News Update

News Update
July 6, 2007

NJAS Results Online

The National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), themed “The American Dream,” is taking place this week in Tulsa, Okla. Visit www.angusjournal.com/njas to view the schedule as well as the latest show results. Or watch the cattle show live by viewing www.liveauctions.tv.

Award winner coverage, National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) Board election information and candid photos will also be posted when available.

Flood Recovery Information Available

Homeowners, as well as farm and other business owners in the southern High Plains are again cleaning up after heavy rains resulted in flooding during the past several days.

One place people can turn to for flood recovery information is Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension, said James (Pat) Murphy, the organization’s interim assistant director.

K-State Research and Extension, which has an office in every Kansas county, has Extension agents familiar with the county who can help answer questions and track down information. In addition, the offices have fact sheets and publications full of science-based information on such topics as cleaning households, food safety, private well and public water safety, and horticultural issues associated with floods. Extension office location and phone number can be found in the local phone book white pages under county office or on local county web sites.

In addition, many disaster response resources are available at www.oznet.ksu.edu. Click on “Disaster Resources.”

K-State is part of the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), a collaborative multi-state effort by Extension services across the nation to improve the delivery of services to citizens affected by disasters. Information from K-State and other universities on flooding and a wide array of other topics related to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery is available at http://eden.lsu.edu. Look for “Issues” on the left side of the page and click on “More Issues.”

Also available to Kansans who were hit by flooding or other disasters is the Kansas Rural Family Helpline. The helpline, a program of the School of Family Studies and Human Services in K-State’s College of Human Ecology, provides free confidential assistance including short-term emotional support and referrals for agricultural producers and rural families with immediate needs.

Kansas Rural Family Helpline director, Charlie Griffin, said the service can link those seeking help to health providers, churches, financial and legal advisers, farm and family mediation services, family educators and agricultural production and agribusiness specialists. It also provides access to local, state and federal agencies that may be able to help rural families in the state.

The Kansas Rural Family Helpline is available, toll free, at 1-866-327-6578 or by e-mail to farmksu@humec.ksu.edu. Further information about the Helpline is available at www.humec.k-state.edu/fshs/pfws/krfhprogram.html.

— Release provided by K-State Research and Extension.

Late Summer Cattle Gains

Producers who take advantage of the technologies that enhance cattle performance during the late summer may see an increased value of gain in their herd, according to an Oklahoma State University (OSU) release.

By using the current market for calves and the futures market for feeder cattle, producers can project the value of each additional pound of weight gain through the summer.

David Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, said not to fall into the trap of assuming that added weight is worth the same as market price. “Since cattle bring fewer dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) as they grow, the value of weight gain is almost always something less than current market price,” he said.

Recently 577-pound (lb.) calves averaged $121.45 per cwt. at livestock markets across Oklahoma, representing $695.91 in total value. Currently, 750-lb. feeder cattle futures for October closed at $110.40 for a projected feeder value of $132.09 ($828.00 - $695.91) by the weight anticipated (750 lb.-577 lb. = 173 pounds). The projected weight gain is $0.76.

“This is substantially higher than what we normally see during the summer months,” Lalman said. “For example, before the steep rise in corn price last fall, a typical value of gain was around $0.55 to $0.60 through the summer months.”

Lalman said an increased value of gain also serves as an incentive to make use of technology that is cost effective. Deworming cattle with a commercially available anthelmintic product designed to help control parasitic worms is a technology that also can make a difference in cattle performance this summer.

“Response of grazing cattle to anthelmintics is extremely variable,” Lalman said. “However, due to the extreme wet conditions this spring and summer, one would anticipate heavy parasite loads in grazing cattle and in the pastures.” This is especially true in pastures that had not been kept clean in previous years through the use of strategic deworming practices.

Lalman said growing cattle that are free from parasites generally gain between 0.1 lb. and 0.2 lb. per day faster when compared to cattle carrying a moderate parasite infestation.

“Let’s assume a response of 0.15 lb. per day or 13.5 lb. over a 90-day period and a cost to treat calves with an anthelmintic of about $3.25 per head,” he said. “This cost will vary quite a bit depending on the product you choose to use.”

Lalman said producers should consult with a veterinarian regarding the appropriate timing for treatment and product to use. The additional 13.5 lb. is projected to be worth about $10 using the projected value of gain calculated above.

“These technologies enhance performance of cattle in different ways and research indicates that the responses are additive,” Lalman said. “Therefore, a producer has the opportunity to increase performance of stocker cattle and replacement heifers by as much as 0.8-to-1 lb. per head per day.”

Knowing the economics of supplementation can be beneficial to a stocker cattle operation. The Oklahoma Gold program is a high-protein supplementation program that was designed with the needs of stocker cattle in mind. The program is particularly efficient for cattle grazing late-summer forage that is declining in quality as the forage matures.

“This summer in particular, I anticipate that much of our summer grass will be lower quality than normal, even though there will be a lot of it,” said Lalman. “Oklahoma Gold feed contains 36% to 40% protein and a feed additive, such as Bovatec, Rumensin or CTC.”

Lalman said the feed is designed to be delivered to the cattle at the rate of 1lb. per head per day.

For more information and the full article, visit www.oces.okstate.edu/Members/katie.reim-40okstate.edu/late-summer-cattle-gains.

— Adapted from an article written by Katie Reim of OSU Agricultural Communication Services, which provided the release.

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