Cattle breeders should check bull fertility after recent snowstorms

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – The extreme winter weather that hit the southern Plains States in mid-February may have reduced bull fertility in herd sires – potentially bad news for the economic well-being of cow-calf operations.  Cattle breeders should have a veterinarian check their bulls for frostbite to the animal’s scrotum and testicles as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made to protect the herd’s reproductive efficiency, said Dr. Rosslyn…

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Sub-zero temperature won’t have big effect on insect pests

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Although recent subzero temperatures put the big chill on the human population, the insect population fared better. “While some insects leave the area in the winter and return in the spring, there are others that make their own antifreeze,” said Tom Royer, Oklahoma State University Extension entomology specialist. “The greenbug, for example, can withstand temperatures of up to minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit, so they often survive the kind of…

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Basics of horse hay explained

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – The need for quality horse hay – shorthand for attributes desirable in hay fed to equines – has not quite lifted yet.  “We’re still in hay feeding season as pastures have not greened up as yet; now is not the time to cut back on horses having ready access to hay to meet their nutritional needs,” said Kris Hiney, Oklahoma State University Extension equine specialist.  Attributes of desirable horse…

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Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers need to follow recommended livestock-care checklists to mitigate significant dangers that arctic blasts bring to animal health and production, said Oklahoma State University experts.  Ranchers might not typically think about frozen water sources during a mild winter, for example.  So it’s important to remember that cattle in southern Great Plains states are relatively naïve when it comes to the presence of ice in the field,…

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Horse owners need to be watchful for signs of colic

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Horse owners need to take steps to ensure colic does not become a problem for their animals as temperatures drop, said Oklahoma State University experts.  “Horses need more feed to replace energy loss brought about by harsher wintertime weather conditions,” said Kris Hiney, OSU Extension equine specialist with the university’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “A good first step is to maximize forage intake. Give them as…

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Take steps to maximize available hay in cattle operations

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers are only halfway through the hay feeding season, so it’s a good time to double-check they’re not wasting that precious resource, said experts with Oklahoma State University’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences.  “Management of input costs can mean the difference between operational profit or loss,” said David Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist and holder of the university’s Harrington Endowed Chair in Animal Science. “Costs…

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Antimicrobial stewardship a vital element of livestock operations

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Every livestock producer’s to-do list for February should include an in-depth review of his or her operation’s antimicrobial stewardship program, according to Oklahoma State University Extension recommendations.  Since the introduction of antimicrobials in the 1940s, illness and deaths in both people and animals from infectious diseases have been greatly reduced. However, given that these drugs have been used so widely for so long has resulted in bacterial…

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Understanding parturition a risk management tool for cow-calf operations

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – A review of the stages of parturition can help lessen anxieties of cow-calf operators and protect producer investment in their animals during the upcoming calving season, said Oklahoma State University Extension experts.  There are three stages to parturition. It is not unusual for stage one – the dilation of the cervix – to occur completely unnoticed, but stage two – delivery of the newborn – and stage…

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Review information about Johne’s Disease prior to calving season

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – The approaching calving season has more than a few cattle producers cautiously looking for colostrum or colostrum replacers, given what they already know about Johne’s Disease, said Oklahoma State University experts.  In many cases, it works like a game of connect-the-dots:  Cow-calf operators realize they may have the opportunity to obtain natural colostrum from newly freshened dairy cows. Expert recommendations are to avoid getting the colostrum from dairies…

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Raised beds can keep gardeners busy until spring

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Gardeners are counting the days until they can get back to tending their landscapes without the need for hot chocolate breaks. While Oklahoma still has a few cold weeks until gardening season traditionally takes off, gardeners can keep themselves busy building raised garden beds. The idea behind raised bed gardening isn’t complicated: It’s an area that is elevated anywhere from a few inches up to 2 or 3…

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