University of Nevada Cooperative Extension: Lincoln County

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Utah Ag Industry Hightlights

August 2018

Beef Species

Using Injectable Mineral as a Tool to Enhance Calf Productivity
Dr. Matthew Garcia
matthew.garcia@usu.edu
435-797-2144
As many producers have finished the calving season and bulls are out with the cows, it is essential that we be thinking about our current product (this year’s calves) and how we are going to successfully transition them into the marketing phase of the beef production system. As many of us know this transition period is the time when calves have the highest probability of getting sick and losing productivity. This is due to stress of weaning, being transported multiple times, and being transitioned to a new diet. Furthermore, if you factor in that many calves in Utah may have a mineral deficiency due to multiple factors in our intermountain west environment this leads to the conclusion that maybe we need to implement another management tool into our arsenal to keep our calves healthy when they transition into the next phase of the production process. Injectable mineral has been proven to be an excellent tool to help calves remain healthy during this phase. There is a good amount of scientific evidence that shows that utilizing injectable minerals is a good management tool to implement during this stressful time of production. Specifically, the use of injectable minerals has shown to increase the efficacy of vaccines that calves receive during the preconditioning phase prior to entering and while in the feedlot. This means that calves stay healthier and are more efficient in their growth characteristics during the feeding or stocker phase. The reason for this increased efficiency is an enhanced immune system due to increased vaccine efficacy. Growth efficiency overall is enhances as well being that a good number of calves are not being housed in a sick pen with inefficient growth patterns. This is not only good for the calves, but also means due to increased efficiency that it is taking less resources to get them to harvest. Furthermore, by increasing growth efficiency and enhancing immune function we address the public’s concern about large scale use of antibiotics and animal welfare. If less animals are getting sick in the feedlot, less antibiotics are being utilized. Furthermore, if less animals are getting sick then that leads to the conclusion that we are managing the animals better and that we have improved animal’s welfare. This management practice may prove particularly useful for producers that are maintaining ownership of their cattle through the feedlot. The upfront cost for the injectable would more than likely be recouped by less treated animals in the feedlot, less rails, and less time spent in the feedlot due to increased growth efficiency. While injectable mineral does bring many potential benefits to our beef system, it is still only a tool that must be implemented in conjunction with other good management practices. We must still manage all other aspects our production system if we want to get a viable and valued product to market.
For more information or in depth conversation please contact
Dr. Matthew Garcia
435-797-2144
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Small Ruminant
“Pizzle Rot in Rams, Bucks and Wethers”
Dr. Lyle McNeal
435-797-2140
Well it won’t be long and we’ll start having more ram sales taking place, either via breed associations, grower associations, and of course private treaty sales. However, one of the key components of the ram to check for breeding viability, surrounds the condition of his sheath, penis, and vermiform appendage. Of course if you have a Ram Breeding Soundness Examination conducted before procurement, then that buck or pens of bucks should be alright. Regardless, I continue to see more pizzle rot (a.k.a. sheath rot) more frequently then those years I managed the former National Wool Growers Association National Ram Sale in Salt Lake City. Technically, this most common bacterial infection of the prepuce and is commonly called Pizzle Rot or Sheath Rot, but is also medically called Ulcerative Posthitis.
However, even with rams in your ranch or farm battery that are going to be used another year, must also be checked for pizzle rot too.
TO DEAL WITH THE CAUSE FIRST:
– Ram with Pizzle Rot (Ulcerative Posthitis).

Like many conditions we see in sheep or goats, pizzle rot is the result of an interaction between a bacteria and some other factor. The bacteria is Corynebacterium renale or one of that group. These bacteria have the ability to break urinary urea down into ammonium carbonate, using an enzyme, urease. The other factor is an increase in the protein level of the diet, quite common in the month before breeding to improve the condition of the rams. Once the protein in the diet from all sources rises above 16%, urine can contain more than 4% urea. This excess urea makes the urine alkaline. The bacterial urease breaks down the urea to release excess ammonia. It is this ammonia that causes a severe irritation and ulceration of the skin around the pre-putial opening. Once the skin is ulcerated, C. renale or other bacteria will infect it. The debris from the ulcer form a crust which may block the opening to the prepuce. The infected ulcers can spread through the opening to the mucosa of the pre-putial cavity. Any scar tissue formed around an untreated ulcer can permanently constrict the pre-putial opening to prevent extrusion of the penis at breeding.
Once the opening is blocked, urine dribbles out to stain the surrounding wool. Fly strike often follows ulceration and urine soiling of the pre-putial area. Internal ulceration is painful; the prepuce becomes enlarged and swollen, containing old urine and debris. If there is severe interference with urination, the ram may become uremic (kidney problems) and die.
Castration before puberty also can be a predisposing factor because castrated animals have a decreased ability to extend the penis and tend to urinate in the sheath. Confinement rearing concentrates animals in smaller areas and is conducive to C. renale survival. Pizzle rot may be detected as early as 2 weeks after an increased protein intake, and legumes usually will increase protein intake of the small ruminants.
TREATMENT:
Treatment consists of removing the wool or mohair around the area, then removing the dead tissue in the ulcer with a debriding (removal of unhealthy tissue from a wound to promote healing) agent, such as a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution. Then applying an ointment containing penicillin, bacitracin or 5% copper sulphate at weekly intervals. As an alternative to an ointment, a cetrimde cream can be used. I have also found DuraCream™ very effective in treatment too. If there is a suspicion that the ulcer has spread to the mucosal of the preputial sac, penicillin injections will help the healing process.
The removed or sheared wool or mohair of the affected animals should be burned or disposed in a manner to prevent the spread of the causal organism.
To stop dirt contaminating the treated area, the ram should be bedded on a good layer of clean straw until the ulcer has healed. Depending on the treatment the external ulcers can take a few weeks to six months to heal. Part of the treatment is to remove the cause, that is adjusting the protein level of the diet to below the critical 16% level. Forage analysis and a ration formulation based on that analysis for each stage of production should be part of the flock management. Additionally, an unlimited supply of fresh, clean water should always be available.
The healing ulcer does not prevent the passage of urine, but because of the pain of extruding the penis at breeding, the ram will be very unwilling to breed. Even if the ram can breed, it should not be used as there are reports of a venereal transmission to the ewe causing an ulcerative vulvitis. The same organism can be isolated from these lesions. A ram with pizzle rot should not restart breeding until the ulcers have completely healed.

Poultry Species
Preparing Chickens for Show

Dr. David D. Frame
435-851-2233
With country fairs and fall chicken shows approaching, it would be beneficial to review how to prepare your chickens for the show coop.
In reality, preparing your birds for show begins at day of hatch.
Two weeks before show

 

A. Make preliminary selection of entry.

    1. Select three birds for every one you wish to show.
    2. Separate these selected chickens from the main flock so they are easily identified. May want to attach a numbered leg band to each of them.
    3. Keep them in a separate pen or in large coops with plenty of shavings.

B. Accustom them to handling – spend time with the selected birds so they are used to human contact. Get to know the characteristics of each one for final selection.

Three days before show

 

A. Weigh each bird. Eliminate any that are above or below show rule limits.

B. Check rest for defects, injuries, poor feathering/broken feathers, crooked toes, etc. and

eliminate them if found.

C. If it is a meat chicken (i.e. broiler) show and rules allow trios, match three birds that are as similar as possible in weight, conformation, and feather quality. If it is a standard-bred exhibition show, match the two females as closely as possible, and make sure the male is of comparable quality and of typical breed/variety characteristics. Put these birds into separate coops with plenty of fresh shavings

Two days before show

 

A. Fill up two containers – each large enough to hold a single chicken at a time – with warm water (~100º F).

    1. In one basin add a few drops of dishwater detergent – this is the wash.
    2. In the other basin add a few drops of glycerin (available at your drug store) – this is the rinse.
    3. Depending on volume of water, size of the chickens, and number of birds needing to be bathed, these basins might have to be refilled periodically.

B. Carefully immerse one bird at a time into the wash water, keeping head above the water. Gently work the water through the feathers and feet until all dirt, feces, and stains are gone. Stroke out as much of the water as possible

C. Immerse into the rinse water. Again, gently work through the feathers to remove any residual soapy water. Remove excess water.

D. Towel-dry with a large clean absorbent towel.

E. Place bird in an individual cage with plenty of shavings. Keep the cage away from drafts until bird has completely dried.

Day of show

 

A. Using a Q-tip swab, carefully apply a thin coating of baby oil to the face, wattles, and comb.

B. With your fingers, rub baby oil into the shanks, toes, and footpads.

C. Place in individual coop with clean fresh shavings for transport to the show.

At the show

 

A. Find out where the show superintendent wants your birds cooped.

B.  Remove each bird head first, dab off any soiling that occurred during transport (a small water bottle with a couple of drops of dish detergent is helpful), and polish feathers with lamb’s wool or a microfiber rag.

C. Carefully insert head first into show coop. Smooth out feathers and perform any last-minute cosmetic work.

REMEMBER: This is a beauty contest for chickens!!
 
Rule of Thumb
Everything else being equal, the bird (or pen of birds) that is the cleanest and has the best-groomed plumage will win.
                                                                                          

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Dairy
Nitrate Accumulation in Forages
Dr. Allen Young
allen.young@usu.edu
435-797-3763
The last several years have seen drought conditions across the United States, as well as here in the Intermountain area. Drought conditions stress plants and cause problems that impact livestock – particularly ruminants. Because these problems can cause death, it is prudent to be aware of the problems so you can prevent or mitigate its effects.
            Specifically, I’m referring to nitrate poisoning. Nitrate poisoning is the result of accumulation of nitrates in plants because plant growth was disrupted due to drought conditions, frost, temperature changes, and even hail damage. This disruption causes nitrates to be converted to nitrites, which accumulate in the plant. These compounds are extremely toxic to cattle and can cause death through oxygen deprivation. Animals that have nitrate poisoning (it really should be called nitrite poisoning) will have brown blood and grayish-blue color in mucous membranes (nose, mouth, vulva). This is not the same as prussic acid poisoning (bright cherry red). They will have excess salivation, grinding teeth, unsteady gait and rapid labored breathing. Advanced stages will see animals that collapse, go into comas, and die. Abortions can occur, and subclinical cases may be more frequent than acute cases. I commonly hear about cases where animals appeared fine, then started acting “funny”, then died. It is important to remember that nitrates make it hard for hemoglobin to pick up oxygen, so they become starved for oxygen. If they have it, and you realize what is happening, contact a veterinarian. The only remedy that I know of is to give methylene blue IV; you can’t buy this over-the-counter.
            There are many plants common to this area that can accumulate nitrates. The more common are corn, oats, sorghum and Sudan grass. Surprisingly to me, weeds can contain some of the highest levels. Drought stunts plant growth and causes accumulation of nitrates. Rapidly growing plants tend to have lower levels because the biochemical pathway for converting nitrates to amino acids is not stopped at the nitrite level. The lower portions of the plant contain higher levels than the tops or seeds. Immediately after a rain, plants take up even more nitrate, but once the plant starts to rapidly grow, the levels drop over the next 2 to 5 days. Also, be aware that the same process occurs at freezing. High rates of nitrogen fertilization increase nitrate accumulation under these conditions.
            What can you do to prevent the problem? Be aware that it may be a problem. If you suspect that any of your forages may have been drought stressed, send a sample to a forage testing laboratory and find out the nitrate and nitrite content. I had a call two years ago from a rancher in an adjacent state that had done the test and almost all his hay for that year (several thousand tons) had levels that were some of the highest I had ever heard. The solution for this person, and for many similar cases, is to dilute it. Animals can tolerate some nitrates over time, so mixing it with hay that has low levels of nitrates can help get you through a crisis. This works if you are careful, know the nitrate levels of your forage, and know what are acceptable limits for your animals. Another possibility is to cut the forage “high” by raising the cutter bar to a foot off the ground. The reason is that accumulation of nitrates is highest at the base of the plant. By cutting high you are removing the most concentrated part. Another possible solution is to ensile the feed. The fermentation process can reduce the nitrate level by ~40%; however, be careful because it can take a little bit of time. Don’t forget to retest. When formulating rations, don’t add urea or NPN because this can add to the problem. Don’t harvest until several days after a rain and be very careful when feeding green chop; especially if you leave it overnight before feeding. Keep out the weeds. If you leave hay bales with high nitrate levels outside and they get rained on, be careful of the lower bales because the nitrates can leach out and concentrate on the lower bales (no one does that anyway…). If you graze, adapt animals to new fields and DON’T overgraze. If you can’t find the problem, check the drinking water; it may be the source.
            Nitrate poisoning can be a serious problem under our current drought condition, but with planning and forethought, it can be kept under control. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at allen.young@usu.edu or 435-797-3763.

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Applied Agricultural Economics
Key Drivers of Profitability
Dr. Ryan Larsen
Ryan.larsen@usu.edu
435-797-0784
Business owners and managers must understand the key drivers of profitability for their business or operation. This is often not a simple task. Identification of the key drivers require that profitability be correctly defined. Accounting profit is defined as the net income that remains after all measurable costs are subtracted from total revenue. As economists, we like to complicate things a little more and so there is also an economic profit. Economic profit includes all the measurable costs (variable costs) and implicit (fixed) costs. Examples of implicit costs are depreciation, management fees, opportunity cost of land, and interest on investments. Positive economic profit provides insights into the long-term viability of an operation. Understanding the concept of both accounting and economic profit provides a beginning point for defining key drivers of profitability.
Defining key drivers on the revenue side is simple. In the case of a cattle operation, revenue is simply price times number of pounds sold. Prices and pounds will vary based on factors such as type of cow, quality, and timing of the sale. Research done by the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management identifies calf sales as the most important with the weaning rate and weight as the key driver of revenue in their sample of operations. We can also look at a sample of Utah cow/calf operations. The FINBIN database (https://finbin.umn.edu/) out of the University of Minnesota provides farm level information to identify key drivers. In 2016, the average gross revenue for a sample of Utah cow/calf operations was $490.29 per cow. Of that $490.29, $450.26 came from calf sales with an average weaning weight of 524 pounds and weaning percentage of 85%.
The key drivers on the cost side are a little more complicated. Using the same FINBIN dataset of Utah farms, we can look at the average cost per cow. For 2016, the average variable cost per cow was $442.86 per cow. Feed was the greatest expense at $300.76 or 68% of total variable cost. Feed expense is a key driver of profitability. Feed decisions and expenses should be closely analyzed and monitored. The second key driver is labor. Labor makes up 8% of total variable cost. Just like feed expenses, labor expenses should be closely monitored. Total fixed expenses for the average Utah cow/calf operation in 2016 was $96.03. This expense is composed of depreciation, interest, and management charge. Understanding that these costs are fixed help operators maximize production efficiency.
The 2016 average accounting profit for the sample of Utah farms in the FINBIN database was $47.43/cow. On the other hand, the average economic profit was -$48.59. This illustrates the difference between economic and accounting profit. Not accounting for fixed costs such as depreciation and management charges leads to vastly different results. Both profit definitions are useful and should be used by operators when analyzing the financial performance of their operation.