Harvesting and conserving water for livestock in extremely dry times can be particularly challenging , especially when working with older water source developments. In the on-farm video embedded below and sourced by staff from Eastern Ohio NRCS and SWCD, see first hand how water developments slowed by age and/or drought might be enhanced in the emergency situations many across Ohio are presently experiencing. Also, see the OSU Extension Fact Sheet Livestock Water Development.
Health
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
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
Making Decisions During Drought
– Garth Ruff, Field Specialist Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing, OSU Extension
Hay has already been fed for weeks in parts of SE Ohio. Photo: Ted Wiseman
Across southern and southeastern Ohio it has been significantly dry since the beginning of June. Pasture conditions are continuing to deteriorate from a lack of rainfall. Ponds are low and only the best springs are continuing to flow in parts of the state.
In areas that are experiencing drought, farmers are faced with making decisions on how to 1) feed their livestock and 2) conserve resources. To accomplish those goals there are a number of options to consider.
Feeding Hay
Livestock producers who are short on grass, may turn to feeding hay to hold livestock over until soil moisture and forage growth reboot. While feeding hay is often the first consideration in a drought, hay inventories coming into 2024 were already lower than average. Couple that with the dry conditions and Continue reading Making Decisions During Drought
Forage Nitrate Toxicity a major concern as drought worsens
– Jason Hartschuh, Extension Field Specialist, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock, Ohio State University Extension
Drought conditions create concern for nitrate toxicity.
Weather conditions across Ohio have been challenging this growing season with some areas of the state reaching a D3 drought status. Other areas of the state may not currently be under drought status but are drier than normal and at risk of quickly experiencing a flash drought. These adverse growing conditions can cause unforeseen challenges with forages. We have had multiple reports of high nitrate levels this year in early harvested summer annual forages as producers needed feed.
Plants readily take up nitrates from the soil, even under dry or cool conditions. Once in the plant, nitrate is converted to nitrite, then ammonia, and finally into amino acids and plant protein. Any environmental stress that significantly slows down plant photosynthesis and metabolism can lead to excessive nitrate levels in the plant because the nitrate uptake from the soil will be faster than its metabolism into plant protein. Such stresses include drought, frost, extended cold weather, cloudy conditions, or hail damage. While frost is a concern for increasing nitrates in forage a few months from now, the sorghum family also has prussic acid concerns when plants die quickly because of a frost. Prussic acid and nitrate poisoning are not the same.
The highest level of nitrate accumulation in corn occurs from Continue reading Forage Nitrate Toxicity a major concern as drought worsens
Animal Disease Traceability Rule Part 2: Eartags
– Dr. Michelle Arnold, Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, University of Kentucky
The new Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule, entitled “Use of Electronic Identification (EID) Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison”, was published in the Federal Register on 5/9/2024 and will be effective on 11/5/2024. This final rule, available at https://www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2021-0020-2011 is an amendment to the animal disease traceability regulations already in place as of January 2013. One stipulation in the new rule requires eartags to be both visually and electronically readable to be recognized as official eartags for interstate travel for cattle and bison covered under the regulations. This final rule does not require exclusive use of eartags; the regulations continue to list eartags as one of several forms of authorized official identification, which also include tattoos and brands when accepted by State officials in the sending and receiving States. This article will address questions about eartag differences with regards to the new rule. For more in-depth information, there is a new guidance document entitled “OFFICIAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (AIN) DEVICES WITH THE “840” PREFIX”, published 5/14/2024, available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/media/document/64512/file .
What does it mean that an official tag must be “visually and electronically readable” for interstate travel? Are the RFID “button tags” considered visually readable or will flop tags/panel tags be required?
All tags must be readable in cattle, but USDA now has Continue reading Animal Disease Traceability Rule Part 2: Eartags
Managing Nitrates and Prussic Acid in Forages
– Dr. Chris D. Teutsch, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center at Princeton
Sorghum species can accumulate both nitrates and prussic acid.
Nitrates can accumulate to toxic levels in commonly grown forages. This most often occurs when heavy nitrogen fertilization is followed by drought. Nitrates are taken up by the plant, but not utilized since plant growth is restricted by the drought. Any factor that slows plant growth in combination with heavy nitrogen fertilization can result in nitrate accumulation. Some plants tend to accumulate nitrates at greater rate; these include, but are not limited to commonly used summer annual grasses, corn, crabgrass, small grains, annual ryegrass, bermudagrass, Johnsongrass, tall fescue, and some annual and perennial weeds commonly found in pastures and hayfields.
In contrast to nitrates, prussic acid or hydrogen cyanide can be formed in commonly used sorghum species such as forage sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, sudangrass, and Johnsongrass. Under normal conditions these forages contain little free cyanide. However, when freezing, drought stress, wilting, or mechanical injury damages plant tissue, an enzymatic reaction occurs and free cyanide is produced. Being aware of the factors that Continue reading Managing Nitrates and Prussic Acid in Forages
Pinkeye in Beef Cattle; a look at the frustration it causes, and prevention and treatment options
During a portion of the third session of the 2022 Virtual Beef School held on Monday, March 21st Dr. Justin Kieffer, Clinical Veterinarian for the Department of Animal Sciences at Ohio State University, offered the explanation embedded below on why pinkeye can be so frustrating to prevent in beef cattle, and the special effort that goes into preventing and/or treating it in the beef herds at OSU. You will find Dr. Kieffer’s presentation from that evening on whole herd health in its entirety here: https://youtu.be/rrxabT5ksiI?si=y_PscWXbbrd96aET
Keep Cool in the Shade
– Dr. Jeff Lehmkulher, PhD, PAS, Extension Professor University of Kentucky
Temperature and humidity both contribute to heat stress.
As the summer weather has hit full stride, take some time to focus on factors that impact animal performance during these months. Stocker calf performance reflects changes in the environment, plane of nutrition, and overall health of calves. Be mindful of the how summer weather can impact these three overarching factors and consider what you might alter or maintain to minimize the impact of these elements.
Heat stress is the first environmental factor that will impact animal performance during the summer months. The effect of heat stress is exacerbated by the alkaloids produced by the wild endophyte in Kentucky 31 tall fescue. Animals compensate during heat stress with increased respiration rate, increased skin vaporization (sweating), increased peripheral blood flow, decreased appetite to reduce metabolic heat production, and more time seeking relief by standing in the shade, congregating in water or grouped up in areas where urine and feces create a wallow. Increased respiration rate leads to greater energy expended for contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm. This doesn’t Continue reading Keep Cool in the Shade
Animal Disease Traceability Rule: Infrequently Asked Questions
– Dr. Michelle Arnold, DVM- Ruminant Extension Veterinarian (UKVDL)
Figure 1: Homepage of the APHIS Animal Disease Traceability Website.
In a press release issued on April 26, 2024, it was announced that a new rule, entitled “Use of Electronic Identification (EID) Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” was finalized. This final rule is an amendment to the animal disease traceability regulations already in place as of January 2013. The new rule requires eartags to be both visually and electronically readable to be recognized as official eartags for interstate travel for cattle and bison covered under the regulations. In addition, the amendment revised the definition of dairy cattle, clarified certain record keeping requirements, and revised requirements for cattle moving to slaughter. This final rule is specifically focused on improving the ability to trace LIVE animals accurately and rapidly to contain disease outbreaks before they can do substantial damage to the cattle industry. The rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks and will take effect 180 days after its publication. APHIS maintains an Animal Disease Traceability webpage (Figure 1) with direct access to the Final Rule, FAQs, how to obtain free electronic ID tags, and other resources at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/traceability . This article will attempt to address some of the less frequently asked questions about important aspects of the new rule. For reference, page numbers are included where these questions are addressed in the final rule.
Has anything changed with this new rule regarding which cattle are required to have “official identification” when moving interstate?
No, the final rule does not Continue reading Animal Disease Traceability Rule: Infrequently Asked Questions