News Update
Feb. 26, 2010

Stocker Cattle Operators Should Be On Lookout For Wheat Pasture Bloat

Oklahoma stocker operators with cattle grazing wheat pasture should be observing their animals closely for signs of wheat pasture bloat.

“Wheat pasture bloat — sometimes called Sudden Death Syndrome — is a frustrating problem, often killing the faster-growing calves that consume a greater amount of forage,” said Greg Highfill, Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist.

Several factors related to plant growth and composition plus animal consumption play a role in this problem. As the wheat plants break winter dormancy, the proportion of forage components during this rapid growth phase can contribute to the rumen digestion producing a frothy foam. With rapid fermentation and conditions to produce a froth covering in the rumen, fermentation gas is trapped and bloat occurs.

“Numerous factors can contribute to bloat conditions specific to each season,” Highfill said. “In some years, the major culprit can often be cattle engorgement or simply eating too much wheat forage too fast.”

Death usually trails engorgement within nine hours to 24 hours. In addition, weather fronts often disrupt normal cattle feeding patterns. Cattle often consume more forage when a weather change is about to occur.

The number of bloating cattle can increase rapidly in a few short days.

“Producers often feel helpless as the death loss number can be significant,” Highfill said. “One logical management strategy that should help reduce frothy bloat would be to take steps to make wheat forage intake more uniform and prevent engorgement.”

A useful option may be to provide cattle with a feed supplement that contains monensin. Monensin has proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of bloat and should reduce forage intake as well.

“Stocker cattle should receive 150 milligrams (mg) to 200 mg per head per day of monensin to effectively reduce bloat,” Highfill said. “Purchasing a supplemental feed with the targeted monensin dose and getting it into the cattle are the primary management challenges.”

Mineral mixes containing monensin also are available, although consumption typically will vary more from calf to calf.

“Herd managers should assess the bloat risk in their operation to determine the level of protection needed, and possibly consult with their local veterinarian, if appropriate,” Highfill said.

Poloxalene is the generally recommended treatment for significant bloat outbreaks, although it is an expensive feed additive. While poloxalene reduces rumen frothiness, it must be consumed daily as it has no residual effects in the rumen.

Highfill said the generally recommended rate of Poloxalene is one gram to two grams per 100 pounds of the animal’s body weight. The most common form of poloxalene is Bloat Guard.®

“The preferred delivery would be to have poloxalene commercially mixed into a feed supplement; however, it could be top dressed onto processed feed in the feed bunk,” he said. “Hand-feeding a supplement may not be possible, so providing poloxalene in a mineral may be the best option.”

If mineral blocks are used, producers should encourage daily consumption of the proper poloxalene amount by removing all salt and other mineral sources.

What about the common practice of feeding hay to cattle on wheat pasture, in the belief that low consumption may provide limited bloat control?

“It’s important to note that OSU studies have shown that feeding hay really has no significant effect on reducing bloat,” Highfill said. “Some stocker cattle are just much more sensitive to bloat than others. If these animals survive the early part of an outbreak, they should be removed from wheat pasture as they will probably be susceptible to bloat the entire grazing period.”

— Release by OSU Extension.

Iowa Can Subscribe to New E-mail Lists, Connect to 4-H Livestock World

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension 4-H Youth Development is offering Iowans a new way to get connected with what’s happening in the 4-H livestock world.

Extension has created e-mail lists for beef, dairy, dog, horse, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine as a way to quickly distribute important information about these 4-H project areas, according to Mike Anderson, state 4-H agriculture program specialist.

The new lists are intended for 4-H’ers and their families, as well as volunteers, project leaders and Extension staff, Anderson said. E-mail messages will be sent periodically with information on upcoming deadlines, important rule changes or statewide events for a particular species.

To sign up for the 4-H livestock e-mail lists, go to http://mailman.iastate.edu/mailman/listinfo and click on the link for a particular list; then follow the online directions for subscribing to that list.

“We feel this is a great way to have direct contact with volunteers and 4-H families. We’re in an electronic world and need to get information out in a format that kids and parents can use,” Anderson said.

— Release by ISU Extension.

UNL Extension Farmers and Ranchers College Presents Risk Management Updates

Farmers and ranchers can take advantage of several opportunities in March to participate in various risk management updates as a part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension’s Farmers and Ranchers College.

A 9-11 a.m. March 8 risk management webinar with Brad Lubben, UNL policy specialist, and Steve Johnson, a field specialist of farm and agriculture business management at Iowa State University, will be available at the following link: Webinar Login.

This link will take participants to a login page where they need to click to enter and follow prompts. Anytime before the meeting, participants can visit the following URL to confirm their ability to connect to the Breeze server: Test Connection.

Lubben will discuss the Farm Bill and policy updates and Johnson will discuss crop insurance updates. They also will provide updates on agricultural policy.

From 9 a.m. -noon March 9 a live presentation at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds in Geneva will feature ISU’s Johnson and UNL Extension educator Tim Lemmons.

At the last of the 2009-2010 program series, Johnson will discuss “Managing Crop Revenue Risk.” Topics include discussions on the 2010 crop supply/demand and price outlook, preharvest marketing tools and strategies, 2010 crop insurance overview and Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) and Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) programs.

Lemmons will present “Analyzing Trends in Farm Financial Ratios.” Participants will discuss using farm financial ratios and specifically identifying trends that indicate a developing problem. Too often producers are told their ratios are “in the red” but are never quite sure how they got there. There will be analysis of common financial ratio problems, andLemmons will show participants how to clean up the mess using proven techniques, tricks and trade secrets. To preregister for this presentation, call 402-759-3712.

Registration for live presentations is due March 4. Dates, times, locations and telephone number to call for registration of additional “Managing Crop Revenue Risk” presentations include:

• March 9, 2:30 p.m. registration, 3 p.m. program, Community Center, Red Cloud, 402-746-3417
  
• March 10, 10 a.m., Fairgrounds, Seward, a meal will follow, 402-643-2981
  
• March 10, 6 p.m. meal with program to follow, Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, 402-624-8030

For more information about the upcoming risk management sessions, see the program flyer at Farmers and Ranchers College.

For more information about UNL Extension’s Farmers and Ranchers College, contact Brandy VanDeWalle at 402-759-3712, e-mail bvandewalle2@unl.edu.

The Farmers and Ranchers College was formed in January 2000 with the purpose of providing high quality, dynamic, up-to-date educational workshops for area agricultural producers in south central Nebraska through a collaborative effort between business, industry and higher education leaders.

— Release by UNL Extension.

Farming, Ranching With Arthritis Workshop March 5 in Torrington 

A workshop on understanding farming and ranching with arthritis is Friday, March 5, in Torrington, Wyo.

“More than 80% of producers experience some form of arthritis,” said Randy Weigel, human development specialist with the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES) and project director for Wyoming AgrAbility.

“Producers are heavily affected by this condition, which can reduce their ability to perform work tasks efficiently.”

The workshop is 9 a.m. to noon at Platte Valley Bank and is for producers and their family members who experience the challenge of arthritis and for professionals who work with those in agriculture affected by this condition. The presentation is sponsored by Wyoming AgrAbility and the Goshen County UW CES office.

Topics include learning the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, myths and facts of arthritis and ways to manage pain while ranching and farming. Examples of assistive technology devices that can make life less painful and what to look for when buying assistive technology devices to help protect joints are also part of the workshop.

Speakers at the workshop will include Sarah Perry, occupational therapist, Mary Fick Monteith, assistive technology specialist with Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) Assistive Technology Resources, and Weigel.

“Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability,” Weigel noted. “Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in and around joints, but there are steps that can be taken to alleviate symptoms and allow performance of day-to-day tasks on the farm or ranch.”

Refreshments and a box lunch are provided. For additional information and to register, contact Wyoming AgrAbility toll-free at 866-395-4986, or e-mail agrability@uwyo.edu, or Weigel at 307-766-4186, or weig@uwyo.edu.

For those unable to attend the workshop but want information on ranching and farming with arthritis, contact the Wyoming AgrAbility office.

— Release by UW CES.

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