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From the Polk County Livestock Report – a bi-monthly publication of the UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service by Livestock Agent, Bridget Carlisle. July-August 2008 Issue
To subscribe to the Polk County Livestock Report newsletter, please email your Livestock Extension Agent, Bridget Carlisle at bccarlis@ufl.edu
The faltering economy has directly impacted cattle producers with increased production costs and stagnant calf prices. At this time, cattlemen aren’t just looking for ways to maximize their profits; many are looking for ways to simply breakeven or at least minimize loss. In every aspect of the operation, producers are being faced with increased costs; fertilizer, feed, mineral supplementation, and fuel to name a few. Cattlemen are challenged to find ways to cut corners in cost without cutting production.
I would like to encourage livestock producers to take advantage of the various industry associations, such as the Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Bureau. There is value in membership that extends far beyond a magazine or a newsletter. Membership benefits include activities and programs that promote your product, networking with other producers, a voice with your political leaders, and much more.
Grazing
Management Schools
The South Florida Beef-Forage Program of the
University of Florida IFAS Extension Service is offering
two different courses on grazing management; Grazing
Management 101 on Saturday, August 23rd, in Okeechobee, and
Advanced Grazing Management School on September 4-5th, 2008
in LaBelle.
Grazing management is the manipulation of livestock grazing
to obtain defined outputs of livestock products. It
involves careful management of both pasture and livestock
resources to meet desired objectives. These courses
are part of a continuing multi-County education effort to
help South-Central Florida producers raise and market high
quality beef cattle, per cow, per acre, profitably.
Grazing Management 101 represents basic Pasture Management
principles and concepts. This one-day course is
offered in a two session format to offer basic pasture
management principles along with hands-on activities and
demonstrations. The theories of grazing management concepts
and pasture establishment methods are discussed in a
classroom setting during the first half of the day, and
concepts taught are supported by practical applications in
the field during the afternoon session. This is the
first offering of “Grazing Management 101” and we encourage
new livestock producers to attend. Registration fee for
this school is $ 20.00 if returned by August 8, 2008, and $
30.00 if returned after August 8, 2008 or at the door.
The Advanced Grazing Management School is conducted with
the volunteer assistance of area livestock producers and
Allied Industries. It represents separation of the
original Forage and Pasture Management School into subject
components that can be taught in a couple of days.
This course is offered in a two day session. The theories
of grazing management concepts and methods are discussed in
a classroom setting during the first day, and concepts
taught are supported by practical applications in the field
during the second day tour to selected ranches in the
area. This is the second annual Grazing Management
School and we encourage you and your personnel to attend.
Registration fee for this school is $ 60.00 by August
8, 2008, and $ 80.00 after August 8, 2008.
Registration forms for both courses can be obtained at the
Polk County Extension Office or by contacting Livestock
Agent, Bridget Carlisle bccarlis@ufl.edu or (863) 519-8677.
Reproductive Management School
A Comprehensive Reproductive Management School is being
offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension Service
at the DeSoto County Turner Center in Arcadia on October
21-23, 2008. The course is conducted with the
assistance of area large animal Veterinary practitioners.
It is part of a continuing multi-county effort to help
South Florida beef producers market more pounds of beef per
cow profitably.
The purpose of the course is to strengthen managerial
capabilities of owners and operators of beef cattle
ranches. This is an intense course in reproductive
management of the cow herd. Although the topic of pregnancy
diagnosis is given extensive treatment in the program,
participants should not expect this training to make them
proficient in that skill. Rather it is hoped that an
improved understanding of the broad subject of breeding
herd management will be achieved and that individuals
enrolled in the course will be better equipped to work with
their veterinarians in accomplishing breeding program
objectives.
Registration fee for this school is $350 which covers the
cost of conducting the school and not the meals or
lodging. Space is limited and is available on a first
come, first served basis. Registration forms for both
courses can be obtained at the Polk County Extension Office
or by contacting Livestock Agent, Bridget Carlisle bccarlis@ufl.edu or (863) 519-8677.
Upcoming Extension Events (please contact Bridget if you
are interested in attending any of the
following):
Aug. 23 – Grazing Management 101, Okeechobee
Sept. 4-5 – Advanced Grazing Management School, LaBelle
Sept. 17-19 – Wildlife Management Short Course, Sarasota,
Okeechobee & Polk Counties
Oct. 15 – Pasture Weed Field Day, Ona
Oct. 21-23 – Reproductive Management School, Arcadia
Nov. 5 – Angus Bull Sale, Bartow
Nov. 13 – Southern Source Charolais Bull Sale, Bartow
Nov. 19 (tentative) – Beef Quality Assurance Workshop,
Bartow
Summer
Mineral Supplementation
As
with everything else, the cost of mineral supplements is on
the rise. Key ingredients such as phosphorous are rapidly
escalating in price. Now is a good time for producers to
look at their mineral supplementation program and ensure
that it is meeting their cow-herd needs based on the macro
and trace minerals available in their forages. A majority
of a cow’s nutrient requirements are in protein and energy.
However, attention must be paid to the nutrients that are
needed in lesser quantities—macro and trace minerals.
Minerals have an important role in fetal development,
colostral quality, newborn calf vigor, immune function in
cattle of all ages and rebreeding of the cow1. Cutting
corners on mineral supplementation may result in greater
costs due to loss of productivity in the cow herd.
Producers are encouraged to determine their supplementation
program based on the production cycle of the cows and the
nutrient requirements associated with those cycles. Through
forage testing, ranchers can determine the mineral
availability in their summer pastures. Forage nutrient
availability in summer months differs from that in winter
months. Once deficiencies are identified, producers can
look at the mineral choices available. Choosing a mineral
based on the deficient minerals, will help the rancher
determine which mineral supplement will work efficiently
and effectively on his operation. Therefore, precious
dollars are not spent on mineral supplements that are not
necessary.
During winter months, minerals can be added to protein
and/or energy supplements to ensure adequate consumption.
However, during the summer months when forages are
typically meeting the protein and energy requirements of
the herd, a free choice mineral must be offered. Complete
minerals can be purchased in the form of a block, but
consumption is often inadequate.2 Use of salt blocks (white
or yellow) will not adequately meet the herd’s needs.
However, use of a quality, palatable, free-choice mineral
is often an efficient, cost-effective means of meeting the
cow’s nutritional requirements.
Selecting a quality mineral product that matches your
herd’s nutritional requirements and your pasture nutrient
availability will save dollars in the long run.
1Herd, Dennis B. “Fine Tuning Mineral Management for Beef
Cattle.” The Cattleman. Aug. 06.
2Rossi, Johnny. Mineral Supplements for Beef Cattle. UGA
Ext. Bull 895. Dec. 06.
Body Condition Scores and Productivity
Reproductive performance relates directly to income and
profit in beef cattle production. And body condition
relates directly to reproductive performance. Therefore,
body condition is directly related to income and profit.
Producers can use body condition scores (BCS) to make
management decisions.
Body condition of beef cows is scored from 1 (thin) to 9
(fat). The optimal body condition score is 5 or higher at
calving and through breeding. Cows with a lower BCS bring
in significantly lower income from calves produced. Body
condition is related to pregnancy rate, calving interval,
calf age at weaning, and calf daily gain.
Body condition is affected by such factors as stocking
rate, forage species, forage management, date of calving,
weaning age, supplements, genetics, parasites, diseases,
and weather to name a few. Managing the herd to improve BCS
using supplementation strategies or other management
techniques that provide a high return per dollar invested
is a key factor in a profitable operation.
BCS can provide useful information about the overall
nutritional status of individual cows and the overall herd.
This information can assist with management decisions such
as stocking rate, fertilization, supplemental feeding,
grouping of cattle, parasite control, and diagnosis of
problems. For example, by evaluating the pregnancy rate at
each condition score within a herd, the producer will be
able to determine if below optimum pregnancy rates are
explained by nutritional status (BCS), or other factors
such as diseases or bulls.
Taking BCS into consideration when making management
decisions offers the most potential for economically
improving body condition and pregnancy rates. Separating
cows by condition at pregnancy testing or two to three
months prior to calving and feeding both groups to calve in
BCS 5 or above will maintain high reproductive performance
while holding supplemental feed costs to a minimum. The
routine use of BCS in each herd will provide needed
information to manage the cow herd for a high calf crop and
profitability.
For the full report, see EDIS publication SP-144 or contact
Bridget for more information.
Beef Safety & Quality Assurance: An
Introduction
This article is the first in a series of excerpts from the
Florida Cow-Calf and Stocker Beef Safety & Quality
Assurance Handbook. Look for BQA workshops to be offered by
the Polk County Extension Service beginning September of
2008.
In order to compete for consumers’ protein dollars, cattle
producers must consistently provide a safe product that is
of high quality. Safety and quality factors in beef can be
affected by management decisions throughout the production
chain—including the cow-calf operation.
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a system of management
practices that will further strengthen consumer confidence
in beef products. Producers that adopt BQA principles will
become more competitive in the cattle market and will help
boost the global image of beef originating from the State
of Florida and the U.S. The BQA program will help producers
identify critical points in their beef production business
that affect quality and safety.
Other segments of the industry, from feedyards to food
service, have already adopted Hazard Analysis Critical
Control Points (HACCP) and BQA management principles. And
to further ensure the safety of products leaving their
operations, whether that product is fed cattle or case
ready meat products, these companies are looking to do
business with cow-calf producers who utilize the same
management philosophy.
By adopting BQA principles as a way of doing business,
producers can take advantage of these marketing
opportunities. In other words, making a commitment to Beef
Quality Assurance isn’t just the right thing to do for the
consumer - its also the right thing to do for you in terms
of market access.
The Florida Beef Quality Producer program is one way to
show our customers, whether they are calf buyers or
consumers, that Florida cattle producers take every step
possible to raise beef for them responsibly. Furthermore,
every aspect of a BQA program is part of good business
management.
For example, the information gained from record keeping in
your BQA program will help producers make better business
decisions and avoid making costly production mistakes. BQA
may also be an important resource for producers who are
confronted with additional government regulation and/or
possible litigation.
For more information about the BQA Program and how you may
participate in the upcoming workshops, please contact
Bridget.
Service Provider Directory
Cattle producers depend on various services and products in
their ranching operation, but sometimes it is difficult to
locate a service provider or product. The South Florida
Beef Forage Group has developed an extensive “Service
Provider Directory” to help ranchers find what they need
while allowing service and product providers market
themselves. The directory includes providers in various
categories that include, but are not limited to: hay, grass
planting material, day workers, custom tractor work,
hauling/transport, welding, fencing, to name a few.
Providers are listed by category then county. Visit the
website at http://sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu/spdindex.html or
contact me at (863) 519-8677 Ext. 104.
If you have a
service or product that you would like to list in the
directory, please call me at the number above or email me
at bccarlis@ufl.edu and I will be glad to have you added to
the list.