after arriving at the feedlot – that is, after being transported. Although our current knowledge about which specific aspects of cattle transport contribute most to BRD is somewhat limited, we do know that there are some things that can be done in preparing to transport cattle, transporting cattle, and caring for cattle immediately after transport that can help reduce incidences of BRD. Prevention of BRD is not only very economically important, but it also decreases workload stress in treating the disease, and is an important component of beef quality assurance, as well as animal welfare. To aid in the prevention of BRD, careful consideration and management of transportation stressors should be addressed prior to handling and shipping cattle, especially cattle at high risk of BRD. Source: Washington State University Extension May 2015 Cattle Business 49

Livestock Markets Special offer! Add spot color to your breeder ad for only $10 more per month! Call for more information!

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Made you Look! For as little as $48 per month you can be here! Just call (601) 354-8951

Southeast Mississippi Livestock A.A.L. Hwy. 49 North Hattiesburg, Miss.

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LUCEDALE LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS STOCKYARDS “A Commitment of Integrity”

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Mississippi Regional Livestock Market serving West Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. Owned and operated by farmers and ranchers.

Livestock Producers Assoc. Stockyard

Lincoln County Livestock Commission Company, Inc.

Highway 98 East Tylertown, Miss.

Brookhaven, Miss.

• Sale Every Tuesday •

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Auction every Tuesday.

Phone (601) 833-2654 Manager Meade Mathis

For information, contact:

Mike Pigott, mgr.

Office

(601) 876-3465

Home (601) 876-4010

Livingston Stockyard Livingston, AL 35470

(205) 652 - 7411 (205) 652 - 2444 Fax

Auction Each Wednesday “Dependable Livestock Merchandising Since 1958” Circle W Trailer Dealer

Family owned and operated since 1943.

Ken Tinsley (205) 499-6118

Billy Tinsley (205) 652-2902

Tadlock Stockyards

Hwy 35 North • Forest, MS

u Sale Every Monday u

601-469-3642

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Cattle & Hogs

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Bay Springs • 601-764-4134 Canton • 662-571-9342

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Tadlock Stockyards family owned and operated since 1924. A family who knows and cares for over 90 years. May 2015 Cattle Business 51

Beware of Dr. Google: Grass Tetany Myths Debunked by: Dr. Michelle Arnold, University of Kentucky Although the Internet provides a wealth of good information, all too often it contains false or misleading advice because no one directly oversees the content nor questions its validity. Often it is difficult to separate the good from the bad, especially when the author’s credentials seem credible and the journal or magazine seems reputable. With the prefix “Dr.” and a long list of possible suffixes (DVM, PhD, MD, Board-Certified), the reader is willing to believe and accept “expert” conclusions, even if drawn only on observation and never tested critically or reviewed by other experts in the same field. Blanket statements such as “wrestling is real”, “Elvis is alive”, “the IRS is here to help you” and “salt prevents grass tetany” all

contain some grain of truth yet should also raise a flag of doubt. While the debate over wrestling, Elvis and the IRS may never be solved, the prevention of grass tetany has been thoroughly studied and high magnesium mineral supplementation is the clear winner. What is “Grass Tetany” and when are cattle susceptible: Grass tetany, also known as spring tetany, grass staggers, wheat pasture poisoning, winter tetany or lactation tetany, is due to a low level of magnesium (Mg) in the blood. Absorption is completely dependent on the amount obtained from the diet. Deficiencies occur most often in beef and dairy cows in early lactation grazing lush pastures high in potassium (K+) and nitrogen (N+) and low in magnesium (Mg++) and sodium (Na+). Affected cattle may

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also have low blood calcium concurrently. Typically grass tetany occurs when grazing ryegrass, small grains (i.e. wheat, rye) and cool season perennial grasses in late winter and early spring (Feb-April) although it can occur in fall-calving cows. Fastgrowing spring grass is usually high in potassium and crude protein, and low in sodium and magnesium. Myth 1- Feeding Plain White Salt to Cows Will Prevent Grass Tetany: This claim is shared every spring and, indeed, there are producers who do not have grass tetany that only feed salt. How can that be? Simply put, for those lucky producers, the minerals available in their soils and forages are enough to meet the needs of their cows for their age and amount of milk they are producing. A number of complex factors contribute to the ability of magnesium to be absorbed through the rumen (stomach) wall. Primarily there is a “pump” mechanism that actively transports the dissolved Mg across the rumen wall to the bloodstream. This pump doesn’t work when potassium is high and sodium is low because this changes the electrical potential necessary to drive it. Adding salt to the ration will improve Mg transport when forage sodium is low but too much salt will also increase urination. This will ultimately result in loss of magnesium in the urine. Too much salt, as with any substance, can be dangerous and even fatal. Research has shown that the negative effects of high potassium that is often present in early spring grass cannot be overcome by the addition of large quantities of salt. However, a

for sale

52 Cattle Business May 2015

A-04040-12

email: TRNRFARM@gmail.com

Gelbvieh

Mississippi Breeders Milk Muscle Growth

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Breed Comparison Data Ranks Gelbvieh: •1st – Pounds of Calf Weaned per Cow Exposed • 2nd – Milk Production

•1st – Weaning Growth • 2nd – Yearling Growth • 2nd – % Retail Product

Okatoma River Ranch Lowell, Karen, Lincoln & Lillian Rogers

601-270-4152 lrdrsmiley@gmail.com Gelbvieh & Balancers® Southern BalancerTM Home of the Gelbvieh Cooler® Quality cattle adapted to the south with the cool disposition high rumen magnesium level, achieved by feeding high magnesium mineral mixes, will allow magnesium to passively flow into the bloodstream of the cow without the need for the active transport pump. Myth 2-Limited Salt in Mineral Mixes has led to an Overconsumption of Minerals: Regional soil types, soil fertility and different forage species can result in different mineral intakes of grazing livestock on every farm. A blanket statement disregarding these factors is oversimplifying a very complex situation. Trace minerals such as copper, selenium, and zinc are all essential nutrients vital for proper growth, production, and immune system function. Trace mineral deficiencies are extremely common in Kentucky and can predispose animals to serious and sometimes fatal disease conditions. Interactions occur between all of the various metals, minerals, and other elements in the diet, and optimal amounts of all elements are essential for proper nutrition. Trace mineral mixes are formulated to meet the needs of cattle, including the need

Gelbvieh Bulls, Balancer Bulls and Angus/Gelbvieh Cross Heifers (bred and open) for all your commercial needs!

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31276 Hwy 35 Vaiden, MS 39176

for salt. The keys to using a free-choice product are to ensure cattle have access to mineral 100% of the time and to use a palatable product. Myth 3-Grass Tetany Only Occurs in the Spring: “Winter tetany” in beef cattle is an underlying form of hypomagnesemia caused by a chronic energy shortage and insufficient intake of magnesium. It may be observed when feeding forage silage from cereal grains such as wheat and rye during the winter since it is often high in potassium and nitrogen but low in magnesium. These cattle are borderline low in blood magnesium concentration and clinical signs of grass tetany are triggered by a stressor such as cold weather. The Truth about Prevention: Prevention is based on providing a high concentration of soluble magnesium in the rumen during times when conditions for grass tetany exist. As long as the active transport pump for magnesium is working well and driving magnesium across the rumen wall, problems should not develop. However, when factors prevent this

from working (such as high potassium level in the forage in lush spring grass), the second or “backup” pathway is to increase the amount of magnesium in the diet with a high magnesium mineral mix. A high rumen magnesium level will allow magnesium to passively flow into the bloodstream of the cow Continued to page 54

Altosid® IGR Feed-Thru controls Horn Flies by interrupting their life cycle rather than through toxicity. Zinpro Availa®4 provides copper, zinc, manganese, and cobalt from bioavailable organic sources to aid fertility, soft tissue health, bone/joint development, and Vit-B absorption. MFP™ is a highly bioavailable source of methionine, the first limiting amino acid in cattle on high forage diets.

MLS

Gary West 731-335-3023 www.mlstubs.com May 2015 Cattle Business 53

Mississippi Limousin Breeders Herrington Brothers Limousin You could be here!! To advertise call (601) 354-8951.

A Family Affair

With A Lot of Flair

54 Cattle Business May 2015

Greg Ladner 23190 Whitfield Rd. Picayune, MS 39466

Home (601) 799-1781 Cell (601) 590- 0569 email: rafter4llimousin@bellsouth.net

Ronnie & Nan Herrington Ty, Wyatt, & Wes Herrington

(601) 763-7228

Limousin

18 Longview Dr. • Ellisville, MS 39437

Continued from page 53 without the need for the active transport pump. Supplementation with high magnesium mineral should begin at least 30 days prior to calving. Cows require 20 grams of magnesium daily or 4 ounces per day of a 15% magnesium mineral mix during the late winter and early spring. Mineral feeders should not be allowed to be empty because consistent intake is important for clinical disease prevention. UK Beef IRM mineral recommendations for free choice supplements for grazing beef cattle include 14% magnesium in the complete mineral mix and all from magnesium oxide (no dolomitic limestone or magnesium mica). These complete mineral mixtures also supply additional sodium in the form of salt to aid in combatting high potassium intakes. Consumption should be monitored because mineral intake is generally inadequate if using poor quality mineral products. Feeding ionophores (monensin, lasalocid) has been shown to improve magnesium absorption efficiency. High magnesium mineral may be discontinued in late spring once the grass is more mature, the water content of the forage is decreased, and daily temperatures reach at or above 60 degrees F.

Rafter 4 L Limousin

In addition to supplying supplemental magnesium, several management factors may decrease the risk of grass tetany. These include: 1) Soil test and apply fertilizer based on soil test results and use no more potassium than recommended since grasses are luxury consumers of potassium; 2) Legumes are high in magnesium and will help offset the problem although their growth is often limited in late winter; 3) Feed small amounts of hay and/or grain to cattle on lush pasture during susceptible periods or limit grazing to 2-3 hours per day; 4) Graze the less susceptible or non-lactating animals (heifers, dry cows, stocker cattle) on the higher risk pastures. In summary, increasing magnesium intake by supplementing with magnesium oxide, offering adequate salt to prevent sodium deficiency, and increasing total energy intake are all effective tools in preventing grass tetany. These are exceptionally important when moving from winter rations to young spring grass pasture, especially in heavily milking cows. Grass tetany is considered a true veterinary emergency requiring prompt treatment with magnesium to prevent death.

The Opportunity Breed

Facts About Beef In A Healthy Diet Q: What does lean beef mean? A: The definition of lean, according to the USDA, means: • Less than 10 g total fat • Less than or equal to 4.5 g saturated fat • Less than 95 mg cholesterol per 100 grams (3.5 oz) Q: What nutritional benefits does beef offer me that other proteins don’t? A: Beef is a nutrition powerhouse in many ways. Aside from being a great source of protein, beef provides essential nutrients in a smaller package than some other proteins. For example, you would have to eat at least 8 ounces of cooked chicken breast to get the same amount of iron as 3 ounces of beef, and nearly 7 times (20 ounces) the amount of chicken to get the same amount of zinc as in a serving of beef. Q: Can I enjoy beef regularly as part of a healthy, balanced diet? A: Absolutely! A 3-ounce serving of beef—about the size of an iPhone or deck of cards—provides more than 10 essential nutrients and about half of your Daily Value for protein in around 170 calories, on average (and 150 calories for a serving of lean beef).

Mississippi

Simmental & Simbrah Association

Dillon Simmental Farm Simmental—Bred for Performance,

Market by Choice

•Show Calves For Sale •Replacement Heifers and Bulls David and Jeane Dillon 111 Woodland Hills • Lexington, MS

Day (662) 834-2722 Nite (662) 834-2928

JRW, LLC

51 Union Church Road Seminary MS 39479

Flying

Farm s

Simmental & Angus Cattle

Show

prospects, bulls, heifers for sale

Frank & Erma Brown 293 Corinth Church Rd. • Petal, MS

(601) 582-0563 (Home) (601) 297-7744 (Cell) Greg Brown (601) 941-6913 (Cell) Calving Ease Growth Maternals + Carcass = $$$$

32 years of A.I. work

jrw_llc.com

Richard Woolwine - Owner Brad Woods - 601-441-0539 Johnny Ingram - 601-408-4186

Breeding age bulls available at the farm

Fenton Farms Simmentals

FFS

Purebred Angus, Simmental, & Sim-Angus Genetics

Show Heifers, Bulls, Semen, and Embryos for Sale! Jay, Scott, Todd, and Tyler Fenton

Todd Fenton: (601) 498-4946 Kendall Tanner: (601) 319-2293

Promote Your Simmental Operation Give us a call today! (601) 354-8951

Tim Ishee Family (601) 425-2708 Laurel www.isheesimmentals.com

Deep South Bull Group

TIMBERLAND CATTLE

Thank you to all the buyers

Sim-Angus

at the 2015 sale!

www.timberlandcattle.com (205) 695-6314 (Bill) (205) 712-0359 (Thomas)

Deep South Bull Group members:

Dillon Simmentals Lexington, MS (662) 834-2722

Holland Simmentals Magee, MS (601) 849-2954

15281 County Road 49 P. O. Box 1260

Vernon, AL 35592 Bull Sale 3rd Sat. in November Female Sale 1st. Sat. in May May 2015 Cattle Business 55

2015 MCA Choice Stockman Members

Premium membership in MCA provides a way for individuals and businesses to step up to a higher level of support for MCA and the beef industry. It is their way of contributing to the success of MCA’s efforts. Trustmark National Bank Jackson, MS S & J Simmentals Summit, MS

Shep’s Cleaners, Inc. Starkville, MS William Well Tire & Auto Repair Starkville, MS

MS Ag Company Yazoo City, MS

Farmer’s Depot Mendenhall, MS

Mitchell Automotive West Point, MS

Helena Chemical Co. Yazoo City, MS

Newton County Farm Supply Newton, MS

Copiah County Co-op Hazlehurst, MS

Agridyne Springfield, IL

Oktibbeha Co. Co-op Starkville, MS

Stockman’s Supply, LLC Starkville, MS

Boot Country Hattiesburg, MS

Bank of Jones County Laurel, MS

MS Beef Agribition Verona, MS

Guaranty Bank Belzoni, MS

Palmer Insurance Agency Benny Palmer Mendenhall, MS

Citizens Bank Columbia, MS

Covington Co. Bank Collins, MS

Bank Plus Yazoo City, MS

Tallahatchie Co. Bank Charleston, MS

Agri-AFC, LLC. Chad Smith Hattiesburg, MS

Holmes County Bank & Trust Lexington, MS

R&M Tractor & Supply Magee, MS

Pike Co. Co-op McComb, MS

Rutland Livestock Mize, MS

Commercial Construction Co. Laurel, MS

Walthall Co. Co-Op Tylertown, MS

Dillon Simmental Farm Lexington, MS

Rankin Co. Co-op Brandon, MS

McAlpin Insurance Tom McAlpin, Jr Magee, MS

Witherspoon, LP George Smith Jackson, MS Wilkinson Farmers Coop Woodville, MS The Deerbrook Co., J.W. Chancellor Charleston, MS Bank Plus of Holmes County Lexington, MS

Southern Farms Nursery Max Mullins D’Lo, MS Lowndes Farm Supply Columbus, MS Bank of Kilmichael Kilmichael, MS BankFirst Financial Services Columbus, MS

Trustmark National Bank Magee, MS

Lauderdale Co. Farm Supply Meridian, MS

Jimmy Sanders Seed Company Canton, MS

Large Animal Vet Services Eupora, MS

Sawmill Animal Hospital Laurel, MS

Amite Co. Co-op Liberty, MS

56 Cattle Business May 2015

Peoples Bank Mendenhall, MS

B-5 Farms Houston, MS

Clarke Co. Co-op Quitman, MS

Jason Wesley State Farm Insurance Hattiesburg, MS

B & B Cattle Co. Bailey, MS

Holmes Co. Farm Bureau Lexington, MS

Jimmy Sanders Seed Company Yazoo City, MS

Jeff Davis Farmers Co-op Prentiss,MS Ware Milling, Inc Houston, MS Peoples Bank & Trust North Carrollton, MS

Kin Growers Rolling Fork, MS Rankin Co. Farm Bureau Brandon, MS Estrotect, Inc. Boyd Dingus Lakeville, MN

Madison Co. Co-op Canton, MS

Hi Grade Gin & Farm Supply Winona, MS Vaiden Farm Supply Vaiden, MS

Simpson Co. Farm Bureau Mendenhall, MS

Southern Seed & Feed Macon, MS

Bunge Ergon Vicksburg, MS

Sedgewood Plantation Canton, MS

Monroe County Co-op Aberdeen, MS

Buyer’s Guide JARVENE SHACKELFORD

Pick up ALB American Livestock Brokers Last month Auctioneer (MAL#218) Broker

Shackelford Auction & Realty

Office: 662-837-4904 Cell: 662-837-1776

email: alb@albauction.com Over 36 Years Auction Experience

www.albauction.com

MS CATTLE RANCHES FOR SALE 430 Acres Chickasaw Co. Excellent grassland with cross fenced pastures and numerous ponds. Good county Rd frontage. 425 Acres Union Co. 10 fenced pastures, 2 large hay fields, 4 BR, 4.5 Ba. owner’s home, guest cabin, horse barn, 60x80 shop, hay barn 40x60 covered working pen.

CD’s or IRA Maturing?

STEVE PURVIS

Broker

601-415-7739

steve@ledgerpurvis.com

Specializing in agriculture, commercial, hunting/ recreational & timber investment property

First Year

GUARANTEED*

3115B Halls Ferry Rd * Vicksburg, MS

L.D. O’Mire

Financial Services

1.800.844.3254 * Guarantees subject to the claims-‐paying ability of the insurance company. Surrender of the contract may be subject to surrender charge or market value adjustment. Product not available in all states. This is a single premium deferred Annuity. Interest rates are subject to change. Withdrawals prior to age 591/2 may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.

www.floridabrahman.org (407) 908-9866 • (352) 585-1732 Member Directory FUpdated ield day & HeiFer Salenow • aavailable! pril 28

Southern Land Company TN, LLC (800) 525-5127 or 901-488- 0368 www.southernlandco.com.

JERRY GAY LIVESTOCK INSURANCE Agent for American Live Stock, a division of Markel Servic, Inc.. Featuring livestock mortality insurance covering death from accident or disease. Call for rates.

1910 Madison Ave., #530 • Memphis, TN 38104

Off. (901) 276-2855 • Res. (901) 458-2880

“Authorized dealer”

Trailer Sales

Cattle, Cargo, Dump, Equipment, Flatbed, Horse and Livestock Trailers. Tarps and Trailer Locks Available

(662)456-3972 email: TRNRFARM@gmail.com Hwy 15 S • Mantee, MS 39751

Billy or Ken Tinsley Livingston Stockyard

Johnny Harless T. Smith Trailer Sales

(205) 652-7411

(601) 544-6595

Livingston, AL

Hattiesburg, MS

Ross Harrison Harrison Trailer Sales Mathiston, MS

(662) 418-9149 • (662) 418-3332 May 2015 Cattle Business 57

ABS Global Genetics ABS Larry DeMuth Adamdale Farms Addkison Charolais Farm Agrilabs American Livestock Brokers B&B Cattle Co. Bozeman Farms Broadlawn Farm Brock Farms Caldwell Hereford Ranch Cain Cattle Company Calyx Star Ranch Circle W Trailers Continuous Fencing Crosby Farms Deep South Bull Group Dillon Simmental Farm Evans Angus Farm Florida Brahman Association FLP Food, LLC Flying B Farms Genex GLB Farms Graham Land and Cattle Herrington Brothers Limousin Hoovler Innovations, LLC Hull Farms Integrity Livestock Auction Ishee Simmentals Jerry Gay, Livestock Insurance JRW, LLC Kuhn Lakeview Angus Ladner Cattle Co. L.D. O’Mire

18 28 55 45 27 57 22 12 43 41 43 41, 46, 49 41 57 38 45 55 55 34 57 29 55 52 41 49 54 31 53 51 55 57 55 11 47 46 57

May 2: Timberland Cattle Angus & SimAngus Female Sale, Veron, AL May 2: Mississippi Angus Association Sale, Raymond, MS May 9: Rogers Bar HR “Cream of the Crop” Charolais Female Sale, Collins, MS May 23: Barnes Hereford & White Hawk Ranch Productions Sale, Cedartown, GA June 9-12: Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium and Convention, Biloxi, MS

58 Cattle Business May 2015

Leaning Cedar Herefords 44 Ledger Purvis 14 Lincoln County Livestock Comm. 51 Little Creek Farms 36 Livestock Markets 50, 51 Livestock Producers Assn. Stockyard 51 Livingston Stockyard 51 Lucedale Livestock Producers Stockyard 51 McDaniel Farm 48 Mississippi Ag 15 Mississippi Angus Association 47 Mississippi Angus Breeders 46,47 Mississippi Beef Council 33 Mississippi Beefmaster Breeders 49 Mississippi Brangus Breeders 51 Mississippi Brangus Association 51 Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association 6, 60 Mississippi Cattlemen’s Foundation 59 Mississippi Charolais Breeders 46 Mississippi Gelbvieh Association 39 Mississippi Gelbvieh Breeders 53 Mississippi Hereford Breeders 45 Mississippi Land Bank 35 Mississippi Limousin Breeders 54 Mississippi Serum 40 Mississippi Simmental/Simbrah Association 7 Mississippi Simmental/Simbrah Breeders 55 Mitchell Farms 43 MLS 13 Mongram Farms 47 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 8 Nowell Agency Inc. 32 Nunley Trucking 16 Okatoma River Ranch 53 Parker Livestock 51 Pennington 25

PH White Purina R&S Dozer Service Rafter 4L Register Barns Rocking T Braunvieh Rogers Bar HR Rolling B Farms S and W Herefords Sand Hill Cattle Company Sedgewood Plantation Smith Farms Southeast Mississippi Livestock A.A.L. Southern Land Company, TN LLC. SouthernShine Pastures Angus Superior Sales T3 Brangus Tadlock Stockyards Tanner Farms Thames Angus Farm Timberland Cattle Turner Farms Vermeer White Hawk Ranch Winona Stockyard Woods Angus ZGC

June 22-24: Wax Youth Beef Leadership Camp “Making Tracks,” Starkville, MS

October 17: Rogers Bar HR “TurnOut” Fall Bull Sale, Collins, MS

July 15-18: NCBA Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Denver, CO October 10: Big D Ranch Annual Brangus / Ultrablack Bull Sale Plus Commercial Female Sale Center Ridge, AR October 16: White Hawk Ranch / Barnes Herefords, Beef Maker “Fall Edition” Bull & Female Sale, Cedartown, GA

20 9 34 54 19 42 3 49 43 49 47 46 51 57 17 51 41 51 47 47 46, 55 52, 57 21 23 51 46 37

October 24: Tanner Farms Southern Tradition Angus & SimAngus Female Sale, Shuqualak, MS October 24: Debter Hereford Farm 43rd Annual Production Bull Sale October 31: The Hot Ones Sale, Senatobia, MS