Month: May 2018

Hauling Pen-Pack Manure

– Glen Arnold, CCA, OSU Extension Field Specialist, Manure Nutrient Management

While the nutrients and organic matter in pen-pack manure are an excellent addition to farm fields, we always want to keep water quality in mind when handing manure.

Since spring has arrived, both large and small livestock owners with pen-pack manure are looking to apply the manure as soon as field conditions allow. Across the state I have seen stockpiles of pen-pack manure outside of sheep, horse, cattle, and dairy buildings. The nutrients and organic matter in pen-pack manure are an excellent addition to farm fields.

We always want to keep water quality in mind when handing manure. The goal is to make Continue reading Hauling Pen-Pack Manure →

On Day 21 Following Bull Turnout, 60 Percent of Cows Bred

– Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension

Are the cows ready to breed, and will 60 percent conceive a calf within 21 days following bull turnout?

In reality, cattle never should be out of shape for breeding. Weather and feed supplies always should be managed so animals are in good condition. The important point, however, is to know where the cattle operation is at, avoiding unforeseen disappointments next fall.

Let’s talk about cows. Typical 1,300-pound cows consume 25 to 30-plus pounds of dry matter a day, depending on the stage of pregnancy and milk production. Dry, pregnant cows will be at the lower end of total feed needs. Lactating cows may very well exceed the upper end.

Remember, as cows climb the body weight ladder, to 1,500 to 1,600 pounds, they are going to need Continue reading On Day 21 Following Bull Turnout, 60 Percent of Cows Bred →

Plan Now for the 2018 OCA Replacement Female Sale

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

Each of the first five OCA Replacement Female Sales have enjoyed large crowds and active bidders.

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is announcing an event of potential interest for both the buyers and sellers of beef breeding cattle. On Friday evening, November 23, the OCA will be hosting their sixth annual Replacement Female Sale. The sale will be held at the Muskingum Livestock facility in Zanesville and will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The 2018 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Replacement Female Sale will provide an opportunity for both buyers and sellers to Continue reading Plan Now for the 2018 OCA Replacement Female Sale →

Posted by at Posted in Events

Why ‘veggie meat’ Won’t Replace Beef

– Justin Sexten, Ph.D., Director, CAB Supply Development

Lately the news is overrun with features on how we humans plan to shift away from meat as we’ve always known it to plant protein alternatives. Personally, I refuse to call it meat; vegetables and legumes in a meat-like form perhaps, but meat it is not.

“Lab meat,” despite not being commercially available, continues to garner news coverage with the implication it may be coming soon to a store near you. The troubling aspects of these products are the claims they make against the Continue reading Why ‘veggie meat’ Won’t Replace Beef →

A Nice “Second Spring” Rally is Under Way

– David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

After touching $130 per cwt back in February, the fed cattle market dropped dramatically into the $110s. The early Spring rally appears to be giving us a second act. Cash fed cattle prices ranged from $124 to $126 to end last week. That leaves fed cattle up a good $8 per cwt during April.

Higher cutout values are feeding into higher fed cattle prices. The Choice beef cutout started this week at $224.50, up $13 in the last 7 week days. The Choice cutout was about Continue reading A Nice “Second Spring” Rally is Under Way →

Making Forage Improvements

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman)

We are currently at a very important point in the annual beef and forage production calendar. We are concluding the winter hay feeding season and transitioning to the spring grazing season. Most producers are welcoming this change as we have just experienced a difficult winter with extreme conditions ranging from bitter sub-zero temperatures to excessive mud. I know that I am ready for warmer temperatures and greener grass!

Now is a good time to evaluate the forage portion of your farming operation and how it is influencing your beef production unit. Forage management decisions can focus on pastures as well as hay production, storage, and feeding. These decisions will have a huge impact on the overall profitability of your beef enterprise. Keep in mind that the largest expense in any cow-calf budget that you can find will be feed costs. Grazed and harvested forages obviously will comprise the largest portion of the feed expense line of the budget.

Most Ohio beef operations will typically have a forage base that combines a variety of cool-season grasses with legumes. A few producers will also Continue reading Making Forage Improvements →

Crabgrass Can Be Friendly

– Christine Gelley, OSU Extension AgNR Educator, Noble County (previously published in Progressive Forage)

Forage type crabgrass – ‘Quick-N-Big’

Crabgrass is a hated weed in the world of turfgrass management and often seen as a plague in lawns and on sports fields. Despite it’s bad reputation as a weed, crabgrass was originally introduced to the United States for livestock and can be a friendly forage.

Dispelling a Bad Rep: Crabgrass possesses traits that allow it to excel as a weed, but those same traits implemented in the right place at the right time can be used to your advantage as a livestock forage. It is fast growing and fairly easy to establish. It is tolerant of foot traffic and close harvest heights. It provides excellent nutritive value and is Continue reading Crabgrass Can Be Friendly →

Don’t Let Potash Limit Your Forages

– Jimmy Henning, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Potassium can be a neglected nutrient in forages, especially hayfields. Potassium is needed for many essential plant processes including stomatal opening and closing (regulates water status of plant), winter hardiness, and resistance to plant disease and stress. Fall is a great time to sample pasture and hayfields and apply needed fertilizer such as potash (K2O).

Silage crops are heavy users of K2O, and the stover/stems contain ¾ of the potash. If these fields are not amended with additional K2O according to soil test, subsequent forage crops will Continue reading Don’t Let Potash Limit Your Forages →

Weekly Livestock Comments for April 27, 2018

– Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

FED CATTLE: Fed cattle traded mostly $2 to $3 higher compared to a week ago on a live basis. Prices on a live basis were mainly $124 while dressed trade was not well established.

The 5-area weighted average prices thru Thursday were $120.84 live, down $0.47 from last week and $193.93 dressed, up $6.72 from a week ago. A year ago prices were $136.25 live and $216.81 dressed.

The talk around cattle pens is not about how impressive live cattle prices are but rather how steep a discount June live cattle futures are relative to current cash prices. The live cattle market is experiencing a record strong basis for the June contract. Currently, cash live cattle trade is $17 per hundredweight higher than where the June contract is trading. If futures were assumed to be correct then it will take a precipitous decline in live cattle prices the next two months to have Continue reading Weekly Livestock Comments for April 27, 2018 →