News Update
Feb. 26, 2009

Test Bulls for Fertility to Improve Bottom Line

Michigan beef producers are encouraged to schedule an appointment to test herd bull fertility before the start of the breeding season at one of several bull breeding soundness exam clinics being conducted across the state in March and April.

Producers can reduce their risk of having fewer calves or no calves born and/or experiencing an extended calving season by testing their herd bulls through this program, organized by the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Beef Team.

In spring 2008, the BSE program tested 272 bulls. Of those tested, 20 bulls (7% of the bulls tested) failed to pass the exam, and another 51 bulls (19%) were found to have less-than-optimum fertility. Many of the sperm defects were suggestive of damage caused by cold weather (the long, cold 2007-2008 winter).

On the basis of these results, even a conservative estimate of the economic significance of the 2008 BSE program is sizeable.

Ben Bartlett, MSU Extension livestock educator from the Upper Peninsula, estimated that if the 272 bulls tested each would have serviced an average of 20 cows, these bulls would have serviced 5,440 cows.

“The 20 bulls that failed the BSE test would have potentially serviced 400 cows,” he said. “If half of the cows serviced by those bulls that failed the test didn’t end up getting pregnant, then these bulls would have cost producers upward of $96,000.”

Those bulls found to have less-than-optimum fertility would account for additional losses. “Because of less-than-optimal fertility, we can assume that up to half of the calves would have been conceived later in the breeding season, so the resulting calves would be lighter at weaning time,” Bartlett said. “If we assume that this lower weaning weight grossed $50 less per calf at sale time, then lost sales directed back to these bulls could come close to $25,000.”

“The importance of BSEs cannot be overstated,” said Dan Grooms, associate professor of veterinary medicine. “We encourage all beef producers to consider scheduling an appointment to have their bulls checked at least 30 days before the start of the breeding season.”

The 2009 MSU Beef Team Bull Breeding Soundness Exams are scheduled for:

• March 13 — Andy and Lynn Salinas Farm, Marion; contact Andy Salinas at 231-743-6775.
  
• March 14 — Gary Voogt Farm, Marne; contact Kevin Gould at 616-527-5357.
  
• March 21 — MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing; contact Dan Grooms at 517-432-1494.
  
• April 17 — MSU Lake City Experiment Station, Lake City; contact Janice Rumph at 231-839-3001.
  
• April 18 — Chuck Preston Farm, Prescott; contact Fred Hinkley at 989-345-0692.
  
• April 20-24 — locations around the Upper Peninsula; contact Ben Bartlett at 906-439-5880.
  

To schedule an appointment at one of the scheduled BSE clinics, contact the person listed for the clinic nearest to you. The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) also schedules in-house appointments. To schedule one, call the MSU CVM Large Animal Clinic at 517-353-2964. For more information on BSEs, contact Grooms at 517-432-1494 or groomsd@cvm.msu.edu.

— Release provided by MSU Extension.

Free DTN Webinars

The March DTN Webinar Series offers information about key production issues and new technology.

• Outsmarting Weed Resistance (March 5; 10 a.m. CT) — Glyphosate resistant crops have been popular since 1996. The heavy use of that herbicide has led to weeds that are showing tolerance and full resistance to glyphosate. This webinar will feature William Johnson, Purdue University weed scientist; Ken Smith, Arkansas Extension weed scientist; and Chuck Foresman, Syngenta Crop Protection, to explore which weeds are a problem and herbicide strategies to deal with them.
  
• Spring Weather Outlook (March 12; 10 a.m. CT) — This webinar will cover the U.S. spring weather forecast — the chance for another season of wet conditions and delayed field work in the Midwest along with rain chances for the southern Plains. Experts will also analyze South America late-season weather prospects.
  
• 2009 Crop Insurance Decisions (March 6; 2 p.m. CT) — This year’s crop insurance decisions pose much harder choices: How do you afford the best coverage if crop revenue guarantees fall below your cost of production? Does the new farm program change your insurance buy? Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Specialist Steve Johnson airs strategies with DTN Executive Editor Marcia Zarley Taylor.
  
• How to Negotiate an Energy Wind Contract (March 26; 3 p.m. CT) — Join DTN Special Correspondent Elizabeth Williams, Iowa State agricultural law expert Roger McEowen and Kathy Lusk, a consultant with 10 years’ experience in negotiating wind energy contracts on more than 2 million acres from Canada to Mexico. Learn ways to protect your farm.
  

If you are unable to attend the live events, you may still register and DTN will send you an e-mail when the on-demand version becomes available.

WCRF Calls on Society to Make Public Health an Explicit Priority

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) released its Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention report this morning in London. The report calls on all sections of society to make public health — and cancer prevention in particular — a higher priority.

The report estimates that approximately 45% of colon cancer cases and 38% of breast cancer cases in the United States are preventable through diet, physical activity and weight management.

The report made 48 recommendations for cancer prevention, directed toward civil society organizations, government, industry, media, schools, workplaces and institutions, health and other professionals, and people. Industry recommendations featured in the press release industry should give a higher priority for goods and services that encourage people to be active, particularly young people; and the food and drinks industry should make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, chair of the panel, was quoted in the press release as saying, “This report shows by making relatively straightforward changes, we could significantly reduce the number of cancer cases around the world. This report is relevant for everyone from heads of government to the people who do the weekly food shopping for their family and the overall message is that everyone needs to make public health in general, and cancer prevention in particular, more of a priority.”

Media coverage in the United States so far includes reports from CBS News and Reuters. The Reuters article re-emphasized that healthier living could prevent about a third of the most common cancers in rich countries and about a quarter in poorer ones. According to the article, “They [WCRF and AICR scientists] recommend — in line with what health experts, including governments and the U.N. World Health Organization, have long been advising — that people follow diets based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains and go easy on red meats, dairy products and fats.”

— Release provided by the beef checkoff.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.