News Update

News Update
April 12, 2007

Birth cohort of BSE case exported to U.S.

A heifer born from an animal in the same herd as a Canadian bull diagnosed in February with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was exported to the United States in 2002, Reuters reported.

According to the article released April 10, the animal was sent to a Nebraska feedlot and later harvested. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials maintain there is no evidence the animal had BSE.

Springtime Tips for Beef Producers

April means calving season is wrapping up on many Plains-area operations, and that means breeding season is beginning or continuing. That also means that females and males must be reproductively fit, a Kansas State University (K-State) animal scientist said.

Several estrus synchronization procedures have been developed in recent years, said K-State Research and Extension beef specialist Twig Marston. To determine the correct synchronization program to use, producers should consider the age group of females (yearling replacement heifers vs. cows); the commitment of time and efforts for heat detection; the potential number of females that are anestrous (days post partum, body condition, calving difficulty); the availability of labor; and the return on investment for total commitment to the breeding program.

Marston provided these tips for producers to consider at this time of year.

• Handle semen properly and use correct artificial insemination (AI) techniques to maximize fertility.

• With natural service bulls, closely monitor body condition, eyes, feet, legs and reproductive parts during the breeding season. Resolve any problems immediately.

• Make sure all bulls pass a breeding soundness examination (sometimes referred to as a BSE) prior to turnout.

• Begin your calf preconditioning program. Vaccination, castration and parasite control at a young age will decrease stress at weaning time. This is a time to add value to the calf crop.

• Implant calves older than 60 days of age to increase weaning weight.

• Properly identify all cows and calves. Establish premises numbers for compliance with state and national programs.

• Use best management practices (BMPs) to establish sustainable grazing systems.

• Use good management practices when planting annual forage sources and harvesting perennial forages.

• Maintain records that will verify calving season, health programs, and management practices.

— Article provided by K-State Research & Extension

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions, Inc.