Author: Smith

Look for ways to reduce calf stress at weaning

– Dr. John Yost, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Wayne County, Ohio State University Extension (originally published in Ohio Farmer on-line)

Recognize that each procedure performed on a calf at weaning creates stress and stress decreases production potential.

We are quickly approaching your neighbor’s favorite time of year.  That being one where the air is filled with the melodious serenades of newly weaned calves and their separated mothers.  We know that the bawling will end after a few days, but your weaning process can affect the calves’ performance the rest of their lives.  It doesn’t matter whether the calves are destined to find their way onto a truck headed to a feedyard, or if they will be staying on farm to become a future replacement in your herd, you want to prepare them for the next stage of the production process.

We often think of weaning as an abrupt change.  Cows with calves in the morning, then cows and calves on different parts of the farm in the afternoon.  In order to be efficient with our time, we will combine many of weaning tasks into the same day.  There isn’t a perfect system, but there is a Continue reading Look for ways to reduce calf stress at weaning →

Considering By-products and Alternative Feedstuff beyond hay for ruminants

– Jason Hartschuh, Extension Field Specialist, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock, Ohio State University Extension and Garth Ruff, Field Specialist Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing, OSU Extension

Managed properly, straw can be a feed alternative.

When it comes to feeding ruminants versus monogastrics, the feed stuff options seem to never end. In many areas of Ohio where cow-calf and small ruminant operations dominate, the most economical feed option is to use livestock to harvest the forage, and then to feed the stockpiled pasture and hay through the winter. However, I am constantly reminded that ruminants do not need to be fed alfalfa or grass hay. What they do need is the correct amount of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and enough fiber to maintain rumen health. This allows for many different by-products to be used in ruminant nutrition, making them excellent up cyclers. Testing forage for nutrient content  is critical when designing feed rations to make sure your livestock nutritional needs are being met. Most local feed mills have access to a nutritionist that can help you make sure your feeding program will meet your livestock’s needs for their body condition and stage of life.

Straw or corn stalks as feed instead of bedding
Corn stalks are often used to extend the grazing season or as bedding but they can also be used to meet fiber, energy and protein needs. The nutritional value of baled corn stalks is lower than Continue reading Considering By-products and Alternative Feedstuff beyond hay for ruminants →

Managing Weeds

– Jordan Penrose, Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Morgan County

Knapweed is becoming obvious in many pastures.

With fall approaching, though it doesn’t seem like it, but it seems like weeds are more noticeable here. In southeastern Ohio, we are extremely dry with very little to no grass left in the pastures, and the weeds more noticeable. In Morgan County, the weeds that I have been getting the most questions about are spotted knapweed, hemp dogbane, cocklebur, and johnsongrass. Some other noticeable weeds that I am seeing as well are ironweed, Canada thistle, horsenettle, bedstraw, and others. On the family farm, we are seeing a newer weed, small carpetgrass, that I haven’t seen before until last fall. We just started to see it come up around mid-August in the field where we feed most of our hay during the winter.

Why are we seeing more and more weeds show up? I remember when ironweed used to be the biggest problem weed on the farm, now it seems like a weed that we are willing to live with as compared to some of the other newer weeds, like cocklebur or spotted knapweed. Some of the reasons as to why we are these weeds pop up and notice more and more of them can be caused by Continue reading Managing Weeds →

Johne’s Disease and Detection in Beef Cattle Frequently Asked Questions

– Dr. Michelle Arnold, DVM, MPH UK Ruminant Extension Veterinarian

Figure 1: Recently calved cow with classic signs of Johne’s disease; dull hair coat, profuse watery diarrhea and weight loss. Photo from “Management and Control of Johne’s Disease in Beef Sucker Herds” by Drs.Isabelle Truyers and Amy Jennings. In Practice July/August 2016/Volume 38, page 348.

Johne’s (pronounced Yo-knees) Disease is a slow, debilitating disease of adult cattle characterized by profuse, watery diarrhea and progressive weight loss or “wasting” (Figure 1), despite remaining bright and alert with a good appetite. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, commonly referred to as the “MAP” bacteria. This disease begins when calves (not adult cattle) are infected by eating or drinking manure containing the MAP bacteria. This most often happens around the time of birth, although infection can occur up to 6 months of age but very rarely after. Once MAP enters a calf, the organism takes up residence within the cells lining the ileum (the last portion of the small intestine) where it multiplies, causing the intestinal lining to slowly thicken. Over time, the thickened intestine loses the ability to absorb nutrients, resulting in watery diarrhea. There is no blood or mucus in the feces and no straining to defecate. Affected cattle typically begin to display clinical signs of diarrhea and progressive weight loss at 2-5 years of age or older. There is no treatment available for this condition and the animals that develop chronic diarrhea eventually die due to starvation and dehydration. The MAP organism is “shed” in the feces into the environment before the diarrhea starts and continues until the animal’s death. Map bacteria are very hardy due to a protective cell wall that allows survival for long periods, sometimes years, in the environment where it can infect young calves.

How do calves get infected with MAP bacteria?
Johne’s disease begins with MAP infection, most often when calves Continue reading Johne’s Disease and Detection in Beef Cattle Frequently Asked Questions →

Posted by at Posted in Health

Beef-on-Dairy is a Growing Trend, But Its Impacts on Beef Production are Small

– James Mitchell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness, University of Arkansas and Kenny Burdine, Ph.D., Extension Professor, Livestock Specialist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky

Beef-on-dairy refers to using beef semen on dairy cows to increase the value of calves that will not be retained as dairy replacement heifers. The increased calf value from beef-on-dairy comes from improved feedlot performance, meat yield, and quality, where quality refers to muscle size and shape. Growth in beef-on-dairy has raised several questions, including the impacts of the system on U.S. beef production. Recent estimates picked up by the farm press suggest that beef-on-dairy represented 7% of 2022 cattle slaughter or 2.6 million head. The same source predicts that beef-on-dairy could account for 15% of cattle slaughter by 2026. There is nothing wrong with these numbers, but some context should be added regarding how this would impact US beef production levels.

It is important to recognize that beef-on-dairy does not immediately change the number of calves born to dairy cows annually. Therefore, it does not necessarily mean more cattle entering the beef production system. The first figure (above) in this article shows annual fed cattle slaughter. The figure also shows that Continue reading Beef-on-Dairy is a Growing Trend, But Its Impacts on Beef Production are Small →

Drought and Dust: Preparing for Winter Feed Shortages

– Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension, Perry County

Have you inventoried your forage supply? Photo: Al Gahler

Depending on where you are in the state, you might be dealing with dry conditions or even severe drought. Here in southeastern Ohio, pastures are parched, and hay production has been disappointing, with very little to show for second or third cuttings.

This year, forage quantity is becoming a significant concern for many producers. Reports indicate that first cuttings yielded only 40-50% of what they should have, particularly in grass forage fields. Second and third cuttings have fared even worse, with some fields producing only 25% of a typical harvest, if anything at all. Many producers have already started feeding hay, raising concerns about whether there will be enough to last through the winter. Given the variable pasture conditions across the state due to ongoing dry spells, it’s crucial to start planning now to be better prepared for the fall and winter.

Know Your Inventory and Its Value

The first step in planning is to Continue reading Drought and Dust: Preparing for Winter Feed Shortages →

Alternative forage option when the rain finally comes

– Jason Hartschuh, Extension Field Specialist, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock, Ohio State University Extension

Oats remain an option for late planted feed.

They always say if you don’t like the weather in Ohio just wait a few hours and it will change. Unfortunately, we may have to wait more than a few hours for the weather to change and bring rain, but it will. Unfortunately, when this rain does come it maybe to late to grow more pasture forage for your livestock without causing even more long-term damage to your pastures. If you have crop land especially corn silage, early soybeans, or even pasture that could use renovations now is the time to find seed and be optimistic for rain sometime this fall. Your decisions on the possible forage crop to plant will depend on when the rains finally come, and the timing of your forages needs. These forages can be planted as single species or as a mix. However, a mix may reduce yield especially since moisture will be lacking for a while even when it does finally rain.

Oats
The first option for fall forage is spring oats or winter oats. These are both oats, but they are not the same. Spring oats is our most common type of oats that we have successfully used as a forage crop planted in the late summer, but we have planted oats through mid-September in Fremont Ohio with yields of almost Continue reading Alternative forage option when the rain finally comes →

Drought Stressed Corn for Corn Silage

Originally written in 2012 by Dr. Bill Weiss, Professor and Dairy Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University and Dianne Shoemaker, Field Specialist, Dairy Production Economics, Ohio State University Extension.

Drought conditions have adversely affected corn.

Revised August 2024 by Dr. Maurice Eastridge, Professor and Dairy Extension Specialist, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University

With the limited rain in Ohio recently, corn development has been adversely impacted and physiological maturity accelerated. The extent of the drought varies by area of the State, but much of the southeastern area has been classified as severe to extreme drought (Drought Information | State Climate Office of Ohio (osu.edu)). Also within a farm, considerable variation in the corn growth may occur based on planting date and the drainage in the fields (corn on knolls and hills will dry quicker than corn in low areas). The key issues to address at this time are:

    1. Dry matter (DM) content of the silage. The plant should not be harvested prior to reaching 30% DM and should be harvested before reaching 40% DM (30-32% for horizontal silos and 35 to 40% for upright silos). Water can be added to the silage during unloading, but intercellular plant water is more effective in the silage preservation than surface applied water.
    2. Nitrate concentrations. During drought conditions, the corn will take up nitrate from the soil and accumulate it in the lower portion of the plant until it is metabolized by the plant for protein. The nitrate concentration will vary based on N application, timing of the N application based on before or after a cover crop, severity of the dry conditions, variation in drainage within fields, and chop height of the plants (higher chop height reduces nitrate concentration). Being safe is better than being sorry – collect a representative sample of the corn and send it to a lab for analysis.

Other questions include . . .

Continue reading Drought Stressed Corn for Corn Silage

Effective pasture management: Crucial for sustaining long-term productivity and environmental health!

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

With each sunrise, new grazing opportunities arise!

This is the 200th issue of Grazing Bites—time flies, but the need for good pasture management remains as crucial as ever.

In the book “Observations on the Means of Improving the Cultivation of the Soil and the Management of Livestock,” Scottish gentleman farmer, botanist, essayist and scholar, James Anderson, provided a detailed approach to managing livestock on pasture.  He strongly advocated for rotational grazing, a method that involves moving livestock between different pastures.  This technique helps prevent overgrazing and allows pastures to recover, thus maintaining soil fertility and forage quality.

Anderson also emphasized the importance of avoiding overgrazing to prevent soil degradation and ensure adequate forage availability. He urged farmers to closely Continue reading Effective pasture management: Crucial for sustaining long-term productivity and environmental health! →

Forage Quality Analysis Service available thru The Ohio State University

For more detail visit their website.

Forage testing and quality analysis is now available at the Sustainable Agroecosystems Lab, a part of The Ohio State University. The lab is committed to advancing sustainable agricultural practices, and their latest service offering is designed to support farmers, researchers, and educators in optimizing forage quality and productivity. Utilizing state-of-the-art Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology, their goal is to provide precise and rapid analysis of standing forage, hay, and silage.

Find more detail including pricing information at their Forage Analysis website.