News Update
Aug. 10, 2010

AgriLife Extension Sets District-Wide Beef Clinic in Abilene

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the District 7 4-H beef clinic, “Keys to a Successful Show Steer Project,” from 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in Abilene.

The clinic will be in the Griffin Arena, located on the grounds of the Taylor County Expo Center. The event will be held in conjunction with the West Texas Fair that will also take place at the Expo Center from Sept.10-18.

“The clinic is geared toward 4-H members who are new to showing steers, but there will also be plenty of information for those who have not exhibited cattle in a while or who need information on the latest trends involved with this particular project,” said Jerry Kidd, AgriLife Extension agent in Menard County and clinic coordinator.

Topics covered will include selection considerations, the importance of a routine, halter training, hoof and health care, nutrition to optimize conformation, and hair care for slick-shorn shows and for shows in which the hair is left unshorn. The clinic concludes with showmanship tips.

The clinic is free, but those attending must purchase a ticket to enter the West Texas Fair.

For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Menard County at 325-396-4787 or go to http://menard-tx.tamu.edu .

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Salt Solves Tetany Problems in Short Term, But Phosphorous Still Needed to Address Long-Term Soil Needs

Cow chemistry keeps revealing secrets as Dale Blevins delves deeper into the causes of grass tetany, a nutritional disorder than kills cows.

Blevins, a University of Missouri (MU) plant scientist, studies the makeup of grass that the afflicted cows eat. He’s making progress.

Sodium — most people know it as common salt — can save the lives of cows that eat lush springtime grass that is short in magnesium and calcium. Lack of those nutrients makes highly productive milk cows vulnerable to tetany.

“Feed salt, lots of loose salt, to cows in spring,” Blevins told field day visitors at the MU Forage Systems Research Center (FSRC), Aug. 3.

Grass tetany has fascinated Blevins since he was a boy on his father’s farm near Ozark, Mo. “It was always one of our best beef cows that lay down and died,” he said.

The disease hits both dairy and beef cows, especially in a cool spring when grass growth is rapid. That’s when a cow’s demand for nutrients to produce milk is high.

Scientific literature historically indicates tetany is associated with calcium and magnesium uptake. In earlier research, Blevins discovered and published results that showed soil phosphorus controlled the grass uptake of those two vital elements.

Grass tetany in cattle is less likely from soil high in phosphorus, but Ozark soil, where Blevins grew up, is notoriously low in phosphorous. For example, soil tests at the MU Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Mo., showed only 7 pounds of phosphorus in soil that needed 40 pounds (lb.) of phosphorus.

Adding small amounts of phosphorus fertilizer boosted hay yields by 1,500 lb. per acre and increased calf weaning weights by 50 lb. “Those are good reasons to keep phosphorus levels up to soil-test recommendations,” Blevins said. “I believe in soil tests.”

After beef cows died at MU FSRC in the spring of 2007 right after an Easter freeze, Blevins studied grass samples from pastures there that showed the grass lacked sodium, even though the soil was high in phosphorus. This was an unexpected turn of events. Now it was obvious that sodium had something to do with the mystery of tetany.

That’s when Blevins learned that inside the cow sodium helps pump the needed magnesium through the cow’s cell walls.

At least until he learns more, Blevins recommends adding more loose salt for the cow herd to lick to help stave off tetany.

“Spread it out so every cow gets some,” Blevins said. “Don’t put out one salt block that an old bossy cow can dominate. Make sure all the cows get plenty of salt in the spring.”

Blevins has not satisfied his curiosity on the mysteries of grass tetany. As with any advance in discoveries, the solving of one problem usually raises new questions to be answered.

— Release by MU Extension.

NMSU Extension Hosts Bovine Trichomoniasis Workshop in Socorro

Bovine trichomoniasis (TB) is a disease in cattle that affects reproduction and prevents calves from being carried to full term. In recent years, the disease has become more prevalent in New Mexico.

New Mexico State University (NMSU) county Extension offices of Socorro, Sierra and Catron counties are hosting an education program on Tuesday, Aug. 17, in Socorro to help area cattle producers identify the disease and explain how to prevent it.

“Having bovine trichomoniasis in cattle equates to a loss in revenue for producers because their cattle are not giving birth to a live calf to be raised and ultimately to be sold,” said Tom Dean, Socorro County Extension agricultural agent. “We want the people who attend this program to gain knowledge about this disease and to learn what they need to do to maintain a disease-free herd and how to recognize the disease in their livestock so they can work toward having a disease-free herd.”

John Wenzel, NMSU Extension, and Tim Hanosh, NMSU Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense Center, both veterinarians, and Sam Wilson, New Mexico Livestock Board, will present the program.

The program will be at the Extension office in the Socorro County Annex Building, 198 Neel Ave., Socorro. Registration for the free event, which is co-sponsored by NMSU and New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau offices in Socorro, Sierra and Catron counties, begins at 2:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 3 p.m. A free meal will be provided. Participants are asked to RSVP to the Socorro Cooperative Extension Service office at 575-835-0610.

— Release by NMSU.

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