SILENCERS IN THE FIELD For Tom Bowers, owner of the Bowers Group LLC, working in the suppressor industry comes second nature. Having a father who worked as a machinist, a gunsmith and who was also an avid shooter, allowed Bowers to literally “grow up” in the world of guns. As such, nearly 20 years ago Bowers embarked on the adventure of manufacturing his own particular type of firearm. During the R&D stage of this new venture, Bowers began designing and manufacturing suppressors as a way to bootstrap the
purchase of the machines needed for the future production of his propsosed firearm design. As his suppressor manufacturing business substantially grew and his firearm design was mimicked by another company, Bowers turned his attention
“The problem is that high-powered rifles are brutally loud and they can damage your hearing with a single event,” says Tom Bowers. “Whereas if you have a can that brings the sound pressure level down to a hearing-safe level, now you can take
ANOTHER POPULAR SILENCER AMONG HUNTERS INCLUDES THE BOWERS GROUP VERS 50, WHICH IS A .50 CALIBER HIGH-EFFICIENCY SILENCER. THE VERS 50 IS DESIGNED FOR USE WITH CALIBERS .510 AND SMALLER UP TO 2200 FPS VELOCITY. to manufacturing suppressors full-time. The result? His leading suppressor manufacturing company has made a significant impact on the firearm industry and has become a household name for hunters and gun lovers throughout the U.S.
MAKING INROADS
Sound suppressors, or “silencers” for firearms help reduce gunfire noise to safe hearing levels when attached to the end of a firearm’s barrel. The use of suppressors in the hunting field makes sense, as no hunter wants to wear hearing protection while they are hunting. Being able to hear other people in their hunting party, as well as other hunters and game moving in the brush is vital to being successful in the field.
that shot or two and you are not damaging your hearing. If you are successful and can launch a shot, you aren’t blowing out your eardrums.” Today the Bowers Group manufactures subgun/carbine suppressors in 9mm and .45, three .22 offerings, as well as the Bowers Group Vers 458 and Vers 50 silencers and the ultra lightweight ASP .45 pistol silencer. The company also offers 27 Versadapt inserts for its Vers series of silencers for subgun/ carbine and big bore cans and 11 ATAS inserts for their ASP .45 pistol suppressors, the company’s two Paradigm models and its USS 22 (User Serviceable Suppressor). “Quite frankly, what sets us apart is our mount system, as there is nothing vaguely close to it in terms of versatility,” Tom says. “We offer the type of cans that Iowa hunters * Continued on Page 57
IN THIS ISSUE
American Products and Services for American Cattlemen
Vol. 44 • No. 6 • June 2018
COLUMNS
6 PUBLISHER STATEMENT 30 9 INDUSTRY NEWS Trending news from around the cattle industry.
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FINDING PROFIT IN EPDS AND SELECTION INDEXES
Most cattlemen understand how to use and implement EPDs and make them work within their herd. But how many can easily explain how those traits are directly influencing their profit margins? Do EPDs help increase profits or just improve cattle?
20 BUZZ OFF!
Despite some challenging cold weather throughout the States this Spring, the summer heat has inevitably arrived, and with it, the nuisance issue of controlling flies on cattle.
HYDRATING YOUR BEEF HERD
Beef cattle producers are beginning to hear more and more about not only the fine tuning of feed intake and diet, but also the proper hydration of their livestock. At first glance it seems simple and uncomplicated.
TO THE 38 PESTERED POINT OF ELIMINATION
Pest is a relative term when dealing with pasture cattle, anything can be labeled a pest that isn’t a cow, grass, or water.”
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AVOIDING HEAT STRESS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
During the summer months, it is important to pay attention to our environment, from guarding against pests to protecting our cattle from heat stress. To avoid crisis situations, it’s always a good idea to have a best practice plan in place and to evaluate the history of your area for situations that indicate the potential for heat stress.
SPONSORED FEATURES
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ALTOSID® IGR EFFECTIVELY CONTROLS HORN FLY POPULATIONS
Horn flies are a major concern to beef producers, costing the industry more than $1 billion annually. Left untreated, their painful bites can present a number of risks to cattle and interfere with their ability to maximize weight gain potential.
34 HERD MANAGEMENT STREAMLINED
Here’s one thing we know: Engineers are creative problem solvers. And the team at Engineering with IT, known as EngwIT, which was founded in 2006 as a veteran-owned software and hardware engineering firm, is no exception.
26 RIO NUTRITION
Doing what’s best for the beef business. Rio Nutrition provides customers with the best and most affordable lick tubs in the business.
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PUBLISHER STATEMENT
Special Moments As you may have gathered from reading my past columns
American Products and Services for American Cattlemen
Vol. 44 • No. 6 • June 2018
I write a lot about my kids. Well this month is no differ-
President/CEO - Gale McKinney
ent. Recently they both experienced and had that moment when
VP/CFO - Audra McKinney
“two and two are put together.” I found it rather humorous and
Group Publisher/COO - Patrick McKinney
thought I would share with you all. As I have said before, my daughter Alivia (10 years old) has her heart set on being
Publisher - Dustin J. Hector Associate Publisher - Lissa Baker
a vet when she grows up. What makes matters a little worse, is she has her mind
Office Manager - Dawn Busse
made up she will be attending Iowa State University to achieve this. Now, as an avid
Art Director - Brandon Peterson
Hawkeye fan, that presents an issue. I am not sure how comfortable I am paying money for her to go to Iowa State, on the other hand, it is the best vet school in the area if not the whole country. I digress, back to our recent experience, a buddy of mine was going to be having some calves and Alivia really wanted to see a calf be born. So my friend let her go with him for the next birth. I have to admit I was a little worried it may be a little too intense, but I guess she was right in there helping. She came home and she was happier than a kid in a candy store. Now let’s get to my son (6 years old), he is definitely all boy. We were sitting down
Graphic Designer - Teri Marsh Advertising Account Executives Kathy Davidson Mary Gatliff Lori Seibert Irene Smith Wendy Mills Joyce Kenney Ed Juncker Circulation Coordinator Shawna Nelson Subscription Sales Kendra Sassman
at supper one night, enjoying a freshly grilled hamburger when he asked where hamburger comes from. That’s a typical question a 6 year old would ask right? So I explained to him that the hamburger and other different types of meat come from cows. He of course, related it to milk, which had to be corrected and explained to him the differences between the two. I can tell you, that is challenging to put those differ-
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ences in terms that a young child can relate to and understand. So now as we drive down the road I hear a high pitched scream coming from the back seat, “beef cow beef cow beef cow I will eat you.” Oh some days I wish I could go back and see the world through the eyes of a young child. Anyway, I hope you enjoy our June issue of American Cattlemen. Please be sure to check out the articles ranging from Hydrating your Herd and Avoiding Heat Stress to Pest Control. As always, if you have topics you would like to hear about let us know and we will get them covered. Until next time…. Best Regards, Dustin Hector Publisher – American Cattlemen
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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
Motomco introduces new Tomcat® Titan™ Weighted Rodent Bait Station Article and photos provided by Motomco
Agricultural producers now have a weighted, ready-to-go option when implementing a secure, effective rodent control program. The Titan™ is Motomco’s newest addition to the Tomcat ® line of bait stations that are preferred by producers for their security, versatility, and durable, long-lasting construction. The Tomcat® Titan™ features a custom, pre-installed brick, so no additional securing of the station is required. The brick holds the stations in place on the exteriors of buildings, or during clean out and transitions, and makes them less likely to be disturbed by livestock. On top of the brick is a removable tray, making it faster and easier to replace bait and service the stations, saving producers time and labor costs. The single key locking mechanism provides added security and allows for easy opening and closing; in addition the station can also be setup to be used keyless. The removable tray will either hold 1 Rat Snap Trap or up to 8 x 1 oz. Bait Chunx with locking rods that won’t fall out during cleaning. Motomco is committed to continually developing new solutions to improve rodent control in the agriculture industry, and the Titan™ is the latest example. “The Titan design has been hugely successful in the professional pest control industry, and we’re extremely excited to be able to bring this station to the Ag
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market. Once producers get them out on their farms, they’ll see how much faster it makes setting up and maintaining their rodent control and biosecurity programs,” said Andy Schoenherr, Product Manager for Motomco. The Tomcat ® Titan™ Weighted Bait Station has passed all requirements for certification as a Tier 1 station, the highest level of bait station security recognized by the EPA, proving it is resistant to tampering by both children and dogs. The Tomcat ® Titan™ Weighted Bait Station will be available for shipment on April 23, 2018 and will be sold through Motomco’s nationwide network of distributors and animal health suppliers. For more information, contact your Motomco Territory Manager or visit www.motomco.com. Motomco is the world leader in rodent control technology, dedicated to the research, development and manufacture of innovative, high quality products for the control of rats, mice, moles and other pest species. Motomco is the leader in rodent control for the agricultural market and supports its customers with the industry’s most qualified Territory Managers. Contact info: Motomco: The World Leader in Rodent Control Technology Andy Schoenherr Product Manager – Ag 3699 Kinsman Blvd, Madison, WI 53704 (608) 241-0202 ext. 3084 aschoenherr@motomco.com
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Providing Shade for Cattle – the New Normal?
By Larry Myers – Strobel Manufacturing
In the past years at Strobel Manufacturing we’ve noticed some changes. Three years ago when we really started to promote the Cattle Shade it seemed that it was an experiment . . . and the typical feedlot guy was interested, but the main incentive to buy a portable shade was fear – fear of losing cattle in the searing heat. I remember taking down this quote: “I lost 60 head of cattle last year. A few weeks ago I was in talking to my insurance guy and he said, “Do you have any shade for these cattle?” I do now!” The next year people started to take it seriously. We started hearing comments like: “Maybe this is a great way to reduce heat stress on my cattle.” “It does seem they stay on the feed better when they are under shade.” “I’m hearing that sprinkling my black cattle might actually turn up the heat . . . for sure the humidity – with the water acting as a magnifyer and just giving them a temporary relief” Last year, we were starting to see a very clear trend . . . many producers were saying “it’s not IF I need shade but WHAT KIND of shade will be best.” Studies were being conducted and minds are changing. This research is from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and outlines four practical steps to improving the summer high-stress conditions:
Developing a Heat Stress Management Plan
• Provide plenty of water and emergency water • Practice low stress handling techniques and consider new feeding patterns
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• Move cattle away from windbreaks and structures that might impede air flow • Provide shade for your animals Source: University of Nebraska – Lincoln extensionpublications. unl.edu Last July, I did a test myself with a handheld thermometer gun. It was a hot day with the ground temperature at 137 – 147 degrees and I wanted to know what difference the Strobel Super Shade was providing. All I did was slide the gun from the full sun and under the shade. The thermometer dropped to 103! That’s a 35 to nearly 45 degree difference. You can see this on YouTube if you search “Strobel Super Shade.” The 40’ x 40’ Strobel Self-Storing Super Shade provides a sturdy 1600 square feet of shade to service over a 100 head of cattle - with a 70% mesh tarp with ratchet strap hold downs and convenient winter storage right to the frame. The 3 ton base provides stability in high winds; built Strobel Strong – with a full 2 year warranty on the mesh tarp. Is shade for cattle the new normal? Is it a sure way to protect your investment and increase your gains? From where I sit (in the shade), it seems that times have changed. And we need to remember what Benjamin Franklin said, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” See a full cattle shade video on YouTube or at t he St robel Manufacturing page on Facebook. For mor e i n for m at ion c a l l 308.548.2254 or interact with us at larry@strobelmfg.com.
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EPD’S
FINDING PROFIT
IN EPDS AND SELECTION INDEXES By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Cattlemen
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ost cattlemen understand how to use and implement EPDs and make them work within their herd. But how many can easily explain how those traits are directly influencing their profit margins? Do EPDs help increase profits or just improve cattle? This was at the root of the discussion at a recent webinar that was part of the NCBA’s ongoing series. “Cattlemen’s Webinar Series: Show me the money! Are there EPDs for profit?” was presented by Darrh Bullock from the University of Kentucky and Jared Decker from the University of Missouri. Index and trait selection
The traits that are important to some producers may not necessarily be for profitability. Bullock opened by asking what tool attendees would choose to increase yearling weight with, most agreed that the straight yearling weight EPD was the best way to go, as opposed to $Beef or $Weaning indexes. While the indexes can be very helpful to predict market value, they shouldn’t be confused with single trait selections. “For yearling weight, most all breeds have been increasing at an increas-
ing weight so growth has been a large component of all breeds,” says Bullock. “Now for most of the breeds, EPDs didn’t really come around till here in the early 1980s. We were making progress prior to that but once the EPDs came along you see kind of a jump to how much progress was made.” Bullock used a typical ad for a stud bull that listed a variety of both trait EPDs and dollar index information. “I think there’s a lot of people that do want to see as many numbers as they can and make their decision
as informed as possible,” he said. “But for most, particularly commercial cattlemen, within that group of information there’s probably not 3 or 4 numbers that really mean that much information.” For example, cattlemen in the commercial market selling weaned calves may not be as interested in EPDs for replacement animals, but the terminal dollar indexes can be beneficial. Of dollar indexes, the numerical difference the figures project is expected dollar value difference per calf. “A lot of times they’re just called selection indexes, but they are truly what we see and, in the industry, today are economic selection indexes,” said Bullock. “Now you can make an index based on anything but what’s important is that anything we’re talking about utilizes the economic factors to put together the best bull possible.”
Know your system and goals
Beef indexes come in 3 different * Continued on page 14
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EPD’S “flavors” that can be summarized as being either terminal, weaning/ replacement, and all-purpose. The terminal selection is based purely on carcass merit in a system where no replacements are expected to be retained. These indexes include traits such as carcass quality and intake. For example, in Angus these indexes are $Beef, $Grid, and $Feedlot. With more research and data in progress, these indexes are becoming more economically accurate. However, these indexes leave no room for maternal traits, such as calving ease. Decker advises that producers using terminal indexes set a minimum on calving ease. In terms of productivity, terminal indexes are paramount for profitability. “One of the other important improvements that we’ve seen recently in terminal indexes is the improvement of feed intake,” said Decker. “As we’ve started developing indexes a lot of times we had really well described the revenue side of the equation, with a lot
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of production (but) we had done less in terms of trying to predict EPDs for the cost side of the equation.” Indexes that fall into the weaning/ replacement category are targeted at the commercial breeding stock producers. It is designed on a system
“THE WAY I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT ALLPURPOSE INDEX IS WE’RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT CONCEPTION ALL THE WAY THROUGH SLAUGHTER.” where all calves are marketed a weaning weight and replacement heifers are taken from the herd. These include traits such as maternal milk and calving ease. While these traits can help with creating strong maternal animals for replacements, there remains a lack of some precision in the more scientific, genetic components of reproduction. “(With) A lot
of these indexes we haven’t done a great job describing the genetics or fertility,” said Decker. Finally, indexes that are “all-purpose” consider both the terminal and weaning/replacement traits and put them into one place. It’s designed for a production system where income is primarily based on carcass merit, but heifers are also retained as replacements. These indexes include HerdBuilder in Red Angus, Baldy Maternal in Herefords, and All Purpose in Simental. “I think in a lot of situations an all-purpose index is probably going to be the best index and most completely described index in terms of profitability,” said Decker. “The way I like to think about all-purpose index is we’re really talking about conception all the way through slaughter.” No matter what system you identify your operation as, long term success relies on using the right index and EPD traits appropriate for each unique situation.
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BUZZ OFF
BUZZ OFF! By Michael Cox for American Cattlemen Magazine
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espite some challenging cold weather throughout the States this Spring, the summer heat has inevitably arrived, and with it, the nuisance issue of controlling flies on cattle. Summer fly control is a crucial component of a profitable rancher’s management plan, as fly irritation to cattle can greatly reduce daily live-weight gain and lead to animal health issues such as pinkeye. Flies disrupt grazing, particularly in growing calves, leading to lighter weights come weaning time. The horn fly is typically the worst summer offender, with face flies and stable flies also contributing to the pest pressure. Horn flies have a rapid lifecycle of 10-11 days allowing an explosion in fly populations to occur in a matter of a few weeks. The threshold level for cost-effective fly control is 100 flies per calf and thankfully, there are many options available for effective fly control. Chemical
The majority of fly control options are chemical based, although there are a small number of natural preventative measures that can be taken. Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) are a low-labor fly control option. IGRs can be fed to cattle through feed supplement or minerals. The compounds have no negative effects on animal performance, as they specifically target the larvae development of the flies. Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient intakes are being regularly
achieved by the cattle, particularly if the IGR is delivered through free-access minerals. Most IGR products recommend that the feeding program begins approximately one month prior to fly emergence. Dust bags and back rubbers/ curtains are another labor friendly option that rely on physical contact with the animal to deposit insecticide onto the face and back area of the cattle. The applicators must be set up in a high-traffic area where cattle will regularly pass under them
to access water or feed. Animals should be grouped according to size/ height to allow equal application to every animal. Apart from protecting the applicators from rain and replenishing the insecticide, there is almost no maintenance or workload involved in this control method. Summer worm-control treatments can also be a useful method of ‘doubling-up’ as a fly-control treatment. Ivermectin pour-on based products used primarily for roundworms, lungworms etc. will also offer a short time period of horn fly and lice protection. The fly control benefit of pour-on products should be viewed as an added bonus to worm control, as pour-ons are usually insufficient for use as a full fly control option on its own. Direct insecticide spray offers cost-effective prevention and can be best used to rapidly reduce fly-load on badly affected cattle. Some fly sprays can be diluted with oil or diesel to help the insecticide stick to the hair for longer. Resistance issues can build up over the season if the same class of insecti* Continued on page 22
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BUZZ OFF cide spray is used repeatedly. Insecticide impregnated ear tags offered excellent control when first introduced over 25 years ago, however resistance issues were quick to develop after several years of continuous use. Fly tags can still be useful nowadays, but ranchers should take some steps to reduce resistance. The insecticide class should be rotated every year, cattle should not be tagged too early in the season (200 flies per animal is the recommended minimum threshold level), all cattle in the group should be tagged at the same time, other control methods should be used later in the season when tag effectiveness declines and fly tags should be removed in the autumn. For ranchers with small herds, or for cattle located on land with poor handling facilities, a Vet Gun can be a useful tool for summer fly control. The Vet Gun is a device similar to a paint-ball gun, which allows the rancher to shoot insecticide capsules
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onto the animal while in the pasture. The capsules explode on impact with the animal and deposit the insecticide onto the animal’s hide.
Non-chemical control
Non-chemical fly control options include natural predators, vacuums and pasture rotations. Parasitic wasps are a non-stinging predator wasp that feed on flies. Parasitic wasps can work well in small areas, such as cattle confined in feedlots. The wasps tend to travel only short distances and are less effective in larger, open pasture situations. The Cow-Vac is a relatively new technology that essentially vacuums flies off cattle. The Vacuum is a stationary device and requires animals to pass underneath, much like back-rubbers and dust bags. The Cow-Vac has proven particularly useful in many organic dairies although its use in beef herds is becoming more common. The vaccum’s collection of flies is an
excellent method of reducing fly populations and if carried out regularly can help to minimize the fly burden right throughout the season. Grazing pastures in rotation every 18 to 30 days will allow cattle to ‘escape’ the fly larvae before they hatch out, and help ease the fly burden. As most fly species complete their life cycle in 10 to 15 days, the pastures will have less fly population if herds can be moved regularly to fresh pasture and the rotation length can be extended to more than 15 days. Like most things in ranching there is no one-size-fits-all solution to fly control. Many of the options discussed above will work best if utilized in combination. Resistance to any form of chemical control can build up over the season so it is advised to not start treatments too early in the season, and to ‘top-up’ treatments only as required. Many products will be effective for 4 to 6 weeks, and possibly longer depending on weather conditions and fly populations.
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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!
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PARTNERING WITH PRODUCERS FOR SUCCESS
RIO NUTRITION: DOING WHAT’S BEST FOR THE BEEF BUSINESS By Steve Weisman
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oing what’s best for the beef business. Trevor Greenfield, founder and owner of Rio Nutrition, says, “I am one of America’s family businesses, the businesses that make America what it is. Yes, I am in the business to help ranchers by providing them with the best and most affordable lick tubs in the business. BUT as a business owner, I realize that for a rancher to make the decision to use product A or B, he is going to make the decision that makes the most business sense for him…and as a business owner, I am on the same page.” Greenfield knows there are lots of options out there and it often comes down to how comfortable a rancher is with the product options and how much he trusts the company and the people he will be working with. Their decision must be a good, sound business decision that will, in turn, positively impact their business and their bottom line. With this background in mind, Greenfield shares a smile and a slight chuckle and says, “To those reading this article, please excuse this lengthy preamble to what I really want to talk about, BUT there is a reason…and that reason has to do with more than just products. At Rio Nutrition, we don’t look at just selling livestock supplements, lick tubs and minerals as the end game. Instead, I look at the end game and ask the question: What are we in this for? What are we trying to get done? What needle are we trying to help the rancher move? And the answer we typically find is that folks are just looking to increase the profitability of their ranch. Simple.
Increasing profitability
How do you do this? What measurable makes the greatest impact on the rancher’s profitability? According to Greenfield, the answer they hear year in
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and year out is breed up rates or fertility. He says, “Nutritionally speaking, when we talk to ranchers, we ask the question what will give us the highest possible chance of reproductive success? The answer is 100 percent protected trace minerals – copper, zinc, manganese. Why 100 percent protected? Because this gives it the highest chance of getting through the rumen into the small intestine and hence into the bloodstream. Getting key reproductive trace minerals into the blood stream not only makes sense, but it is totally predictive of reproductive performance.” Greenfield continues, “At this point, we are looking at the end game, the desired result, the objective…reverse engineering, if you will, to ensure that the product positively influences the results.”
Products to achieve these results: Fertiliti Series
So we’ve identified that impacting reproductive performance is the desired objective. So at this point, let’s look at the fertiliti series designed with the end in mind. It is a range of lick tubs that are engineered around giving each cow the highest probability of reproductive success. Ingredients in the series include 100% protected trace minerals, the added Flaxpac omega 3 and the high concentration of all vitamins and minerals. This is coupled with a low rate of consumption. Greenfield says, “To sum up in simple terms, these are important ingredients that will positively move the needle for your breeding performance this year…all at a price point that commercial cattlemen and the ‘mom and pop’ ranch can afford. Sure, it fits into the purebred programs, the embryo-transfer programs... It does all of that, while the cost fits the budget of every commercial cattleman across the country.”
What ranchers find different about Rio
Greenfield explains, “When ranchers reach out to us for help let’s say during breeding season, the Rio team handles things differently than many others in the business.” With a smile, Greenfield compares the team to that of a doctor. ”Only we don’t get paid the same,” he says with a laugh. With that, Greenfield shares his analogy. “When you go to a doctor, with a severe pain in your side, the doctor doesn’t simply toss you a bottle of pills that says take morning and night for two weeks… www.americancattlemen.com
and you wouldn’t trust him if he did! The doctor will weigh you, measure, check your blood pressure, poke and prod from head to foot to get a true understanding of what is going on. Then, and only then can he make a sound recommendation on a course of medication or therapy. And you know what, at Rio, we’re really no different. Our job is to understand the rancher’s challenges, issues, painpoints, what’s ‘cooking’…and then what they are trying to get done. Once we have a picture of what’s going on, then can we make a sound recommendation based on what the rancher has shared with us.” It is at this point that customers begin to realize that Rio Nutrition is not in the game of just peddling tubs or minerals. Greenfield asserts, “Rather, we are in the business of fixing problems, finding solutions and partnering with the ranchers to help them make more money out of their existing resources, their existing cow herd, their existing land base.” A rancher in St. Johns, Arizona, who was both intrigued and skeptical about the Rio program, took 350 cows of his 2000 cow herd and gave Riomax a try. The results he got justified his intrigue, while dealing a death blow to his skepticism. Here are the results in short. His conception rates went from 82% up to 93% while his weaning weights went from 480LB to 565LB. To really sweeten the pie, his costs were $15 per cow lower than the other cows not on the Rio program. And another rancher, close to Decker, Montana who runs 1200 cows, saw his conception rates go from a historical average of 88% up to 94%, with his calves weaning at 638LBS, 48LBS heavier than his historical average! Then there was a rancher from Jenner, Alberta that showed that his conception rates on 530 head (of which 440 were heifers) went from 87% up to www.americancattlemen.com
96%. Lastly (we can only say so much in one article) a South Dakota rancher running 550 cows in the Eureka area described to us what he found: He said in the first year on the Rio barrels he saw his conception rates jump by 5%, and he declared triumphantly, with 2530 extra calves running around, who wouldn’t take an extra $30,000?These are the results that drive us as a company because we know how big of an impact this is having on the profitability of each ranch. Ranchers don’t see Riomax as an expense, but rather an investment. For more field trails please do visit www.rionutrition.net.
It’s about the right NOW
Even though each season of the year offers challenges for the rancher, Rio Nutrition is concerned about the right NOW, for the rancher and his herd. Greenfield says, “Our focus is the right now; it is our prime responsibility. Breeding season is on, the stakes are high. This is the chance and opportunity to shape the very profitability of the ranch for this year – and beyond.” Here are some of the key areas we are impacting: • Improving overall breeding performance • Getting more caught in first cycle • Working with AI conception • Helping bull performance • Fetal programming and fetal development Then with nicer weather comes the issue of dealing with horn flies, a pest that causes billions of dollars of damage and loss to the cattle industry each year. The horn fly can cause up to 50 pounds of weight loss during the pasture season as well as reducing milk yield and quality from those cows. The good news is that Rio Nutrition has recently launched a summer formula, which includes Altosid I.G.R. (Insect Growth Regulator). Talk about cost-efficient. For around 5¢
per head per day, I.G.R. can be included in Rio’s top of the line breeding formulas. Once the Altosid goes through the cow’s system and into the manure, it kills the fly in the larvae stage, cutting the life cycle of the fly.
Ease of getting Rio products
This question often comes up, how do I get Rio Products? According to Greenfield, “We have worked to make this easy. Ranchers can grab their phone, give us a shout, (1-888-7145781) get straight onto one of our beef team, and have a discussion around what your challenges may be and what you are trying to get done. They will work with you to help you make the right decision – for you! Alternatively, go to our website www.rionutrition.net
and take a couple minutes to fill out a form on the home page, and we’ll have one of the beef team give you a courtesy call. Then if it looks like it is what you want, and the price is right for you, we process the order and the product is shipped directly to the ranch. No dealers. No freight charges. No fuss.” Greenfield, almost bouncing with passion and deep excitement about the way his company helps ranchers, rubs his eyes, and says calmly, “I just want to help people get the results they are looking for…help them get to their end game. It may be year-around, or it could be strategically in a certain time of year that we can help out. It’s not about tubs, it’s not even so much about business…it’s just something exhilarating about helping ranchers become more profitable…maybe that’s unusual, but that’s what drives me…and I would personally invite the readers of this article to reach out and see if Rio can do you some good, too.”
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CATTLE HYDRATION
HYDRATING YOUR
BEEF HERD By Bruce Derksen
B
eef cattle producers are beginning to hear more and more about not only the fine tuning of feed intake and diet, but also the proper hydration of their livestock. At first glance it seems simple and uncomplicated. Food, water and shelter are among the basics of all life, so make sure your cattle have them, but if we look specifically at hydration, it does mean more than just having a water bowl, pond, dugout or trough within walking distance. A good start, but there can and will be times and reasons why that is not enough. Are you bringing new cattle into the group that don’t know where the water supply is? Are there older dominant cows that “guard” the only available water bowl just because they can? Or is there sickness in members of your herd causing them to not actively seek out and make the effort to use the available water? Sixty percent of the total body weight of the average beef cow is fluid, most being water. If they become challenged in any way by the threat of disease, proper water availability or changes in environment or management systems, at a certain point they will begin using up their own bodily reserves of fluids in an attempt to maintain homeostasis. Not all situations of dehydration in livestock are easy to determine. Cattle in the early stages measuring below four percent of their body weight will have minimal observable symptoms but will begin to show a reduction in their production or psychological efficiencies. Cattle with a higher degree of dehydration in the five to ten percent of body weight range will display recognizable physical indications including sunken dull eyes, tacky mucus membranes, skin tenting that takes longer than normal to return to form, plus outward depression. At this point, feed
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intake will fall affecting the animal’s efficiency. Accepted studies show that dehydration at seven to eight percent of body weight will negatively impact an animal’s immune response to disease. The rumen acts as a fluid reservoir, but in the early stages of dehydration an animal draws on this supply to maintain normal fluid balance. The cow or calf is already becoming dehydrated although its first response maintains the disguise of normalcy and health. As this reservoir is depleted, the animal’s body weight will shrink and if not treated will lead to severe, life threatening clinical dehydration. If an animal is recognized in the early stages of dehydration, treatment can be initiated with a high level of success. Young calves can be drenched orally with energy sources and electrolytes through the use of an esophageal bag and tube. Dehydrated adult cattle generally have a metabolic alkalosis so it is important to use a non-alkalinizing oral solution that does not contain a bicarbonate. Consult
your veterinarian for the correct type of electrolyte solution to administer. It is very important to use a non-chilled source of water so an unnecessary shock is not conveyed to the animal’s system. If dehydration is not caught early enough, an intravenous treatment may be required as this is the fastest way to deliver the medications and fluids throughout the body. Forward thinking suggests that prevention is the best cure. With cattle dehydration, it is your easiest and most effective weapon. Addressing the possible issues before they become realities will block most, if not all of these problems. Offer a free choice salt and mineral supply and have good quality water available for your herd. Anticipate and address environmental changes, transportation issues or any other variations in routine. When introducing new cattle to the pastures or pens, have multiple obvious water troughs or “wet” bowls immediately available. Don’t use pen designs that allow dominant cows to keep timid ones from the water sources, and most important of all, cultivate your relationship with your veterinarian to maintain a proper herd health plan that controls the possible spread of sickness and disease. Watch your animal’s behavior and attitudes closely monitoring and addressing fluid losses such as diarrhea and suspect stool conditions. It is a fact that healthy, happy cattle will naturally partake of the basics of life including eating, drinking and shelter, helping to cement an efficient productive herd. www.americancattlemen.com
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PARTNERING WITH PRODUCERS FOR SUCCESS
STREAMLINED HERD MANAGEMENT By Maura Keller
H
ere’s one thing we know: Engineers are creative problem solvers. And the team at Engineering with IT, known as EngwIT, which was founded in 2006 as a veteran-owned software and hardware engineering firm, is no exception. For more than 12 years, the firm’s team of engineers, system architects, and developers, all who come from a myriad of backgrounds in diverse industries, have devised products and services used to enhance their clients’ business strategies across a variety of industries. And one such product developed, HerdOne, is having a profound impact on the cattle management arena.
In the Beginning
When father and son, Allen and Matthew Marney, founded EngwIT, they had a desire to grow an engineering and technology team that provides high-quality solutions, unmatched customer service, and world class engineering talent. While the familial duo may not have initially envisioned developing a program that would dramatically impact how ranchers and farmers
manage their livestock, they do have a team of experts who are always looking for solutions to inherent problems that various industries face. According to Kyle Britton, senior systems analyst at EngwIT, many of the company’s employees grew up on and currently have farms with cattle, horses, and goats. In fact, Britton and Jonathan Newton, two of the employees who led the design and development efforts for HerdOne, were both looking for solutions to track and manage the records associated with their own animals. “We were surprised at the lack of options in this space and noticed many of the options were either outdated, overly complex, or too expensive,” Britton says. They knew that if they were struggling to find an effective solution, many others must be dealing with this as well. So in May 2017, the development on
HerdOne project team from left to right: Al Marney, Jonathan Newton, Jason Starr, Matt Marney, Kyle Britton
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HerdOne began in earnest. As Britton explains, during the design process the EngwIT team turned to several farmers and ranchers—utilizing regional producers to help identify the features and process flows that would make HerdOne most beneficial for livestock and farm management. Amanda and Levi Price (Circle L Ranch, Gravette, AR), Warren Alexander (WDA Farms, Gravette, AR), and Ted Staats (Staats Farm, Hiwasse, AR) provided much-needed expertise over the course of creating HerdOne, and for that, the EngwIT team is thankful. “This is a process we continue every day and we believe we have a product that creates value at an affordable price for anyone using it.” Britton says.
How It Works
When it comes to cattle management, accessibility is key. That’s why the developers of HerdOne created a web-based application (www.herdone. com) that is responsive to any screen size and can be viewed on any device that has a browser. “Access from anywhere with an Internet connection—even while in the field—allows farmers to put in the data immediately versus forgetting about doing so later,” Britton says. Is there a new calf in the pasture? Did you administer an antibiotic? Or perform a pregnancy check? HerdOne allows users to enter all of these events when they occur. Here’s how it works: HerdOne takes the livestock related data that you enter and translates it into information that www.americancattlemen.com
helps farmers and ranchers make the day-to-day decisions associated with their farm. This information helps with process optimization, identifying high or low offspring performance, etc. Users can upload pictures of animals, receipts, health records, and registration papers, having access to this vital information at any time. And if properly utilized, the financial section can help make tax season less stressful and informs users if they are staying profitable. One user of HerdOne explained the
role this web-based application is having on his farm’s productivity levels. “We do rotational grazing and keep our bulls in for short breeding windows. HerdOne has given us the ability to move cows in and out of herds and pastures much easier than our previous spreadsheet,” Taylor W. says. Knowing the last time a cow had a calf has also been invaluable to this farm’s productivity levels as a non-producing cow, is a non-profitable cow. “Additionally, we can look through historical sales data to identify our most profitable cows as well as candidates from which to keep heifers,” Taylor W. says. From the aspect of ease and accessibility, HerdOne was designed to be seamless for the end user. For instance, there is no software to install and updates are
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streamlined for the customer. As Britton explains, anyone who can navigate Facebook or other popular applications should have no problem using HerdOne. Scalable for farms and ranches of any size, HerdOne provides the required tools to help manage a farm. Ultimately, anyone wanting to gain insights from their livestock data to help drive business decisions is a prime candidate for HerdOne. “Our reporting feature allows a user to generate a variety of reports in PDF or Excel format,” Britton says. “Should someone need assistance, we are more than happy to provide it. We pride ourselves on our customer service and responsiveness to customer requests and feedback. Many of the features and items currently in place, as well as on our roadmap, have resulted from interaction with our current customers.”
Primary Data Points
HerdOne offers a wealth of options
for managing livestock. Including: • Identifying the best and worst performing livestock in a herd from an offspring standpoint based on recorded weights and sales prices. As Britton explains, when culling cows, identifying the right animals to sell is extremely important. Prior to HerdOne, a farmer may simply look at
each animal and make an assessment of whether or not to include them in the cull. Now with HerdOne, his ability to track offspring weight and compare those weights across his entire herd allows him to make a more informed decision. “He can focus additional inspection on the cows yielding lower calf wean weights and make sure he’s not selling one of his top producing cows,” Britton says. • Identifying open livestock to examine and possibly sell. • Accessing health check/vaccination information on a specific animal easily and quickly. For example, let’s say a rancher is attending an equine show or event and needs to pull up Coggins test results. The EngwIT team has spoken with many veterinarians who have stated that they receive calls all of the time requesting a copy of a Coggins test. “Most of the time in order to get it the vets have to go in to their office to find the file, scan it, and email it to the requestor,” Britton says. “If the user simply uploads that Coggins test to HerdOne, then it is available to them anytime, anywhere.” • Recording all sales, purchases, and expenses as they are incurred throughout the year and then utilizing the financial reporting feature at tax time. “This has helped us personally as we no longer throw our receipts into the glove box or a bag in the office,” Britton says. With HerdOne, expenses can be entered with a picture of the receipt as they’re incurred throughout the year. Now we don’t have to worry about filing through a huge pile of receipts each April or wondering if we’ve found each farm-related receipt. This helps ensure we are getting the deductions we have
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PARTNERING WITH PRODUCERS FOR SUCCESS earned each tax season.” • Accessing the antibiotic records of each animal during its lifespan. Farmers marketing organic beef must keep track of any antibiotics given over the course of raising an animal. Having these records helps a producer accurately market an animal during the sales process. • Effectively managing the components required during an AI breeding program. HerdOne allows users to inventory semen straws used in A.I. breeding programs. “Knowing how many straws are on hand, and which canister they are located in, prevents a farmer from having to search through the tank for specific straws, which can lower semen quality,” Britton says. EngwIT’s vision for HerdOne is quite simply: To expand technology solutions in the agricultural space by equipping farmers with tools they can utilize to improve productivity and profitability within their livestock operations. “Population projections estimate
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growth of a billion more people worldwide over the next decade,” Britton says. “We want to provide farmers with the tools they need to be more efficient and capable of meeting the food needs required by this growth.” EngwIT also encourages more students to pursue careers in agriculture and get them used to having technology as a part of that future. That’s one of the reasons the firm offers a free student version of HerdOne. “We continue to enhance and add features within HerdOne on a daily basis,” Britton says. “For instance, we plan to add scale integration for producers who weigh their livestock and are looking for an easier input method.” In addition, the EngwIT team plans to allow for additional insight into the supply chain with a goal of bringing more money back to producers utilizing proper management practices within their operations. And Britton says they plan to continue to “listen to our customers to enhance current features and develop additional tools that add value to their operations.”
Key Capabilities of the HerdOne Application: • Livestock Inventory o Animal Profile Information o Herd/Group o Pasture/Location • Health Checks and Treatments • Breeding Information o AI Inventory o Pregnancy Checks/Status o Breeding/Calving Window • Progeny/Offspring • Pasture/Field Management o Cattle Movement/Location o Crop production, sales, purchases o Fertilizer, Lime, Planting • Performance o Birth weight o Wean weight o Adjusted 205 wean weight o Average Daily Gain o Yearling weight o Sale weight o Sale Price • Asset/Equipment o Asset Info o Maintenance Records • Financials o Sales o Purchases o Expenses
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PEST MANAGEMENT
PESTERED TO THE POINT
OF ELIMINATION By Aly McClure
“P
est is a relative term when dealing with pasture cattle, anything can be labeled a pest that isn’t a cow, grass, or water.”
When raising cattle your number one priority is to keep your animals calm and comfortable. The development of your herd is so dependent on this that a pest infestation can severely derail your efforts. When cattle become stressed their feed intake is lower and their ability to produce quality milk for nursing calves, or continue growth in a feedyard declines as well. Pests can make your animals more susceptible to diseases by weakening their immune systems. But, pest is such a relative term when raising cattle on pasture, anything can be labeled a pest if it isn’t a cow, grass, or water. So what do we do? By implementing pasture management programs and effective cattle health programs you can protect your herd from the majority of issues caused by pests. Taking the best care possible of our cattle is a great responsibility, one that not only affects us and our herd but the agriculture community as a whole. We are one team with the same goal - to efficiently and ethically produced food, clothing, and by-products for the use and
enjoyment of consumers. By creating a comfortable environment for your cattle, you are not only insuring steady growth and production, but it is also the right thing to do. Because of overuse of pesticides in the recent past, pest populations have developed resistance to them and inadvertently destroyed natural enemies. Today, cattleman should carefully consider the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPMs) programs. Depending on your location and operation type (conventional, organic, grass-fed, etc.) you may have different pest concerns but, in general, they should all look very similar. By studying the variety of options, you have to control pests and creating a plan to implement them, you are saving yourself time and money. Preventative measure go a long way. When creating an effective IMP, there are several aspects to consider for inclusion in your policy as standard procedure. • Pasture maintenance and mowing down overgrowth helps to reduce mice and snakes.
• Flood area drainage helps to control insect breeding grounds. • Keeping feed equipment and storage facilities clean and tidy eliminates pest feeding grounds. • You can take multiple approaches to reducing the population, combining them is a very effective method. You can use traps, repellants, dusting powders, parasites, and chemicals. Using parasites is an interesting and effective measure for controlling pest populations. Most every insect pest has a parasite enemy that will attack them. Insect parasites are generally host-specific wasps or fly’s. Most are so small you will not be able to see them and won’t cause an issue in an already pesky environment. An effective way to quickly reduce populations, an adult parasite can lay hundreds of eggs in hundreds of hosts. The parasitic larva lives in/on their chosen host and kills them only once that have reached maturity. When you are dealing with an infestation such as mange, it is very important to segregate the infected cattle from the rest of the herd. Mange is highly contagious and will spread through direct contact with * Continued on page 40
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PEST MANAGEMENT
the cattle. It is caused by mites that live in the pores of the animal’s skin. After isolating the animals, it is in the best interest to sell or slaughter the affected ones. At very minimum, immediately removing them from your herd. Mange is a reportable disease caused by pests and it is advised to contact a veterinarian for consultation as soon as possible. Using insecticides on your cattle
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and pesticides on your pastures and feeding facilities will take you a long way for control and prevention. There are many resources on the internet that can be used to create your IPM, using standards specific to your operation. You can also go the route of hiring an IPM coordinator to develop and initiate your plan. By using a combination of pest controls, you will have greater chanc-
es of success. But, failure to control pests not only affects your cattle, but it can also cause health concerns for the public either through your product or in the shared environment. While we will never fully eliminate pests, nor do we want to, it is possible to reduce their presence to provide a comfortable environment for your cows.
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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 Facebook inbox @americancattlemen or email them to us at info@twinriversmedia.com
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HEAT STRESS
AVOIDING HEAT STRESS DURING
THE SUMMER MONTHS
PROVIDING A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR CATTLE IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WARMER MONTHS
By Aly McClure
D
uring the summer months, it is important to pay attention to our environment, from guarding against pests to protecting our cattle from heat stress, raising farm animals is a full-time commitment. To avoid crisis situations, it’s always a good idea to have a best practice plan in place and to evaluate the history of your area for situations that indicate the potential for heat stress. Every area of the country battles short-term weather conditions - it’s how you handle those conditions that matters. A lot of people use the terms climate and weather interchangeably, this, however, is incorrect. Each of our communities and farms is affected by short-term weather events. Their long-term sustainability is affected by climate and climate variability caused by natural positioning and earth rotation. For example, dessert is a climate, windy with a high of 95 is the current weather. Your weather is also indicative of your local climate. Cattle born and raised in certain climates become resilient to the local
weather patterns, but during the extreme weather seasons, specifically January-February, and July-August, it is important to evaluate potential stress situations daily. You can do this during the summer by paying attention to the heat index. Remember, though, that dark-hided and finished cattle are more susceptible to heat stress than lighter colored and weighted cattle. The Cattle Comfort Advisor is a heat index that evaluates the weather conditions across the country and determines the potential for heat
stress. The values do not represent exact temperature; they are a way to measure the heat and cold levels an animal is being exposed to ranging -20 (cold Danger) to +120 (Heat Danger.) Cattle are the most comfortable when the index range falls between 15 and 85. When the range begins to creep over the 85 mark that means it is time to start preparing and watching for heat stress, even changing your schedule to work animals during the coolest parts of the day. You can find an active map that is updated with the current index hourly at, www.cattlecomfort.mesonet.us. Cattle are the most comfortable when the outdoor temperatures hang around 40-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on body condition, hide color, and hair length they do very well in this ideal temperature range. As the temperature begins to rise, they become increasingly * Continued on page 46
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HEAT STRESS
uncomfortable. Cattle do not handle heat as well as humans do, they especially have trouble when temperatures reach 90 and above. Feed conversion drops and so does their adaptability. Through the use of some common best practices, you can help create a more comfortable environment for your cattle and potentially lower the risk of decreased performance, in worst case situations, death. Evaluating heat stress eliminates is crucial to cattle comfort. These include • Evaluate the long-term weather patterns paying attention to hotter than normal situations that may trigger your cattle comfort plan. • If you live in an area with high annual rainfall averages, you will need to pay attention to the humidity and low wind conditions. Making sure the animals have access to active air movement is crucial. Creating a Cattle Comfort plan is easy and once you have it in place, will help you elevate some of the stress on your animals. You can do this by following these guidelines: • Keep current on marketing your animals, heavier animal’s equal hotter animals, and they should be sold as soon as possible once they reach 46
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the desired market weight. • Do not work cattle during the heat of the day opting for early in the morning or late in the evening. • Make sure the cattle have adequate access to a cool water supply. Cattle consume an average of 12 to
CREATING A CATTLE COMFORT PLAN IS EASY AND ONCE YOU HAVE IT IN PLACE, WILL HELP YOU ELEVATE SOME OF THE STRESS ON YOUR ANIMALS. 15 gallons of water a day, this can and does double during the heat of the year. Adequate cool water supply should be your first consideration during hot weather. Adding electrolytes to water tanks is also an option if dehydration is a concern for your herd. • Maximize the access to airflow for penned animals. With a minimum required air flow of 5-10 mph for optimum cooling, it is very important to keep the cattle in an open and breezy facility. • Pest control for flies and parasites helps prevent the animals from crowding together, creating even
more heat, to protect themselves. • Consider the shade availability on your property and the need to provide somewhere necessary. With access to shade, the animals will have the ability to relax and remain cooler than if none is available. A lot of handling cattle heat stress is paying attention to the weather and providing adequate protection from the elements. Planned management and alternative cooling sources such as sprinklers are also a good consideration to have depending on your location and may make a significant difference in the comfort of your animals. Just as important as managing the heat stress of your cattle is the heat stress on yourself or your personnel. Altering work hours to those of cooler times will benefit humans and animals alike. Make sure your staff is taking adequate breaks during stretches of high heat and hydrating properly. It’s never a bad idea to keep a few bottles of Pedialyte on hand. As we wander into the dog days of summer, keep an eye on the weather around you, making slight changes on a regular basis will keep you from having to attend to critical situations. www.americancattlemen.com
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would be interested in. They will have the Aims mount system, which takes the Versadapt inserts, including 27 different inserts.” As they have worked to establish the Bowers Group within the industry, Tom and his wife Dorothy understood that it was time to raise the bar for customer experiences by re-thinking who their customers are, what they deeply value, and how their company can deliver a customer experience that is consistent, differentiated, and valuable. For the Bowers, it is about serving gun users in a fundamentally improved way. In fact, the exceptional customer service has won the Bowers Group accolades aplenty and truly sets them apart. “Bowers has been selling suppressors for almost 20 years,” Dorothy Conway says. “It has only been in the last few years that we’ve spent any type of money on advertising. So for the majority of our company’s history it has been word-of-mouth advertising that
has helped our company become as well known and successful as it is.” Service, performance and versatility are top of mind for the Bowers Group team. They also don’t change their models around to make something seem “new.” Rather, they make improvements to their previous models, allowing a “backwards compatible” product evolution for customers who may have purchased products years ago. “We offer retrofits and upgrades to our previous models,” Dorothy says. In fact, recently the Bowers Group provided a retrofit upgrade to one of the first suppressors ever sold by the company. “We do try to take care of customers because our products are durable goods and we try to treat them as such,” Dorothy says. When necessary, the Bowers Group will make parts for silencers they’ve discontinued so they can service those cans.
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The most popular suppressor models that are most conducive to hunting include Bowers Vers 9, 9s, 458 and 50 series. Vers 9 is the company’s full-sized, high efficiency 9mm subgun and carbine silencer and is rated for heavy fully automatic fire in 9mm. The Bowers Group Vers 9S is a small, high efficiency 9mm subgun and carbine silencer, rated for heavy fully automatic fire in 9mm. In addition the Bowers Group Vers 458 is the company’s purposebuilt .458 SOCOM silencer, rated for fully automatic fire. The Bowers Group is making this for people who need a can capable of taking the pounding from a full auto .458 firing supersonic rounds, but who don’t need the bore size of a Vers 50. It is rated to pass .460 diameter bullets and for
for minimal point-of-impact shift. “Versatility is what separates the Vers 30 and 30T from the competition,” Tom says. With the ability to mount to nearly every rifle on the market Bowers Group currently offers 27 different Versadapt thread adapting inserts. A hunter can use their Bowers Vers series suppressor on various platforms without hunting down a third-party thread pitch adapter or spending money on proprietary mounts. By directly threading onto the rifle the gun operator won’t spend hundreds of dollars on muzzle devices that have to be added to the firearm. And while customer service and versatility have led to the company’s success, it is the Bowers Group products’ performance, which
“WE OFFER RETROFITS AND UPGRADES TO OUR PREVIOUS MODELS,” TOM SAYS. IN FACT, RECENTLY THE BOWERS GROUP PROVIDED A RETROFIT UPGRADE TO ONE OF THE FIRST SUPPRESSORS EVER SOLD BY THE COMPANY. velocities up to 2650 feet per second. Another popular silencer among hunters includes The Bowers Group Vers 50, which is a .50 caliber highefficiency silencer. The Vers 50 is designed for use with calibers .510 and smaller up to 2200 FPS velocity. It is also suitable for any other slower rounds that will fit through the bore. As Tom explains, every silencer Bowers sells includes one insert of the customer’s choice. These thread adapting inserts are CNC crafted from billet and
is substantially better than many major manufacturers, that has helped earn the company an exceptional reputation. In fact, the level of product performance is why their customers are often repeating customers, eager to continue their relationship and outfit their guns with a solid suppressor product. Customers understand that while the Bower Group products have consistently improved over the years, the company has always stood squarely behind their quality, versatility, and durability of
feature a hexagonal head so the gun owner can quickly and easily change the thread pitch on the silencer by changing the insert. This enables the operator to use one silencer on many different firearms. As part of the company’s ongoing goal to continually enhance and improve its product offering, Bowers Group has recently released its Vers 30 and Vers 30T suppressors. Both suppressors use the Versadapt series of thread adapting inserts. These are precision rifle cans, engineered
their products. “We’ll keep working to improve our existing products and to bring out worthy new products after we’re satisfied they’re ready,” Tom says. “We have the track record to demonstrate that none of this is just talk; this is how we’ve operated since day one.” *Sponsored Content
June 2018
American
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American Products and Services for American Cattlemen
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