News Update
October 5, 2012
Wheat Pasture Can Provide Cow Grazing Benefits
if Used Properly
Assuming more rainfall comes to Oklahoma and Southern Plains states in the weeks ahead, wheat pasture is likely to be a key source of protein and energy for cow herds by late November and early December.
Nathan Anderson, Payne County Extension director and agricultural educator, said limited grazing of wheat pasture has proven to be one of the most efficient approaches for using this high-quality forage with mature beef cows.
"The protein requirements of a dry cow can be met by allowing her to graze on wheat pasture for one day and returning her to dry pasture grass or hay for the subsequent two days to three days," he said. "A pattern of one day on wheat and one day off should meet the protein needs of the same cow after calving."
It is important that adequate forage be available in the dry-grass pastures or in the form of hay to provide much of the energy requirements of the cows during the "off" days.
Anderson said the "day on wheat pasture" should be defined as the amount of time required for the cow to graze her fill of wheat forage — three to five hours, typically — rather than 24 hours. This short time on wheat allows the cow to gather adequate amounts of protein to carry the animal over the ensuing days on dry grass or hay.
"A three- to five-hour grazing limit helps to avoid the unnecessary loss of valuable forage due to trampling, bedding down and manure deposits," Anderson said.
Given typical weather conditions in the fall, enough wheat forage should be accumulated by late November to early December to supply the protein needs of up to one-and-a-half cows per acre throughout the winter months when limit grazing is practiced. However, producers will need to examine their pastures because local conditions will vary. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension emeritus livestock specialist, cautions that cow-calf producers who decide to use continuous grazing programs should watch out for the possibility of grass tetany.
"Grass tetany will normally strike when older cows are grazing small-grain pastures in the early spring; the danger will tend to subside as hot weather arrives," he said.
Wheat Pasture Can Provide Cow Grazing Benefits
if Used Properly
A mineral-deficient condition primarily caused by calcium, and to a lesser degree by magnesium, is thought to be the major factor that triggers grass tetany. The disorder normally affects older cows that are nursing calves younger than 3 months of age. Dry cows are seldom affected.
"When conditions for the occurrence of grass tetany are suspected, cows should be provided mineral mixes containing 12% to 15% magnesium, consumed at a rate of 3 ounces to 4 ounces per day," said Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension emeritus livestock specialist.
Selk reminds producers that it is best for the supplements to be started a couple of months ahead of the typical period of tetany danger, so that proper intake can be established.
"Given that grass tetany also can occur when calcium is low, calcium supplementation should be included, as well," he said.
Symptoms of grass tetany from deficiencies of both minerals are indistinguishable without blood tests.
"The treatment consists of intravenous injections of calcium and magnesium gluconate, which supplies both minerals," Selk said. "Cows grazing lush small-grain pastures should be fed mineral mixes containing both calcium and magnesium."
Deadline is Nov. 1 to Order Custom 2013 BRS/AngusSource® Calving Books
The American Angus Association offers the pocket-sized Beef Record Service (BRS)/AngusSource® black books as a hassle-free, recordkeeping option. Until Nov. 1, producers can order customized books, complete with the operation's logo and contact information.
"The black books are always a popular item with our cattle producers," says Ginette Kurtz, AngusSource quality manager. "They make a great gift for customers during the holiday season, and they are likely to carry them all year."
The calving books help cattlemen keep track of birth dates, identification numbers, pasture location and other pertinent information. Because they are small enough to carry in a pocket, cow herd data is never far away.
The 2013 books are available in any quantity for $3 each and can be customized with purchases of 100 or more. Standard orders feature the Association logo. To place an order, contact the AngusSource department at 816-383-5100 or blackbooks@angus.org.
Earl Skahill Named Distinguished Service Award Winner
Long-time meat industry veteran Earl Skahill has enjoyed a 44-year career that has seen him manage beef and cattle feeding operations in the Midwest, open export offices in Asia, establish several export "firsts," and found his own meat distribution company in Colorado.
Now, more than four decades after starting his career in his family's cattle feeding business, Skahill is adding the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Distinguished Service Award to his extensive résumé. The award is presented to members of the industry who have worked with special dedication for the industry and the federation and have shown outstanding leadership and contributions in the achievement of USMEF's export goals.
After graduating from Marquette University, Skahill managed his family's cattle-feeding business before joining Dubuque Packing Co. as manager of lamb and cattle-feeding operations. Over his 18 years with Dubuque Packing, Skahill learned the business from the inside out, managing the variety meat and hide operations; and managing slaughter and fabrication plants in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa before overseeing all production at seven plants throughout the Midwest.
Skahill's exposure to the international market started in 1968 when he added international sales to his résumé, introducing Dubuque products to Europe and Japan as well as much of the Pacific Rim. He lists among his most proud accomplishments his introduction of Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) to Japan and Taiwan, along with expanding CAB business in South Korea and Thailand.
From Dubuque Packing, where Skahill achieved the title of executive vice president and assistant to the president, he moved to Gerber Agri-Export, a South African company with 18 international offices. There, as senior vice president, he introduced Gerber into the Asian market before he acquired Gerber's Denver office in 1995. He has grown that single office into a three-office company, Meat Specialty of Colorado, which sells beef, pork and other products throughout the Southwest.
Over the course of his 44-year career, Skahill has seen many changes in the meat industry, none more significant than the evolution of the beef industry from selling carcasses to boxed beef. That is closely followed by the expansion of beef exports to Japan from frozen to chilled.
"Early on, Australia was way ahead of the U.S. industry in terms of shelf life, getting 90 days to 30 or 40 for the U.S.," said Skahill, who studied the fresh chilled beef program at the Beef City plant in Australia. "Expanding the shelf life and our ability to ship chilled beef to Japan is what's responsible for the huge amount of beef we export today."
The Distinguished Service Award doesn't mark the conclusion of Skahill's career, just another landmark along the way. Skahill intends to continue running Meat Specialty of Colorado and managing his ranch in Texas. And one of his three sons, Mike, vice president of international sales for Smithfield Foods, helps to carry on the family's passion for meat exports.
"I want to work every day," said this year's award-winner. "I enjoy it. It's what keeps me going."
Livestock Judging Team Kicks Off Fall with Solid Finish at National Barrow Show
The Michigan State University (MSU) Livestock Judging Team started off its fall competition season with a promising finish at the National Barrow Show (NBS) Sept. 9 in Austin, Minn.
The team placed eighth in the all-swine contest and took sixth in the oral reasons category. Team member Katie Cook, a senior animal science major from Goodrich, Mich., was recognized as the second-high individual in oral reasons.
In addition to Cook, other team members are: Hannah Bollinger, Coopersville; Taylor Harrison and Ali Harwell, both of Coldwater; Sarah Kennedy, Saranac; Beth Oliver, Byron; Jon Stelter, Bridgeman; and Beth Wernette, Remus. The team is coached by Alan Culham, Cody Sankey and Al Snedeger.
The judging team's remaining competitions are the Ak-Sar-Ben judging contest (Omaha), the Keystone International (Harrisburg, Pa.), the Premier Stockman (Auburn, Ind.) the American Royal (Kansas City) and the North American International Livestock Exhibition (Louisville, Ky.)
Note Corrected Date:
Kentucky Beef Conference Oct. 23 in Lexington
Kentucky beef producers interested in current market trends, management practices and ways to make calves more marketable may want to attend the Kentucky Beef Conference, Oct. 23. The one-day event at the Fayette County Cooperative Extension office aims to teach producers how to turn today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities.
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will host the conference, which will focus on existing marketing trends in the beef industry, managing higher feed costs and current market volatility.
Preregistration ($10) is encouraged. To preregister, interested people should contact their local agricultural and natural resources extension agent by Oct. 19.
For more details, see this meeting's listing in the API Virtual Library Calendar of Upcoming Events available online at http://www.api-virtuallibrary.com/meetings_other_calendar.html.
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