OSU News: Weaning option for fall-calving herds

Cow-calf producers may find two-stage weaning process useful By Donald Stotts STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers with fall-calving herds who are contemplating upcoming weaning choices have several options to reduce animal stress. “Many people eat a lot when they are stressed, but calves tend to do the opposite,” said Earl H. Ward, Oklahoma State University Extension area livestock specialist for northeastern Oklahoma. “This can lead to health concerns such as depressed immune systems…

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Cow-calf producers should record multiple births in their herds

By Donald Stotts STILLWATER, Okla. – Cow-calf producers need to keep recordkeeping and genetic drift in mind when cattle births result in twins that are a heifer calf and a bull calf. “This condition – called freemartinism – causes infertility in most of the female cattle born twin to a male,” said Dana Zook, Oklahoma State University Extension area livestock specialist for northwestern Oklahoma. “Freemartinism is recognized as one of the most severe…

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Twins need special care, say beef cattle experts

K-State beef experts discuss reasons why twins occur and how to care for them MANHATTAN, Kan. – The goal of every cattle birth is a live, healthy calf, but every so often ranchers find a surprise: a second calf. Understanding how twins develop and best practices for managing their care was a topic recently discussed by the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute during their weekly podcast. “It is estimated that…

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Ways to minimize death loss in calves

K-State beef experts offer common sense advice MANHATTAN, Kan. – Growing up on a livestock operation teaches agriculturists such life lessons as the value of hard work, the miracle of birth, the joy of caring for animals and, sometimes, the loss of livestock. Recently, experts from the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute tackled the topic of calf death loss on a weekly podcast. Leading the discussion was veterinarian Bob Larson with BCI…

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Emergency Calf Management after Dystocia (Difficult Birth)

Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Figure 1: Meconium staining (yellow color) is an indicator of calf stress during delivery. Placing the calf on the sternum (as pictured) maximizes ventilation of the lungs. “Dystocia” is defined as a difficult or prolonged calving, whether or not human assistance was necessary for delivery of the calf. Factors known to cause dystocia include a mismatch between small pelvic size of the dam and large calf…

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Winter Nutrition: Are You Staying Ahead or Getting Behind?

As winter progresses, winter nutrition and increased environmental stress on cows may concern many cow-calf producers. Winter nutritional management affects not only the profitability of a beef cowherd, but also the future performance of the cow and her offspring. With that in mind, building a nutritional program for a cow-calf system requires understanding nutritional requirements, knowing the “stress periods” that can happen, and knowing the quality and quantity of your forage resources.  One…

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K-State’s Tarpoff: Plan now to assure successful calving season

Stocking supplies, cleaning equipment are among management strategies MANHATTAN, Kan. – Cattle producers who have not yet started the spring calving season still have time to plan ahead, and a Kansas State University veterinarian notes that could make a big difference in having a successful year. “This is the time for a pre-emptive strike,” said A.J. Tarpoff, a beef veterinarian with K-State Research and Extension. “If you haven’t started calving yet on your…

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Nighttime Feeding, Daytime Calving

No matter when you calve your spring-calving herd, it is a good reminder to change the feeding schedule for part, if not all, of the spring-calving cow herd. It is generally accepted that adequate supervision at calving has a significant effect on reducing calf mortality. Saving every calf is always important to the bottom line, but takes on additional urgency when profit margins are narrow. On most ranching operations, supervision of the first-calf…

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Marshall, Peel to Headline Cattlemen’s Day Program

K-State's 107th Annual Cattlemen's Day set for March 6. MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University's Animal Sciences and Industry Department will host Cattlemen's Day 2020 on Friday, March 6 at Weber Hall in Manhattan. Lorna Marshall, Select Sires vice president of beef programs, will kick off the event by highlighting genetic and reproductive trends in the global beef industry. "We're excited to host the 107th KSU Cattlemen's Day," says Ken Odde, K-State professor…

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K-State: First milk important to successful calving experience

Calves need to nurse their mothers soon after they are born to maximize the immunity passed along in that first milk. Beef Cattle Institute experts offer advice on post-calving intervention MANHATTAN, Kan. – Once the calves are born into a beef cattle herd, there is no better sight than watching them get up and begin to nurse their mamas. However, experts in Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) say that difficult deliveries,…

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