Influence of temperature on feed requirements of beef cows

By John Comerford, retired Penn State professor

Maintenance energy requirements increase by about 1% for each 1°F below 32°F. The energy for maintenance for beef cows in the last 1/3 of pregnancy is about 11 mega-calories per day. With an air temperature in dry air and no wind of 22°F, there is a 10% greater energy requirement. This 1.1 mega-calories of energy needed is equivalent to about one pound of corn or two pounds of orchard grass hay.

The rule for accounting for wind chill is to use the wind chill temperature to adjust feed energy using 32°F as the baseline. For example, if the wind chill is zero °F, then the cow requires 32% more energy. This is about 3 pounds of corn or 5-6 pounds of orchard grass hay.

The most serious condition is when the animal gets wet because the hair and hide lose their insulation capacity. The rule for cattle that are wet is to use 59°F as the starting point and change the feed energy needs by 2% for each degree below 59°F. For example, if the cattle are wet and the wind chill is 9°F, the energy requirement is 100% higher (50° X 2%). This is equivalent to feeding an additional 20 pounds of corn or 40 pounds of orchard grass hay to a cow each day. Obviously, most cows could not consume enough feed to keep them at maintenance under these conditions, so they will start losing body condition. The loss in body condition will be abated by protection from the wind and (or) a drier environment. A windbreak or shelter from the rain is economically feasible under these conditions as well as being good animal husbandry.

2022 4-H Dawson County dogs fair results

City Codes: C = Cozad, L = Lexington, G = Gothenburg

“Man’s best friend” is the old adage when it comes to dogs. And it sure proved true at this year’s Dawson County Fair 4-H Dog Show. As 4-H’ers involved excitedly ran their dogs through the routines of Showmanship and Dog Obedience. Teamwork is the key. Dog and handler learn to work together. This year’s judge, Amanda Lott from North Platte, arrived at the following ribbon placings.

Dog Showmanship

Junior Division – Hailey Jensen (G) was presented the trophy and received a purple ribbon in the Junior Showmanship Division. Another purple ribbon went to Bristol McConville (L). Blues: Augustus Barnes (G),

Dallee Barnes (G), and Bodee Klemm (L).

Intermediate Division – Samuel Winter (C) received the trophy and a purple ribbon in the Intermediate Division.

Senior Division – There were no senior division participants.

Obedience

Beginning Novice – Division A – Purples: Hailey Jensen (G) and Bristol McConville (L). Blues: Augustus Barnes (G) and Dallee Barnes (G). Red: Bodee Klemm (L).

Beginning Novice - Division B – Purple: Samual Winter (C).

Agility

This year there was no agility course.

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Roof snow removal probably not necessary

“Most roofs are designed to handle the snow load of a typical winter,” North Dakota State University Extension agricultural engineer Ken Hellevang says. “Just because one roof has gone down doesn’t mean every roof in the area is in danger. The collapse may have been a case of poor workmanship or design, unusual amounts of snow or some other special circumstance.”

Most house roofs in eastern and northern North Dakota should hold 30 to 40 pounds of snow per square foot, according to Hellevang. In the southwestern part of the state, where snowfall typically is lighter, roofs are built to hold less – about 30 pounds per square foot.

“Agricultural buildings usually aren’t designed to those same standards,” Hellevang says. “That’s because the risk of damage or injury from collapse is considered to be lower.”

Agricultural buildings should carry 20 to 35 pounds of snow per square foot, depending on location. However, agricultural buildings normally are not required to be built to carry a specified snow load and may have been built for a lighter amount of snow.

Also, snow load standards may not have been in place when older homes and buildings were erected, but if those buildings have withstood the test of time, they’ll probably withstand a normal winter’s snow load, Hellevang says.

Determining if the snow load on your roof is excessive can be difficult.

“The weight of snow varies greatly,” Hellevang says. “Light, fluffy snow may only weigh about 7 pounds per cubic foot. More average snow may weigh 15 pounds per cubic foot, and drifted, compacted snow may weigh 20 pounds or more. Ice buildup also adds weight rapidly.”

If the roof has more than a couple of feet of compacted snow on it, the load may be excessive, he adds.

He urges people to monitor the roof for deep drifts caused by surrounding buildings or trees. Roofs that have more than one level often accumulate deep snowdrifts on the lower portion, but those roofs should have been built to carry that added load.

Ultimately, however, the decision to shovel off a roof will be based on an educated guess unless you can get a recommendation from an engineer or building official, Hellevang says.

He recommends that home and agricultural building owners check their insurance policy because roof failure due to snow is not covered by all policies.

Those who decide to shovel off their roof need to remember that snow and ice can make the job dangerous. Agricultural buildings with metal roofs can be especially treacherous, and power lines can be an added hazard.

Ladders can slide easily on frozen ground, so they need to be anchored in some way.

Shoes also can slide easily on the ladder and the roof. Select footwear that provides a good grip in cold weather. People who are not agile and comfortable with working on the roof should hire someone to remove the snow.

“You also can damage your roof,” Hellevang says. “Cold temperatures make shingles brittle, so they break more easily. You’re also more likely to remove many of the little pebbles from the surface of the shingles, shortening the life of your roof.”

Hellevang advises using a roof rake, which allows a person to remove snow while standing on the ground.

Some snow rakes have rollers that keep the rake just above the shingle. If using a shovel, take care to not impact the shingles, and shovel down the roof in the direction the shingles lie.

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A cowboy is a man who requires the help of a horse to outsmart a cow. – Peter Darbo

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A cowboy is a farm boy in leather britches and a comical hat. – Edward Abbey

Mix of organic and inorganic selenium may increase beef cow fertility

By Aimee Nielson, UKY

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Fertility is a driving factor for a sustainable and profitable cow-calf enterprise. Selenium plays a significant role in fertility, and in states like Kentucky and Tennessee, producers must supplement because their soil is selenium deficient. In an ongoing study at the University of Kentucky, researchers are pitting the industry-standard inorganic selenium against a 50/50 mix of inorganic and organic selenium to determine the most productive option.

“Selenium is an essential micronutrient that is incorporated into selenoproteins. These act as antioxidants, basically getting rid of free radicals, protecting the integrity of cells which allow them to function better,” said Phillip Bridges, associate professor in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “Animals can use organic or inorganic forms, but we typically supplement using an inorganic form. With this work, we are finding that the form of selenium supplemented can affect a variety of reproductive processes.”

For the study, Bridges supplemented sodium selenite as the inorganic form versus a 50/50 mix of sodium selenite and a yeast-derived organic form. They found animals that got the mixed form had increased progesterone levels by days six and seven of the estrous cycle and then throughout pregnancy. Bridges said the early increase in progesterone is perhaps the most intriguing part of the study.

“We’ve known for decades that increased early luteal phase progesterone stimulates uterine development, length of the conceptus and indicators of fertility,” Bridges said.

To start the study, animals received no selenium supplementation for 45 days. Bridges said the animals were not selenium-deficient after the 45 days, but levels did significantly decrease. For the next 45 days, he supplied the industry-standard inorganic selenium. The next 90 days, cattle received either inorganic or a mix of inorganic and organic selenium before researchers bred the animals and examined blood and tissues for differences.

Bridges said that by day 17 after breeding, he noticed an altered abundance of progesterone and interferontau-induced gene transcripts in the endometrium and an overall increase in conceptus length. He said scientists believe larger conceptuses may help ensure continued establishment and progression of a pregnancy.

Although the work is ongoing, Bridges believes using the 50/50 blend of organic and inorganic selenium will improve fertility at the production level. The grant-funded work will continue through early 2024.

“If you’re in an area where you have to supplement selenium, it appears the mixed form should increase fertility,” he said.

“If you’re in a state like Kentucky, Tennessee or other cow-calf states, this is a great benefit to those beef cattle producers in terms of sustainability and profitability.”

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2018-6701527613. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Department of Agriculture.

Are your sheep consuming enough calcium?

The only way to truly evaluate a mineral program is to start with testing forages and other feeds consumed by the sheep. Nutrient levels can be assessed using wet chemistry analysis or near-infrared (NIR) analysis. Not only do you need to evaluate mineral levels in feed rations, but you should also compare ratios of some nutrients. Calcium levels become particularly important during late gestation. Lambs begin to grow rapidly during the last third of the pregnancy, and the ewe requires more calcium in her diet. Consider a 150-pound ewe’s requirements that increase from 2.4 grams per day at maintenance levels to 6.5 grams per day in early gestation and then 8.8 grams per day in late gestation if she is carrying twins.

Many forages will meet nutritional requirements of ewes at maintenance and possibly even through mid-gestation. However, rations may need closer inspection to best balance nutrients for late gestation, lactation (milk production), or for growing lambs. Legumes are much higher in calcium than grasses and could better meet calcium requirements. But, simply changing forages is not the answer to better meet nutritional requirements! Keep in mind that the sheep’s diet needs balanced with other nutrients as well as protein and energy.

Another major consideration when looking at calcium is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the sheep’s diet. The recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus from the Sheep Production Handbook is 2:1, with higher levels tolerable up to 7:1 if the ration contains adequate amounts of phosphorus.

In the instance of a ewe carrying twins in late gestation, calcium levels that are too low can result in hypocalcemia, also called milk fever. Clinical signs include weakness, lack of appetite, muscle tremors and inability to stand. Most shepherds would consider pregnancy toxemia as the issue. However, ewes in good body condition that are consuming adequate levels of energy in their feed should not develop problems with pregnancy toxemia. So, the next consideration should be hypocalcemia. Consult your veterinarian for treatment procedures, which will likely involve administering calcium intravenously to treat the deficiency.

Incorrect calcium to phosphorus ratios can also lead to urinary calculi in rams and wethers. As the calcium to phosphorus ratio approaches 1:1, the incidence of urinary calculi increases greatly. This results when mineral deposits block the urinary tract. Affected sheep have difficulty urinating and often stomp their feet or kick at their belly. This condition is sometimes called water belly because the blocked urinary tract can cause the bladder to rupture and result in death. This issue often affects feedlot lambs, but can be prevented by adding ammonium chloride at a rate of 0.5% of the total diet. The ammonium chloride acts by acidifying the urine, which helps to prevent the mineral deposits from developing. A constant supply of clean, fresh water and access to salt also helps to prevent urinary calculi.

In young and rapidly growing animals, calcium works along with phosphorus and vitamin D to produce strong bones. A lamb can develop rickets from deficiencies or imbalances of any of these nutrients, although it is most often caused by phosphorus or vitamin D deficiencies. Rickets appears as swollen ends of the leg bones and lameness. Fractures often occur when lambs suffer from rickets.

Calcium and the calcium to phosphorus ratio are critical to sheep nutrition, but calcium is just one of many minerals important to the overall health of the flock. Always consult with your local veterinarian or a nutritionist to balance rations. Properly balanced rations can result in improved growth as well as improved reproductive performance within the flock and lead to higher profitability.

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Montana pup named runner-up

Fez, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd trained and owned by Lexie Coniglione from Glasgow, Montana, was named runner-up/western region in the 2023 Farm Dog of the Year Contest. The contest celebrates farm dogs that work alongside farmers and ranchers as they sustainably produce nutritious food for families and their pets across America. Rounding up livestock and chasing off predators are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs.

Fez came into Coniglione’s heart at a low point in 2021. She had lost one family member to a tragic accident, and had just come back from a branding when she learned that her best friend since college had taken his own life

“I was at a low point dealing with the grief. I had gotten in touch online with a wonderful family in Ekalaka who were proud of their stock dogs—rough-coat Border Collies with a quarter Australian shepherd. I didn’t know if getting a puppy would work out and if I had room emotionally,” Coniglione said. “Fez has become my best friend. He will work a 30-mile day or help me with small jobs at the feedlot. He’s been my right hand. I’ve watched him stop for a minute to look around and see my end goal. He is a little mind reader. That’s what I value most about him, the connection we have.”

Farm Bureau launched the Farm Dog of the Year contest five years ago – now a popular feature of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Convention. A panel of judges with expertise in the pet care industry, veterinary medicine and communications reviewed more than 100 nominations to select the 2023 Farm Dog of the Year. Judging criteria included the dog’s helpfulness to the

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The Valley County Farm Bureau member was thrilled to learn that Fez had been named a runner-up in the competition. “There are outstanding working dogs, and having them recognized in a national competition is fantastic,” she said.

Coniglione receives $1,000 in prize money, a trophy plate and Purina products.

The winner of the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award was Tough, a Border Collie owned by Kansas Farm Bureau members Denny and Donna Ashcraft. AFBF, with support from Nestlé Purina PetCare, recognized Tough, four regional runners-up including Fez, and a People’s Choice Pup today at its convention.

“We’re very excited to partner with Purina for the fifth annual Farm Dog of the Year contest, providing the public a look into daily life on the farm or ranch,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers love what they do, but it can be stressful, even on the best days. Because farm dogs often play a dual role as both working dogs and companions to farm families, they can help ease the burden.”

“Purina is proud to once again support the American Farm Bureau’s Farm Dog of the Year contest and congratulate this year’s winner, Tough,” said Jack Scott, vice president of sustainable sourcing at Nestlé Purina PetCare. “We recognize the important role dogs play on farms and believe this is at the core of our purpose that people and pets are better together.”

LOR Field Work Initiative funding

The LOR Foundation is now accepting applications for their Field Work Initiative. The application opens February 1st, 2023 and will provide funding for research into innovative approaches to using water in agriculture. Up to $10,000 will be available for farmers and ranchers in rural parts of Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, and Colorado.

LOR’s Field Work Initiative is open to those farmers and ranchers in the listed states that have the independent authority to make changes to water use on the land. Funding is intended for projects that improve outcome in the following areas:

“water efficiency, water reliability, water quality, crop yield or crop devastation, and labor efficiency.” All projects must be completed in 2023 and must include a plan for reporting learnings.

The deadline to apply is February 22nd, 2023. Applicants will be notified by March 15th, 2023. Learn more at lorfoundation. org/field-work.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is serving Montana Agriculture and growing prosperity under the Big Sky. For more information on department programs and services, visit agr.mt.gov.

15th Annual USTSA starter flock

The U.S. Targhee Sheep Association (USTSA) will again, for the 15th straight year, be offering a free registered Targhee Starter flock to a deserving youth at the 2023 USTSA National Show and Sale, held July 13-15, 2023, in Little Falls, Minnesota. In previous years, the generous members of the USTSA have awarded 20 starter flocks, totaling 66 head of sheep, and have also donated almost $16,000 towards buyers credits for the award winners to purchase additional sheep at USTSA national sales. The winner must be present to receive the flock and will be awarded one (1) ewe lamb, one (1) yearling ewe, and one (1) brood ewe donated by members of the USTSA. Each animal will be a USTSA registered animal, and at least QR in Scrapie Codon 171 genotype. The winner will also receive a $150 credit for use toward purchase of additional animals at the national sale.

Applications, due April 1st, are now available to download at www.ustargheesheep.org or by contacting Mardy Rutledge at the USTSA office (ustargheesheep@gmail.com or 702-292-5715). Any young person, ages 9-17, as of January 1, 2023, whose family does not raise Targhee sheep may apply. Applicants should possess a keen interest in the U.S. sheep industry, commitment to raising Targhee sheep over time, and a firm belief in the abilities of the breed. Applicants must demonstrate proof of care, facilities, and transportation. Aside from receiving the flock of sheep, the winning youth, will be paired with a Targhee breeder living near them who will act as a mentor. The association is committed to helping the winner succeed.

Targhee sheep are one of the few breeds developed in the United States at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho. Withstanding harsh environments and minimal human intervention, while still producing high quality lamb and wool are hallmark traits of Targhees. Mothering ability and gentle dispositions are additional positive traits of the breed.

The U.S. Targhee Sheep Association believes in the future. The success the program has had thus far has only affirmed it is the right thing to do for young people. Please pass the word along to a young person you know. Visit the USTSA website at www.ustargheesheep.org for more information.

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When you side with a man you stay with him, and if you can’t do that you’re like some animal. You’re finished. – John Wayne

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NDSU Extension offers

Youth Gardening Grants

Grants of up to $600 for youth gardening projects are available through North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension.

Funds may be used to purchase gardening supplies (tools, soil, seeds, plants or containers) and educational supplies. Schools, 4-H clubs, church groups and other youth organizations are encouraged to apply. Any project related to youth and gardening is eligible.

More than 3,300 youth participated in Junior Master Gardener projects in 2022. These projects included establishing school and preschool gardens, beautifying schools and parks, constructing raised beds for the elderly and growing vegetables for local food pantries.

“These grants provide opportunities for youth to learn about gardening and our environment,” says NDSU Extension horticulturist Tom Kalb.

Approximately 50 projects are supported across the state each year.

For more information and the application form, go to https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/programs/ junior-master-gardener

The application deadline is March 15, 2023. For more information, contact Kalb at tom.kalb@ndsu.edu or NDSU Extension – Grand Forks County agent Carrie Knutson at carrie.knutson@ndsu.edu.

Helping cows cope with cold stress

By Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist and Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management

Cold stress increases a cow’s energy requirement and can pull down her body condition. Thin cows can result in weak calves being born in the spring and/or poor breed up. Winter storms have already swept across the Plains, giving indications this could be a long, cold winter for cows already thin due to summer drought stress.

The threshold at which cattle have to start using energy to maintain their body temperature is called the lower critical temperature (LCT). Cows in good condition (BCS 5.0; 1-9 scale) that have a heavy winter coat that is dry do not need to use energy to maintain body temperature until the wind chill index is below 19°F. Providing wind protection can decrease energy needs by removing wind as a factor. If cows have protection from wind, then the ambient temperature can be used to determine energy needs. So, providing wind protection in the winter can be huge for reducing supplementation needs due to cold in the winter.

To figure out how much more energy a cow needs, you would take the cow’s LCT minus the wind chill index (if no windbreak is provided) or ambient temperature (if wind break is provided) and that would tell you the percent increase in energy requirement. There is a 1% increase in energy needs for every 1° below the LCT. For instance, if ambient temperature is 21°F and wind speed is 10, the wind chill index (WCI) is 11°F. For a BCS 5 cow with a dry winter coat with a LCT of 19°F, then 19 LCT- 11 WCI = 8% increase in energy needs. You can look up the energy needs of various classes of cattle here. A 1200 lb dry cow in late gestation has an energy requirement of 13 lb total digestible nutrients (TDN) and the cold described above increased this need by an additional 8% which is equal to 1 lb of TDN for a total of 14 lb/d.

Thin Cows: A Snowball Effect

It is important that producers assess body condition score now, as many cows came through the fall thin (< BCS 4) and winter has had an early start in many regions. Body condition is a risk management strategy and affects the LCT. A thin cow with a BCS 4 with a dry winter coat has a LCT of 27°F vs the 19°F of a cow in BCS 5. Thus, if the wind chill index was 19°F, a cow in BCS of 5 would not be using any energy to stay warm and a cow with a BCS 4 would be using 8% more energy to stay warm. So, getting cows into good condition early in the winter can be useful for managing risk of bad weather in that they have condition they can lose but also because cows with higher BCS will lose less with the same amount of energy intake than those with lower body condition. A 1200 lb gestating cow can only eat about 31 lbs of medium quality hay which is about 26 lbs DM. If you fed medium quality hay (53% TDN on DM basis) to a cow that was in a BCS of 4 when the windchill was 19°F,