Livestock

Tick Info – Recordings

As we head into summer make sure that you are keeping you, your family, and your animals tick safe.  Tim McDermott DVM, Assistant Professor and Extension Educator Agriculture and Natural Resources for Franklin County, recently recorded two webinars that can be viewed using the links listed below.  One is a shorter one focused on human safety done in collaboration with American Electric Power for their field staff, the other is a full hour presentation done in collaboration with EABU (Purdue, MSU, and USDA).

Also, don’t forget that OSU now has tick testing capabilites. You can find more info on that here: buckeyeticktest.osu.edu

BEEF Cattle Letter: June 11

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1451 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Not only has first cutting hay been a challenge to get made this year in Ohio, but it matured a week or more early throughout much of the state. Does that mean quality is even worse than might be expected for late cut hay in what we used to know as a ‘normal’ year? We can’t mange what we don’t measure, and we won’t know the quality of our forages without first testing them. That said, find announcement of a reduced cost forage testing program in this week’s postings. (PS: This is hot off the press so give your local Extension office a minute to get up to speed on this new program!)

Articles this week include:

  • Cover Crop ‘Forage’ an Option for Prevented Planting Acres
  • OSU Extension Offering Hay Testing Program
  • Pregnancy evaluation = good return on the investment
  • Record High Cattle Prices
  • Imports and Exports in April

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

BEEF Cattle Letter: June 4

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1450 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week its all about managing weather, and pasture!

Articles this week include:

  • Weather Damage
  • You can’t manage what you don’t measure . . . including pasture!
  • Plentiful Pastures, a summer pasture walk
  • North American Manure Expo comes to Wauseon, Ohio
  • Help shape the future of Extension communication!
  • Beef Cow Slaughter on Pace for Ten Year Low

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Buckeye Dairy News – May 30

In this edition of the Buckeye Dairy News:

 

BEEF Cattle Letter: May 28

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1449 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

While we commonly think of summer as tick season, this week Tim McDermott explains we actually see tick activity and positive detections of tick-borne disease all 12 months of the year in Ohio.

Articles this week include:

  • An Update on Ticks and Tick-borne Disease in Ohio, plus the Buckeye Tick Test Lab
  • Concerning parasites, are you controlling what you think you are controlling?
  • Estrus Synchronization Success Hinges on Compliance
  • Enhancing Pre-Veterinary Education: The Value of Animal Sciences at Ohio State ATI
  • Pastures for Profit will be offered in-person this June in Logan County
  • May Cattle on Feed: Dressed Weights, Drought, and Disruptions to Trade

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

BEEF Cattle Letter: May 21

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1448 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

While this is the time of year when we traditionally concern ourselves with hay quality, this week John Yost reminds us that water remains the single most important nutrient to sustain life.

Articles this week include:

  • Water, the forgotten nutrient?
  • Controlling Buttercup – A Persistent Challenge
  • Forage Resiliency Webinars are posted on YouTube
  • Address Lameness Cases Sooner Rather Than Later
  • Southeast Pasture Conditions
  • Early Tariff Impacts on Beef Exports

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

BEEF Cattle Letter: May 7

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1446 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Is timeliness the greatest challenge we face on the farm? Some might suggest it is. This week we focus on our rapidly maturing forages, and an alternative that may allow a more timely harvest.

Articles this week include:

  • Using Baleage to manage your hay quality
  • Forage Maturity Across Ohio
  • Be Aware of Frothly Bloat Risk in Spring Pastures
  • Body condition scoring for beef cattle
  • Changes to Livestock Risk Protection Part 1
  • Pasture and Range Conditions Off to a Mediocre Start

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

BEEF Newsletter: April 30

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1445 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week’s focus is on early spring pasture management, and the valuable considerations involved in herd expansion. And . . . don’t forget to join us this evening for the fourth and final session of the 2025 Virtual Ohio Beef School.

Articles this week include:

  • Springtime Decisions
  • Spring pasture management; Plan now to optimize the entire grazing season
  • Investing in Herd Expansion: Time Value of Money and Opportunity Cost
  • Larger Carcasses and More Prime
  • Prices Continue to Pop

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Buckeye Tick Testing Website, Fundraiser, and Upcoming Webinar

The long-awaited Buckeye Tick Testing Laboratory at Ohio State University is up and running and ready to accept samples!  Here is the link to the laboratory: https://buckeyebugbite.osu.edu/

There is also a fundraiser going on right now to help buld more capcity for the lab. Consider making a contribuiton to help support the work of this lab: https://buckeyefunder.osu.edu/project/45522

To answer client questions and promote awareness, there will also a webinar on Wednesday May 7th at 4pm:
Please join us for an engaging presentation on tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal featuring Ohio State tick experts, Tim McDermott, DVM, assistant professor, Ohio State Extension, College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences, and Risa Pesapane, PhD, associate professor, College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. This hour-long webinar will also highlight Ohio State’s new tick-borne pathogen testing service, Buckeye Tick Test. The Ohio State University Infectious Diseases Institute and the College of Veterinary Medicine are partnering to host this webinar to bring attention to the growing public health concern caused by the exploding tick population in the Buckeye State.
Here is the link to register:
https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_esoUKj-HQiewalmw6aYoBw

BEEF Cattle Letter: April 23

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1444 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Frequently in recent years we’ve heard growing concern for tick populations in Ohio and the disease they carry and spread. Today, Ohio State University is pleased to announce the opening of their Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory. Find more details in this week’s postings.

Articles this week include:

  • Revisiting Custom Grazing
  • Effectively Using Summer Annual Grasses
  • Virtual Beef School, session 4; Heifer Development and Implementing Genomic Testing on Your Farm
  • Buckeye Tick Test Laboratory is now open for business
  • April Cattle on Feed Points to Higher Placements, but fewer Heifers
  • How can a person afford to pay $???? for an animal and expect to make a profit?

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County