Showing posts with label Cattle and Livestock. Show all posts
Crossbreeding Has Improved My Cattle Farm
Posted by Unknown in Africa, Breeding and Pregnancy, Cattle and Livestock, Cross Breeding, Success Stories, Uganda on Tuesday, 14 May 2013
 |
| A farm hand tends some of the cattle on Titus Buatre 's farm. Photo by Felix Warom Okello. |
When I
started with four goats, one of them a Boer goat for cross-breeding
purposes, I did not even imagine that this farming activity would expand
to enable me meet most of my needs.
I am in
position to pay school fees for my children—three at university and
three still in secondary school, afford a good diet at home, and even
look after other dependents, among others.
Meat and milk
I am Titus
Buatre, 55 years old, an animal farmer, from Andewa Village, Riki Parish
in Oluko Sub-county, six kilometres east of Arua Town. By the end of
last year, I had 120 goats and 50 heads of cattle, from where I get meat
and milk.
I sell the milk
in 10-litre jerrycans, each at Shs35,000. So, in a day, I earn
Shs70,000. Though most of my herd is made up of dairy cows, I
occasionally sell off some cattle.
Depending on
the size, the price ranges from Shs500,000 to Shs800,000. Last year, I
sold four cows. For the goats, the lowest price is from Shs70,000 to
Shs80,000. However, I also sell to NGOs that have programmes that
distribute the goats to farmers.
In this case, I will sell each goat at Shs130,000.
To acquire my
first cattle, I took a salary loan that was repayable in two years. On
top of that I added some money from crop farming to buy seven heads of
cattle.
From that
number, there are now 50 heads of cattle, from which I am able to get 15
to 20 litres of milk daily. I am able to buy medicines to treat them. I
have four types-Ankole, Zebu, Boran and Friesian crossbreeds.
Economic value
Among these,
there is a 250-kilogramme bull, which I use for cross breeding. I
attribute my successes in growing my herd to that bull.
The process of cross-breeding has enabled the animals to be of a good quality, which is marketable, and multiply in numbers.
I am using
cross breeding in order to get economic value because the local animals
are smaller in size and poorer in quality. Thus, they cannot attract
good money and produce a sizeable amount of milk.
In the past,
producers have thought of crossbreeding as simply replacing bulls every
two to three years with whatever breeds were popular at the time. This
has led to problems with uniformity of the resulting product.
Work ethic
Good quality
cattle need to be selected in order for crossbred cattle to outperform
straight-bred cattle and produce the type of product that is in demand
by the consumer.
However, it
should be noted that mere crossbreeding will not overcome poor genetics.
It has been patience and hard work, which has paid off for me. One
could possibly say this work ethic comes from my having a military
background at one time.
Yes, I was in
the military since the days of Idi Amin up until 1985. Since then, I
have continued driving as my occupation though I was no longer in the
army. After this, I got other driving jobs before my current one as a
driver at the district Naads office in Arua.
Trainings
I attend to the
animals as my main economic activity especially after work. I feel
happy to see my cows and goats return from grazing.
My farm covers six acres and comprises land that I inherited from my father though most of it was bought from my own earnings.
I have also
benefitted from several trainings in agriculture given by Naads and I
now use it to increase production such as the use of a tractor.
I use a tractor
to till the land on which I grow improved cassava. The neighbouring
communities buy the new variety cassava stems from me.
Retiring
I also employ
other people. There are two youths who look after the cattle and goats.
The one who rears cattle is paid Shs45,000 monthly and the one
responsible for the goats is paid Shs30,000 monthly. The two are only
assisted by my children when they return for holiday from school.
The rearing of
cattle is central to my farming business and as such I attend to them
closely. From the earnings, I am able to live a meaningful life. I look
forward to retiring from driving to become a full-fledged animal farmer.
features@ug.nationmedia.com
Cattle Inventory Expected to Show Decline in Beef Cows
Posted by Unknown in Beef, Cattle and Livestock, Meat, Meat Animal, USA, USDA on Tuesday, 29 January 2013
USDA
will release on Friday, January 27 the results of its semi-annual
survey of US cattle operations, offering an estimate of the number of
cattle and calves in the US as of January 1, 2012. The table below
presents the inventory survey numbers for the previous three years as
well as analysts estimates ahead of the USDA report.
The
report is expected to show further reductions in the size of the US
cattle herd, with particularly sharp declines in the number of beef cows
and further contraction in the number of heifers held back for beef cow
herd rebuilding. Analysts on average expect the survey to show a 1.6%
decline in the size of the cattle herd. This implies a total inventory
of 91.1 million head, the smallest since at least 1958 when the total
cattle inventory was pegged at 91.176 million head. To be sure, beef
production today is significantly larger than it was back in the 1950s,
thanks to tremendous productivity gains. In 1958, US commercial beef
production was pegged at 12.983 billion pounds, compared to 26.297
billion pounds in 2011. In addition to producing heavier animals, the
feedlot system has allowed producers to significantly accelerate the
time it takes calves to come to market. Consider that in 1958, US cattle
slaughter was 23.555 million head while in 2011, overall slaughter is
estimated at 34.2 million head. The average carcass weight of cattle
that went to slaughter in 1958 was 575 pounds, compared to 773 pounds in
2011. So while the headlines after the inventory report will likely
focus on the fact that cattle numbers are the lowest in some 50 years,
keep in mind that cattle slaughter in 2011 was about 46% bigger than it
was in 1958 and carcass weights were 34% larger than they were then.
Today, we produce more than double the amount of beef from the same size
herd (indeed the beef cow herd is smaller today that it was then).
The
concern going forward is that much of the productivity growth in the
future will be incremental. The low hanging fruit has already been taken
and the industry is now running against biological barriers. It will be
difficult to further increase beef production without increasing the
size of the cattle herd. While there are plenty of signals for expansion
in 2012 and 2013, the January survey will likely show that producers
continued to liquidate the herd in 2011, largely due to escalating feed
costs and limited pastures. The beef cow inventory on January 1, 2012 is
expected to be down 2.5% while the number of heifers held back for beef
cow herd replacement is expected to be down 2.1%. One thing to watch
for in the upcoming report is how the distribution of the US cattle
numbers changed in 2011. Drought stricken states, such as Texas and
Oklahoma, likely saw a sharp decline in their beef cow herd, while other
states probably saw notable gains from a year ago. The expectation is
for producers to increase heifer retention in 2012 as calf prices hit
record highs. In some areas, however, that may be limited by long term
drought conditions and limited feed supplies. The overall expectation is
for smaller beef supplies in 2012 and 2013, the inventory survey should
tell us how big the decline will likely be.
10 Key Principle of Profitable Calf Rearing
Posted by Unknown in Buffalo, Bulls and Oxen, Calf, Cattle and Livestock, Cow on Sunday, 27 January 2013
(NRM) Dr Bas Schouten Key Principles in Successful Calf Rearing
1. Calf Selection – Purchase a good quality calf
- Minimum weight 40kg
- No twins, sick, or induced calves
- Must be 5 days of age
- Dry and clean naval cord
- Bright and alert
- Check joints for swelling and pain
2. Colostrum – A good colostrum intake is vital for animal health and survival
- A calf needs at least 4 litres of colostrums within the first 12 hours after birth (ie 2 litres twice a day)
3. Entry into Barn
- Do health check (as in rule 1)
- Transport calves humanely in a covered vehicle with soft clean base of shavings, straw or bark at a minimum depth of 100mm. There must be enough floor space for calves to be able to sit - about 1 square meter per calf
- Spray cord with iodine before and after transport
- On entry into barn allow time for calves to de-stress by allowing rest
- Feed only electrolytes for the first 12 hours
4. Pen sizes
- Allow at least 1.5 – 2 square meters per calf
- No more than 10 – 12 calves per pen
- No more than 100 calves per barn
- Use more than one barn to control diseases and to separate age groups
- Separate old calves from young calves
- Avoid mixing calves – leave in one pen for the first 3 weeks
5. Housing – Calves must be sheltered for at least 3 weeks
- Calves should be dry and draught free
- Best is a barn that is twice as deep as it is wide
- Check for draughts at ground level
- Flooring – base of clay/sand with a slope to allow drainage
- Slats or raised flooring is often draughty and less suitable
- Bedding – straw, bark or shavings at least 200mm deep
- Add to bedding when required
- Control rodents and birds to prevent disease transfer
- There must be no water lying around barn or feeding areas
6. Ventilation and Drainage
- Good ventilation is critical to remove affluent gases.
- Ventilation should be adjustable by doors and windows on exterior walls in the barn
- High levels of ammonia indicates insufficient ventilation
- Drainage – see housing
7. Feeding Schedules
- Feed milk or a good quality Calf Milk Replacer (CMR) at the rate of at least 10% of the body weight daily (ie 40kg calf requires at least 4 litres a day)
- CMR – Follow the recommended mixing rate and volumes on the bag
- Make changes in volume or strength gradually and allow 3 days between changes
- When animals are under environmental or nutritional stresses, or when recovering from disease challenges, increase CMR concentrate to aid recovery
8. Milk and Milk Feeders
- Best results are achieved if calves are fed twice a day for at least 10 days
- Feed hot (40oC) for at least the first 14 days
- Teat feed – with a compartmentalised feeder
- Feed by the same person each day – preferable a woman
9. Concentrates and Roughage
- Feed a highly palatable concentrate ad lib from 5 days of age
- Allow access to hay or straw from 5 days of age
- Allow access to clean fresh water at all times
- Calves can be weaned off milk when consuming 1 kg concentrate per calf per day
- Continue meal/pellet supplement for at least 1 month post weaning off milk at the rate of 1.5 – 2 kg per day
10. Animal Health
- Sterilise barn, bedding and feeding utensils with a proven virucidal spray before entry into the barn and then twice weekly
- Carefully observe calves daily. Record and treat properly at therapeutic levels
- Autopics and faecal cultures and blood tests are valuable for the prevention and prevention of disease – consult with your vet
- For the treatment of calf scours remove calves from milk. Treat with a good quality electrolyte mixed at adequate levels to correct dehydration and to maintain fluid and energy balance. About 6 – 10 litres of electrolyte are required daily. Return to milk feeding when the scouring stops
Boer Goat Breed Standards
Posted by Unknown in Breeds, Cattle and Livestock, Goat
GENERAL APPEARANCE & TYPE
In
the Doe there is strong emphasis on femininity; in the Buck one of
masculinity. The general appearance is a goat with a fine head, round
horns bent backwards; a loose, supple and pleated skin (especially in
bucks) with different body parts well fleshed in balance. The doe should
appear feminine, wedging slightly to the front. The buck should appear
heavier in the head, neck and forequarters. The Boer goat is an animal
with symmetry, as well as a strong and vigorous appearance.
CONFORMATION
HEAD
A
strong head with large soft brown eyes. A strong slightly curved nose,
wide nostrils, strong well formed mouth with well-fitted jaws. Up to 4
teeth must show a 100% fit. Six tooth and older may show 6 mm
protrusion. Permanent teeth must cut in the correct place. The forehead
must be prominently curved, linking up with the curve of nose and horns.
For animals that are not disbudded, horns should be strong, of moderate
length and placed moderately apart with a gradual backward curve. Horns
have to be as round and solid as possible and coloured darkly. Ears are
to be broad, smooth and hanging downwards from the head.
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Concave
forehead, horns too straight or flat, pointed jaw, stiff protruding
ears, short ears, jaws and blue eyes. Over or under-shot jaw.
NECK AND FOREQUARTERS
A
neck in proportion to the length of the body, full and well fleshed and
well joined with the forequarter. The breastbone should be broad with a
deep broad brisket. The shoulder should be fleshy, in proportion to the
body and be well fitted to, the withers. The withers should be broad
and well filled. The front legs should be in proportion to the depth of
the body. The legs should be strong and well placed, with strong pastern
joints and well-formed, dark hooves.
BARREL
The
ideal is a long, deep broad barrel. The ribs must be well sprung and
fleshed, with a long loin. The goat should have a broad back and
reasonably level topline.
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Sway or saddle back or pinched behind the shoulder.
HINDQUARTERS
The
Boer Goat should have a broad and long rump, with a slight slope, well
muscled buttocks and thighs. The tail must be straight where it grows
out of the dock and may swing to either side.
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Steep or short rump; wry tail or flat buttocks.
LEGS
The
legs should be strong and well placed. Too fleshy legs are undesirable.
Strong legs imply hardiness and a strong constitution, which are
absolutely essential characteristics of the Boer Goat.
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Knock knees, bandy legs, thin legs. Weak pasterns and hoofs pointing outwards or inwards.
SKIN AND COVERINGS
A
loose supple skin with sufficient chest and neck folds, especially in
the case of bucks. Eyelids and hairless parts should have a minimum of
75% pigmentation. Short glossy hair(except during winter months).
SEXUAL ORGANS
DOES:
Well-formed
udder firmly attached with no more than two functional teats per side.
One teat on each side or two teats per side; well separated is
desirable.
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Fish or cluster teats; blind teats.
BUCKS:
Two
reasonably large, well formed, healthy and equal sized testes in one
scrotum. The scrotum should be at least 25 cm in circumference at one
year of age. One teat or two teats per side is desirable.
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Fish or cluster teats A scrotum with more than A 5 cm split.
COLORING
Ideal coloring for a Traditional Boer Goat (TR) and a Canadian Purebred Boer Goat (CR) is a white body with reddish brown head.
E-mail am@ramhbreeders.com
What Dwindling Camel Herds Mean for The World
Posted by Unknown in Africa, Camel, Cattle and Livestock, Herding, Meat Animal, Middle East, Milk, Nutrition
Stephanie Findlay
Staff Reporter
Our
insatiable appetite for camels is taking its toll. The population of
the humpy beast in the Middle East is rapidly declining, threatening
herds around the world.
The Problem: According
to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the stock of
meat-producing camels in Saudi Arabia, slaughtered yearly for the hajj
pilgrimage, has decreased 39 per cent, from 426,000 in 1997 to 260,000
today.
The
story is the same in Pakistan, where numbers are dropping because of
camel racing, a popular pastime. It’s believed the camel population
dropped 20 per cent between 1994 and 2004 in Asia.
Consider
the camel in Somalia, where it is a source of food (both meat and
milk), trade and transportation. Millions of them — an estimated 50 per
cent of the country’s total population — have died from the famine; yet
another reason for their declining numbers.
Meanwhile,
Australia has for years been culling its camels — a cruel consequence
of globalization. They were introduced to the arid outback in the 18th
century by British settlers but without any natural predators or
diseases, they have become an invasive species. Today, there are an
estimated 1.2 million feral camels living Down Under and the population
is expected to reach 2 million next year.
In
fact, Australia’s parliamentary secretary proposed a plan this summer
that would see accredited marksmen shoot the camels for carbon credits.
Apparently, the animals emit an infernal amount of methane and have been
identified a contributor of climate change.
Australia has also become a supplier of camels, selling them Saudi Arabia for meat.
The Impact: For
some, disappearing camels are a desert version of the canary in the
coal mine. As one Somali herder said to the BBC: “When they start to
die, then what chance have sheep, goats and cattle?” He might have added
humans. To date, some 80,000 Somalis have died from hunger and thirst
because of the famine.
The Hope:
Some parts of Somalia continue to enjoy high camel stocks. After a
livestock ban was lifted, Somali herders supplied some $250 million
worth of animals to Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage last month.
Provided
Somalis can work around burdensome rules imposed by the Al Qaeda-linked
Shabab militia, an organization that controls large parts of the
country, Saudi Arabia plans to double its imports of livestock from the
country by 2013.
Somalia
could also invest more money into its burgeoning camel dairy industry.
Currently, the country has a competitive advantage — it’s the world’s
largest distributor, supplying 850,000 tons of camel milk a year — and a
bigger market could be developed. (Camel’s milk is reportedly saltier
than that of a cow and much richer in vitamin C and B, iron, and
unsaturated fatty acids.)
Complications of Pregnancy in Cattle
Posted by Unknown in Breeding and Pregnancy, Cattle and Livestock, Diseases, Goat, Sheep
Suzanne W. Gasparotto
COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY
There
are many health problems that can impact a pregnant doe. Below are some
of the most common ones. The Articles page at
www.tennesseemeatgoats.com contains articles detailing diagnosis and
treatment for most of these conditions.
Congenital
and Developmental Defects: Many birth defects are never seen by the
producer because the doe's body either reabsorbs the embryo in early
gestation or aborts the fetus.Visible birth defects appearing at
parturition (birthing) include cleft palate, atresi ani, and
mummification.
Cleft
palate is a lengthwise split in the roof of the mouth. Atresi ani is no
rectal opening. Mummification is a kid whose limbs are *frozen* in
place and unmoveable. A dead mummified kid may have to be taken apart in
pieces to get its body out of the doe. A live mummified kid may be born
but will be unable to move.
Cleft
palate, atresi ani, and live mummification are conditions requiring
immediate humane euthanasia. All three conditions may or may not recur
if the same doe and buck are bred again.
Ringwomb:
Incomplete dilation of the cervix. Manual manipulation of the cervical
opening should be done by an experienced person -- preferably a vet. The
tissue involved is very easy to damage. Ringwomb may be the result of
inadequate levels of minerals or hormones.
Uterine Rupture:
This condition can occur at any time during pregnancy and is usually
the result of being hit. Impossible to diagnose without veterinarian
assistance. Uterine rupture can also occur when assistance in kidding is
needed and the pushing-pulling-rearranging of kids inside the uterus
results in tearing it. Uterine rupture is often not repairable
surgically and the dam will die within 24 to 72 hours.
Uterine Torsion:
A twisted uterus is very difficult to fix but repositioning it is the
only solution.If uterine torsion is suspected, vet help is necessary.
Periparturient Edema: Swelling
of lower legs in long-bred does. Often but not always associated with
worm load. Usually occurs when multiple fetuses are taking more
nutrition than dam can replace, putting her in a nutritional deficit.
Pregnancy Toxemia and Ketosis:
Nutritionally-related metabolic diseases occuring at the end of
pregnancy and early during lactation. An improper level of nutrition is
the cause. As the dam draws upon her own body's reserves and her tissues
begin to starve, deadly ketones are produced. Oral administration of
high-energy products such as propylene glycol, molasses, or Karo syrup
given orally are necessary.
Abortions and Vaginal Discharges:
Red, brown, or very foul-smelling discharges are not normal and may
indicate early termination of pregnancy. Examples of conditions causing
abortions include interruption of the fetal blood supply when injured,
poor nutrition (insufficient energy), stress (moving, changing feed,
illness), abortion diseases, toxicity (ingestion of poisonous plants or
other substances), surgery, malformation of the fetus during
development, and labor-inducing drugs (dexamethasone). The usual drug of
choice is oxytetracycline 200 mg/ml (LA 200 or generic equivalent).
Hypocalcemia:
Commonly but improperly called "milk fever," hypocalcemia is an
imbalance of calcium occuring just prior to kidding. The first
recognizable physical symptom is usually cold and dragging rear legs.
This nutritionally based illness involves hormonal changes that occur in
the mobilization of calcium when the doe begins to produce milk.
Calcium-rich feeds/hays need to be cut back during the last 30 days of
gestation to prevent excess calcium from being deposited in her bones.
The dam's body needs to be releasing calcium already stored in her bones
for use in milk production. Oral administration of CMPK or MFO solution
are recommended.
Prolapses.
Prolapses of the vagina or the rectum can occur in a doe heavy with
kids. Purse-string stitches and prolapse retainers may help. Prolapses
recurring in multiple pregnancies means that the doe should be culled.
Cloudburst Pregnancy:
False pregnancy, pseudo-pregnancy, more specifically
hydrometra.Everything about a cloudburst pregnancy is normal except that
no kid was formed and a "cloudburst" of liquid comes out of the dam's
body at delivery. Infectious diseases like toxoplasmosis and border
disease may be the cause, as may certain plant materials that contain
phytoestrogens. A more common cause is the chemical alteration of estrus
through artificial induction into heat of does by producers who use
gonadotrophin-releasing hormones.
Mastitis:
The infected udder becomes swollen, hard, and hot from bacteria
entering through the teats. The milk, if any, is stringy, bloody, and
unuseable. Cleanliness of pens and feeding areas is critical. Because
the udder is an interwoven mass of fibrous tissue that is walled off
from the rest of the doe's body, injectable antibiotics cannot get to
the source of the infection. Because mastitis organisms can become
systemic and infect the doe's entire body, a broad-spectrum antibiotic
like prescription Nuflor is recommended. Cai-Pan Peppermint Oil Cream
applied externally to the udder can provide relief from discomfort to
the doe. In some breeds mastitis may occur in certain genetic lines.
Mastitis is usually chronic and therefore a *cull* factor in a meat-goat
herd.
Congested Udder:
Unlike mastitis, congested udder is readily treatable by applying hot
compresses to the udder until the over-filled tight udder softens enough
to get useable milk out.
Retained Placenta: Placental
tissue (afterbirth) should be expelled by the doe's body within 12 to
24 hours after parturition. Retained placenta can be caused by abortion
diseases such as toxoplasmosis or chlamydiosis or can be the result of
selenium deficiency in the doe's diet. Tall fescue grass or hay can be
the culprit. A prescription oxytocin injection may be needed if the
placenta has not passed within the normal timeframe. Do not pull the
placental tissue out, even if it is dragging behind the doe; doing this
can kill her. After a difficult birth, the uterus should be flushed with
a solution of Nolvasan or Chlorhexidine antibacterials to prevent
infection (metritis).
Metritis: Infection of the uterus that can occur with retained placenta or dead kids inside the dam.
No Milk.
If the doe has been a good milk producer previously, then the problem
is either mastitis or nutritional. Feeding tall fescue grass or hay can
cause poor milk production. A non-mastitic freshened doe who is not
producing enough milk should be fed a diet high in legume hay (alfalfa
or peanut hay) and extra grain rations. Occasionally an injection of
dexamethasone can bring a doe into milk. In some breeds, certain genetic
lines are poor milk producers.
After
any abnormal or difficult kidding, the producer should glove up and
manually go inside the doe to check for undelivered live or dead kids.
Be careful not to disturb the tissues attached to the inside of the
doe's uterus. Pregnancy in goats is accompanied by great risks,
occurring outside under a wide variety of dangerous conditions and
usually occurs unassisted. It is remarkable that more pregnancy-related
deaths do not occur. There are many things that producers can do
themselves to assist their goats but there are times when vet help is
essential.
Important! Please Read This Notice!
All
information provided in these articles is based either on personal
experience or information provided by others whose treatments and
practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and
effectiveness before passing them on to readers.
In
all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and
advice before using any of the information provided in these articles.
Suzanne Gasparotto is not a veterinarian.Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com
nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for
the use of any information contained herein.
How To Grow Cool Season Pastures
Posted by Unknown in Cattle and Livestock, Grass, Grazing, Pasture, Silage and Forage
 |
| Well managed cool-season pasture in southern Iowa. NRCS offer. Photo by Lynn Betts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. (1999) |
By John Howle
A
cool-season pasture can dramatically reduce your need for stored feed
and extend your grazing season through the winter months. The key to
having winter grazing is stockpiling or saving forage for winter,
picking hearty cool-season forage to plant, and practicing rotational
grazing. With adequate rainfall, you’ll be set for success this winter.
David
Wright has 65 cows in his dairy operation in Alexandria, Ala., and his
cattle graze throughout the winter, eliminating his need for stored hay.
“I
can have high-quality winter forage through my ryegrass from November
until May,” Wright says. “The only time I’ve had to feed hay is during
drought years.”
In
the 1990s, dairy farming across the U.S. changed, with large commercial
dairies replacing small family-owned-and-operated dairies. Wright
realized that competing with commercial operations was possible by
downsizing his herd and feeding only grass to his cows.
“Our
cows were healthier and happier, the milk was higher quality, the
tractors were in the fields less, and my wife, Leianne, and I had more
time to spend with our children,” he says.
Wright’s
operation centers on dairy cows, but the principles he’s learned can be
applied to winter grazing for any type of livestock. His search for the
best forage-management practices has led him overseas to places like
New Zealand, Africa and Ireland.
“When
you look closely and walk through the fields in other countries where
rotational grazing is truly effective and stored-feed expenses are high,
you see the importance of making grazing available through the winter,”
Wright says.
He
adds that by establishing winter pastures, rotating grazing and
stockpiling forage, winter hay can be virtually eliminated from
livestock diets, as long as fertilizer and rainfall amounts are
adequate.
Stock Up on Forage
Stockpiling
fescue can extend the grazing season up to 60 days, according to Gary
Bates, PhD, forage specialist with the University of Tennessee.
“Fescue
stockpiling is simple,” Bates says. “About the first of September,
either graze or clip the pastures to remove all the mature forage. Then
apply 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre after the fall rains begin. Then
allow the fescue to grow as long as possible without grazing, even up to
a killing frost.”
Bates recommends rotationally grazing fescue when possible so that less of the forage is trampled and wasted by the cattle.
“Tall
fescue that is stockpiled for winter forage can be grazed down to 2
inches since the plant is dormant and not trying to grow,” Bates says.
“It will lose some quality over the winter, but research has shown that
the protein content will remain at 10 percent, even into February.”
The only time stockpiling fescue doesn’t work is during periods of limited rainfall.
“Stockpiled
fescue makes substantial growth during autumn, and the waxy layer on
its leaves makes it resistant to frost damage and weathering,” says
Auburn University professor emeritus and retired extension agronomist
Don Ball. “In addition, tall-fescue forage accumulates a high
concentration of soluble carbohydrates in the fall and maintains its
quality through the winter.”
Ball
says that producers should closely examine the relationship between
stockpiled fescue and other cool-season forages versus hay-production
costs.
“Many
cattle producers in the South, for instance, are feeding hay for 120
days or more,” he says. “However, some producers have developed
approaches, such as stockpiling and planting additional cool-season
forages, that allow them to feed little or no hay in some years.”
Some
fescue carry endophyte fungus, which can affect the health of your
livestock. Look for endophyte-free fescue to avoid fescue toxicosis in
cattle as well as birth defects and premature labor in pregnant mares.
Seed Your Pastures
Once warm-season forage goes dormant, seeding cool-season, annual forage in the pastures can extend the grazing season.
“Ryegrass
is normally broadcast or drilled into dormant sods of warm-season
species,” Ball says. “Small grains and ryegrass, often with an annual
clover, are planted on a prepared seedbed.”
Cool-season
clovers provide winter forage and reduce your fertilizer bill. Red
clover—nicknamed cow clover—is a hearty variety that germinates well and
is adapted for growth in the eastern half of the U.S. White clover
varieties also provide hearty growth and produce nitrogen in the nodules
of the root system, delivering nutrients back to the soil.
Clover
can be planted on a prepared seedbed, drilled or even frost-seeded.
Frost-seeding, the least labor-intensive method, requires no equipment
other than a hand sower. Simply sow the clover on top of the grazed
forage or seedbed, and the frosting and heaving of the soil in cold
weather will create the seed-to-soil contact necessary for germination.
Some producers frost-seed and allow the livestock to trample the seed
into the ground via hoof traffic.
Cool-season
grasses, such as ryegrass, wheat and oats, germinate well and provide
plenty of winter grazing. Before purchasing seeds, check with your local
extension office or university agronomist to find out which cool-season
grasses and clovers grow best in your area. Also, check with fellow
hobby farmers in your area to see what species have performed well for
them in seasons past.
Fertilize the Pastures
As
with any planted forage, fertilizer is a major component of success.
With the proper amount of rainfall (i.e., average for your area), the
nitrogen—whether in commercial or organic form—will help the grass grow
fast and green. A soil test is the only way to accurately determine how
much fertilizer to apply. Once the soil report comes back, the soil
analysis will show your soil’s pH, so you can determine if the pasture
needs lime and fertilizer and in what amounts.
On
a typical bag of commercial fertilizer, you’ll see three numbers
indicating the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. For
instance, ammonium nitrate will have the numbers 34-0-0 on the bag,
which means there are 34 pounds of nitrogen for every 100 pounds of
fertilizer. A bag of 13-13-13 has 13 percent each of nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium.
For
Wright’s winter pastures, consisting mostly of Marshall ryegrass, he
applies cow manure from his dairy barn at a rate of approximately 60
pounds per acre. In August, he lightly disks his fields, then broadcasts
ryegrass seeds in mid-September. As the seeds are broadcast, he uses a
cultipacker, an implement that packs the seed into the soil on a
prepared seedbed as it’s pulled behind a tractor. The cultipacker also
helps firm the soil and prevent erosion in the event of large amounts of
rainfall.
If
you plan to use an organic fertilizer, such as cattle, poultry or
rabbit manure, it’s important to get an analysis of its content to know
just how much fertilizer you’re actually getting. Most land-grant
universities will analyze manure for its nutrient levels. Although
typically lower in nutrient quality than commercial fertilizer, due to
its high organic content, organic fertilizer builds the soil while
commercial fertilizer does not.
“Fertilizer
will be the biggest expense in creating plentiful winter forage for
livestock,” Bates says. “However, it’s cheaper to grow the forage than
it is to produce the hay and feed it.”
Cutting,
raking and baling hay is a big expense, not to mention the issue of
storage. Although you may not be able to entirely eliminate feeding hay,
the amount fed can be greatly reduced when the forage is growing live.
Implement Rotational Grazing
Wright
rotationally grazes 5-acre paddocks. He says the only feed he
supplements with the ryegrass pasture is grain with added minerals.
“The
grain I use has magnesium and calcium,” he explains. “The magnesium
guards against grass tetany, and the calcium prevents milk fever.”
According to Wright, his rotational grazing is keeping nutrients on the farm.
“When
you cut hay, you are removing nutrients from the field in the hay,” he
says. “When the cows graze the grass, they are getting the nutrients
they need as well as returning many of those nutrients back to the soil
in their droppings.”
It’s
important not to graze the forage to less than 2 inches when using
rotational grazing. If livestock are allowed to graze too long, weeds
will be given a greater opportunity to sprout, the forage will become
excessively trampled, and the plants’ root systems and overall quality
will be stressed.
Spring into Action
Bates recommends evaluating the forage quality in spring to determine the forage needed in the winter.
“When
the forage is about 8 inches tall, walk over the stand to estimate what
percent of the ground is covered with leaves, and if there is 70
percent or better coverage, just add clover,” he says. “If there’s 40 to
70 percent, you can drill more tall fescue in the fall once it has been
grazed low and the ground moisture is higher.”
If the stand is less than 40 percent, Bates recommends killing it and replanting.
The onset of cold weather doesn’t mean you have to stop grazing livestock and put them on hay.
There
are plenty of cool-season forage options for extending your grazing
season well into the cold months of the year. Your livestock and your
wallet will reap the benefits.
About
the Author: John Howle is a freelance writer, hobby farmer, English
teacher, and singer/songwriter from Heflin, Ala. He and his wife and
three children share the rich farming heritage handed down to them by
their ancestors.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2011 issue of Hobby Farms.
Build A High-Profit Beef Business
Posted by Unknown in Beef, Business Plan, Cattle and Livestock, Meat Animal on Saturday, 26 January 2013
Lessons learned from high-profit operations
Written by
Harold Harpster
(Farm Progress) Times are pretty good for cow-calf producers – except for those in drought-plagued regions. And, the future looks even brighter for at least the next several years.
So
now's the time to plan for that future by studying successful
components of profitable operations and avoiding those less successful.
Consider a few lessons drawn from a 2011 study by Kevin Dhuyvetter, farm
management economist at Kansas State University.
He
boiled down five years (2006-2010) of production and profitability data
from 88 cow-calf enterprises. He sorted out operations with average
calf selling weights over 700 pounds, since that indicates a
backgrounding operation instead of a true cow-calf operation.
Also
excluded were farms with less than 10 cows, if cattle purchases were
greater than 25% of their herd in any one year and if net sales (sales
less purchases) of breeding stock were greater than 25% in any one year.
Culling done, the remaining farms were ranked from high to low based on
returns over costs.
Herds
were corralled into three groups: high return (29); mid return (30);
and low return (29). Average production and cost data were then
summarized for each.
Cow-calf
returns over variable costs have been positive for 23 of the last 32
years, notes Dhuyvetter. Feedlots would live a record like that!
Keep
in mind that by "accepted cattleman accounting practices", most focus
on variable costs. If “out of pocket” costs are more than covered, the
year's a success.
But
before you buy up neighboring herds, consider this: If you consider
total costs (variable plus expenses such as depreciation, taxes, unpaid
operator labor, and interest on assets), only four of those 32 years
were "in the black".
Sizing them up
First,
let’s look at size and productivity. More profitable operations tend be
somewhat larger, and tend to “specialize” more in the cow-calf
enterprise.
The
percentage of total farm labor allocated to livestock is 46% for the
high-profit group, 39% for the mid-profit and 25% for the low-profit
producers. When more time is spent with crops and less with the cattle,
it shows in the bottom line!
High-profit
producers wean heavier calves, but only 25 pounds heavier than the mid
group and 30 pounds heavier than the low group. Calf sale prices are
surprisingly close among all three producer groups. That was likely
since we're still in a period of low supply and high demand for calves.
Cost control is key
Spreading
costs over more animals is where the separation of profit groups kicks
in. Although the high-profit group had the heaviest calf weaning
weights, they accomplished it with a variable cost of $451 per cow
versus $546 for the mid-profit group and $599 for the low-profit group.
In
other words, the high-profit group produced heavier calves for almost
25% less cost! Per-cow costs were consistently lower for the high-profit
group. Again, comparing the high versus low group:
* Feed costs per cow were 21% lower;
* Interest costs, 44% lower;
* Vet medicine and drugs, 21% lower;
* Marketing and breeding costs, 31% lower;
* Machinery costs, 31% lower;
* Labor costs, 21% lower;
* Other expenses, 34% lower.
Overall,
the average five-year return over variable costs per 100 cows would
have been $11,661 for the high-profit group and a loss of $14,647 in the
low-profit group. It all comes down to smart management and controlling
costs without harming productivity!
The bottom line is . . .
Studying
these results carefully, you'll come away with three take-home
messages. One is that there's tremendous variability in the
profitability of cow-calf operations, regardless of year. Top producers
find a way to be profitable even in bad years, and poor producers find a
way to lose money even in good years!
Secondly,
cost control is absolutely essential. There was a much larger
difference between top and bottom producers in total costs per cow than
in total income per cow.
Finally,
“benchmarking” provides the real value in studies such as this. Compare
your costs and returns to those of these operations. Identifying where
you can make the most cost-effective improvements in your operation puts
you well on the road to success.
For a copy of that dollars-and-cents summary table for cow-calf returns, email Harpster at hharpster@das.psu.edu.
Harpster is a Penn State animal scientist and a beef cow-calf producer.
