Events

Participate in the NAHMS study “Health Management on U.S. Feedlots, 2020”

The USDA initiated the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in 1983 to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on animal health, management, and productivity across the United States. The NAHMS team conducts national studies on the health and management of United States domestic livestock populations. These studies are designed to meet the information needs of the industries associated with these commodities, as identified by people within those industries.

Presently through April 7, 2019, NAHMS is conducting a needs assessment survey to gather input from cattle producers and other stakeholders about priorities regarding cattle health that should be included in the upcoming study titled “Health Management on U.S. Feedlots, 2020.” To participate and offer your input, go to this SurveyMonkey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/feedlothealth

For more information about NAHMS, visit their website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/monitoring-and-surveillance/nahms

Henry County Beef School series begins March 25

Beef producers, are you interested in improving the efficiency and profitability of your beef operation? If so, the 2019 Henry County Beef School is the program for you. This free four week offering is designed to cover the fundamentals of raising beef cattle; Forage Production, Genetics, Nutrition, and Marketing.

I think we can all agree that the 2018 season was one of the poorest in terms of making high quality dry hay. On Monday evening, March 25, Jason Hartshuch from OSU Extension Crawford County will be covering forage quality and storage. Feel free to bring a forage analysis to compare and take notes.

Have you ever had questions regarding what to look for when Continue reading →

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Ohio Beef Expo Kicks Off March 15

The Ohio Beef Expo, the premier event of Ohio’s beef industry, will take place March 15-17 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. This annual event, coordinated by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA), includes a kickoff social; breed sales, shows and displays; beef quality assurance sessions; a multi-day trade show and a highly competitive junior show.

OCA members and Expo exhibitors are invited to attend The Social, on Thursday evening, March 14, at the Expo headquarters hotel, the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. The kickoff event will auction items for OCA’s PAC fund such as two VIP parking spaces at the 2019 Ohio Beef Expo, an Ohio State fire ring and other great items.

For the first time in Expo history, the trade show will open on Thursday, March 14 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. This allows more Continue reading →

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Livestock Mortality Composting Certification

Composting livestock mortalities can be an efficient and inexpensive method of disposing of on-farm mortalities. Rendering facilities are becoming harder to come by and so are landfills that accept livestock mortalities. Transportation costs are increasing as well. Composting offers a year round on-farm alternative that may be more cost effective than other disposal methods. Once the compost cycle is complete, the finished product can be land applied to the farm’s fields as a nutrient resource.

To start composting livestock mortalities, one must complete a certification course taught by OSU Extension. This course teaches producers how to properly compost mortalities. It covers topics like where to place the compost site, how large of an area is needed, how to manage a pile to compost completely and efficiently, and the economics of composting mortalities compared to other disposal methods.

Presently there are two opportunities in Ohio to gain Livestock Mortality Composting Certification. The first is in Darke County on February 13, and the second is on March 12 in Wauseon. Advance reservations are required for both. Find details linked under the Events/Programs link at the top of this page.

Ohio Forage & Grasslands Council Conference; High Quality Forages

The Ohio Forages and Grasslands Council Annual Conference will be held February 8, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg, OH. The program theme is “High Quality Forages.”

The keynote speaker will be Jerry Lindquist, Retired Grazing and Field Specialist at Michigan State University, who will discuss “Eight Years of Grassfed Beef Research at MSU-Lessons Learned” based on extensive research and experience in Michigan. Mr. Lindquist will also be giving a second topic entitled “Multi Species Cover Crop Mixes for Grazing and Soil benefit”. To compliment the cover crop topic, also speaking will be Kyle Smith of KC Fencing Unlimited, LLC to speak on “Fencing Geared Towards Grazing Cover Crops”. Several producer talks will also be Continue reading →

OSU Extension Offers Beef Cattle Artificial Insemination School

– Clif Little, OSU Extension Guernsey County

The Ohio State University and the OSU Eastern Agriculture Research Station (EARS) in Belle Valley will be offering a three day beef cattle artificial insemination (A.I.) school on April 30, May 1, and 2nd. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. each day at EARS.

Producers will learn the basics of utilizing Expected Progeny Difference (EPD’s), techniques for artificial insemination, semen handling, reproductive anatomy & physiology and estrous synchronization. On the third day the class will Continue reading →

2019 Ohio Beef Cattle School Approaching on February 5

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

The OSU Extension Beef Team will be hosting the 2019 Ohio Beef Cattle School.  The School will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 starting at 7:00 p.m.  As in year’s past with the Beef School, county or area Extension offices will serve as hosts for local clientele.

Cattlemen have faced many environmental and production challenges thus far in the winter of 2018-2019.  Strategies need to be implemented immediately to improve the chances for efficient and profitable production this year.  Listed below is the agenda for the webinar:

“Winter Management of the Cow Herd to Insure a Productive 2019”

* Introduction: Analyzing the Current Situation: What is the quality and quantity of your hay supply and what is the Continue reading →

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Great Lakes Professional Cattle Feeding and Marketing Short-course

The 2019 Great Lakes Professional Cattle Feeding and Marketing Short-course is a joint effort of Ohio State University Extension, Michigan State University, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture to enhance the cattle industry in the Eastern Corn Belt.

The first session of this two part program will deal with early nutrition management, corn silage levels, and health. The second session will include economics and Continue reading →

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2018 OCA Replacement Female Sale Results

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) held their sixth annual Replacement Female Sale on November 23 at the Muskingum Livestock Auction Company in Zanesville, Ohio. A large crowd was on hand to bid on 107 high quality females in the sale. The sale represented an excellent opportunity for cow-calf producers to add quality females with documented breeding and health records to their herds.

Buyers evaluated 107 lots of bred heifers, bred cows, and cow-calf pairs at the auction. The sale included 80 lots of bred heifers that averaged $1,437, 25 lots of bred cows that averaged Continue reading →

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Opportunity Knocks This Friday

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

111 lots sell this Friday.

This is the final reminder to attend the sixth annual Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Replacement Female Sale. The sale will be held this Friday, November 23, at the Muskingum Livestock facility located at 944 Malinda Street in Zanesville and will begin at 6:00 p.m. This sale represents an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to add quality young replacement females to their herd.

At the time of this writing, there are 111 lots selling in the sale. These lots consist of Continue reading →

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