Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman) The highest energy demand of the cow arrives approximately 60 days post calving. Spring has arrived, a successful Ohio Beef Expo is in the rear view, and for many Ohio beef producers, there are calves on the ground. This is a critical time in the beef and forage production cycle for many producers, especially those with spring calving herds. As…
Reproduction is a primary determinant of cow calf production efficiency. Breeding soundness exams (BSE) are helpful in identifying bulls with poor fertility prior to the breeding season. However, BSEs are not reliable in identifying the potential for breeding impediments that develop during the breeding season such as injury or foot rot which can have devastating effects on pregnancy rates. In addition, BSEs do not adequately evaluate libido and mating ability of bulls which…
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2021 — Since January 20, 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has been on a mission to Build Back Better. From the American Rescue Plan to the American Jobs Plan and now with the introduction of the American Families Plan, action has been taken to provide relief to the American people, and the necessary investments have been made to rescue and begin to rebuild our economy.The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has…
By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – A gene discovery in a wheat variety developed at Oklahoma State University could mean larger yields for Oklahoma wheat producers, researchers said. After more than a decade of research, Liuling Yan, the Dillon and Lois Hodges professor of wheat molecular genetics and breeding in OSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, has discovered and cloned the TaOGT1 gene in the popular Billings wheat variety. The full study on this topic is available…
By Gail Ellis STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University agriculture scientists have received a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study treatment methods for the infestation of rescuegrass, a weed that can reduce yields by up to 70%. The two-year grant of $275,496, will support research at three experimental stations and grower sites near Tipton, Marshall and Lahoma, as well as a research plot in partnership with Texas A&M University in Vernon, Texas. Rescuegrass is a…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – There’s more to caring for a pet than choosing the right food. Protecting pets from fleas, ticks and other parasites is vital to good health. The first thing pet owners need to do when deciding on a pest control regimen is to contact their veterinarian, said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Oklahoma State University Extension veterinarian and director of continuing education for the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Choosing a plan of…
Kansas State beef cattle veterinarians offer advice on needle diameter and length MANHATTAN, Kan. — Anyone who’s ever received a vaccination will verify that needle size matters. And that is true with cattle as well. Kansas State University veterinarians Bob Larson and Brad White took up this topic on a recent Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast. “Many animal health products given to cattle to prevent or treat diseases are injected with a syringe and…
The American Farm Bureau Federation calls on the administration to act responsibly in conservation efforts. Specifically, President Biden’s goal to conserve at least 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, commonly referred to as “30x30,” is raising questions. Three key requests are outlined in a letter to President Biden: that the administration provide clarity on the initiative; that the effort recognizes voluntary conservation efforts already underway; and that the administration seeks input from farmers…
Builds on Proven Solution to Combat Child Food Insecurity WASHINGTON, April 26, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new effort funded by the American Rescue Plan to provide adequate nutrition to more than 30 million children over the summer by expanding Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits. Summer months are difficult for low-income children because they lack access to school meals that fill a nutrition gap during the school…
Adele Harty SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Written collaboratively by Adele Harty and Taylor Grussing, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist. No matter the circumstances, it seems that, for one reason or another, cattlemen end up with an orphaned calf or two every year. Situations, such as twins, a heifer or cow not claiming her calf, a sick or dead cow, or a weather event, such as a blizzard, can orphan calves. No…