Quality Assurance

Managing the Details – Getting the Little Things Right

– Kevin Laurent, Extension Specialist, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky

Back in the 1980’s one of the stockyards in Baton Rouge where we sold our hogs had a statement on their check stubs that read “A man with a paid off cow herd is never really broke.” That simple statement always intrigued me. Given the current market, it seems like a huge understatement, but I think the wisdom of that simple statement can be applied no matter what stage of the cattle cycle we are in. These historical prices provide an incredible opportunity to pay down debt, improve infrastructure or maybe even expand. Regardless of how we choose to use this added revenue we need to be cautious about becoming complacent in our day-to-day management. Good managers pay attention to detail, and an excellent example can be found in data gathered from the Advanced Post Weaning Value-Added Program (PVAP).

The Advanced PVAP program targets producers who have routinely weaned and preconditioned their calves prior to marketing with the objective of not only evaluating the economics of preconditioning but also identifying the best management practices of these experienced producers. The chart above is a Continue reading Managing the Details – Getting the Little Things Right →

The hidden cost of liver abscesses for the cattle producer

– Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University Extension

Losses due to liver abscesses is more than condemned livers.

Liver abscesses are characterized by the accumulation of pus (bacteria, tissue debris and white blood cells) caused by the abnormal colonization of bacteria, most commonly Fusarium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes. While the exact root cause of liver abscesses is uncertain, it is commonly believed that liver abscesses are the result of ruminal or intestinal tissue damage caused by a low pH from the consumption of high-grain-based diets containing insufficient roughage over an extended period of time. Liver abscesses in cattle are typically identified post-slaughter when the liver becomes available for visible inspection at the beef processing facility. Cattle livers containing an abscess, regardless of size, are condemned at the beef processing facility, resulting in a direct economic loss.

Recent estimates published in the Journal of Animal Science by Taylor and others, predict the United States beef industry loses approximately $256 million annually to liver abscesses or $9.07 per animal sold. At the beef processing facility, this includes losses to liver condemnation ($26.4 million), losses to other offal condemnation ($45.9 million) and processing speed delays ($11.6 million). These are costs incurred by the beef processing facility due to liver abscesses.

Currently, the cattle producer doesn’t receive a . . .

Continue reading The hidden cost of liver abscesses for the cattle producer

Cull Cow Evaluation Clinics Explore “Right Way, Right Time” to Optimize Value

– Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension

Could she be managed in a way to optimize cull value?

Fed cattle and feeder calf prices have reached historical highs. But then, so have cull cow values. Knowing that culling is a necessary part of herd management and that when managed correctly the income resulting from cull cows in a beef herd can exceed 20% of the beef cattle farm’s annual income, today, with careful management culling could be an area for experiencing even greater profit.

Presently at a time when culls can vary in value by as much as a dollar a pound, it’s time to carefully consider employing a strategic culling plan that optimizes the income resulting from culls that reach the market place in proper condition, adequately muscled and free of defects.

To dig deeper into optimizing cull cow income with a “right way, right time” approach, join OSU Extension for a two-session program where we will Continue reading Cull Cow Evaluation Clinics Explore “Right Way, Right Time” to Optimize Value →

Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) Training

– Haley Shoemaker, OSU Extension AGNR Educator, Columbiana and Mahoning Counties

Become prepared to respond to a livestock accident scene.

With an estimated several hundred thousand head of cattle transported on roadways each day throughout the U.S., first responders are often tasked with responding to scenes involving loose or injured livestock.  To better prepare emergency response personnel to safely approach and work a livestock transportation incident, the Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) training curriculum was developed.

This training, geared toward Fire, EMS, EMA, and law enforcement personnel, covers classroom sessions on scene assessment and triage, transportation hazards, mortality handling, and biosecurity while offering Continue reading Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) Training →

Weather Damage

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

Wilting cherry leaves are toxic!

This spring, there has been some severe weather across different parts of Ohio. Most farmers are no strangers to springtime thunderstorms, but they can cause problems for us and our cattle. For example, in my home county of Morgan County, we have had two different hailstorms that have caused some damage to a wide range of things.

On my family farm, after we have a storm, we go around the fields and check the fence and the fields to see what damage we have, if there is any at all. The last hailstorm that we had hit our farm, so we had to go around and check things on the farm. With the cattle ok, the first concern is the fence, and did any trees fall? We had very little damage to our farm, and the only thing we are worrying about right now is the cherry tree branches and leaves that got knocked off trees, because black cherry trees can cause cyanide poisoning from wilted cherry leaves. It’s best to Continue reading Weather Damage →

Enhancing Pre-Veterinary Education: The Value of Animal Sciences at Ohio State ATI

– Shaun Wellert, DVM, MS, DACVPM

Beyond practical experience a strong foundation in science is essential for students interested in large animal veterinary medicine.

A typical pre-professional program includes extensive coursework in biology, chemistry, and other fundamental sciences. These subjects form the core of prerequisite classes for aspiring medical doctors and veterinarians, providing essential knowledge for their future careers.

When I began my journey to becoming a veterinarian, I followed a similar academic path, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology. However, once I entered large animal practice, I quickly realized there were significant gaps in both my pre-veterinary and veterinary education. Many of the diseases I encountered in farm animals and horses stemmed from poor animal husbandry or inadequate nutrition. While my upbringing on a dairy farm gave me valuable hands-on experience with dairy cattle, unfortunately, neither my undergraduate nor veterinary school coursework fully prepared me to understand the complexities of production animal nutrition. I also lacked Continue reading Enhancing Pre-Veterinary Education: The Value of Animal Sciences at Ohio State ATI →

Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is now open for business

The Lab can test ticks for anaplasmosis and theileria

The Buckeye Tick Testing Laboratory at Ohio State University is up and running and now ready to accept samples!

The tick population, the number of tick species, and the associated tick-borne diseases in people and animals are rapidly increasing across the Buckeye State. Ohio now has six medically important tick species. These include blacklegged ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, gulf coast ticks, Asian longhorned ticks, and brown dog ticks and each carry one or more pathogens that could be harmful to humans and/or animals (note: pathogens are germs that can cause illness).

The Ohio State University Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is addressing this critical situation by offering cost-effective tick-borne pathogen testing for the general public with test results within 72 hours. After receiving the Continue reading Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is now open for business →

Good Practices for the Prevention of Anaplasmosis

– Jason Duggin, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia

For the sake of animal health, is it time to use a new needle with each injection?

In the past, we have often said that it is an acceptable practice to use a needle up to 10 injections if it doesn’t dull or become contaminated. With the continual spread of anaplasmosis in the region, the best practice is to use a new needle for every injection. It’s more than just delivering a pharmaceutical product in a humane way while reducing lesions and abscesses. Possibly now more than ever, it is a matter of herd health. To maintain herd health and profitability as bovine anaplasmosis continues to spread, we will need to change how we approach . . .

Continue reading Good Practices for the Prevention of Anaplasmosis

Beef 509 back in 2025 in a New Format

Beef 509 returns in new “regional” format.

The Ohio Beef Council and the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation in partnership with the Stockyards Packing Company will hold the BEEF 509 program in a new regional format in 2025. The program will take place in Southwestern Ohio on two Saturdays Feb. 22 and March 1 at the Stockyards Packing Company, 6365 College Corner Pike, Oxford, Ohio 45056.

BEEF 509 is an educational program designed to teach cattle producers about the food side of their business and how to utilize best management practices to improve beef quality and enhance profitability while learning about value within the beef chain.

Topics to be covered include Continue reading Beef 509 back in 2025 in a New Format →

Why should I castrate bull calves?

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

Why would I castrate bull calves when prices are so high? There are producers who castrate bulls and make them steers. There are producers who simply sell bull calves. There are producers who think they castrate bull calves, but they clearly struggle with counting to two or their castration technique needs to be refined. Regardless, there is still a good reason to castrate bull calves and market steers instead of bulls when prices are high.

For instance, 525 pound bulls were discounted $13 per hundredweight compared to same weight steers while 575 pound bulls were discounted $20 per hundredweight the week before Thanksgiving compared to same weight steers.

What other reason does a person need to castrate bull calves? What one will eventually realize when asking this question of those who do not castrate is the higher price does not always outweigh their cost of castration. Those who do not castrate will most likely never castrate bull calves and that is perfectly fine.