News Update
August 21, 2012
Cattle Producers Should Watch For Premature Calf Births
Southern Plains cow-calf producers with fall-calving herds should be watching out for any incidence of premature births in August.
Research conducted by Oklahoma State University's (OSU) Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources indicates that excessively hot summertime temperatures –– all too normal for the south-central region of the United States –– can shorten the gestation length of beef cows.
"Producers may need to adjust their herd management so as to help cows that require birthing assistance; OSU research shows that cows exposed to 90° F or greater during the last two weeks of gestation calve an average of four days earlier than what is considered normal," said Bob Wettemann, OSU Regents professor and animal science researcher.
Wettemann added some calves in the OSU studies were born two weeks early in August, and showed good survival rates provided the newborn calves had access to sufficient shade.
"It's important that newborns be able to cool down and not be stressed," he said.
The OSU animal science studies strengthen consideration for cattle producers to use a fall-calving system with first-calf cows, instead of a spring-calving system.
"Lighter birth weights for fall-calving first-calf cows should decrease difficulties associated with small cows giving birth to large calves," Wettemann said.
In most mammals, the fetus determines when the birth will occur. There is essentially a "time clock" in the calf that determines when the process is going to be initiated. Recent scientific studies demonstrate that high temperatures can speed up the "time clock" during the last two weeks of gestation, because of hormonal changes in the cow and fetus.
"This is not automatically a bad thing as it can provide certain animal health benefits, but it does require earlier observation of cows during late gestation," Wettemann said. "When used in conjunction with selection of bulls whose genetics promote lower birth weights, producers potentially can see increased calf survival, and getting a live calf on the ground is the whole point."
Cattle and calves are the number one agricultural commodity produced in Oklahoma, accounting for 46% of total agricultural cash receipts and adding approximately $2 billion annually to the state economy, according to National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data.
NASS data indicates Oklahoma is the nation's fifth-largest producer of cattle and calves, with the third-largest number of cattle operations in a state.
Livestock Emergency Disease Response System Meeting This Week
Around 100 veterinarians and emergency responders from across Nebraska will be teaming up with the veterinarian staff from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Service (APHIS VS) to attend the annual Livestock Emergency Disease Response System (LEDRS) meeting in Kearney later this week.
The two-day meeting will provide the participants with updates on homeland security issues, foreign animal diseases, and industry continuity of business planning. Researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Colorado State University will also present the results of their research related to animal emergency response activities.
The LEDRS Veterinary Corps also will participate in a practical exercise. The exercise will test their understanding of the incident command system, as well as provide hands-on experience in cleaning and disinfection protocols and developing a site biosecurity plan.
"The annual training is an important way for our LEDRS veterinarians to review and practice scenarios that they may face," said State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes. "If Nebraska ever experienced a foreign animal disease outbreak, our LEDRS veterinarians would assist NDA in responding to the emergency."
The LEDRS program began in 2002 in response to biosecurity and agroterrorism concerns. LEDRS is the statewide system NDA officials will use to coordinate and execute a rapid response to the outbreak (or potential outbreak) of a livestock disease.
"The LEDRS Veterinary Corps is committed to providing an immediate response, should an agricultural livestock emergency ever arise," said NDA Director Greg Ibach. "We are thankful for their dedication to Nebraska's agricultural industry."
New BeefRetail.org Brings Unique Resources, Insights to Retailers
The beef checkoff recently launched a refreshed version of the www.BeefRetail.org website to make it easier for retailers to access information to support beef sales at the retail meat case. The new version of the site offers enhanced functionality and new features and is the result of a nine-month overhaul that incorporates business-to-business web marketing best practices, feedback received from retail thought leaders and a review of web metrics to optimize visitors' ability to access the content more efficiently.
The site is geared toward key retailers, suppliers and industry partners as a resource for them on market intelligence, shopper insights, merchandising programs and more. The site serves as the single source for the retail channel on stimulating retail beef sales and building long-term beef demand among today's consumers. It is continuously updated with the latest market intelligence, consumer trends and insights on shopper purchase behaviors.
"The checkoff is continually responding to retailers' needs, making it easier for them to find what they need to help supercharge beef sales in their stores," says Brett Morris, producer from Ninnekah, Okla., and chair of the checkoff's retail committee. "We know the beef checkoff is one of the leading sources for retailers when it comes to beef marketing efforts such as in-store and online promotional materials, on-pack labels, weekly ad circulars, social media properties and more. The updated site helps make this critical information more easily accessible."
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USDA Suspends California Meatpacker Pending Animal Abuse Investigation
USDA has suspended operations at Hanford, Calif.-based Central Valley Meat Co. pending an investigation into animal abuse of dairy cows based on a video taken by the animal activist group Compassion Over Killing, a USDA spokesman confirmed to Meatingplace.com.
"USDA considers inhumane treatment of animals at slaughter facilities to be unacceptable and is conducting a thorough investigation into these allegations," according to a spokesman for USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). "Upon confirming several humane handling violations, FSIS suspended operations at the facility and is prepared to take further action as warranted by the investigation."
Within hours of learning of the allegations, USDA requested that its Office of the Inspector General investigate and verify the allegations. The agency sent an investigations team, including expert public health veterinarians who specialize in humane handling activities, to California to evaluate the video and determined there was sufficient evidence of several incidents that were determined to be egregious inhumane handling and treatment of livestock.
On Aug. 19, FSIS notified Central Valley Meats that the agency was withholding the marks of inspection and immediately suspending the assignment of inspectors at the establishment.
This action was initiated based on the establishment's failure to maintain or implement required controls to prevent inhumane handling and slaughtering of livestock for human food consumption.
FSIS continues its investigation to determine if all other applicable laws, regulations and policies were followed.
Officials at Central Valley Meat could not be immediately reached for comment.
Illinois Pastures Improve with the Weather
Cooler temperatures and showers across much of Illinois last week were a welcomed change from the hot and dry conditions experienced throughout the summer thus far. Statewide, temperatures averaged 68.7° F, 5.3° below normal. Precipitation totaled 1.11 inches (in.), 0.26 in., above normal. Topsoil moisture improved slightly from last week with 62% very short, 29% short and 9% adequate. Subsoil moisture also improved slightly to 75% very short, 22% short and 3% adequate.
Corn in the dent stage jumped up to 80% statewide, compared to 46% last year and the five-year average of 39%. Twenty-five percent of the crop is now mature, compared to 2% at this time last year. Corn conditions were rated at 42% very poor, 31% poor, 22% fair and 5% good.
Soybeans setting pods has reached 94%, compared to 86% last year and the five-year average of 83%. Soybeans turning yellow reached 7%. Soybean conditions improved to 26% very poor, 25% poor, 35% fair, 13% good and 1% excellent. The sorghum crop is 93% headed, 53% coloring and 5% mature.
The third cutting of alfalfa is 84% complete. Pasture conditions also improved this week and were rated at 63% very poor, 26% poor, 9% fair and 2% good.
2,4-D Resistance Found in Weeds Could Limit Usefulness
Even as crops resistant to 2,4-D herbicide are being developed, populations of weeds are also developing a resistance. A 2,4-D-resistant variety of the waterhemp weed has been found, and its spread could lessen the impact of an herbicide widely used in grassland and crop production. Despite worldwide use of 2,4-D since the 1940s, only 17 weeds were previously known to be resistant to it.
The journal Weed Science reports the discovery of 2,4-D-resistant waterhemp by a grower in Nebraska. Although scarce 30 years ago, waterhemp is now a major problem for crop production in the midwestern United States. This is the sixth mechanism-of-action herbicide group to which waterhemp has developed resistance. After 10 years of treatment with 2,4-D, waterhemp was no longer effectively controlled in a Nebraska native-grass seed production field. The highest doses of 2,4-D that were used in an on-site field study, 33 pound ai/A, were insufficient to control 50% of the waterhemp population.
Researchers gathered waterhemp seeds from this field and performed greenhouse testing against a susceptible waterhemp variety. Twenty-eight days after treatment with the herbicide, visual observation and dry weight values showed a 10-fold resistance in the affected sample. Researchers also found a reduced sensitivity to the herbicide dicamba.
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Wolf Depredation Payments to Livestock Owners Continue to Rise
New numbers released by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources show that farmers and other animal owners are getting record amounts of cash this year through the state's wolf depredation program to cover losses caused by wolf kills. The agency says it has paid nearly $215,000 between January and June 2012 — which is the most ever paid out during a six month period.
Since the program was first established in 1985, the state has issued over $1.5 million in claims. Most of those damage reimbursements went to cover losses to calves, at $619,000, followed by hounds or hunting dogs at $448,000. Other major categories in the program include deer, cattle, pet dogs and horses/donkeys.
Meanwhile, the state's inaugural wolf hunt is scheduled to begin on Oct. 15. DNR officials say hunters and trappers interested in participating in the season must apply for a permit by August 31.
Earlier this summer, the DNR estimated Wisconsin's gray wolf population to be around 815-880. That's about 4% more than the previous year.
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Infrastructure Investments Could Save U.S. Farmers Millions
U.S. farmers depend on a 50-year-old highway system, a 70-year-old inland waterway system and a railway network build in the late 1800s to move their products from the fields to end users.
This aging transportation system has been providing U.S. soybean farmers a competitive advantage in the global market, but a recent study funded by the United Soybean Board's (USB's) and soy checkoff's Global Opportunities (GO) program supports the growing evidence that this advantage continues to be threatened by the deterioration of U.S. highways, bridges, rails, locks and dams. The study, "Farm to Market –– A Soybean's Journey," analyzed how soybeans and other agricultural products move from the farm gate to customers, highlighting weaknesses found in the system along the way. The study was recommended by the checkoff-funded Soy Transportation Coalition.
"The entire transportation network has been vital to the U.S. soy industry, not only in moving our product to domestic processors but also in delivering U.S. soy to our international customers as well," says Dale Profit, soybean farmer from Van Wert, Ohio, and USB director. "We need to protect this advantage if the United States is going to remain the preferred source for soy throughout the world."
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