News Update
June 26, 2009

Effect of Calf Weaning Age on Cow Performance

According to Texas A&M University (TAMU) Professor Stephen Hammack, a herd of 408 cows (about 2/3 straight Angus and 1/3 Hereford-Charolais cross) were evaluated over three years. Calves were weaned from half of the cows at about 180 days of age (EW) and the other half at about 225 days (NW). There was little difference in body weight of cows at any point, except that EW cows were significantly heavier at normal weaning time. Also, body condition score (BCS) of EW and of older cows was significantly higher both precalving and postcalving. Calving interval of EW and NW did not differ significantly; interval was significantly longer in two-year-olds than three-year-olds. Age of cow at the beginning of the study significantly affected reproductive performance. More than 40% of two-year-olds failed to wean a calf in both of the succeeding years of the study, compared to only 15% of cows 6 years old and older. Cows were culled for:

• failure to conceive;
• not calving within the designated calving season;
• not rearing a calf to weaning;
• producing a still-born calf;
• low calf weaning weight; and
• poor BCS at weaning.

About one-third more NW cows (45%) were culled than EW cows (34%). Cows whose calves were weaned early produced calves significantly heavier [19 pounds (lb.)] at weaning the next year. The authors concluded that “early weaning improved energy status and production efficiency.” (West Virginia Univ.; J. Animal Sci. 87:2428)

— Provided by Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter, Steve Hammack.

Economic Impact of Pregnancy Testing, Bull Testing and a Shortened Breeding Season

A study was conducted on the economic effects of three management practices in a South Texas beef herd, according to Hammack. The study herd consisted of 200 cows and 8 bulls. Three management practices were evaluated during a 10-year period:

• Pregnancy testing vs. no testing
• Bull BSE (Breeding Soundness Evaluation) vs. no BSE
• 90-day breeding season shortened from 120 days

On a cow per year basis, pregnancy testing cost $6.20 and BSE cost $2.31. Per dollar of cost, pregnancy testing returned $18 and BSE returned $22. To facilitate late-calving cows to rebreed, an extra $780 cost for supplemental feed was incurred for the herd in the first year. For every dollar of that extra feed, the return was $13 over the life of the study. (Dept. of Ag. Econ., Texas AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M System; FARM Assistance Focus – June, 2009)

— Provided by Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter, Steve Hammack.

U.S. No. 1 Beef Supplier to Taiwan

In 2008, the United States replaced Australia to become Taiwan’s No. 1 beef supplier in terms of import value, according to an article in Drovers Alert citing a new report from the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service. Trade data for the first 11 months of 2008 indicated that Taiwan imported $126 million worth of U.S. beef, while Taiwan imported $103 million worth of Australian beef.

Dallas Auction Gallery to Auction Lifetime Bovine Collection Oct. 14

He once dressed John F. Kennedy Jr., and presided over the hallowed halls of Neiman Marcus. Now Derrill Osborn will bring his unique lifetime collection of “art de la vache” to an auction hosted by Dallas Auction Gallery on Oct. 14. Osborn’s collection boasts more than 500 cows whose origins span the globe and several centuries.

Osborn, who retired in 2002 from a 40-year career in fashion that concluded with 23 years at the helm of Neiman Marcus’s men’s fashion division, helped shape decades of fashion trends, including the three-piece suit.

The vast collection, toured by garden clubs and featured in the pages of home magazines in recent years, has moved from Osborn’s Oak Lawn townhome to Dallas Auction Gallery’s preview room where visitors are already gearing up for the fall auction.

Osborn collected the bovine art for nearly 50 years from across the globe — from China to Germany to New Mexico to the Lonestar State.

Auction items will be available for preview online through Dallasauctiongallery.com, liveauctioneers.com, thesalesroom.com, artfact.com, and artnet.com two weeks before the sale. To join DAG for the Oct. 14 auction or for more information, please visit www.dallasauctiongallery.com or call 214-653-3900.

USDA Launches Recovery Act Web Site

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today launched a new USDA Recovery Act web site, including features and functionality that will allow people to learn about, share and discuss American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding in states and communities throughout the country. The web site, www.usda.gov/recovery, also includes a blog, podcasts, RSS feeds, and other interactive tools so that folks from throughout the country can participate by sharing stories and providing feedback about how USDA stimulus funding is affecting their community.

— Adapted from a release provided by USDA.

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