June 2018
| Just a Reminder that the Sustainable Grazing Institute will be being held on June 26-29 in Panguitch UT. You can register at the link below on Eventbrite. Hope to see as many of you there as possible
Thank you to everyone who is reading our newsletter! We will continue to broaden the scope and subject matter of the newsletter as needed or requested. If you know anyone that would like to sign up for our newsletter, they can sign up on the USU Extension – Beef Cattle Facebook page, or contact Dr. Mathew Garcia and he will put them on the email list. Furthermore, feel free to contact any of the authors for more information or to suggest a column for a future newsletter! |
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Beef Species Questioning our “traditional” beef production practices.
Dr. Matthew Garcia matthew.garcia@usu.edu 435-797-2144 As a state specialist I have the privilege to see a wide variety of production practices and operations in Utah and the intermountain west. I find myself asking questions as to why certain practices are in place and how long they have been in place. This is something that I have always been curious about and a topic that is yearly reignited, especially at this time of year as we have wrapped up calving season and producers are starting to put out bulls for breeding season. Typically, when I ask questions about production systems and practices I get a wide variety of answers as to why things are done the way they are. The answers range from, “this is the way we have always done it”, or “this is what we have found works best for us”, or “this is the way we have to do it”. This is especially true when I ask producers (even my own family) why do so many people calve from January to march? Just like everything else in the production process, calving at this time or changing calving time affects everything downstream in the production process for years to come. However, it does seem like an odd time as calf survivability is in question due to the elements, cow nutritional demands are the highest during the beef production process due to lactation, but the quality of feed is poor and limited. Essentially, we are asking a cow to do the hardest part of her job when the environment is hostile and the resources to do her job are limited. Furthermore, we are asking her to do this job with poor resources, to rebreed when her environmental resources have not met her needs during her highest energy requirements and are only beginning to become optimal so she can replicate this amazing feat again the next year. In this situation forage quality, and quantity do not match what is being dictated by the cows production needs. This is just one production practice that I believe should be discussed, and I’m by no means saying everyone should change their calving dates, or production practices, but I am asking why don’t people question in depth why they are doing this? I’m also asking, why don’t we critically evaluate our practices until after we have a train wreck and then try to recover? After discussing this topic among others with economists, range specialists and lifelong producers I began to wonder, how often do we break down our traditional production process, put pen to paper, critically evaluate our resources and figure out what a change in practice might cost us in terms of long term benefits or detriments? More specifically, why do we not evaluate how to make our resources more compatible to our production practices? In my mind this would mean less work for us, lower production costs, and a more efficient operation. However, growing up on a ranch I understand that there is a fine balance to making a beef operation profitable and sustainable. I also understand that many producers have found a niche as to when things need to be done to be compatible with their resources. However, I often wonder if we find something that has worked and we stop evaluating what we could do to be better. I would think that by continually and critically evaluating what we have always done versus what we may be able to change (as painful as it may seem), could we make our production practices more compatible with our resources and thus increase our profitability and efficiency. I would suggest, just like any business operation that your production system should be under continuous evaluation for any improvements (as subtle as they may be) that can be implemented.
For more information or in depth conversation please contact Dr. Matthew Garcia Email: matthew.garcia@usu.edu 435-797-2144 |
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Equine Species Equine Insurance. Dr. Karl Hoopes 435-535-5140
Equine Insurance Today’s horses seem to cost more and more every year. From purchasing price, to feed costs, to vet bills, horses are becoming a much larger investment than they have been in the past. Wanting to protect our investment we often ask ourselves a few questions: “Should I get my horse insured?”, “How much should I insure my horse for?” or “What type of insurance should I get?” If you decide to insure you horse, remember, every insurance company and every insurance policy can be different. It is helpful to talk with an insurance agent that is familiar with horses to help you get the coverage you want. Horses can be covered by insurance in a couple of different ways: mortality, “loss of use”, medical, or surgical insurance. Here are a few general ideas to consider when looking to insure you horse. Mortality insurance can help with the cost to replace your horse should he/she die, need to be euthanized, or is stolen. The question that you ask is, “Do I have enough money to replace this horse out of pocket, or do I need insurance to cover that.” Most insurance companies will allow mortality insurance on horses as young as 24 hours old and as old as 20 years. When insuring a new foal, insurance companies may require a few blood tests to ensure that the baby has a good functioning immune system and is not currently fighting an infection. Most insurance companies will also require a veterinary exam on any horse before covering them. When trying to figure out how much to insure your horse for, you must first determine the actual value of the horse. Here are some considerations when setting that value.
A variation on mortality coverage is “loss of use.” This type of coverage will pay a portion of the horse’s value should he/she become permanently injured. This can include athletic as well as breeding potential. Medical and surgical insurance can help offset the cost of major medical care needed from accident or illness. It can include diagnostics, medications, surgery and postoperative care. Be aware, most policies do not cover routine care such as vaccinations and dentistry and also require you to carry mortality coverage. Make sure you discuss with an insurance agent about exclusions from a policy based on your horse’s previous medical history. A lot of confusion exists around this part of equine insurance. Not all exclusions are permanent and can be lifted. Many people will get medical coverage on their horse knowing that they will not have to make a life and death decision based solely upon the cost of the medical procedure. Insuring horses is becoming easier and much more affordable. Here is a quick hypothetical scenario: A 13-year-old barrel racing horse, valued at $15,000 can be insured for the following rates.
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Small Ruminant “Increasing milk production and newborn growth?” Dr. Lyle McNeal 435-797-2140
Introduction: There is great variation in the quality and quantity of the milk produced by different ewes or does and even by different breeds of ewes or does. Under normal circumstances, older animals tend to produce more milk. However, the nutrition of the mother during gestation (pregnancy) and lactation has a significant effect on the quantity of milk produced.
Ewe/Doe Nutrition and Milk Production: Milk production increases sharply after the birth of the newborn and reaches its peak between 3 and 8 weeks. In most females, with dairy goats being the exception, milk production has significantly decreased by 8-10 weeks. Mothers that have limited feed intake during their first 2-4 weeks of lactation, never reach their potential lactation peak and consequently produce less than their genetic potential throughout lactation. These mothers also tend to have a more rapid decline in milk production and do not lactate for as long. Realize that many newborns are solely dependent on the mother’s milk for the first 3 weeks. It is not until 3 and 4 weeks after birth that the newborn begins to supplement its diet by aggressively grazing forage and/or consuming significant amounts of hay and a creep feed if provided. Inadequate milk production during this critical time leads to poor growing newborns.
To measure if a ewe/doe is being adequately fed during gestation and lactation, monitor her body condition. Ideally, the ewe/doe should have a body condition score of about a (3) three. A ewe/doe that has to maintain a high level of production, will lose body condition if adequate nutrition is not provided. Because of this, it is important to ensure the ewe/doe receives a balanced diet and is fed the proper quantity during gestation and lactation. The following are some suggested rates of supplementing grain to help meet the increased nutritional needs:
The producer must also ensure that all animals have equal access to supplemental feeds and quality roughage. Mothers that have recently given birth are unlikely to go over to the supplemental feeding area. Because of this, the intervals between supplemental feedings for the flock/herd should not be too long. In general, the group should be fed at least daily, with 2-3 times a day being the recommendation. Where the roughage in the pasture or range is limited, it may be advisable to provide the ewes/does with some supplemental hay (alfalfa, alfalfa-grass mix, other legumes and mixed grasses) until the pasture or range has enough nutritional substance and bulk.
Most early lactating ewes require about 6-8 lbs. of feed that has a total protein of 14-15% and a net energy (Mcal NE) of 3.72. Most early lactating does require a diet that is 15-18% protein and has a net energy (Mcal NE) of 4.23.
Other Handicaps to Lamb/Kid Growth: When worm (internal parasite) burdens are high, worm egg output increases. This contaminates the pastures, dry-lots, and lambing/kidding areas used by other animals. Some health experts have found that during the lambing/kidding season, the mother has decreased immunity. This makes her more susceptible to parasitic infections. If a ewe/doe becomes infected with a significant worm burden, the growth of the lamb/kid will be adversely affected. If this situation is not corrected by birth, these worm burdens in the mother and eventually the newborn can severely reduce growth and production rates. This condition can be controlled by de-worming ewes/does 3-4 weeks prior to the lambing/kidding season. De-worming ewes/does and then moving them to a safe pasture, will prevent the rise in production of worm eggs after lambing/kidding. If the ewes/does are not moved after this dose, additional doses are required at 3 week intervals throughout the lambing/kidding season. The final dose should be given 2-4 weeks after the last lamb/kid is born. A de-wormer for lambs or kids at weaning should also be given. Be sure and not repeatedly use the same de-wormer either. Because of abuse and overuse of de-wormers (anthelmintics), we have a serious problem called “A.R.” in the United States. A.R. means Anthelminthic Resistance.
A deficiency in vitamin B12 in the lamb/kid will retard growth rates. Vitamin B12 is made in the rumen from dietary cobalt. A ewe/doe that consumes cobalt in her diet can produce the vitamin B12 and pass it along to her newborn in the milk. However, some areas of the United States are considered cobalt deficient. These areas include the Northeast, Midwest, around the Great Lakes, and Florida. Because of this, it is critical that ewes/does in these areas be properly supplemented with cobalt. An additional precaution is to give an injection of vitamin B12 to the lamb/kid when it is 4-6 weeks old.
Maximizing Lamb/Kid Growth Rate: For the first 3 weeks, lamb/kid growth will reflect the mother’s milk production. After the first 3 weeks, however, growth will also reflect the pasture/range available for grazing. Therefore, when planning the lambing/kidding season, make sure to have the best pasture/range forages available no later than 3 weeks after the ewes/does give birth.
Summary:
Commercial Western White-face range ewe with nice udder, and nursing her growing twin lambs with only her milk and no creep fed
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