American Cattlemen April 2018 by Twin Rivers Media

IN THIS ISSUE

American Products and Services for American Cattlemen

Vol. 44 • No. 4 • April 2018

COLUMNS

6 PUBLISHER STATEMENT 30 MAINTAINING BOUNDARIES 8 INDUSTRY NEWS Trending news from around the cattle industry.

GENE-EDITING: A PROMISING FUTURE IN CATTLE

Of all the exciting recent genetic innovations, among the most anticipated is the use of gene editing. This technology can bring desired novel traits to herds and breeds much faster than using generations of selective breeding with all the trial and error that accompanies it.

8 REASONS TO INSTALL LIVESTOCK SCALES IN YOUR FARM

Farm management consists of several critical tasks and weighing animals accurately is one of them. It is imperative that you stay up-to-date with all the details pertaining to individual animals. To achieve this, you must implement livestock scales as it helps in optimizing the performance of your animals and maximizing ranch profits.

Boundaries are one of life’s biggest necessities - personally and physically - but ironically can be one of the most challenging things to create or maintain. They aren’t something you put up one time and walk away; it is a labor of love over a lifetime. Occasionally you may even need to shift them, to create new pastures or to restore old ones. Fences are an item that not only serves a physical purpose but can also add a tremendous amount of aesthetic to a property that is well maintained.

FEEDING BEEF CALVES 34 CREEP

Gross income of the cow/calf enterprise is partially dependent on weaning weight of the calves. Three possible strategies can increase calf weaning weight if weaning date is not changed. They are to increase milk production of the dam, increase forage consumption of the calf, or provide supplemental feed to the calf to increase nutrient intake.

SPONSORED FEATURES

PHILEO LESAFFRE ANIMAL CARE

Cow-calf herds are more prevalent where there is abundant grass, but there are beef cows in all 50 U. S. states. Each geographical region presents its own production opportunities and challenges. With wise management practices based

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April 2018

on evidence-based solutions to these production challenges, beef production can be profitable regardless of the geographical location of the operation.

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PUBLISHER STATEMENT

Interest in the ABHA Continues to Grow

Black-hided beef cattle have topped the markets for years.

Most in the industry know this is the case. Nearly 25 years ago, two Hereford breeders saw this and worked to produce a superior black hided animal with genetics from both Hereford and Angus cattle. Thus, leading to the incorporation of the American Black Hereford Association (ABHA) in 1993. The National Association of Animal Breeders (NABB) gave the ABHA the “HB” herd identifier in 2003. Since this identifier was given strong growth has occurred in the breed. There are many reasons in addition to black hide why Black Herefords are highly desirable. The animals often have black pigment around the eyes as well as dark-colored eyes which reduce the onset of pinkeye compared to a lighter colored animal. Females often have black pigmentation on udders, reducing problems with sun and/ or snow burned udders. Docility is an added benefit that makes management of the herd easier. Offspring have both direct and maternal heterosis, leading to an increase in production with no cost increase. An improved calving rate of nearly 4% in the heifers retained as replacements has also been found (Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University.) These are just some of the potential benefits one could see when utilizing Black Hereford genetics in their operation. Many cattle producers find they can incorporate Black Herefords into their breed-

American Products and Services for American Cattlemen

Vol. 44 • No. 4 • April 2018 President/CEO - Gale McKinney VP/CFO - Audra McKinney Group Publisher/COO - Patrick McKinney Publisher - Dustin J. Hector Associate Publisher - Lissa Baker Office Manager - Dawn Busse Creative Director - Brandon Peterson Advertising Account Executives Kathy Davidson Mary Gatliff Lori Seibert Irene Smith Joyce Kenney Ed Juncker Circulation Coordinator Shawna Nelson Subscription Sales Kendra Sassman Falon Geis

ing program easily. All ABHA Black Herefords must originate from registered Black Hereford, Red Hereford or Angus genetics. In order to be registered in the ABHA, the animal must have at least 62.5% Hereford blood. When this criteria is met the animal is registered and given an HB number.

It is also possible to use Hereford and Angus animals to produce F1 animals.

In this case, female offspring from approved animals are only issued a F1 certificate. Male animals are ineligible to be issued a certificate. The offspring of F1 females can

Livestock Media Group 4685 Merle Hay Rd • Suite 200 Des Moines, IA 50322 877-424-4594 www.americancattlemen.com

be registered as long as the Hereford percentage of the offspring in the generation is at least 62.5%. With growth, the association EPD’s continue to become more accurate and useful in genetic selection. Junior members can also benefit greatly in the ABHA. The Junior Board works hard to promote and grow their association. This year’s Junior Nationals event will take place June 27-30, 2018 in Bowling Green, KY. They are the future of our industry and we believe it is important to invest in them. Interest in the ABHA continues to remain strong, membership growth and animal registrations are evidence of this. The ABHA is headquartered in Bowling Green, KY. More information can be found online by visiting blackhereford.org, or by calling the association office at 833-501-4750. Brian Chism Executive Director at the American Black Hereford Association

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©Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2018. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recorded or otherwise without the prior written permission of Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2018. The information and advertising set forth herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2018 (“Publisher”) however, does not warrant complete accuracy of such information and assumes no responsibility for any consequences arising from the use thereof or reliance thereon. Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement or space reservation at any time without notice and for any reason. Publisher shall not be liable for any costs or damages if for any reason it fails to publish an advertisement. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their respective advertisements appearing in this publication and Publisher is not responsible or liable in any manner for inaccuracies, false statements or any material in such advertisement infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others. Advertisements appearing in this publication are not necessarily the views or opinions expressed by Publisher.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Photo courtesy of American Hereford Association. https://hereford.org

Hereford Sires Accepted into Integrity Beef Alliance Terminal Program Article provided by American Hereford Association

The Integr it y Beef A lliance simplifies cow-calf producer management decisions and increases the marketability of calves through the production of high quality, uniform, preconditioned cattle. The American Hereford Association (AHA) is proud to have Hereford bulls as the newest breed sire the program is accepting. “Hereford-sired calves have always been in demand in the industry,” says Robert Wells, Integrity Beef Alliance executive director and livestock consultant. “They will make a great addition to the program and compliment the Integrity Beef Alliance very well.” Established in 2000, the Integrity Beef Alliance is a comprehensive beef production system focusing on improving returns for farmers and ranchers through value-added traits and sustainability. This in turn produces the highest quality calves

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possible for both the supply chain owner and the consumer. Hereford-sired cows have previously been accepted in the Alliance’s replacement female program, which allows ranchers to pre-qualify for the terminal program. Producers will now be able to utilize Hereford genetics in the terminal program as well. “The vision of this progressive group aligns strategically w ith the future grow th and demand of Hereford genetics,” says Shane Bedwell, AHA director of breed improvement and chief operating officer of the AHA. Approval for participation in the Alliance is decided by the member-run board of directors. Following acceptance, participants go through

an orientation in which they learn about the Alliance’s herd health and bull requirement protocols and asked to agree to the required elements and criteria. The program works closely with Noble Research Institute consultants who assist in data collection, compilation and interpretation. This allows participants to receive reports at the end of the year summarizing their herd data and how they compare to the other cattle in the program. This helps them to improve in their own operation. “We are looking forward to contributing the valuable assets that the Hereford breed possesses,” Bedwell says. “The AHA is confident this is another step in the right direction.” “We are excited about the partnership,” Wells says. “The Alliance looks forward to a long and successful relationship with the American Hereford Association.” To learn more about the Integrity Beef Alliance, visit their website at www.integritybeef.org.

The A mer ican Hereford Association, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization along with its subsidiaries - Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford P ublic at ions Inc. (HPI) and American Beef Records Association (ABR A) - provides programs and services for its members and their customers, while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth and research. For more information about the Association, visit Hereford.org.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Quatro Ranchero Rubber Chore Boot Article provided by Quatro Ranchero

The Quatro Ranchero is the new waterproof rubber chore boot the horse world has been waiting for. Featuring the Quatro Comfort Footbed and a stirrup friendly “Heel to Toe No Snag Safety Rail” outsole, this boot allows riders to do chores and ground work all day with the ability to jump in the saddle and ride safely without having to change boots. Complete with a spur

Nasco Releases 2018 Showing & Grooming Catalog Article provided by Nasco

The 2018 Nasco Show ing & Grooming catalog, featuring carefully selected products for showing

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ledge built to support traditional and slip on spurs, and a side gusset for larger calves or tucking in your coveralls, it’s the perfect boot for the horse enthusiast. Sizes to fit Men’s 4-14 and Women’s 5-15. For more information contact www.chorebootcentral.com or call 800-796-5333.

and grooming livestock, is available from Nasco in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Nasco’s 84-page Show ing & Grooming catalog contains all the supplies needed to prepare an animal to exhibit at County and State Fairs, regional events, and Jackpot shows. The catalog

offers halters, clippers, grooming chutes, show boxes, hoof care products, barn fans, blowers, dryers, vacuums, shampoos, aerosols, combs, brushes, and much more. View t he Nasco Show ing & Grooming catalog online at eNasco. com/SGcatalog to explore new products and special website sale items. For your free copy of the 2018 Na s c o S ho w i n g & G r o om i n g catalog, call 1.800.558.9595, order online at eNasco.com/SGcatalog, or write to: Nasco, 901 Janesville Av e nu e , P.O. B o x 9 01 , Fo r t Atkinson, WI 53538-0901.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

130 people gathered for Siemens’ SCADA/IPC days in San Antonio.

Siemens SCADA/IPC Days 2018 Event Introduces New Products and Emerging Communications Article provided by Siemens Industry, Inc.

From February 19-22, 2018, at the Riverwalk Westin in San Antonio, Texas, approximately 130 people gathered for four days of product presentations, emerging technology discussions and a market trend outlook at the Siemens Factory Automation SCADA/IPC Days 2018. Members of the Siemens management, sales and support team joined their Solution Partners and a diverse assortment of end user companies from various market segments to review new product offerings in the IPC segment of the Siemens portfolio, plus a number of new platforms in the SCADA segment. The event was hosted by the product marketing teams for Factory Automation, based in Norcross, Georgia. Following a welcome session on the first evening, a series of presentations were made on day two to the entire group by Siemens management and technical thought leaders, covering the digital factory strategy and the company’s forward-thinking move to Digitalization, the current theme for the Siemens marketing message across its entire industrial platform. Key speakers were Kevin Lewis, Russell Barnes, Thorsten Julich, Bernd Raithel, Michael Steigberger, Bernd Staufer and Tom Elswick. The primary message takeaway for the group was that Digitalization will hallmark the

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factory of the future and SCADA will be the “digital doorway for data” in that rapid evolutionary process, as it impacts all industries, both discrete and process. There were also presentations on cloud computing and edge computing, the constituent elements of the Digitalization trend, comprising both hardware and software elements. This discussion led directly into the pro-

technologies on the horizon from Siemens, followed by more intense product and software breakout workshops, tagged the Wisdom Series by the event coordinators. Finally, day four offered direct consultation from the Siemens product specialists gathered at the event, including the Solutions Partners, who represent the system integrator community at Siemens, as they bring the products, application engineering, installation and service, plus related data gathering and process control products to the process industries. In addition, those interested in becoming a WinCC Specialist were offered the opportunity to take their certification test during the event. Guest instructors were present during the workshop sessions to discuss such topics as Automation for Networks, Using WinCC to Build a Toolbox, Batch Tracking Made Easier

Alessandra Da Silva leading the industrial PCs workshop.

gram’s introduction of various new thin client IPC product offerings and the latest version of SIMATIC WinCC SCADA systems. In addition to the technical presentations and market overviews, a very interesting end user application was detailed by end user Derek Thoma of Hop Valley Brewing, a Miller/ Coors company. Thoma spoke on the marked improvements in production and product quality tracking made possible by the advanced IPC and HMI provided by Siemens, in addition to the SCADA software for process monitoring and management. During that evening, the entire group enjoyed a genuine Texas BBQ and a good time was had by all. Day three began with a review of new IPC products and emerging

with WinCC Archives, Mindsphere and Cybersecurity, and the Industrial PC of tomorrow. Rapidly developing MindApps for performance optimization on all types of industrial manufacturing and process machines were also discussed in detail, as Siemens seeks to assist its customer base and machine builders alike to gather, process, analyze and apply relevant data. Such data allow better process control and KPI development, plus have positive uses for machine liability, insurance, warranty and even energy saving calculations. To learn more about the event and products, please visit: usa.siemens. com/automation

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April 2018

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GENE-EDITING

GENE-EDITING:

A PROMISING FUTURE IN CATTLE By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Cattlemen

f all the exciting recent genetic innovations, among the most anticipated is the use of gene editing. This technology can bring desired novel traits to herds and breeds much faster than using generations of selective breeding with all the trial and error that accompanies it. Recombinetics is one company that is leading the way in the development and application of this practice. Gene-editing is a technology where specifically designed molecular scissors can cause a double strand break at any desired spot on a genome to induce a change. Natural14

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ly, the cell can repair the break itself. But when provided with an instruction template to copy, the cell will specifically repair to produce the desired outcome â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as introducing

the polled allele. This method of gene editing uses something called HDR or homology direct repair, explains Tad Sonstegard, Chief Scientific Officer of Acceligen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the division of Recombinetics that works on developing genetic technology in various livestock species. Sonstegard, a former research geneticist with the USDA, works on the research and development of gene-editing for Recombinetics. www.americancattlemen.com

Application & opportunity

Currently there are two ways this technology is applied to cattle. One is by using the cells harvested from an animal that can be used for cloning, this is the same method that was used to produce Dolly the sheep. The other more common one is using scissors in a single-celled zygote utilizing the IVF procedure. “Once that fertilization happens we can inject the editing mix into the single celled zygote and cause the double stranded break and repair to introduce the allele,” says Sonstegard. This simple process should have no effect on the typical IVF procedure or its fertility outcome. The near-term future opportunities for this technology are immense and the surface is just being www.americancattlemen.com

scratched. A big goal at the forefront of this effort is to eliminate the stressful procedure of traditional dehorning. This can be done by introducing the polled allele to more and more of the industry’s elite sires. With gene-editing, the allele can be added without years of breeding

or impacting any other traits. “We were very deliberate as far as what we want to work on,” says Tom Erdmann, general manager of Acceligen. “As you can imagine if you look at all the genetic opportunities there are in any animal whether that’s a dairy cow or anything else there

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GENE-EDITING

are a lot of things you could do, but there’s probably only a few things that you should do. At this point in the life cycle of this technology and in (regards to) government regulatory acceptance and consumer acceptance, we deliberately looked at animal well-being as a really great place to start.” Other kinds of wellness traits, namely disease resistance and heat tolerance, are perfect examples that improve animal welfare and production efficiency. Tuberculosis, BVD, foot and mouth disease and even tick resistance traits are all carried in individual animals in different breeds. They can all be easily applied using the same HDR method as done with the polled allele once we know their source code at the genomic level. The trait for heat tolerance, once confined to specific breeds, can be used to adapt any breed to perform in the tropics. The widespread implementation of certain traits is especially important on a global scale, says Sonstegard.

Where to go from here

In 2015 the first gene-edited polled Holsteins were born a success. Sonstegard says they are ready to produce commercial animals now, the last hurdle they are waiting on is regulatory approval for their human consumption. Regulations can be tricky from country to country, he says, as there is cur-

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rently no universal consensus on the marketing of these animals. From a scientific stand point, these animals are absolutely safe and effective. “There’s no difference between a genetically dehorned animal and a polled bred animal relative to its genome,” says Sonstegard. It is important to note that every trait being introduced through gene editing is already a natural occurrence somewhere within the species. “These are not GMO animals,” says Erdmann. Rather, the goal is to use these available traits to get a desired outcome without going through the time of generations of breeding. The response from the industry on this technology have been extremely positive. Erdmann says they have garnered solid support from all corners of the industry. Unlike some technological advancements in the industry, gene-editing isn’t one that needs convincing to be adapted. The word from many enthusiastic breeders is that they are wanting to use edited animals as soon as possible. “We’ve talked to all the different groups, including most breed associations,” says Sonstegard. “They’re willing to work with us and our technology to make sure that animals are tracked appropriately and marketed according to these added value traits that are being brought in through this technology.”

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PARTNERING WITH PRODUCERS FOR SUCCESS

ADDRESSING OPEN

COW ISSUES By Steve Weisman

he cow-calf industry’s goal is to produce a live, healthy calf, weaned from its mother and ready for life on its own. With roughly 700,000 cow-calf producers in the U.S., and an average cowherd of approximately 40 cows, the cow-calf industry is definitely big business. Cow-calf herds are more prevalent where there is abundant grass, but there are beef cows in all 50 U. S. states. Each geographical region presents its own production opportunities and challenges. With wise management practices based on evidence-based solutions to these production challenges, beef production can be profitable regardless of the geographical location of the operation.

At the forefront of these cow-calf issues is Phileo-Lesaffre Animal Care www.phileo-lesaffre.com, the animal health and nutrition business unit of Lesaffre Yeast Corporation (LYC). Lesaffre is a family-owned business founded in northern France in 1853. The Lesaffre group is a global expert in the field of yeast and yeast extracts with a global presence in more than 18

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70 countries with 63 production sites across the five continents. The company is built on a philosophy that “Nothing is more precious than life.” With its U. S. headquarters in Milwaukee, WI and plants in Cedar Rapids, IA and Dothan, AL, Phileo-Lesaffre Animal Care is committed to help provide America’s producers with evidence-based solutions that enhance

animal health and performance, and as a result, to better enhance the lives of people. According to Dr. Joe Ward, who is North American Project Manager and has been in the animal research and health business for over 45 years, “From a business and profitability standpoint, the management focus of the cow-calf enterprise should be balancing the value of total annual sales versus the unit cost of production. The ‘unit’ is defined as the brood cow; annual sales are defined by the number, weight, and price of calves sold after weaning.” Ward says, “With this in mind, the single greatest driver of cow herd performance is fertility. Although heavy weaning weights are certainly desirable, a live calf born every year and sustained through weaning is the primary goal. For this reason, most www.americancattlemen.com

of the rancher’s management emphasis should be on getting cows bred in a timely manner.

Single greatest challenge: nutritional infertility

Although there are many disease challenges to the beef cow-calf producer, cows that fail to breed during the defined breeding season or that breed late in the breeding season are a tremendous drain on the producer’s operational profitability. Ward notes, “Without a live calf on the ground, all our knowledge of nutrition and disease management becomes irrelevant. And by breeding late in the breeding season, a brood cow has guaranteed that its calf will be lighter at weaning time, simply due to a lack of days nursing prior to weaning with rest of the herd.” In addition, cows that fail to conceive are most often culled and sold to avoid the costs of feeding an open cow throughout the winter. While many of those culled cows may be old and unable to maintain sufficient body condition to remain fertile, unfortunately, many open cows are only 2-4 years of age. This causes frustration for the producer, because these young cows represent the progressive genetics of the herd. According to Matt Cravey, Ph. D., PAS and head of the North American Ruminant Programs here in the United States, “We can identify reasons for these young cows being open. For instance, because of the nutritional demands of continued growth in addition to lactation, young cows can have insufficient nutrient supplies to support conception.“ A major contributor to nutritional infertility is internal parasitism. Internal parasites attach to the wall of the abomasum or small intestine and feed off the host. Adult parasites lay eggs, which are defecated onto pasture. In warm moist conditions the eggs hatch releasing infective larvae, which are once again consumed by the grazing animal, re-starting the parasitism cycle. The good news is there are answers to this problem. Cravey says, “Body

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condition score, a visual assessment of a cow’s energy reserves, leading up to calving is the single most effective tool the cow-calf producer has to manage and prevent nutritional infertility in the cow herd. By isolating thin cows several months prior to calving and providing them with additional nutrition and addressing minor issues including parasites, these cows can be treated and fed into a nutritional state which will support growth and lactation. These brood cows will also have sufficient energy available to support reproduction and, therefore, produce a healthy robust calf every year as well.”

Second greatest challenge: neonatal morbidity

The second most challenging aspect of cow-calf production is neonatal morbidity. The newborn calf, if born under poor environmental conditions,

is highly susceptible to an array of viral and bacterial pathogens. To combat the attacking pathogens, the well-fed brood cow will provide defenses for the newborn calf both in utero and after birth. Cravey notes, “One common cause of immunosuppression in the newborn calf is lack of energy. Cows, which calve in a thin body condition often do not have sufficient energy reserves to support the calf in utero. The lack of available energy dramatically reduces the calf’s ability in utero to deposit energy reserves in the forms of glycogen and fat. Until the calf is able to stand and suckle, the only energy it has available is that which has been stored in its own tissues during the final month of gestation.” In addition, cows that calve in poor body condition will provide a lesser quantity of colostrum, and the quality of the colostrum---the amount of fat, protein, and immunoglobulins in the milk---will be poor as well. Colostrum is the first source of nutrients for the calf, but it is also the primary source of circulating immunity against common pathogens that the calf will likely encounter in its first days, weeks, and months of life. Cravey adds, “Without an adequate supply of these vital immunoglobulins, the calf will likely be a victim to viral or bacterial infection. Once again, adequate nutrition of the cow can prevent disease in the calf.” Respiratory disease and scours are common diseases of the cow-calf operation. However, if the calf has been adequately prepared by the dam, both in utero and shortly post-partum, these challenges can be kept to a minimum through management of the calf’s environment. Respiratory disease after several months of age is often the result of environmental stressors couApril 2018

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PARTNERING WITH PRODUCERS FOR SUCCESS

outdoors, which has not been previpled with commensal bacteria already ously contaminated with feces, urine, inhabiting the respiratory tract. But and birthing tissues of other cows, if the health of the calf is protected by most often leads to healthy calves. caring for the gestating dam during Many producers move cows due to the months leading up to calving, calve onto fresh ground away from and optimizing the environment for cows which have already calved to the calf after calving, disease risks are reduce the pathogenic load on the minimized. newborn calf, resulting in a dramatic Disease can only occur in two reduction in neonatal disease. ways: (1) an overwhelming load of pathogen, or (2) a suppressed immune system. According to Cravey, Positive results of a recent study “The calf born to a thin cow will likeIn a recent study with the Unily have a suppressed versity of Arkansas, immune system. How- RESPIRATORY Phileo Lesaffre Animal ever, calves born to DISEASE AND Care tested a combinawell-fed cows can still of yeast products SCOURS ARE tion succumb to disease due in pre-calving cows. COMMON to either overwhelming Cravey says, “In transiDISEASES OF tion or pre-calving dairy pathogen load or a poor environment. If cows THE COW-CALF cows, we have seen benare calving in a conof providing our OPERATION. efits gested area where other products prior to this cows have been defecating, urinating, stressful event. So, in this university and calving for days or weeks, the area study, we fed beef cows on pasture a is likely rife with viral and bacterial daily supplement with or without our pathogens to which the calf is immeproducts for 45 days prior to calving.” diately exposed.” Unfortunately, if Colostrum was collected from the this antigenic load is coupled with a cows at calving, and calf weights were stressful (wet, cold, muddy) environrecorded. Cravey continues, “Our ment, disease and even death is likely. treatment did not affect calf birth Once again, this negative situation weight, which is good. Producers don’t can easily be addressed by allowing want to increase birth weights and have cows to calve onto a clean, dry, therto pull calves. However, 22 days after moneutral space, either indoors or birth, the calves were weighed again.

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The calves from cows that were fed our yeast products were 15 pounds heavier. That’s a significant weight advantage.” After looking at the colostrum, it appears that percent fat, percent lactose, percent protein and percent solids were all numerically higher for cows that received the yeast product. This likely had a positive effect on calf growth rate. According to Cravey, “We also looked at calf immune data, after drawing blood from the calves. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios of calves from cows supplemented yeast products was lower than control calves. This generally indicates less stress in the calves from the treatment cows. We could speculate that the calves from treated cows had less stress from disease or pathogens or even less stress from the birthing event itself.” Both Ward and Cravey believe that proper cowherd management with practices based on evidence-based solutions, and that Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care has both the research and products to help ensure calf health and producer profitability. Producers wanting to learn more about products can go to their local feed supplier and ask for Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care products by name or can contact the company through the website at www.phileo-lesaffre.com.

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Eliminates Burrowing Rodents Pressurized Exhaust Rodent Control (PERC)

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April 2018

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LIVESTOCK SCALES

8 REASONS TO

INSTALL LIVESTOCK

SCALES IN YOUR FARM By Kevin Hill

Farm management consists of several critical tasks and weighing animals accurately is one of them. It is imperative that you stay up-todate with all the details pertaining to individual animals. To achieve this, you must implement livestock scales as it helps in optimizing the performance of your animals and maximizing ranch profits.

Benefits of livestock scales â&#x20AC;˘ Accuracy

Your weighing equipment is going to be used in various stages * Continued on page 26

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LIVESTOCK SCALES

of production and output and if it isn’t accurate it will definitely affect your profits. When you use livestock scales, you won’t have to worry about inaccuracies as they always deliver highly accurate measurements. Ensure the scales are maintained and calibrated properly for consistent results.

• Durability

Livestock scales are usually employed in tough cattle conditions and for handling heavy loads. To cater to this requirement, they are designed to be quite durable and they are capable of taking the stress of multiple large loads. In addition to that, they also work well in conditions like rain, dust, animal waste, etc. These scales are built to handle the brunt of animal kicking and shoving too, which would damage other scales that are built for industrial use.

• Performance Evaluation

You can measure the cattle weights

at different stages of their lives with the help of livestock scales. You can use and analyze this data to evaluate feedlots, adjusted weaning and yearling weights, gain in addition to average daily gain (ADG) and weight per day of age (WDA). With the help of livestock scales, you can carry out accurate performance evaluation maximize ranch profits.

and

• Accurate Calculation of Feed or Medicine It is important that your herd gets the right amount of feed and medication, which is generally based on the animal’s weight. Livestock scales help in getting the feed/medicine calculation accurately because if the feed or medicine dose is too high or low, it will affect the animals’ performance and you may even lose some of them, thus affecting your bottom line.

• Accommodates Animal Comfortably

Livestock scales are designed to ac-

commodate different kinds of animals comfortably. A low-profile scale would ideal to use as it offers more comfort. Regardless of what animals you have in your herd or what their sizes are, you can implement and use these scales with accurate results.

• Automatic

You require less labor to use livestock scales as they are electronic and quite easy to handle. Moreover, they have an internal memory making it easier to analyze the history of the various animals.

• Ease of use

Livestock scales consist of concrete or flat wood decks which facilitate easy loading and unloading of animals. There are several user-friendly features such as the inclusion of memory components in many scales which reduces the need for separate equipment to collect weight data.

• Customization

Most livestock scales can be cus* Continued on page 28

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LIVESTOCK SCALES

tomized to suit your specific and unique requirements. Additionally, they may include several accessories such as digital weight indicators, gates, load bars, etc. All these features aid in streamlining the weighing processes further and reducing the time and labor investment. Regardless of whether you run a small-scale livestock farm or a largescale dairy, you cannot undermine

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the importance of measuring animal performance accurately. Installing livestock scales will make a huge difference and you must incorporate them if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already.

Author Bio:

Kevin Hill heads up the marketing efforts at Quality Scales Unlimited in Byron, CA. Besides his day job, he loves to write about the different

types of scales and their importance in various industries. He also writes about how to care for and get optimized performance from different scales in different situations. He enjoys spending time with family and going on camping trips.

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FENCING

MAINTAINING

BOUNDARIES

“AS WINTER WARES INTO SPRING, IT’S THE PERFECT TIME FOR A REFRESHER COURSE IN PROPER FENCE MAINTENANCE.” By Aly McClure

oundaries are one of life’s biggest necessities - personally and physically - but ironically can be one of the most challenging things to create or maintain. They aren’t something you put up one time and walk away; it is a labor of love over a lifetime. Occasionally you may even need to shift them, to create new pastures or to restore old ones. Fences are an item that not only serves a physical purpose but can also add a tremendous amount of aesthetic to a property that is well maintained.

If cared for a little at a time consistently, fences used as boundaries are easily maintained. A fourstep process as simple as this can take you a long way. 1. Check and repair wires, tapes, or boards regularly upon notice of failure. By keeping essential fence repair items with you, this task will * Continued on page 32

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FENCING

never require much more than replacing what is broken quickly. 2. Burn or spray the fence rows. Two to three times a year, depending on your geographical location, burning or spraying your rows can significantly reduce the amount of time it will take you to maintain the undergrowth that can quickly grow out of control. 3. Always clip saplings and new bushes. These are two things that, if kept up with, will save you a world of trouble but if ignored will create one of the biggest headaches you can encounter, possibly even causing you to need to replace entire sections of fence at a time. Tree and brush growth threaten the strength and integrity of your fencing making it even easier for livestock to escape to ‘greener pastures.’ 4. Replace fence posts before they become an issue. You are an expert in your field; if you’re following proper fence maintenance schedules, you will know when it is time to replace a post. Do so as soon as it’s noticeable to avoid any escapes or injuries. Intact and working fencing is vital to keeping your farm animals safe and your neighbor’s friends. Walking your fence line regularly, checking for damage and repairing promptly. Replace old posts and tighten any loose ones. Makes sure gates are set and working correctly. A clean and robust fence row will speak volumes about the maintenance your property and the pride you take in what you do. First impressions matter and your fence is one of the first things people will notice. Take a little time every week to check these three areas, and I promise you will thank me later. A fence that is properly cared for will last a lifetime. 32

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April 2018

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CREEP FEEDING

BEEF CALVES G

ross income of the cow/calf enterprise is partially dependent on weaning weight of the calves. Three possible strategies can increase calf weaning weight if weaning date is not changed. They are to increase milk production of the dam, increase forage consumption of the calf, or provide supplemental feed to the calf to increase nutrient intake. Management practices exist to increase standing forage quality, but management of forages for the calf only can be difficult. Likewise, increasing milk production of the dam increases the nutrient requirements of the dam and reduces the number of cows that can graze a fixed nutrient resource base, and possibly result in a need for supplemental feed. Creep feeding studies consistently have shown an increase in weaning weight. Creep feeding of beef calves usually is reserved for certain market/ management situations such as high calf prices, low feed prices, dry lot operations, fall-born calves, and pure-

bred bull calves. Because there are data that suggests noncreep fed calves catch up with their creep-fed mates post-weaning, the greatest return is realized if calves are sold at weaning. Under severe drought conditions, creep feeding can be used to sustain minimal calf growth. A risk of creep feeding is getting calves too fat, resulting in price discounts or lowered lifetime milk production of heifer calves intended to become replacements for the cow herd. Creep feeding must be carefully appraised in view of the economics of cost of gain, potential market, and the influence on sale price of calves.

During drought conditions when cows are nursing calves, instead of creep feeding calves to sustain a targeted weight gain, producers should consider early weaning. Creep feeding calves in drought conditions does not result in lowered nutrient requirements of the dam. Data would suggest that creep fed calves still nurse. In drought conditions producers may want to consider early weaning the calves, especially if they have the facilities to feed lightweight calves, because they are very efficient at converting feed to weight gain. Information on this management alternative can be found in NebGuide G2047, Management of Early Weaned Calves.

Nutrient Requirements and Ration Composition

The dam supplies part of the nutrients needed for calf growth through her milk. For spring-born * Continued on page 36

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CREEP FEEDING

calves, milk and vegetative forage should allow for adequate weight gain. As the calf gets older, the amount of milk produced by the dam decreases and it becomes more difficult to meet the calfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nutrient needs. In addition, for spring calves, the quality of grass decreases in late summer and fall; again, there is usually insufficient protein or energy in the forage for optimum gain. If it is decided to creep feed calves nursing their dam, the ration must be energy and protein dense. This is because the rumen of the calf is small, so the calf will not eat a large amount of feed. As an example, for a 220-pound calf to gain 2.0 pounds per day, it must consume about 7 pounds of feed (milk, forages, plus creep feed) on a dry matter basis. The ration needs to supply 1.32 pounds of protein/day and 5.0 pounds of TDN/day (0.70 Mcal/lb NEm; 0.44 Mcal/lb NEg). Example rations are in Table I. Not only must a creep ration be nutrient dense, it must be palatable. Most commercially available creep rations are pelleted and highly palatable. For creep rations that are not pelleted, the ration must be dust-free

Table I. Examples of creep feed compositions. Ingredient 1

Creep feed number 2

%, as-fed basis Cracked corn

Whole oats

&nbsp;

Dried distillers grains

&nbsp;

Soybean meal

Soybean hulls

Molasses Nutrient analysis Crude protein (%)

12.6

11.4

15.9

16.4

19.5

19.8

TDN (%)

80.9

80.3

84.5

80.5

aConsider adding an ionophore to the ration.

and uniformly mixed so the calf cannot sort out ration ingredients. If liquid feed ingredients are added to the creep feed, they must be included at a level that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t impede creep feed flow through the feeder. Rolling or coarsely cracking grains rather than fine grinding, helps reduce dust and will also reduce rumen upsets of home-mixed creep diets. Simple mixtures of grain and protein supplement make satisfactory creep rations. Pelleted creep rations are handled easily and will have less feed waste. Bulky feeds such as oats

or wheat bran should be included to protect against overeating. Both ground oats and bran are good feeds for getting calves started on feed. Salt can be used in the creep ration to keep daily consumption of the ration to less than 3 pounds per head per day. When using salt to limit daily intake to get calves started on creep, use 0-2.5 percent of the ration as salt. After calves are eating the creep ration it may be necessary to increase salt up to 10 percent of the ration. When using salt to limit intake, use a grain-based mix (corn or milo). It is easier to incorporate * Continued on page 38

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CREEP FEEDING

salt into this type of ration than into a creep feed that is already pelleted. Ionophores are feed additives that increase feed efficiency and average daily gain. These compounds also can be used to control coccidiosis. Examples of an energy creep ration, salt-limited creep ration, and a high protein creep ration are shown in Table II. For more information on using salt to limit feed intake refer to NebGuide G2046, Limiting Feed Intake with Salt in Beef Cattle Diets. Intakes of salt limited creep feeds are usually between 2 to 4 lb per head per day. Advantages of using salt to limit the intake of the creep feed, especially when used the last 60 to 90 days pre-weaning are: 1) moderate weight increase without excessive amounts of flesh on the calf, and 2) improved feed conversion as compared to creep feeds of which calves have unlimited access.

Data suggest that feed conversion varies a lot for calves fed high energy creep feeds. After removing the highs and lows for feed conversions for the high energy creep, feed to gain is about 8:1 (range 15:1 to 6.8:1). This means 8 pounds of creep feed on a dry matter basis are required per pound of gain by the calf. Average daily gain for calves fed a high energy creep feed is between 0.20 and 0.30 pound greater, compared to noncreep fed calves. Calves fed the high protein creep will eat less creep feed, have better feed conversions, and gain less total weight over the creep feeding period, compared to calves fed high energy creeps. Data suggests that feed conversion for high protein creep feeds when fed to calves on average is about 4:1, meaning that it took 4 pounds of feed dry matter to produce a pound of gain. The wide variation in efficiency of feed use from creep feeding may be due to the following management factors: • waste of feed due to wind, improper feeder design, or adjustment; • location of the feeder, which affects frequency of eating and total

Feed Conversion of Different Types of Creep Feeds Two types of creep feeds are used by producers — energy creep feeds and protein creep feeds. The most common is the high energy creep.

Table II. Example rations of salt limited creep feeds. Ingredient

High Energy Salt-Limited Creep

Ground milo, %

76.5

Cracked corn, % Soybean meal, %

19.5

90 14

1.0

Molasses, %b White salt, %

High Protein Salt-Limited Creep

20-40% Protein Supplement, %a Soybean Oil, %b

High Energy, Salt-Limited Creep

4 3.0c

4.0c

10c

Consider adding an ionophore to the supplement. To reduce dust c The level of salt may need to be varied to obtain the desired feed intake. a

* Continued on page 40

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CREEP FEEDING

feed intake; • the creep feeder is not secure and cows are able to consume some of the feed; and • over-consumption of high energy creep feeds.

Post-weaning Performance and Carcass Traits of Creep Fed Calves

Generally, the greatest benefit of creep feeding is realized if calves are sold at weaning. There are conflicting data as to whether the added weight achieved using creep feeding is still realized at the end of the finishing period. There are data that suggest that noncreep fed calves will weigh similar to creep fed calves at the time of harvest. How calves are managed and fed after weaning would influence these weight differences. Calves that are managed for a low gain post weaning may not benefit from creep feeding, especially if they are fat. Again, creep feeding will benefit calves that go directly to the feedlot after weaning or sold within a few months of weaning. Creep fed calves will know how to eat out of a bunk and there will be less stress for these calves; therefore, less morbidity. Finished calves that have been creep fed can have increased marbling at the time of harvest. Research suggests that marbling genes are influenced early in the calf’s life, particularly in calves creep fed for at least 80 days. In order to retain the response of creep feeding on marbling, calves need to be placed in the feedlot 40

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April 2018

after weaning and fed a grain-based diet.

For Replacement Heifers

Creep feeding can negatively influence replacement heifer performance by depressing future milk production and lifetime productivity. Heifer calves fed a high energy ration before weaning can develop fatty tissue in the udder that consequently lowers milk production, compared to those heifers not fed high energy creep rations. This impairment of future production can occur before the heifer reaches 3 months of age. Adequate, but not high amounts of high energy feeds are needed for heifer calves to reach sexual maturity by the time they are 13 to 15 months old. Heifer calves may be creep fed if their dams don’t produce enough milk in relation to the calf’s nutrient needs. Examples include young cows, old cows, drought conditions, or heifer calves that have exceptional genetic growth rate relative to their dam’s milk production. Supplemental feeding of heifers before 6 to 7 months of age may be necessary for them to reach puberty by 13 to 15 months of age. Under most circumstances, it is easy to achieve the desired gain without the use of creep feeds. A possible exception could be for fall-born heifers.

Starting Calves on the Creep Ration Calves often nibble at grain when they are about 3 weeks of age, but will not eat appreciable amounts be-

fore they are 6 to 8 weeks old. If cows are grazing lush pasture and milking well, it is often difficult to get calves started on creep feed. Calves can be encouraged to start eating creep more quickly by: • including palatable feed such as ground oats, wheat bran, cottonseed hulls, molasses; • using an older calf that is already eating; or • locating the feeder close to where cattle frequently congregate (water, shade, etc.).

Creep Feeder Design

Plans for constructing creep feeders for calves are published in MWPS-6, Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook, which is available at extension offices or online. The feeder should be roofed to protect feed from rain and should hold at least a week’s supply of feed. This will depend on the size of the feeder and the number of calves it will accommodate. Allow 4 to 6 inches of trough space per calf. A feeder that is 8 feet long and feeds from both sides (16 feet of linear trough space) will accommodate 30 to 50 calves. The feeder should be portable. If a fence is used around the feeder to keep the cows out, the entrance for the calves should be 1 foot 4 inches to 1 foot 6 inches wide by 3 feet high. Feeders not enclosed by a fence or a perimeter barrier should be made strong enough to prevent cows and bulls from destroying the structure. www.americancattlemen.com

Location

For starting calves, locate the creep feeder near water or shade where cows rest frequently. Cows need to take calves to the creep until most calves have learned to eat. Once calves are eating, good pasture and range management dictates the creep be located away from water. Moving the feeders during the late summer and early fall may be desirable, especially in sandy soils to reduce vegetation damage. Large pasture or range situations may require more than one creep feeder for reasonable increases in rate and efficiency of gain from creep feeding.

For Starting Calves on Feed

Calves started on creep rations before weaning begin eating sooner after they are weaned or shipped. They usually recover weaning or shipping weight losses in a shorter period of time and have lower morbidity and mortality rates, compared to calves that do not begin eating after being weaned from their dams. Some producers will creep feed calves while they are still with their dam for a short period of time, two to four weeks before weaning. This practice is used to bunk-break the calves before weaning so at maternal separation they are eating.

Calculating Returns from Creep Feeding

Market price of heavier, fleshier feeder calves is usually lower than for those with less condition. When cattle prices are high relative to feed prices, we can expect relative high price discrimination, as weights increase for calves of the same frame size and/or genetic potential. Only if cattle prices are low relative to feed prices may a premium exist for the heavier calves. Net return calculations only consider the cost of the creep feed (Table III). Cost of feeders, equipment, and labor should be considered before initiating a creep feeding program. These calculations should be completed before creep feeding to determine if the management practice is cost-effective. For high energy creep feed, use a feed to gain of 6:1 to 8:1.

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CATTLEMEN’S SHOWRING

Cattlemen’s Showring WE WANT YOUR

PICTURES!

Show us You CATTL r E!

Welcome to the Cattlemen’s Showring, a place for our readers to show off their cattle pictures. Each month we will take photos from Facebook or ones sent directly to us and feature them in this page. If you have any past, current, or future livestock photos with family, friends, or yourself included please send them our way. We will put them on Facebook as well as the new Cattlemen’s Showring. Send pictures to our Faceook inbox @americancattlemen or email them to us at info@twinriversmedia.com

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