Hi-Line Farm & Ranch June 2017

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Scoring: Rasby: 'This is an excellent tool, but … call a cow a 5 and she’s really a 3, that’s a problem' ■ Continued from page 11 Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows feed on hay in March at the Northern Agricultural Research Center. A body condition score of 7 to 9, which is moderately high to high body fat, is an unnecessary economic drain because it is not needed to maintain the health of the calf and to keep cows on a 365 day calving interval, and it can be detrimental to the cow's health.

Nine Point Body Condition Scoring Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

1.

Bone structure of shoulder, ribs, back, hip bones or “hooks” and pins are sharp to the touch and easily visible. No evidence of fat deposits or muscling. Cattle in this condition are weak, near death and have trouble standing or walking.

THIN

smart phones, but the university’s website also has training modules, with photos of cows at each BCS score as well as descriptions, he said. And an internet search will provide more information, photos, videos and tutorials, he added. Ranch owners or managers can get all their employees on the same page with some practical experience, Rasby added, by hav-

Rene Brown photo Cows battle a March 8 snow storm in the Bear Paw Mountains. Adverse weather can strain cows, causing a loss of body condition. This can be especially problematic for cows already at a low BCS.

ing everyone score a herd or selection of cows independently then together for a discussion. It can help to separate cows into thin, moderate and fat groups before trying to assess a numerical score, he said.

Decisions About Production

No evidence of fat deposition and muscle loss in the hindquarters. The spinous processes — the knob-shaped points at the very top of each vertebra in the spine — feel sharp to the touch. The spinous processes and the spaces between them are easily seen.

Aiming for the midrange Backbone

3.

Very little fat cover over the loin, back and fore-ribs. The backbone is still highly visible. Processes of the spine can be identified individually by touch and may still be visible. Spaces between the processes are less pronounced.

Body condition scores should be recorded, Raasby said. Over time, the information could reveal needed management changes, he said, and that may mean a change in calving time, a change in feed sources or a more significant change in the herd. “If you have cows that are continually thin at weaning time and they don’t bounce back after you get done weaning the calves, then you got to really take a hard look at your breeding program,” he said. “… If they’re always thin at weaning time and you have to feed (them up) to get condition back on them before they calve the next time, what’s going on there? “You may be just a little bit out of whack in regards to cow size and milk production for your resources,” he added, “and you always hate to get yourself into corrective mating situations, but that may be what you have to do.”

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Links

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http://ianr.unl.edu/nu-beef-bcs-app http://beef.unl.edu/modules-apps-webinars http://beef.unl.edu/learningmodules.shtml http://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition1a. shtml h t t p : / / n ew s r o o m . u n l . e d u / a n n o u n c e / beef/1922/12076 http://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition1b. shtml http://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition3c. shtml1 http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/ CR-575/welcome.html

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Ribs

Fore-ribs and 12th and 13th ribs are still noticeable to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can be identified only by palpation, with slight pressure, and feel rounded rather than sharp.

5.

The 12th and 13th ribs are slightly visible to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can only be felt with firm pressure and feel rounded but are not noticeable to the eye. Spaces between the processes are not visible and are only distinguishable with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tail head and the fore-rib, behind the shoulder are starting to fill.

MODERATE

6.

Brisket

Ribs are fully covered and are not noticeable to the eye. Hindquarters are plump and full. Noticeable springiness over the fore-ribs and on each side of the tail head. Firm pressure is now required to feel the transverse processes. Brisket has some fat. Ends of the spinous processes can only be felt with very firm pressure. Spaces between processes can barely be distinguished. Abundant fat cover on either side of the tail head with evident patchiness. Fat in the brisket.

8.

Animal takes on a smooth, blocky appearance. Bone structure disappears from sight. Fat cover is thick and spongy and patchiness is likely. Brisket is full.

9. FLESHY

Bone structure is not seen or easily felt. The tail head is buried in fat. The animal’s mobility may actually be impaired by excessive fat.

Body condition scoring for beef cows

Hooks

Tail Head

Pins

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June 2017

Tracking body condition scoring is good business Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Though beef cattle producers constantly assess the condition of their cows and heifers, agriculture nutrition specialists say applying a more scientific approach, called body condition scoring, can help producers assess their nutritional program and make better informed business decisions about production. Research has proven that body condition, or how much body fat a beef cow or heifer has, directly affects the health of its calf through amount and quality of colostrum

FARM & RANCH production and determines how soon the cow cycles for rebreeding after calving, along with affecting the general health of the cow. “It’s a simple method to evaluate the nutritional status of cows,” said Jennifer Thorson, beef cattle nutritional reproduction researcher at Northern Agricultural Research Center south of Havre. And the scoring can be done without equipment or moving the cows, she added. More specifically, body condition scoring, or BCS, is a system for analyzing and describing the relative fatness of cows with a nine-point scale, helping producers to understand and affect breeding outcomes, calving success, losses and weaning weight, said University of NebraskaLincoln’s Rick Rasby, associate dean of extension agriculture programming. One point on the BCS scale is equivalent to about 75 pounds, he said.

www.havredailynews.com What BCS Is

BCS focuses on body condition in six different areas — brisket, spine, hips or “hooks,” pins, tail head and ribs. These points give consistent measurement of body fat across age and breed differences in cows, Thorson said. The thinner that cows are the more evident the ribs, hips, pins and back bones are, Rasby said. Thin cows score BCS 1 to 3. The fatter that cows are the more difficult it is to see or feel these bony areas. BCS 4 to 6 is a good range, but 7 to 9 is too heavy. With little muscling in the six assessment points, especially the bony areas, the majority of fullness will be attributable to fat. “You aren’t evaluating muscle — and hair can get in the way. You want to make sure you’re evaluating condition,” he said. “Sometimes what that means is that you might have to kind of train your eyes with hand feel, so you might have to practice when you run cows through a

University of Nebraska-Lincoln These images from a body condition scoring training module on the University of NebraskaLincoln website, http://www. unl.edu, illustrate beef cows at a progression of condition scores of BCS 3, from left, BCS 5 and BCS 7. The system, which provides definitive descriptions of beef cows at specific levels of body fat, looks at the amount of fat the cows have at six body points — brisket, spine, hips or "hooks," pins, tail head and ribs. Research on cattle breeding and BCS says that a BCS 5 is the ideal weight for a beef cow used for breeding.

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show that calves from BCS 2 cows have only 75 percent of the antibodies of calves born to BCS 6 cows, and calves from BCS 3 cows have more antibodies, but at 83 percent it’s still significantly lower, a UNL report says. By biological design, nutritional energy put into cows and heifers after birthing goes toward milk production, Rasby said, so it’s almost impossible, and economically unfeasible, to put weight on cows and heifers after they calve. That means producers are unlikely to improve their postpartum interval with spring feeding. And for first-calf heifers, which are at about 85 percent of their mature size when that first calf drops, being underweight at calving can be detrimental to their longterm growth and health.

When to Score Rasby wrote that he recommends scoring six times a year — late summer/early fall, weaning time, 45 days after weaning, 90 days before calving, calving time and beginning of breeding season. At late summer/early fall and weaning time producers might want to consider weaning calves early if cows and heifers are thin and if pasture is compromised, especially from drought. This is particularly important for first-calf heifers, he said. A body condition assessment 45 days after weaning will give producers an idea of how quickly the cows are recovering after weaning and the number of thin cows will indicate if cow type matches the producer’s available resources, he said. An assessment at calving time will show if the producers pre-calving feed program needs changes, though it’s too late to improve the cows’ condition economically, he said. And if the number of thin cows increases by the beginning of breeding season, he added, then producer’s might want to consider changing their calving to later in the season. A careful assessment at the point 90 days before calving is the most crucial for success in the coming year, Rasby said, largely because changing a herd’s condition takes time, and this during the period of high energy demand from fetus development. That 90 days before calving, when the unborn calf does the most growing, demand the most energy in utero, and it’s the last opportunity to get thin cows and heifers up to weight, Thorson said. “It would pretty unrealistic to think that once a cow has calved that you are going

Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows and calves at Northern Agricultural Research Center south of Havre eat freshly rolled-out hay in late March. Having cows at a BCS 5 prior to calving is crucial for rebreeding because the lower the condition score is, the longer the postpartum interval. to be able to increase her weight and do it in a profitable way, so you’d be having to put a lot of input into her that you probably wouldn’t get back,” she said. “During those last three months of pregnancy is when you have an exponential growth in fetal size, so the more they’re growing the more nutrients they’re requiring,” she said. “So if you get on those cows and get them increasing before the calf starts increasing exponentially then you get ahead of the curve.” This can be especially important with Montana winter and spring weather, she added.

Learning the Scale “This is an excellent tool, but if you call a cow a 5 and she’s really a 3, that’s a problem,” Rasby said. “... But it’s easy to overcome.” UNL has developed a training app for

■ See Scoring Page 12

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Scoring: Low condition score for cow at birthing negatively affects her calf's health ■ Continued from page 3 The score is not just about having healthy cows, it is about production and making sound business decisions.

Importance at Breeding “The ideal body condition score ranges from about a 4 to a 6 — that way the animal isn’t too thin ... (and) not in a really good state, where they can’t support themselves let alone a calf,” Thorson said, adding that a too-low score “will actually trigger the body to inhibit reproduction.” Another key point about having a healthy BCS is the affect body fat has on the length of time a cow takes to cycle for breeding after calving. Rasby wrote that to maintain a 365-day calving interval a cow has to rebreed within about 82 days after calving. At a BCS 3 the postpartum interval is likely 89 days. At a 4 that changes to 70 days average, which is just under the deadline. But if the BCS is increased to 5 or 6, the postpartum interval decreases to 52 to 59 days, substantially bettering the odds that a cow will get rebred within the calving interval. “Although cows that calve in a BCS of 7 have a short postpartum interval” of about 31 days, he wrote, “it is not economical to feed cows to a condition score of 7.”

Importance at Calving Research has shown that cows that are thin at calving “produce less colostrum, give birth to less vigorous calves that are slower to stand and these calves have lower immunoglobulin levels, thus impairing their ability to overcome early calf-hood disease challenges,” Rasby wrote. Studies of antibodies in calves 24 hours after birthing

Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows at Northern Ag Research stand out in a field with their calves in March. Having beef cows and first-calf heifers at optimum body condition at the time of calving is important because a cow's body is biologically wired to put energy from feed into milk production rather than weight gain, NARC beef cattle nutrition specialist Jennifer Thorson said.

Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows at the Northern Agricultural Research Center negotiate a hillside. If pasture is strained by drought in late summer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Associate Dean of Extension Agriculture Programming and nutrition researcher Rick Rasby said, it might be economical to wean calves early to help cows — that have been using energy for milk production — to improve their own body condition before winter.

www.havredailynews.com chute.” BCS 5 is a good average to shoot for, he said. That means a herd will likely have some 4s and some 6s, but those are within the healthy range. At the extremes, cows scored at a 1 have no evident fat or muscle and are likely near death, and at a 9 their bone structure cannot be seen or easily felt. The heavy cows will likely have trouble moving around and calving, their longevity is compromised through weight-related lameness issues and the excess fat represents money and resources wasted on feed. At a 5, “the 12th and 13th ribs are slightly visible to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can only be felt with firm pressure and feel rounded but are not noticeable to the eye. Spaces between the processes are not visible and are only distinguishable with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tail head and the fore-rib, behind the shoulder are starting to fill,” Rasby’s BCS description on the UNL website http://www.unl. edu says. First-calf heifers are the only game-changer for desired BCS, Rasby said. “The system doesn’t change, but your target condition will change. Your target condition for mature cows would be 5 at calving, for spring calving cows. Your target condition for first-time heifers will be condition score 6,” he said. Heifers have more demands on them after calving, he added. It’s their first time lactating and first time recovering from calving, and the heifers are still growing themselves, so they need the stored energy.

■ See Scoring Page 10

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This Hinsdale buck would like to remind readers to enjoy the early summer weather. Winter is coming. BRANDON BIGELBACH FOR FARM & RANCH The big story in northeast Montana this month was how dry it has been. In general, and in years past, the rainy season for the year in this part of the state begins in May, with May-July typically providing over half of the yearly average precipitation for the region. The main cause of the dryness has been the almost constant presence of a strong ridge of high-pressure over the Western third of the U.S. The main concern, weather-wise over the past month, was the combination of warm temperatures and strong winds. Of all of the days of the month, only one day saw maximum sustained winds below 15 mph, with about half of the month experiencing 25 mph or greater. Of those days, seven saw reported gusts over 40 mph. Combine the dryness, above-normal temperatures and generally strong winds, the ďŹ re weather concerns across the region have been at a higher level at an earlier time than the region is used to experiencing, generally. As of press date, per the National

Weather Service in Glasgow, the highest observed temperature for the month was 88 degrees on May 12, and the lowest was 32 degrees on May 18. The total liquid precipitation reported at Glasgow was 0.58�, which was approximately 1.3� below-normal. Over a 24-hour period, the greatest precipitation total was 0.26�, which occurred on May 7. The overall mean temperature for the month was approximately 56 degrees, which is approximately 1.5 degrees above normal. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor was released on May 23, and reported a swath of abnormally dry conditions along the North Dakota border from Sheridan County through Fallon County. This is a bit of a degradation in conditions from last month, but not surprising given the lack of precipitation throughout the region this past month. According to a press release from the Montana DNRC, the agency is not expecting drought to be a concern in any area of the state this year, and in fact, the drought conditions are at an all-time low. A lot of that is due to the very heavy precipitation that fell across much of the state late last fall and through the winter.

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Glasgow photographer Sean R. Heavey is one of the Courier's contest judges. A.J. ETHERINGTON FOR FARM & RANCH The Glasgow Courier is reminding interested participants that the ďŹ rst-annual ‘Sunlight and Storm’ photography contest is currently ongoing, and submissions are being accepted now through Aug. 6. Entries will be judged by local award winning artist Sean R. Heavey and former Courier photo intern Amy Nelson. First prize will receive a $100 cash prize, the cover of a special publication and award certiďŹ cation. Second prize will be a $50 cash prize. Although broad in scope, entries need to include the sky, weather, the sun, moon, stars, Aurora Borealis, and so on as a primary feature of the photograph, and need to be of the Northeast Montana Sky. Anyone attempting to photograph severe weather is encouraged to learn about weather safety through the National Weather Service at www.nws.gov. To be included in the contest, photos need to be a large format JPEG with specs of minimum 1280 by 960 at 300 dpi resolution to guarantee cover print quality. The entry submission email must contain the details of when, where, and with what equipment the photo was taken. All entries must be emailed to courier@nemont.net with the photographer’s name and contact info. included.

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4-H Poultry Experience Offers 'Thrill of Raising Chickens' ROUBIE YOUNKIN FOR FARM & RANCH Once again, youth ages 9 thru 18 are invited to experience the thrill of raising chickens without the stress of having them at home. Any youth, not just 4-H members, may sign up for this project where they will learn the basics of poultry production. Participants will begin with choosing and ordering chicks from a catalog, incubating the eggs as well as

KNAPP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Steve Daines represents Montana in the U.S. Congress.

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Ag is Key to Montana Jobs STEVE DAINES FOR FARM & RANCH

In Montana, we know how important agriculture is – to our economy, to jobs and to keeping food on our tables, and on tables around the world. I’m thrilled to have former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as our new Secretary of Agriculture. I know Secretary Perdue will be a champion for Montana agriculture. During a time of historically low prices, we need to ďŹ nd ways to maintain and grow our state’s number one economic driver: agriculture. With over 27 thousand farms and ranches in the state, Montana agriculture is a nearly 5-billion-dollar a year industry. Montana is also the leading pulse crop producer in the nation. These are strong reasons to be an endless champion of Montana agriculture. With 95 percent of the world’s consumers outside of the United States, it’s critical that we expand global markets and ďŹ nd new consumers for Montana products, like beef. Now you may remember last fall we reached a crucial milestone in opening the second-largest beef import market in the world, China. Last September, China began the process to roll back the ban on U.S. beef for the ďŹ rst time since 2003. I’ve led two official congressional delegations to China with one topic at the forefront: expanding markets for U.S.

products. There’s a lot of hot button issues in China that we are monitoring right now: cybersecurity, the South China Sea, currency manipulation – but for our producers, expanding markets is key. When I traveled to China last month, I hand carried a red Coleman cooler with me. When I met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang I opened that cooler and pulled out four beautiful Montana steaks from Fred Wacker of Miles City. When I handed him those steaks, I also showed him a picture of Fred with his cows to point out exactly where that beef was raised. I’ll get Montana beef to China if I have to carry it there myself! Since I’ve returned from China I’ve continued pushing to ďŹ nalize negotiations between China and the United States. I led 38 of my Senate colleagues in a letter to President Trump urging him to discuss opening Chinese markets to U.S. beef imports during his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in early April in Florida. I’ve also followed up with letters to Secretary Perdue and Premier Li so they keep this issue at the forefront of their minds. The bottom line is Montana’s economy is linked to our strong agricultural heritage. We need to work together through innovation, dedication and hard work to keep agriculture strong for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Steve Daines is the junior U.S. Senator from Montana.

“By promoting ag commodities, they’ve made a large contribution. Some of that has been done by farm women in groups, such as WIFE (Women Involved in Farm Economics), where they promote agriculture,� she said. Knapp promotes agriculture through

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Hinsdale FFA Competes at State

feeding, watering and learning to exhibit them at the fair this summer. Members of this group will gain responsibility, compassion and self- discipline as they commit to about two hours a week of education, chores and record keeping. This is a chance for farm and town children alike to raise an animal. If you or your child is interested in participating in this poultry project, please contact the Valley County Extension OfďŹ ce at 228-6241 to enroll and for information about the ďŹ rst meeting.

Linda & Mark Nielsen, Owners Iva Murch, Manager 263-7529 Dean Barnes, Yard Manager 263-1175 Ed Hinton, Auctioneer 783-7285

June July & August 2017 Schedule

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8

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27

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August 2017

15

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22

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CHAYKOTA CHRISTENSEN FOR FARM & RANCH Four Hinsdale FFA members, Casity Boucher, Mickayla Johnson, Chaykota Christensen and Sarah Boucher, traveled to Big Timber to compete in the Montana State Development Days, that was held May 1-3. The team competed in the Floriculture CDE, which applied classroom knowledge and skill. The team took part in plant identiďŹ cation, ower arranging

corsages and centerpieces, a job interview, sales, along with solving a team problem. The team placed ďŹ rst in the state, leading the second-place team by over 100 points. Three of the four Hinsdale FFA team members also placed in the top 10. As the state winning team, the girls will travel to compete in Indianapolis, Ind., at the national competition, held during the National FFA convention in late October.

Tester Talks Farm Bill with Glendive, Lewistown Ranchers MARNEE BANKS FOR FARM & RANCH U.S. Senator Jon Tester held stops on his “Barnstormin Farm Bill Listening Tour� May 26 and met with farmers and ranchers in Glendive and Lewistown to discuss priorities for the next Farm Bill. “The only way to ensure that the next Farm

Bill works for Montana is to give Montana family farmers and ranchers a seat at the table,� Tester told the attendees. “The next Farm Bill must provide producers with the tools to succeed, and with low commodity prices across the board, it is as critical as ever See TESTER Page 6

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10

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NO AUCTION

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Pictured L-R: Sarah Boucher, Mickayla Johnson, Casity Boucher and Chaykota Christensen represented Hinsdale in Big Timber May 1-3.

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her work on the local conservation board, county weed board and chamber of commerce. She also shares her farm knowledge through 4-H, Montana Range Days, FFA, church and other community activities. Read more about Knapp and other women involved in Montana agriculture at dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/cardd/conservation-districts/oral-history-project/womenin-agriculture-stories.

Judi Knapp has a passion for land conservation and promotes agriculture while serving on the Treasure County Conservation District.

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Not a Well Oiled Machine, Yet...

Writer Elizabeth Shipstead helps fill the seeder at her family's farm operation near Nashua, Mont. ELIZABETH SHIPSTEAD FOR FARM & RANCH It is so easy to get caught up in wishing and comparison. “I wish our lives had more structure and consistency. I could actually accomplish something or at least then I could look like I have it all together.” As I lay aside my “at home” plans, for “in the field” or “parts run” plans. “Maybe I should dress or act more like that farm wife.” As I sit in a tractor with my holey t-shirt, dirty jeans, and nicked up boots. “Newer equipment like the setup I see seeding next door would be amazing.” As the wheat market hasn’t rebounded, I worry over the continued working of our equipment that is older than I am, and we limp several of our vehicles along. “Wouldn’t a hired man be nice!” As

we constantly weigh out which pressing need takes priority first. Cows? Seeding? Church? Family? Vehicle/equipment maintenance? Rental house? Our house? Momma’s garden? Replacing our roof? But, what never wavers is our commitment to this life. Are we doing it as well as others or as well as we could be? Who knows. One thing I do know...We are doing the best we can with what we have been given. I am continuing to learn to see the value in appreciating our ever-changing, somewhat stressful, all-encompassing, and amazing Ag life for what it is. It’s ours! God put us here. It may not be someone else’s ideal. It may not even be ours at times. When the breakdowns happen, sickness hits, the tractor gets buried in mud where there shouldn’t be mud, the girls are cranky from being packed around and moved

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between equipment and vehicles for hours on end, it may not be perfect, but it is ours. We get to own it. We get to make it what it can be someday. We get to learn and grow. We get to create something that shows our love for agriculture and something to pass on to future generations. It’s not always going to be amazing, measure up to the neighbor’s operation, look well put together, and it may not run like a well oiled machine (yet!), but that doesn’t make it bad, or not enough, or not worthy of enjoyment or our pride! Someday we will look back on these formative, teenage-like years and thank God for the process, the opportunity, the lessons learned, and the wisdom gained. “If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 that we ensure the safety net is more than a talking point.” Tester heard feedback from local producers on the current Farm Bill and then discussed specific priorities for the next Farm Bill that include strengthening safety nets, expanding export access to China and other international markets, minimizing the threat of predators and resolving trade disputes with Canada. Montana farmers and ranchers praised Tester for holding more listening sessions, and applauded his effort to provide local producers with a voice in the construction of the next Farm Bill. “We realize the urgency to begin the process of fighting for Montana’s farmers and ranchers on the Farm Bill,” said President of Montana Farmers Union Alan Merrill. “Provisions including crop insurance, the Nutrition Title, support of rural development and access to credit are forefront in the debate. Senator Tester understands the needs of Montana’s farmers and ranchers. We certainly appreciate the opportunity to communicate the priorities of our membership. The listening sessions hosted by the Senator were a perfect way to do that.” “It’s important for policymakers to gather input from the growers who are directly affected by the Farm Bill and we appreciate Senator Tester for providing this opportunity,” said Executive Vice President of the Montana Grain Growers Association Lola Raska. “As a farmer himself, Jon inherently understands the cyclical nature of farm economics and knows that a strong safety net is critical to sustaining the industry that feeds our citizens.” “Thank you to Senator Tester for ensuring that the concerns of Montana ranchers are included in the next Farm Bill,” said Vice President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association Errol Rice. “With price volatility in the cattle market and prices low, we need to ensure that the next Farm Bill protects rancher’s bottom line and increases exports to ensure profitability.” Tester’s listening sessions were open to the public, and were the fourth and fifth Farm Bill listening sessions as part of his statewide “Barnstormin’ Farm Bill Listening Tour.” Tester will hold additional Farm Bill listening sessions in the coming weeks and months as Congress prepares to draft a new Farm Bill next year. Tester helped pass a four-year Farm Bill in 2014 that included robust investments in critical livestock disaster assistance, crop insurance, and the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program. Tester is the only active farmer in the U.S. Senate, and he and his wife Sharla still farm the land his grandparents homesteaded over a century ago. Jon Tester is the senior U.S. Senator from Montana.

www.glasgowcourier.com www.glasgowcourier.com

425 6th Street North Glasgow, Montana

PATTI ARMBRISTER / FOR FARM & RANCH

Members of the Hinsdale chapter of the FFA participates in the state competition in Big Timber in May.

DNRC Promotes Women in Ag LINDA BRANDER FOR FARM & RANCH Land conservation has always been a part of rancher Judi Knapp’s life. “I grew up being conscious of conservation because I saw my dad put it to practice in his ag operation,” said Knapp. “Conservation seems like a very natural flow for any farmer or rancher. I doubt whether most of us consciously think about it as a separate process ... We not only love the occupation, but we love the land itself.” Knapp produces wheat, hay and cattle with her husband, Roger, on the Knapp Ranch near Melstone, Mont., and has learned many conservation lessons through the farm experience. “During these last 38 years on the farm, we’ve experienced our share of drought, blowing soils and washing soils, and have come to know first-hand the importance of good practices,” she explained. Knapp’s farming responsibilities change daily. In summer, Knapp has gardening and watering chores, keeping up with the bookwork, as well as maintenance chores of painting and staining. At harvest, she prepares meals for the harvest crew and cans and freezes the garden produce. “There is nothing very typical in the day of someone on a farm. Every day is different, and that’s the beauty of it, she said. “As with most farm wives, I’m

interrupted at times to run for parts, move equipment, work cows, clean grain bins, and the like.” Knapp said she enjoys fencing with her husband the most. “We get to all corners of the place, some of which I would never see otherwise; so it’s like we’re out exploring,” she explained. “We do this during any nice winter weather so there’s no time pressure and it’s rather relaxing. Of course, I can say that because I am not the one who operates the post pounder.” Over the years, Knapp has seen a change in the role of women in Montana agriculture and families, with fathers being more active in their young children’s lives and mothers taking a more active role in farm management. “We see women being very active in the daily operations, being very aware of the financial records, if not actually being the one responsible for the books and being very hands on in the decision-making,” Knapp explained. “I feel that it’s made for a better farm operation and family unit. I think there is no limit to what women can contribute in the field of agriculture, both on and off the farm.” Women have played a big role in Montana agriculture economics, as well, said Knapp. See KNAPP Page 8

Vintage Northside neighborhood home, large corner location on 5 city lots, 1,612 sf main floor, 1,392 sf finished basement, established trees and greenery, fenced in backyard, 4 bedrooms, library, 3 full baths, private backyard patio area, sunroom off kitchen, an oversized 2 car attached heated garage with room to add on, and rv parking.

Asking $295,000

United INSURANCE & REALTY "Let us work for you." unitedir@nemont.net 406-228-9356 www.unitedinsuranceandrealty.com 504 2nd Avenue South, Glasgow, Montana

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Not a Well Oiled Machine, Yet...

Writer Elizabeth Shipstead helps fill the seeder at her family's farm operation near Nashua, Mont. ELIZABETH SHIPSTEAD FOR FARM & RANCH It is so easy to get caught up in wishing and comparison. “I wish our lives had more structure and consistency. I could actually accomplish something or at least then I could look like I have it all together.” As I lay aside my “at home” plans, for “in the field” or “parts run” plans. “Maybe I should dress or act more like that farm wife.” As I sit in a tractor with my holey t-shirt, dirty jeans, and nicked up boots. “Newer equipment like the setup I see seeding next door would be amazing.” As the wheat market hasn’t rebounded, I worry over the continued working of our equipment that is older than I am, and we limp several of our vehicles along. “Wouldn’t a hired man be nice!” As

we constantly weigh out which pressing need takes priority first. Cows? Seeding? Church? Family? Vehicle/equipment maintenance? Rental house? Our house? Momma’s garden? Replacing our roof? But, what never wavers is our commitment to this life. Are we doing it as well as others or as well as we could be? Who knows. One thing I do know...We are doing the best we can with what we have been given. I am continuing to learn to see the value in appreciating our ever-changing, somewhat stressful, all-encompassing, and amazing Ag life for what it is. It’s ours! God put us here. It may not be someone else’s ideal. It may not even be ours at times. When the breakdowns happen, sickness hits, the tractor gets buried in mud where there shouldn’t be mud, the girls are cranky from being packed around and moved

COURTESY PHOTO / FOR FARM & RANCH

between equipment and vehicles for hours on end, it may not be perfect, but it is ours. We get to own it. We get to make it what it can be someday. We get to learn and grow. We get to create something that shows our love for agriculture and something to pass on to future generations. It’s not always going to be amazing, measure up to the neighbor’s operation, look well put together, and it may not run like a well oiled machine (yet!), but that doesn’t make it bad, or not enough, or not worthy of enjoyment or our pride! Someday we will look back on these formative, teenage-like years and thank God for the process, the opportunity, the lessons learned, and the wisdom gained. “If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”

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TESTER

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 that we ensure the safety net is more than a talking point.” Tester heard feedback from local producers on the current Farm Bill and then discussed specific priorities for the next Farm Bill that include strengthening safety nets, expanding export access to China and other international markets, minimizing the threat of predators and resolving trade disputes with Canada. Montana farmers and ranchers praised Tester for holding more listening sessions, and applauded his effort to provide local producers with a voice in the construction of the next Farm Bill. “We realize the urgency to begin the process of fighting for Montana’s farmers and ranchers on the Farm Bill,” said President of Montana Farmers Union Alan Merrill. “Provisions including crop insurance, the Nutrition Title, support of rural development and access to credit are forefront in the debate. Senator Tester understands the needs of Montana’s farmers and ranchers. We certainly appreciate the opportunity to communicate the priorities of our membership. The listening sessions hosted by the Senator were a perfect way to do that.” “It’s important for policymakers to gather input from the growers who are directly affected by the Farm Bill and we appreciate Senator Tester for providing this opportunity,” said Executive Vice President of the Montana Grain Growers Association Lola Raska. “As a farmer himself, Jon inherently understands the cyclical nature of farm economics and knows that a strong safety net is critical to sustaining the industry that feeds our citizens.” “Thank you to Senator Tester for ensuring that the concerns of Montana ranchers are included in the next Farm Bill,” said Vice President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association Errol Rice. “With price volatility in the cattle market and prices low, we need to ensure that the next Farm Bill protects rancher’s bottom line and increases exports to ensure profitability.” Tester’s listening sessions were open to the public, and were the fourth and fifth Farm Bill listening sessions as part of his statewide “Barnstormin’ Farm Bill Listening Tour.” Tester will hold additional Farm Bill listening sessions in the coming weeks and months as Congress prepares to draft a new Farm Bill next year. Tester helped pass a four-year Farm Bill in 2014 that included robust investments in critical livestock disaster assistance, crop insurance, and the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program. Tester is the only active farmer in the U.S. Senate, and he and his wife Sharla still farm the land his grandparents homesteaded over a century ago. Jon Tester is the senior U.S. Senator from Montana.

www.glasgowcourier.com www.glasgowcourier.com

425 6th Street North Glasgow, Montana

PATTI ARMBRISTER / FOR FARM & RANCH

Members of the Hinsdale chapter of the FFA participates in the state competition in Big Timber in May.

DNRC Promotes Women in Ag LINDA BRANDER FOR FARM & RANCH Land conservation has always been a part of rancher Judi Knapp’s life. “I grew up being conscious of conservation because I saw my dad put it to practice in his ag operation,” said Knapp. “Conservation seems like a very natural flow for any farmer or rancher. I doubt whether most of us consciously think about it as a separate process ... We not only love the occupation, but we love the land itself.” Knapp produces wheat, hay and cattle with her husband, Roger, on the Knapp Ranch near Melstone, Mont., and has learned many conservation lessons through the farm experience. “During these last 38 years on the farm, we’ve experienced our share of drought, blowing soils and washing soils, and have come to know first-hand the importance of good practices,” she explained. Knapp’s farming responsibilities change daily. In summer, Knapp has gardening and watering chores, keeping up with the bookwork, as well as maintenance chores of painting and staining. At harvest, she prepares meals for the harvest crew and cans and freezes the garden produce. “There is nothing very typical in the day of someone on a farm. Every day is different, and that’s the beauty of it, she said. “As with most farm wives, I’m

interrupted at times to run for parts, move equipment, work cows, clean grain bins, and the like.” Knapp said she enjoys fencing with her husband the most. “We get to all corners of the place, some of which I would never see otherwise; so it’s like we’re out exploring,” she explained. “We do this during any nice winter weather so there’s no time pressure and it’s rather relaxing. Of course, I can say that because I am not the one who operates the post pounder.” Over the years, Knapp has seen a change in the role of women in Montana agriculture and families, with fathers being more active in their young children’s lives and mothers taking a more active role in farm management. “We see women being very active in the daily operations, being very aware of the financial records, if not actually being the one responsible for the books and being very hands on in the decision-making,” Knapp explained. “I feel that it’s made for a better farm operation and family unit. I think there is no limit to what women can contribute in the field of agriculture, both on and off the farm.” Women have played a big role in Montana agriculture economics, as well, said Knapp. See KNAPP Page 8

Vintage Northside neighborhood home, large corner location on 5 city lots, 1,612 sf main floor, 1,392 sf finished basement, established trees and greenery, fenced in backyard, 4 bedrooms, library, 3 full baths, private backyard patio area, sunroom off kitchen, an oversized 2 car attached heated garage with room to add on, and rv parking.

Asking $295,000

United INSURANCE & REALTY "Let us work for you." unitedir@nemont.net 406-228-9356 www.unitedinsuranceandrealty.com 504 2nd Avenue South, Glasgow, Montana

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4-H Poultry Experience Offers 'Thrill of Raising Chickens' ROUBIE YOUNKIN FOR FARM & RANCH Once again, youth ages 9 thru 18 are invited to experience the thrill of raising chickens without the stress of having them at home. Any youth, not just 4-H members, may sign up for this project where they will learn the basics of poultry production. Participants will begin with choosing and ordering chicks from a catalog, incubating the eggs as well as

KNAPP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Steve Daines represents Montana in the U.S. Congress.

COURTESY PHOTO / FOR FARM & RANCH

Ag is Key to Montana Jobs STEVE DAINES FOR FARM & RANCH

In Montana, we know how important agriculture is – to our economy, to jobs and to keeping food on our tables, and on tables around the world. I’m thrilled to have former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as our new Secretary of Agriculture. I know Secretary Perdue will be a champion for Montana agriculture. During a time of historically low prices, we need to ďŹ nd ways to maintain and grow our state’s number one economic driver: agriculture. With over 27 thousand farms and ranches in the state, Montana agriculture is a nearly 5-billion-dollar a year industry. Montana is also the leading pulse crop producer in the nation. These are strong reasons to be an endless champion of Montana agriculture. With 95 percent of the world’s consumers outside of the United States, it’s critical that we expand global markets and ďŹ nd new consumers for Montana products, like beef. Now you may remember last fall we reached a crucial milestone in opening the second-largest beef import market in the world, China. Last September, China began the process to roll back the ban on U.S. beef for the ďŹ rst time since 2003. I’ve led two official congressional delegations to China with one topic at the forefront: expanding markets for U.S.

products. There’s a lot of hot button issues in China that we are monitoring right now: cybersecurity, the South China Sea, currency manipulation – but for our producers, expanding markets is key. When I traveled to China last month, I hand carried a red Coleman cooler with me. When I met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang I opened that cooler and pulled out four beautiful Montana steaks from Fred Wacker of Miles City. When I handed him those steaks, I also showed him a picture of Fred with his cows to point out exactly where that beef was raised. I’ll get Montana beef to China if I have to carry it there myself! Since I’ve returned from China I’ve continued pushing to ďŹ nalize negotiations between China and the United States. I led 38 of my Senate colleagues in a letter to President Trump urging him to discuss opening Chinese markets to U.S. beef imports during his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in early April in Florida. I’ve also followed up with letters to Secretary Perdue and Premier Li so they keep this issue at the forefront of their minds. The bottom line is Montana’s economy is linked to our strong agricultural heritage. We need to work together through innovation, dedication and hard work to keep agriculture strong for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Steve Daines is the junior U.S. Senator from Montana.

“By promoting ag commodities, they’ve made a large contribution. Some of that has been done by farm women in groups, such as WIFE (Women Involved in Farm Economics), where they promote agriculture,� she said. Knapp promotes agriculture through

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Hinsdale FFA Competes at State

feeding, watering and learning to exhibit them at the fair this summer. Members of this group will gain responsibility, compassion and self- discipline as they commit to about two hours a week of education, chores and record keeping. This is a chance for farm and town children alike to raise an animal. If you or your child is interested in participating in this poultry project, please contact the Valley County Extension OfďŹ ce at 228-6241 to enroll and for information about the ďŹ rst meeting.

Linda & Mark Nielsen, Owners Iva Murch, Manager 263-7529 Dean Barnes, Yard Manager 263-1175 Ed Hinton, Auctioneer 783-7285

June July & August 2017 Schedule

June 2017

1

All Class Cattle Auction

20

NO AUCTION

8

Cow/Calf Pair Special & All Class Cattle Auction

27

All Class Cattle Auction

August 2017

15

All Class Cattle Auction

22

All Class Cattle Auction

29

Big Pre 4th Dry Cow Auction & All Class Cattle Auction

6 13

CHAYKOTA CHRISTENSEN FOR FARM & RANCH Four Hinsdale FFA members, Casity Boucher, Mickayla Johnson, Chaykota Christensen and Sarah Boucher, traveled to Big Timber to compete in the Montana State Development Days, that was held May 1-3. The team competed in the Floriculture CDE, which applied classroom knowledge and skill. The team took part in plant identiďŹ cation, ower arranging

corsages and centerpieces, a job interview, sales, along with solving a team problem. The team placed ďŹ rst in the state, leading the second-place team by over 100 points. Three of the four Hinsdale FFA team members also placed in the top 10. As the state winning team, the girls will travel to compete in Indianapolis, Ind., at the national competition, held during the National FFA convention in late October.

Tester Talks Farm Bill with Glendive, Lewistown Ranchers MARNEE BANKS FOR FARM & RANCH U.S. Senator Jon Tester held stops on his “Barnstormin Farm Bill Listening Tour� May 26 and met with farmers and ranchers in Glendive and Lewistown to discuss priorities for the next Farm Bill. “The only way to ensure that the next Farm

Bill works for Montana is to give Montana family farmers and ranchers a seat at the table,� Tester told the attendees. “The next Farm Bill must provide producers with the tools to succeed, and with low commodity prices across the board, it is as critical as ever See TESTER Page 6

1946 - 2017

Thursday

Thursday

3

NO AUCTION

10

All Class Cattle Auction

17

NO AUCTION

NO AUCTION

24

Early Yearling & All Class Cattle Auction

All Class Cattle Auction

31

NO AUCTION

Thursday

PATTI ARMBRISTER / FOR FARM & RANCH

SERVING AREA âœŻ LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS FOR 71 YEARS!

July 2017 (cont.)

July 2017

Pictured L-R: Sarah Boucher, Mickayla Johnson, Casity Boucher and Chaykota Christensen represented Hinsdale in Big Timber May 1-3.

COURTESY DNRC / FOR FARM & RANCH

Glasgow Stockyards, Inc.

Thursday

her work on the local conservation board, county weed board and chamber of commerce. She also shares her farm knowledge through 4-H, Montana Range Days, FFA, church and other community activities. Read more about Knapp and other women involved in Montana agriculture at dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/cardd/conservation-districts/oral-history-project/womenin-agriculture-stories.

Judi Knapp has a passion for land conservation and promotes agriculture while serving on the Treasure County Conservation District.

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What do “low cost� ag suppliers

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The Month in Weather

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SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

MONA DOEBLER / FOR FARM & RANCH

This Hinsdale buck would like to remind readers to enjoy the early summer weather. Winter is coming. BRANDON BIGELBACH FOR FARM & RANCH The big story in northeast Montana this month was how dry it has been. In general, and in years past, the rainy season for the year in this part of the state begins in May, with May-July typically providing over half of the yearly average precipitation for the region. The main cause of the dryness has been the almost constant presence of a strong ridge of high-pressure over the Western third of the U.S. The main concern, weather-wise over the past month, was the combination of warm temperatures and strong winds. Of all of the days of the month, only one day saw maximum sustained winds below 15 mph, with about half of the month experiencing 25 mph or greater. Of those days, seven saw reported gusts over 40 mph. Combine the dryness, above-normal temperatures and generally strong winds, the ďŹ re weather concerns across the region have been at a higher level at an earlier time than the region is used to experiencing, generally. As of press date, per the National

Weather Service in Glasgow, the highest observed temperature for the month was 88 degrees on May 12, and the lowest was 32 degrees on May 18. The total liquid precipitation reported at Glasgow was 0.58�, which was approximately 1.3� below-normal. Over a 24-hour period, the greatest precipitation total was 0.26�, which occurred on May 7. The overall mean temperature for the month was approximately 56 degrees, which is approximately 1.5 degrees above normal. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor was released on May 23, and reported a swath of abnormally dry conditions along the North Dakota border from Sheridan County through Fallon County. This is a bit of a degradation in conditions from last month, but not surprising given the lack of precipitation throughout the region this past month. According to a press release from the Montana DNRC, the agency is not expecting drought to be a concern in any area of the state this year, and in fact, the drought conditions are at an all-time low. A lot of that is due to the very heavy precipitation that fell across much of the state late last fall and through the winter.

YOU’RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH – THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA

The Glasgow Courier 341 Third Ave S. | 406-228-9301 www.glasgowcourier.com

Glasgow photographer Sean R. Heavey is one of the Courier's contest judges. A.J. ETHERINGTON FOR FARM & RANCH The Glasgow Courier is reminding interested participants that the ďŹ rst-annual ‘Sunlight and Storm’ photography contest is currently ongoing, and submissions are being accepted now through Aug. 6. Entries will be judged by local award winning artist Sean R. Heavey and former Courier photo intern Amy Nelson. First prize will receive a $100 cash prize, the cover of a special publication and award certiďŹ cation. Second prize will be a $50 cash prize. Although broad in scope, entries need to include the sky, weather, the sun, moon, stars, Aurora Borealis, and so on as a primary feature of the photograph, and need to be of the Northeast Montana Sky. Anyone attempting to photograph severe weather is encouraged to learn about weather safety through the National Weather Service at www.nws.gov. To be included in the contest, photos need to be a large format JPEG with specs of minimum 1280 by 960 at 300 dpi resolution to guarantee cover print quality. The entry submission email must contain the details of when, where, and with what equipment the photo was taken. All entries must be emailed to courier@nemont.net with the photographer’s name and contact info. included.

YOU’RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA

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Scoring: Low condition score for cow at birthing negatively affects her calf's health ■ Continued from page 3 The score is not just about having healthy cows, it is about production and making sound business decisions.

Importance at Breeding “The ideal body condition score ranges from about a 4 to a 6 — that way the animal isn’t too thin ... (and) not in a really good state, where they can’t support themselves let alone a calf,” Thorson said, adding that a too-low score “will actually trigger the body to inhibit reproduction.” Another key point about having a healthy BCS is the affect body fat has on the length of time a cow takes to cycle for breeding after calving. Rasby wrote that to maintain a 365-day calving interval a cow has to rebreed within about 82 days after calving. At a BCS 3 the postpartum interval is likely 89 days. At a 4 that changes to 70 days average, which is just under the deadline. But if the BCS is increased to 5 or 6, the postpartum interval decreases to 52 to 59 days, substantially bettering the odds that a cow will get rebred within the calving interval. “Although cows that calve in a BCS of 7 have a short postpartum interval” of about 31 days, he wrote, “it is not economical to feed cows to a condition score of 7.”

Importance at Calving Research has shown that cows that are thin at calving “produce less colostrum, give birth to less vigorous calves that are slower to stand and these calves have lower immunoglobulin levels, thus impairing their ability to overcome early calf-hood disease challenges,” Rasby wrote. Studies of antibodies in calves 24 hours after birthing

Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows at Northern Ag Research stand out in a field with their calves in March. Having beef cows and first-calf heifers at optimum body condition at the time of calving is important because a cow's body is biologically wired to put energy from feed into milk production rather than weight gain, NARC beef cattle nutrition specialist Jennifer Thorson said.

Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows at the Northern Agricultural Research Center negotiate a hillside. If pasture is strained by drought in late summer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Associate Dean of Extension Agriculture Programming and nutrition researcher Rick Rasby said, it might be economical to wean calves early to help cows — that have been using energy for milk production — to improve their own body condition before winter.

www.havredailynews.com chute.” BCS 5 is a good average to shoot for, he said. That means a herd will likely have some 4s and some 6s, but those are within the healthy range. At the extremes, cows scored at a 1 have no evident fat or muscle and are likely near death, and at a 9 their bone structure cannot be seen or easily felt. The heavy cows will likely have trouble moving around and calving, their longevity is compromised through weight-related lameness issues and the excess fat represents money and resources wasted on feed. At a 5, “the 12th and 13th ribs are slightly visible to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can only be felt with firm pressure and feel rounded but are not noticeable to the eye. Spaces between the processes are not visible and are only distinguishable with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tail head and the fore-rib, behind the shoulder are starting to fill,” Rasby’s BCS description on the UNL website http://www.unl. edu says. First-calf heifers are the only game-changer for desired BCS, Rasby said. “The system doesn’t change, but your target condition will change. Your target condition for mature cows would be 5 at calving, for spring calving cows. Your target condition for first-time heifers will be condition score 6,” he said. Heifers have more demands on them after calving, he added. It’s their first time lactating and first time recovering from calving, and the heifers are still growing themselves, so they need the stored energy.

■ See Scoring Page 10

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Tracking body condition scoring is good business Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Though beef cattle producers constantly assess the condition of their cows and heifers, agriculture nutrition specialists say applying a more scientific approach, called body condition scoring, can help producers assess their nutritional program and make better informed business decisions about production. Research has proven that body condition, or how much body fat a beef cow or heifer has, directly affects the health of its calf through amount and quality of colostrum

FARM & RANCH production and determines how soon the cow cycles for rebreeding after calving, along with affecting the general health of the cow. “It’s a simple method to evaluate the nutritional status of cows,” said Jennifer Thorson, beef cattle nutritional reproduction researcher at Northern Agricultural Research Center south of Havre. And the scoring can be done without equipment or moving the cows, she added. More specifically, body condition scoring, or BCS, is a system for analyzing and describing the relative fatness of cows with a nine-point scale, helping producers to understand and affect breeding outcomes, calving success, losses and weaning weight, said University of NebraskaLincoln’s Rick Rasby, associate dean of extension agriculture programming. One point on the BCS scale is equivalent to about 75 pounds, he said.

www.havredailynews.com What BCS Is

BCS focuses on body condition in six different areas — brisket, spine, hips or “hooks,” pins, tail head and ribs. These points give consistent measurement of body fat across age and breed differences in cows, Thorson said. The thinner that cows are the more evident the ribs, hips, pins and back bones are, Rasby said. Thin cows score BCS 1 to 3. The fatter that cows are the more difficult it is to see or feel these bony areas. BCS 4 to 6 is a good range, but 7 to 9 is too heavy. With little muscling in the six assessment points, especially the bony areas, the majority of fullness will be attributable to fat. “You aren’t evaluating muscle — and hair can get in the way. You want to make sure you’re evaluating condition,” he said. “Sometimes what that means is that you might have to kind of train your eyes with hand feel, so you might have to practice when you run cows through a

University of Nebraska-Lincoln These images from a body condition scoring training module on the University of NebraskaLincoln website, http://www. unl.edu, illustrate beef cows at a progression of condition scores of BCS 3, from left, BCS 5 and BCS 7. The system, which provides definitive descriptions of beef cows at specific levels of body fat, looks at the amount of fat the cows have at six body points — brisket, spine, hips or "hooks," pins, tail head and ribs. Research on cattle breeding and BCS says that a BCS 5 is the ideal weight for a beef cow used for breeding.

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show that calves from BCS 2 cows have only 75 percent of the antibodies of calves born to BCS 6 cows, and calves from BCS 3 cows have more antibodies, but at 83 percent it’s still significantly lower, a UNL report says. By biological design, nutritional energy put into cows and heifers after birthing goes toward milk production, Rasby said, so it’s almost impossible, and economically unfeasible, to put weight on cows and heifers after they calve. That means producers are unlikely to improve their postpartum interval with spring feeding. And for first-calf heifers, which are at about 85 percent of their mature size when that first calf drops, being underweight at calving can be detrimental to their longterm growth and health.

When to Score Rasby wrote that he recommends scoring six times a year — late summer/early fall, weaning time, 45 days after weaning, 90 days before calving, calving time and beginning of breeding season. At late summer/early fall and weaning time producers might want to consider weaning calves early if cows and heifers are thin and if pasture is compromised, especially from drought. This is particularly important for first-calf heifers, he said. A body condition assessment 45 days after weaning will give producers an idea of how quickly the cows are recovering after weaning and the number of thin cows will indicate if cow type matches the producer’s available resources, he said. An assessment at calving time will show if the producers pre-calving feed program needs changes, though it’s too late to improve the cows’ condition economically, he said. And if the number of thin cows increases by the beginning of breeding season, he added, then producer’s might want to consider changing their calving to later in the season. A careful assessment at the point 90 days before calving is the most crucial for success in the coming year, Rasby said, largely because changing a herd’s condition takes time, and this during the period of high energy demand from fetus development. That 90 days before calving, when the unborn calf does the most growing, demand the most energy in utero, and it’s the last opportunity to get thin cows and heifers up to weight, Thorson said. “It would pretty unrealistic to think that once a cow has calved that you are going

Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows and calves at Northern Agricultural Research Center south of Havre eat freshly rolled-out hay in late March. Having cows at a BCS 5 prior to calving is crucial for rebreeding because the lower the condition score is, the longer the postpartum interval. to be able to increase her weight and do it in a profitable way, so you’d be having to put a lot of input into her that you probably wouldn’t get back,” she said. “During those last three months of pregnancy is when you have an exponential growth in fetal size, so the more they’re growing the more nutrients they’re requiring,” she said. “So if you get on those cows and get them increasing before the calf starts increasing exponentially then you get ahead of the curve.” This can be especially important with Montana winter and spring weather, she added.

Learning the Scale “This is an excellent tool, but if you call a cow a 5 and she’s really a 3, that’s a problem,” Rasby said. “... But it’s easy to overcome.” UNL has developed a training app for

■ See Scoring Page 12

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Scoring: Rasby: 'This is an excellent tool, but … call a cow a 5 and she’s really a 3, that’s a problem' ■ Continued from page 11 Havre Daily News/Floyd Brandt Cows feed on hay in March at the Northern Agricultural Research Center. A body condition score of 7 to 9, which is moderately high to high body fat, is an unnecessary economic drain because it is not needed to maintain the health of the calf and to keep cows on a 365 day calving interval, and it can be detrimental to the cow's health.

Nine Point Body Condition Scoring Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

1.

Bone structure of shoulder, ribs, back, hip bones or “hooks” and pins are sharp to the touch and easily visible. No evidence of fat deposits or muscling. Cattle in this condition are weak, near death and have trouble standing or walking.

THIN

smart phones, but the university’s website also has training modules, with photos of cows at each BCS score as well as descriptions, he said. And an internet search will provide more information, photos, videos and tutorials, he added. Ranch owners or managers can get all their employees on the same page with some practical experience, Rasby added, by hav-

Rene Brown photo Cows battle a March 8 snow storm in the Bear Paw Mountains. Adverse weather can strain cows, causing a loss of body condition. This can be especially problematic for cows already at a low BCS.

ing everyone score a herd or selection of cows independently then together for a discussion. It can help to separate cows into thin, moderate and fat groups before trying to assess a numerical score, he said.

Decisions About Production

No evidence of fat deposition and muscle loss in the hindquarters. The spinous processes — the knob-shaped points at the very top of each vertebra in the spine — feel sharp to the touch. The spinous processes and the spaces between them are easily seen.

Aiming for the midrange Backbone

3.

Very little fat cover over the loin, back and fore-ribs. The backbone is still highly visible. Processes of the spine can be identified individually by touch and may still be visible. Spaces between the processes are less pronounced.

Body condition scores should be recorded, Raasby said. Over time, the information could reveal needed management changes, he said, and that may mean a change in calving time, a change in feed sources or a more significant change in the herd. “If you have cows that are continually thin at weaning time and they don’t bounce back after you get done weaning the calves, then you got to really take a hard look at your breeding program,” he said. “… If they’re always thin at weaning time and you have to feed (them up) to get condition back on them before they calve the next time, what’s going on there? “You may be just a little bit out of whack in regards to cow size and milk production for your resources,” he added, “and you always hate to get yourself into corrective mating situations, but that may be what you have to do.”

4.

Links

7.

http://ianr.unl.edu/nu-beef-bcs-app http://beef.unl.edu/modules-apps-webinars http://beef.unl.edu/learningmodules.shtml http://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition1a. shtml h t t p : / / n ew s r o o m . u n l . e d u / a n n o u n c e / beef/1922/12076 http://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition1b. shtml http://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition3c. shtml1 http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/ CR-575/welcome.html

2.

Ribs

Fore-ribs and 12th and 13th ribs are still noticeable to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can be identified only by palpation, with slight pressure, and feel rounded rather than sharp.

5.

The 12th and 13th ribs are slightly visible to the eye. The transverse spinous processes can only be felt with firm pressure and feel rounded but are not noticeable to the eye. Spaces between the processes are not visible and are only distinguishable with firm pressure. Areas on each side of the tail head and the fore-rib, behind the shoulder are starting to fill.

MODERATE

6.

Brisket

Ribs are fully covered and are not noticeable to the eye. Hindquarters are plump and full. Noticeable springiness over the fore-ribs and on each side of the tail head. Firm pressure is now required to feel the transverse processes. Brisket has some fat. Ends of the spinous processes can only be felt with very firm pressure. Spaces between processes can barely be distinguished. Abundant fat cover on either side of the tail head with evident patchiness. Fat in the brisket.

8.

Animal takes on a smooth, blocky appearance. Bone structure disappears from sight. Fat cover is thick and spongy and patchiness is likely. Brisket is full.

9. FLESHY

Bone structure is not seen or easily felt. The tail head is buried in fat. The animal’s mobility may actually be impaired by excessive fat.

Body condition scoring for beef cows

Hooks

Tail Head

Pins

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