IN THIS ISSUE
American Products and Services for American Cattlemen
Vol. 46 • No. 1 • January 2019
COLUMNS
8 PUBLISHER STATEMENT 40
10 INDUSTRY NEWS
Trending news from around the cattle industry.
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USING REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR GENETIC IMPROVEMENTS
Do you have a plan in place to optimize the elite genetics of your herd? Or do you know what direction you’d like to take your breeding in, but have yet to build a roadmap of the fastest way there? The most basic principles of genetic selective have remained the same for as long as we’ve bred cattle. You breed the best of what you have, and always try to create something better than what you had before.
SELECTING AND MANAGING YOUR CALVING PEN SYSTEM
Calving or Maternity Pens have become an invaluable asset to ranchers, farmers and veterinarians during calving season. These indispensable pieces of equipment provide increased safety for the farmer and veterinarian, as well as security, comfort and well-being for the cow and calf during delivery whether natural or caesarean.
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CATTLE MATS: A COW COMFORT OPTION FOR CATTLE BARNS
Bedding and flooring are key areas of cow comfort, as producers should aim to make resting areas as attractive as possible.
24 PRIORITIES
CALVING SEASON
The priority at calving time is to first deliver a live calf from each pregnant female and then to kick-start that calf through the beginning stage of its life in a healthy fashion.
SPONSORED FEATURES
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RAWHIDE PORTABLE CORRAL
John McDonald knows a thing or two about livestock equipment after working with cattle and rodeo livestock most of his life. Knowing there had to be a better portable corral design out there; he came up with it himself.
34 AMERICAN BLUE CATTLE
52 POLYDOME
PolyTank, Inc., has developed a division of products under the name PolyDome that have been helping dairy producers improve the health of their dairy herd by offering a range of products specifically designed to produce stronger and healthier calves.
A look on how beef producers have benefited using American Blue bulls as a terminal cross sire.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
RAWHIDE PORTABLE CORRAL
TO BLEND THE OLD WITH THE NEW Article courtesy of Rawhide Portable Corral
J
ohn McDonald knows a thing or two about livestock equipment after working with cattle and rodeo livestock most of his life. Knowing there had to be a better portable corral design out there; he came up with it himself. In 2003 the public was introduced to his original Rawhide Portable Corral. It could be set up by one person without any lifting and it could be done quickly; yet it could also be pulled down the road at highway speeds, ensuring that no time would be wasted while catching cattle. Fast forward to 2018 and now customers have two different corrals to choose from; the Rawhide Original, throwback to the first design, or the Rawhide Processor. Even though the Processor’s design is viewed as the superior portable corral on the market, John believes that there are still those who will want a smaller, more affordable system. Enter the Rawhide Original, which is a blend between the two designs he has offered throughout the years and has a bumper hitch with permanent transport wheels. The Original is only offered in the Standard and Large sizes. The Processor is offered in three sizes for the convenience of ranchers and cattle producers throughout the world and the main difference with this design is the ability to customize the corral upon ordering by including a hydraulic alley, head gate or loading chute. Whether you simply want to catch your cattle or process them on
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site and load them into a trailer from the pasture, you are able to do so with the Processor. The design of the Processor continues to impress cattle producers with its versatility and ease of use. The permanent sheeted adjustable alley aids with working your livestock, whether it is done on site or in the field. The adjustable alley can be sized from thirty (30) inches down to sixteen (16) inches; either manually or hydraulically. The most notable features of the Rawhide corrals are that they are easy to set up and they are easy to transport. We mean it when we say that one person can open up the corral without lifting a panel. This will continue to be the model as we move forward with our newer designs. The key is one person can handle it all by themselves. Customers can manipulate the panels so it is not just one big pen, but two, three or even four pens for sorting, as one can never have enough pens when it comes to working
cattle. John’s design was the first portable corral on the market to offer the hydraulic lift option. This has been so popular that we now offer customers the option to buy the Hydraulic Lift Kit with or without the battery so that they may upgrade existing equipment of their own. A lift kit includes the jack,
power unit, solar panel and of course the option of including a battery at time of purchase. John and his wife Mary run the family business at their manufacturing plant in Abilene, Kansas, which is the only place where a Rawhide may be purchased outside of South Texas, where we now have a dealer in Hempstead. Please check out our website for more information and to view our videos: www.rawhideportablecorral.com or find us on Facebook. Phone # 785-263-3436.
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PUBLISHER STATEMENT
The Best Way To Predict the Future is To Create It! One-year rushing to a close another fast approaching; 2018 will turn into 2019 in a blink of an eye and if we didn’t have a calendar none of us would likely know the difference. The arrival of every New Year is filled with anticipation and if were all honest likely a bit of apprehension. Markets will be predicted, weather will be forecast, politicians will make claims, economists will layout the financial canvas and You and I will make plans about a future yet unknown. So, what’s the best way to plan for 2019. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”, was accredited to President Abraham Lincoln as well as several others including Business Author, Peter Drucker. President Lincoln was correct when he first said it back in the 1800’s, and his statement is even more true in the unpredictable world today we live in today. Yes, Lincoln certainly had his share of unknown, but think of the variables we face versus those of 1860. Some things, like demographics, are still pretty easy to project. A recent United Nations Study said with a high degree of certainty that in the year 2050, there will be 8.9 billion people on the earth. Taking that data, we can project the usage of a multitude of products and services. All that is interesting and provides for great
American Products and Services for American Cattlemen
Vol. 46 • No. 1 • January 2019 Group Publisher/COO Patrick McKinney Field Editors Bruce Derksen Michael Cox Jaclyn Krymowski Art Director Brandon Peterson Graphic Designer Teri Marsh Advertising Account Executives Lori Seibert Kathy Davidson Mary Gatliff Irene Smith Wendy Mills Sherry Gilbert Pegge Hutchinson Joyce Kenney Ed Junker Kendra Sassman Office Manager Dawn Busse Office Administrator Donna Mobley
conversation, but it just seems in the World of 2019 less and less falls in the predictable category. So, what do we do; how do we actually create our future? I saw an uncomplicated short list in something I read not long ago that went something like this: • Figure out what your customer wants. • Take a small step toward making it reality.
Livestock Media Group 4685 Merle Hay Rd • Suite 200 Des Moines, IA 50322 877-424-4594 www.americancattlemen.com
• Pause to think about what you have learned from taking that step. • Build that learning into the next step--and if that means adjusting from the initial path, so be it. The conclusion then becomes, that the best way to create the future is to: Take Action. Educate Yourself. Perform the Task. Then Repeat. I don’t know if this is what Abraham Lincoln was thinking but it seems simple and doable; for me that’s a good formula. Doesn’t always work, but then when is predicting 100% accurate? Happy New Year from The American Cattlemen may God bless and keep you throughout the Year of 2019!!! Best Regards, Gale McKinney American Cattlemen
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©Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2019. 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, 2019. The information and advertising set forth herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Twin Rivers Media, LLC, 2019 (“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
Manitou Group teams up with video game Farming Simulator 2019
Manitou Group, a world leader in rough-terrain handling, has signed a partnership with "Farming Simulator 19", the online video game with the largest community of farmers in the world. With three models incorporated into this version, the group is presenting its latest telehandlers and forklifts in a new and fun way, while at the same time enhancing brand awareness. Farming Simulator 19 will be on sale from November 20, 2018. The famous farming simulation game created by GIANTS Software will now include Manitou solutions. The group affirms its position as a legitimate player in this benchmark game, with user-oriented solutions in terms of comfort, performance and profitability. Three new models representing three quite distinct ranges will be appearing: the MLT 737-130 PS+ telehandler from the NewAg range, the MLA-T 533-145 V+ articulated telescopic loader, and the MC 18 model, the first rough-terrain forklift to be included in the game. The group wants to introduce its recent models to a wider audience by reaching all generations. "Farming Simulator is the favorite video game of farmers today, with over 15 million copies sold in 10 years. It is exciting to be able to show off the features and benefits of our solutions (machines, options, and attachments) in highly realistic environments. Our aim is
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to promote these models through Farming Simulator, while offering players the opportunity to come and see the machines "in real life" when they are exhibited at trade shows," explains Arnaud Sochas, Product Manager of the agricultural range. Thanks to this partnership, the group will be able to contribute its latest innovations and even expand the repre-
sented product range within Farming Simulator in the future. In addition, the Manitou group's booth will include a game demonstration area during upcoming international trade shows such as SIMA in Paris in February 2019. The publisher explains why he was interested in adding these three new machines to the simulations: "The Manitou group has established an international reputation in the handling sector. It was important for us to be able to represent them in this new edition. These three models offer a very wide range of applications, which will obviously make all our players very happy," says Thomas Frey, Creative Director, GIANTS Software. Check out a video preview at https://w w w.youtube.com/watch ?v=29e9xn5EGzs&feature=youtu.be
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Agronomy (some examples):
LAFORGE awarded a Gold Medal SIMA 2019
F o r it s un iv e r s a l D y n a T ra c ® guidance system for precision farming.
At times when precision farming becomes an opportunity for farmers to increase yields, improve profitability and reduce inputs (fertilizers, seeds, chemical products, tillage), LAFORGE innovates and creates a universal guidance interface.
The Innovation
The DynaTrac® interface is positioned on the tractor rear hitch. It slides laterally, controlled by the guidance system (GPS or camera) to ensure a rear implement positioning with an accuracy close to one inch. It allows decoupling of the implement’s motion from the tractor’s one. This eliminates constrains on the implement which eases its positioning and improves tracking of tractor’s trajectory. It has been proven beneficial both on flat and hilly fields.
Benefits
Efficiency: a DynaTrac® interface coupled with a guidance system (GPS or camera) allows farms to instantly get ready for precision farming with their current range of implements and the ones to come. Simplicity: the user only needs to understand and set up one kind of interface instead of a specific one for each implement. Savings: Compatible with all tractors and all implements in the marketplace, the DynaTrac® adds the guidance function to standard implements. It is an economical solution instead of buying an implement-dedicated guidance function on each implement.
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• Strip-till implement guided to only till area to be seeded, allowing to reduce fuel consumption and limit soil disturbance. Place seeds at a later stage accurately by guiding planter with DynaTrac® as well. • Planting with regular spacing between rows on the whole field allowing: o Mechanical termination of weeds (cultivator). Possibility to work even at early / late stage of plant growth, in windy or in poor light conditions because of GPS signal. o Harvest optimized and fast with no guess rows and harvester guided by seeding line. • Efficient bedding and planting of vegetables- thanks to accuracy preventing overlaps and poor positioning which generate yield losses. • Fertilizer applied as close as possible to the roots, whatever the growth stage of the plant. Savings for the farmer and decrease of fertilizer application rate positive for the environment. • Drip irrigation: o allows to position irrigation tapes precisely and then plant close to them to boost yields while limiting water consumption. o allows subsequent operations without damaging irrigation tapes grids.
About LAFORGE
LAFORGE has a strong innovation culture with many SIMA awards (1981, 1985 1993, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2007, 2011). The latest one is a Gold Medal for 2019 edition which will occur in February. LAFORGE is an independent family-owned company which headquarter is located close to Reims, France. It has been a leading company on tractor – implement interface market for close to 40 years and achieved growth rate of more than 10% per year lately. LAFORGE also has a manufacturing subsidiary in Iowa, USA and is very international with more than 80% of sales outside of France, in more than 50 countries.
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D
o you have a plan in place to optimize the elite genetics of your herd? Or do you know what direction you’d like to take your breeding in, but have yet to build a roadmap of the fastest way there? The most basic principles of genetic selective have remained the same for as long as we’ve bred cattle. You breed the best of what you have, and always try to create something better than what you had before. Today’s reproductive technologies follow this, but the big difference between now and then is the ability to amplify genetic excellence faster than ever before. Many producers, especially in the seedstock segment, are taking advantage of these resources. As a result, the pursuit of elite genetics is an accelerating race,
ET
Embryo transfer (ET) is a procedure where a developing embryo is flushed from a donor and placed in a recipient. The ideology is very
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simple, pick your best animals and increase the number of offspring they provide you with per year. This
netic progress. Additionally, embryos have the option to be frozen for years later. The superovulation process makes a female ovulate more than a single oocyte. There are a variety of hormonal therapies to accomplish this. You will want to work with your ET technician to decide on a plan and schedule that works best with your plan. If you have a sizeable group you’ll be flushing at the same
In the case of ET, the embryos are fairly hearty and don’t require a specialized environment to be flushed and transferred. Because there is less “tampering” the procedure is more likely to result in a live calf. way, each superior cow will produce a greater number of calves than she otherwise would throughout the span of her lifetime. This is a great way to allow the small top percent of your herd makes the fastest ge-
time, you will also need to make use of a timed-A.I. protocol. As the time to flush approaches, you will want to keep your donors in optimal condition. Besides her genetic superiority, an ideal donor January 2019
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REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
A rancher using the technique of artificial insemination.
should be a prolific ovulator with regular estrous cycles and excellent conception and pregnancy records
behind her. Additionally, your recipient animals will also have to be synchro-
nized. However you have the flexibility of doing the transfer fresh, immediately after flushing or later with frozen embryos. These recipient females are nearly as valuable as your donors, they should also be in excellent health and prolific themselves with good calving and pregnancy records behind them. With timed-A.I. techniques, hormonal therapies and an increasing availability of technicians, this process work can be integrated to most operations with minimal additional labor. But success does require competent and knowledgeable members on your reproduction team and some thought ahead of time.
IVF
In-vitro fertilization is another way to utilize your superior females.
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REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
It can also pick up some of the animals that won’t work for ET. For example, virgin heifers can still be aspired and collected for IVF. Animals that are unable to maintain or accept a pregnancy can also benefit from this method. Additionally, this procedure can be done much more frequently than ET, as much as weekly or biweekly on a single animal. In fact, with IVF, a producer can make as much as four times the genetic impact compared to using ET. This procedure involves taking the oocytes from an animal and fertilizing them in a lab. Because the oocytes are more sensitive, they are less fertile than ET and require an air-controlled facility to be collected.
In-vitro fertilization is another way to utilize your superior females. It can also pick up some of the animals that won’t work for ET. For example, virgin heifers can still be aspired and collected for IVF. Comparison
In either ET or IVF, you will want to use sexed semen. While this raises your up-front cost, it also increases the value of the pregnancy. If you have genetically elite animals, you can use this as a marketing tool when you ship, sell and trade your embryos. Freezing allows, virtually, entire herds worth of embryos to be shipped from coast to coast at a reasonable cost for buyers and sellers. If you * Continued on page 18
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REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES are on the other side and looking to expand your genepool, investing in embryos can be a great inexpensive way to increase diversity in your herd if you have a supply of capable
trolled environment and handled with extreme care. Regardless of what reproductive aids are most convenient for you, knowing what to make the best of
With timed-A.I. techniques, hormonal therapies and an increasing availability of technicians, this process work can be integrated to most operations with minimal additional labor. But success does require competent and knowledgeable members on your reproduction team and some thought ahead of time. recipient animals. Other disadvantages include the significantly lower success rate than traditional A.I. In the case of ET, the embryos are fairly hearty and don’t require a specialized environment to be flushed and transferred. Because there is less “tampering” the procedure is more likely to result in a live calf. With the oocytes, IVF aspiration must be done in a sterile temperature-con-
can help you make long strides with the animals you have. Remember, no amount of monetary investments or the highest quality technicians helping you can replace knowing your animals and knowing your goals. Before expanding your breeding program, be sure to have identified your best animals, the goals for your future replacements and the market for your offspring.
Vet removes semen straws from semen tank for artificial insemination of cattle livestock.
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The SKIDRIL G20D Ultra-Driver easy, fast post driver Weighing less than 40 pounds and requiring no hoses, cables or external power source the G20 is the tool if you’ve got fence to mend or build. The gas powered G20 can drive T-Post, ground rods and round steel post up to 3”. Its even fun!
SKIDRIL has been providing fencing machines for nearly 30 years so you can count on the G20D Ultra-Driver.
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P.O. Box 8041 Greensboro, NC 27419
Call today and order yours! Tel: 800-843-3745 • Fax: 336-674-6690 www.americancattlemen.com
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he priority at calving time is to first deliver a live calf from each pregnant female and then to kick-start that calf through the beginning stage of its life in a healthy fashion.
Numerous factors attack this goal including poor dam condition, prolonged or stressful calving, cold and damp weather, over-crowded unsanitary pens, lack of quality colostrum, disease and predators. But the first day of calving season is too late to begin planning a defense. To birth a live calf, the www.americancattlemen.com
mother first needs to be in proper body condition with a score of 2.5 to 3.0 for cows and 3.0 to 3.5 for heifers. Any shorting of nutrition during the gestation period will adversely affect the developing fetus, plus thinner, weaker females will produce deficient amounts and qualities of colostrum resulting in lethargic calves. These fe-
males will not return to heat in a timely fashion and will eventually wean lighter weight calves. It is good practice to feed pregnant heifers separate from mature cows as they are still growing and will require higher amounts of nutrients in their diets. Since heifers are generally smaller in frame, they are more susceptible to calving difficulties, so if possible breed them early and calve them at the start of the season when conditions are the cleanest and least harried. January 2019
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CALVING PRIORITIES
A smart management plan matching the size of the average cow in the herd with easier calving bulls will help to limit the cases of dystocia (slow difficult births) and hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Food for thought- a recent study of over 1300 cows on 15 farms in Iowa demonstrated that a single feeding of expectant females at dusk resulted in 85% of calves being born between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Beside the fact that it is easier to monitor the cows during daylight hours, the radiant heat of the sun provides energy to newborn calves boosting vigor and colostrum consumption. Twenty-year studies in the US show an average death loss of 3.7% of calves from birth to weaning, so be accepting of the fact that staying at or below that number
will take extra work. Stick to a routine of checking cows diligently at pre-determined intervals throughout 24 hours of each day. Ready the barn or shed with calving pen, head-gate or stanchion, warming box or heating system and ensure good supplies of bedding and straw are available to limit the impact of environmental elements. Consider installing extra alley gates or panels for everyone’s safety as cows and heifers can become very aggressive at calving time. Start the season with a clean system and do your best to keep it that way, as it is impossible to achieve biosecurity in filthy conditions. Put common sense to use by washing your hands often, using disposable gloves, storing a designated pair of boots in the * Continued on page 28
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CALVING PRIORITIES ed immunoglobulins are absorbed while the number decreases to less than 5% over the course of the first 24 hours. The general rule is that
working area and always handling the healthy calves before the sick ones in your routine. Practice good husbandry and sanitation by keeping a supply of clean warm water and soap handy along with disinfecting all esophageal feeders and treatment delivery systems. Once the calf has been safely de-
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livered onto clean bedding, ingestion of colostrum becomes the immediate priority. Since calves are born essentially devoid of antibodies, they must quickly absorb antibody rich colostrum through the wall of the small intestine to assist in fighting infections through the first weeks of life. After birth, up to 35% of ingest-
Start the season with a clean system and do your job best to keep it that way, as it is impossible to achieve biosecurity in filthy conditions. put common sense to use by washing your hands often, using disposable gloves, storing a designated pair of boots in the working aread and always handling the healthy claves before the sick ones in your routine. calves should receive at least 5% of their body weight or 2- 3 quarts or liters of good quality colostrum in the first 12 hours of life.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
AMERICAN BLUE CATTLE Article courtesy of comments from breeders
A
fter watching a documentary in early 2004 on the Belgian Blue cattle we were intrigued by the breed so we researched Belgian Blue cattle to learn more about the breed. What we found scared us; large births, calving problems, and C-sections, etc... So we decided against the blue breed and put together a herd using commercial bulls. However, we were not happy with our weaning weights. It did not matter what we fed we could not seem to wean a calf heavier than 450 pounds at 6 months. We decided in early 2014 to re-investigate the Belgian Blue cattle. Due to a small number of breeders, it took some work on my part to locate breeders. I was finally able to talk to several breeders that gave me valuable informa-
tion about how the breed has improved in calving ease and conformation. I was told that if I used an American Blue bull on my commercial cattle, I would not have any more calving problems than if I used any other breed of bull. What is the difference between an American Blue versus Belgian Blue? American Blue cattle has years of selective breeding to improve ease of calving and structural soundness. We were also told that we would see an increase in our weaning calf weights. We purchased our first Fullblood bull in 2014.
We were excited and leery awaiting our first half blue calves. Had these breeders been honest with us? Yes, they had, our first calves were born hitting the ground weighing between 65 to 70 lbs. All was good but would these calves grow like we were told they would? Again yes, 34
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our calves were averaging 150 pounds heavier at weaning on the same cows that we had been using for four years. In the four years that we have used the American Blue bulls, we have found our half-blood calves gain on average 3+ pounds per day on good milking cows and this can increase with higher protein feed before and after weaning. There are several aspects to the blue cattle, however, the most important aspect is the myostatin gene. The myostatin gene is what makes up the American Blue cattle. Full blood bulls carry two copies of the myostatin gene; this gene makes these bulls homozygous, meaning that every calf they sire will get one copy of
American Blue are bred to do the job as any other breed of cattle. With careful breeding they are not as extreme in the US. We strive for natural calving with low birth weights and correct structure. Many would wonder why add American Blues to your program? First, they are a very docile breed, very easy going. Second, they complement any crossbreeding program, easily adding pounds at weaning, which in turn adds profits. Third, they are an early maturing breed with a shorter gestation period. Many people who have never been around the American Blue are very surprised on how docile they are. They are not high headed and run off at the drop of a hat. The quality of American Blue meat is extremely tender due to shorter, finer muscle fibers. With minimal fat and greater moisture content establishes an exceptional flavorful and healthy product.
Why the American Blues? this gene. This gene is what makes these calves grow so well. It is not possible for commercial cows to produce a calf that is heavily muscled because commercial cattle do not carry the disruptive myostatin gene which causes the blues to have the added muscle. We are very proud that we decided to try the American Blue bulls on our commercial cattle, it has been a good venture. 2/s Beligian Blues, belgianblues@yahoo. com
• Extraordinary muschle development • Great tenderness of the meat due to the fineness of the muscle fiber. • Extremely lean, tender and healthy beef • Genetically tender beef without the fat cover and marbling • Higher percentage of quality cuts • More quality cuts in the forequarter • Cattle have a docile temperament • Short gestation length • One of the highest yielding carcasses with dress out of 68%-72% • Compliment to any crossbreeding program • Great terminal sire breed
Benefits of Crossbreeding
Beef producers have been benefiting when using a American Blue bull as a terminal cross sire. American Blue crossbred calves result in increased carcass yield as compared to other crosses. The American Blue bull will put more weight and muscle on the calve’s frames. Butchers often pay premium prices for both steers and heifers knowing there will be a higher yield and more saleable meat.
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Eliminates Burrowing Rodents Pressurized Exhaust Rodent Control (PERC)
H&M Gopher Control Mfg. & Sales
Toll-Free 855-667-5181 • Office 530-667-5181 • Cell 530-640-3981 www.hmgophercontrol.com NO explosives NO poison bait
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Photo courtesy of Silver Star Manufacturing, LLC
C
alving or Maternity Pens have become an invaluable asset to ranchers, farmers and veterinarians during calving season. These indispensable pieces of equipment provide increased safety for the farmer and veterinarian, as well as security, comfort and well-being for the cow and calf during delivery whether natural or caesarean.
Whether you see the birth of a calf as the end result of your reproductive program, or the beginning as the new cycle will start for the cow, the importance of the delivery directly affects both the mother and the newborn calf. As I researched calving pen manufacturers, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the variety of units and options that are now available. You can choose from ba-
automatic, self-catch, dual split, safety, heavy duty and one even proclaimed that calving heifers would be a breeze. Imagine that! Where do I sign up? It’s a good idea to remember what the purpose of the calving pen is. First, it is a location of seclusion for the mother to relax and produce an unassisted birth- failing that a place to reduce calving stress that might impact fertility
The choice of a new or upgraded calving pen system is more than just choosing the correct design with a multitude of gadgets and options. It should be simple, workable, safe and efficient for all involved. sic design, stanchions, panel and head-gate, with or without tub, straight or winding alleyways, and gates pointing in every direction including up. Manufacturers threw out words like versatility, ease, optimum, comfort, user-friendly, www.americancattlemen.com
down the road, a safe zone for both the cow and the handler and a designed system that offers an efficient means of delivering a healthy live calf as simply as possible. Don’t be caught up in the extravagance of the layouts, designs and January 2019
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CALVING PEN SYSTEMS salesperson code words when you purchase or upgrade your calving pen or pens but decide what will fit your needs and facilities plus operate efficiently and safely. Although the selection of a specific calving pen requires research the on-going management of the process is equally if not more important. Consider that a cow will often switch between standing and lying in the 48 hours leading up to giving birth, with the majority of changes occurring in the last 6 hours, so an important aspect of the pen is the flooring. It should provide proper traction and stability, but also offer a comfortable surface for lying, walking or standing. Grooved concrete, sand and rubber mats covered with thick layers of straw or sawdust are good options with some studies claiming that given the choice, cows will usually
Photo courtesy of Ranchers Livestock Equipment
choose either concrete or sand with a thick clean layer of straw. Cows naturally seek seclusion and isolation when giving birth so it is wise to move them into a pen
one to two days in advance or at the first signs of labor. Plywood panels or tarps can be added to pen dividers or gates to minimize distractions and give as much privacy as possible from other cows or handlers. An unassisted birth is always the first goal. Beyond proper flooring and seclusion, make sure that a work process of cleanliness and proper hygiene is established and followed. Regular cleaning, drying, disinfecting and re-bedding between births are extremely important to limit exposure to harmful pathogens. Uterine infections, “Johne’s Disease” and calf scours can easi-
Photo of The Folding Calving Pen from Ranchers Livestock Equipment. Photo courtesy of Ranchers Livestock Equipment * Continued on page 44
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CALVING PEN SYSTEMS
Photo courtesy of Silver Star Manufacturing, LLC
ly get a foothold in your operation if strict hygiene is not practiced. Train all calving pen personnel in the proper handling of pregnant cows and delivery assistance procedures to cut down on bacterial contamination of the uterus. Have clean working supplies at hand including rubber gloves, antiseptics, replacement colostrum, calf pullers, chains and ropes. The choice of a new or upgraded calving pen system is more than just choosing the correct design with a multitude of gadgets
and options. It should be simple, workable, safe and efficient for all involved. Beyond that, the key is to properly manage the surrounding and connected components such as flooring, seclusion and hygiene to give the best odds of delivering a healthy live calf and mother. It doesn’t matter if you consider birth the last or first step in the reproductive cycle, a well-designed and managed calving pen system will play a large part in keeping this chain of life strong and complete.
Photo courtesy of Silver Star Manufacturing, LLC
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Photo courtesy of Marvin Meyers & ASsociates
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R
egardless of mailbox milk price, providing excellent cow comfort is a non-negotiable for high performing herds. Comfortable cows have the best chance of sustaining high physical performance, and in turn, leaving a positive net margin. Bedding and flooring are key areas of cow comfort, as producers should aim to make resting areas as attractive as possible. Several bedding options are commonplace nowadays, one of which is rubber or foam cattle mats. Rubber and foam mats offer a great solution for stall bed comfort, while also serving a dual purpose of excellent loafing and walking surface to cows. Bedding
In free stall barn situations, a rubber mat of approximately two inches thick is installed on top of the concrete bed to provide additional comfort and cushion for lying. The matt can then be sprinkled with sawdust, lime, straw or paper to improve cow cleanliness and comfort. Mats provide a very simple and effective comfort option which can be quickly and easily installed and maintained. Mat options include flat solid rubber mats, rubber filled mats and also foam filled mats. Lying time in stalls can be increased by providing a deep bed of sawdust or similar material to make the stall as attractive as possible to the cow. Rubber filled mattresses offer a slightly different option than solid mats. The mattress is more flexible and molds under the cow’s body. Maximizing lying time has enormous benefits to the cow, through increased rumination, more blood flow to the udder and lower incidence of lameness. Quite simply, when cows
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are not on their feet, they have little opportunity to become lame. Mats also offer a clean and dry resting area for hooves and will reduce the time spent standing in damp conditions and the chance for bacteria growth around the hoof.
Flooring
Several research studies have highlighted the benefits of rubber and foam mats for use in alley ways. The softer underfoot conditions provided by mats reduces physical injuries to the hoof compared to concrete floors, and therefore a reduction in lameness overall. If installing mats along the entire alleyway is cost prohibitive for producers, corners, holding areas and other areas where cows turn should be prioritized for mat use. Cows turning corners on concrete has the most effect on wear and tear on the hoof, which can lead to bruising, ulcers and other lameness issues. The act of turning a corner can ‘grind’ the hoof against concrete; rubber
and foam mats will reduce this issue. Research studies have shown alley mats can improve locomotion scores and cows take longer strides, indicating that they feel comfortable and assured of foot placement when walking on the mats. Many modern mats have a non-slip surface and this will improve cow’s confidence and willingness to move around regularly from feed to water to the free stall. Hygiene on mats can also be easier to maintain. Lameness issues such as digital dermatitis can be more easily controlled in an alley mat environment as hygiene can be improved. Mats have a wide array of benefits to offer the dairy cow, such as, better hygiene, improved cow cleanliness, improved locomotion, improved feed intake if headlock mats are installed, greater lying time and reduced physical abrasions and injury. Before installing mats either in alleyways or on stalls, producers should visit other cattle producers with experience of mat use and learn the pros and cons of the system.
Photo courtesy of Animat
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Business Profile
PolyDome calf huts protecting today’s calves for tomorrow’s future By Steve Weisman
S
ince 1972, PolyTank, Inc., which is located in Litchfield, MN, has been a prominent name in the rotomoulding world. Over that time, PolyTank, Inc., has developed a division of products under the name PolyDome (www.polydome.com) that have been helping dairy producers improve the health of their dairy herd by offering a range of products specifically designed to produce stronger and healthier calves.
Cornerstone of their products is the series of calf huts that help reduce the impact of cold stress on nursery calf growth and health. Tony Robertson, who has been with PolyTank for 35 years and manager for the past 25 years, notes that dairy producers both large and small across the country believe in the benefits of the PolyDome calf huts. “We have one facility with 2700 huts to take care of their calves.” To provide research data to show the positive impact of the calf huts, PolyDome has worked with several university studies over the years that show calves housed in Poly Dome huts were healthier and grew faster than calves housed in modified wood hutches. One such study conducted by Noah Litherland, an assistant professor of dairy cattle nutrition at the University of Minnesota Dairy Research Center, analyzed the aver-
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age daily gain of nursery calves over a several year study (2009-2012). Litherland attributed part of the success of the nursery calves with the use of the Big Foot Calf Hutch. “The hutch
benefit of using PolyDome products. “We began using the Big Foot nurseries about seven years ago. We now have about 800 of these and find that their bigger size makes it more comfortable for the calf and easier to handle the bedding.” Moeller utilizes the nurseries after the newborn calves have spent their first five weeks in a large heated building. At that point, the calves spend their next four weeks in the Big Foot nurseries where they are enclosed, protected and dry. “It is much
Another popular product has been PolyDome’s series of Bulk Bins. Bulk Bins are the perfect choice for handling high-moisture corn, soybeans, and other granular materials. had the adequate room for nursery calves to grow and develop, along with being rugged, durable and easy to sanitize between calves. The hutches are heavy duty, but light-weight enough for an individual to move them by hand. We also used the new born calf warmer and several super huts for newborn calves and weaned calves respectively.” Meanwhile, Dr. Kenny Moellers, a veterinarian and longtime dairy producer in northeast IA, also sees the
easier to handle them in an individual nursery. During this time, we transition them from a milk diet to a high protein calf diet. By the fourth week, they are feeding well. We also give three vaccinations during this time frame.” After this time period, Moellers will transition the calves to the Super Hut that can handle up to six calves per hut. With 84 of the Super Huts, Moellers keeps the calves in these huts for another two to three weeks.
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Product choices: PolyDome Calf Nurseries
PolyDome Calf Nursery – The perfect choice for the newborn calf. It is considered the warmest hut on the market and the perfect choice during the colder months. During the day, the bed pack absorbs sunlight so that this stored heat keeps the calf warm at night. Unlike open huts, temperature change is controlled over a longer time to reduce stress on the calf. It’s perfect even in variable climates and stops snow and wind penetration, thus preventing frozen ears and tails. The calf stays dryer and cleaner and there is no snow to shovel out or mud tracked in. No more re-bedding after snow and rain. Made of high-impact UV stabilized polyethylene, it measures 86” in diameter and 60” high. It weighs about 100 pounds and is easily stackable. Poly Square Calf Nursery – This square hutch is wide enough and long enough for a calf to lie in the center, away from the cold radiation of the walls. The Poly Square has inverted ribs for better wind resistance and a wider stance for better stability, along with the Center Roof Vent, the leading vent system on the market today. Peter Leonard from the Vermont Technical Institute asserts, “The point that seems to differentiate these hutches from others on the market is the rotating air vent at the peak.” Poly Square Big Foot Calf Nursery is 12” longer (7’ 6”) than the Poly Square. It is constructed of opaque material to eliminate the solar effect, blocking out the sun’s heat but not the sunlight. It has the biggest sleeping area (38 square feet) than any calf hutch on the market today. Convertible Indoor Calf Nursery – This whole new approach to calf hutches is meant to be used indoors to keep calves separated to prevent disease and promote healthy growth. Works well in colder climates where outdoor hutches do not stay warm enough in the winter. 50” wide x 89” long and 41” high, it is stackable and weighs about 80
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The one piece super hut
pounds. One-Piece Super Hut – The newest member of the Poly Dome line of shelters, the One-Piece is 8’ x 9’ x 6’ tall. Totally free standing that allows several door size openings to accommodate for animal size. Up to six calves can be held comfortably. Several options are available. Poly Dome Calf Warmer – This provides a comfortable environment for newborn calves for the first few hours after birth. The top section is hinged and can be removed for calf entry. The floor is raised and slotted for easy heat circulation of the entire unit. A vent/peep hole at one end allows for proper ventilation and viewing the calf without the opening the unit. Comes complete with a high performance, 110-volt heater with three heat settings and two fan settings. 24” wide x 50” long x 45” tall. Another popular product has been PolyDome’s series of Bulk Bins. Bulk Bins are the perfect choice for handling high-moisture corn, soybeans, and other granular materials. They are made of high density polyethylene, which will never rust or corrode. PolyDome Bulk Bins will always remain clean and attractive. At the same time, the interior surface is very smooth to reduce bridging, and since they are just two-piece construction, there are no rivets and grain-cogging seams to contend with. The translucent polyethylene allows the producer to visually check material line from the outside. In addition, the Bulk Bins have a 22” top opening with a hinged, vented filler cap and a pull rope that allows ground control for filling. Bulk Bins come in several sizes ranging from .5 ton to
8.5-ton capacity. Dick Johanneck started Polytank, Inc. in 1972 doing custom rotomoulding. In 1977, he began making calf hutches, which became known as PolyDome Calf Nurseries. The agricultural products division of PolyTank was later named PolyDome. Since that time, Polytank and PolyDome have added over 200 products to their line with dealers located across the United States, Canada, and 10 foreign countries. The rotomoulding process uses hollow metal moulds and powdered polyethylene plastic that become a semi liquid under high heat. The moulds with the liquid plastic inside are spun on both vertical and horizontal axis to form a uniform thickness, or skin on the outside walls, thus the name rotomoulding. The mould is removed from heat and allowed to cool under controlled conditions to avoid shrinkage or warpage. The resulting polyethylene plastic product is resistant to impact, most corrosive chemicals and temperature extremes. The slippery surface makes it very easy to clean. Polyethylene is also environmentally friendly because it can be recycled. Most PolyDome products are one piece with no seams or sharp edges. The light weight of polyethylene makes even large units easy to lift and move. PolyDome has their own metal fabricating shop for frames, stands, and supports used with their agricultural products. All metal parts are powdercoated for corrosion resistance. PolyDome provides a 10-Year Prorated Warranty on all Animal Shelters and Bulk Bins.
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MARKETPLACE Tub Grinders by Jones Manufacturing Company
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