Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Garden Minute - Ornamental Grasses Nov. 28, 2017




November 28, 2017

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

Ornamental Grasses are not used in landscapes as often as they could be. Annual or peren­nial, tall or short, native or exotic, grasses can be used in many places and all seasons. In addition to the common use as lawns and turf grass, ornamental grasses can form borders, backdrops, hedgerows, and add to a native landscape.
The type of garden or landscape desired must be considered careful­ly when choosing grasses. Gardeners must consider water requirements, soil adaptations, winter hardiness and growth characteristics such as height and season when deciding on a landscape grass. Some ornamental grasses spread by rhizomes, which limits their use as an ornamental.
Grasses are normally divided into three groups. Short, mid, and tall grasses. Blue fescue, blue grama, foxtail barley, and Indian rice grass are short grasses, rabbit foot grass, redtop, side oats grama, little bluestem, and big bluestem are mid grasses, and giant reed, Ravenna grass, and Pampas grass are considered tall grasses. Ornamentals are a great way to add color and focal points to your garden.
If you would like more information on ornamental grasses please contact the Extension office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where our programs are open to everyone.

Monday, November 27, 2017

COW/CALF CORNER The Newsletter From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service November 27, 2017



COW/CALF CORNER
The Newsletter

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
November 27, 2017

In this issue:

Who is the stocker cattle industry?
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Prepare now for next spring’s calving season
Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist



Who is the stocker cattle industry?
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Earlier in 2017, Oklahoma State University, in conjunction with USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), conducted a comprehensive survey of Oklahoma cattle producers.  The primary objective of the survey was to identify stocker producers and how the stocker industry in Oklahoma operates.  USDA-NASS conducted the survey on behalf of OSU.  Completed surveys from nearly 1500 anonymous producers have been returned to OSU extension and research specialists.  With survey data now recorded, initial results are becoming available.

Producers were asked to identify all cattle production activities in their operations.  The list included several cow-calf activities (selling at weaning, retaining calves as stockers and retaining calves through the feedlot); and stocker/backgrounding production, including retaining stockers through the feedlot, as well as other production activities.  Producers were asked to identify production activities that they use routinely as well as occasionally (at least once in the last five years). 

Results indicate that Oklahoma cattle production is relatively complex.  Although nearly half (49.1 percent) of producers indicated only one cattle production activity, the average across all producers was two production activities.  Specifically, 24.7 percent of producers indicated just two production activities. Another 26.1 percent of producers reported three or more cattle production activities, including 15.1 percent reporting four or more production activities. Responses include routine practices as well as those identified as occasionally used by producers. Most producers surveyed have cow-calf production activities (91.1 percent).  Relatively few producers (5.1 percent) indicated only stocker/backgrounding production though another 19.4 percent of producers indicated stocker production in addition to cow-calf production.  This does not include the 37.9 percent of cow-calf producers retaining raised calves as stockers.  When separate stocker/ backgrounding activities along with retained calves from cow-calf production are included, a total of 45.3 percent of producers are involved in some form of stocker production.  

Many cow-calf producers do not consider themselves stocker producers as well.  Survey participants were asked to choose one of the production activities that they felt best describes their operation.  Of those producers who chose a label, 58.4 percent labeled themselves “Cow-calf, Sell calves at weaning”.  However, of those who picked that label, just 53.2 percent indicated that selling weaned calves was their sole routine cattle production activity.  This means that many producers who consider themselves primarily as cow-calf producers (selling at weaning) are involved, at least occasionally, in other types of cattle production as well.

The stocker industry is difficult to define, understand, or even identify.  A variety of cattle producers are involved in stocker production including specialized stocker producers; stocker production in conjunction with cow-calf; and retained stockers from cow-calf operations. The stocker industry plays a varied and flexible but critically important role in the cattle industry.  This survey will provide insight into stocker production and management practices, including timing and duration of stocker production; health management; forage use; purchasing and marketing of stocker cattle; timing and distance of shipping; and biosecurity practices.  Stay tuned as more detail emerges from the broad array of survey information.


Prepare now for next spring’s calving season
Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist

As a young boy growing up in Central Nebraska, we had a spring calving cow herd.  The “calving shed” that was available to us was one side of a large red barn.  This barn was built in the early part of the previous century and had stalls on one side that were meant to stall draft horses.  Because we used the stalls only during March and April for the “calving shed”, the other ten months of the year they became a storage facility.  Fencing materials, 5 gallon drums of grease for farming machinery, sacks of grass seed, and mineral blocks were just some of the items that were stored in the stalls.  Invariably, the calving season would begin before the gestation table suggested that it should.  One of us would find a two-year old that was in the midst of labor, and the calving shed was still full of supplies.

Someone once said “that Success occurs when Opportunity meets with Preparation”.  Planning and preparing ahead for next spring’s calving season can help increase the chances of success.  There are several key preparation steps that would be good to conduct in December to insure success in February, March, and April.  Before calving season starts do a walk-through of pens, chutes, and calving stalls.  Make sure that all are clean, dry, strong, safe, and functioning correctly.   Check the gates and the squeeze panels to make certain that they are ready for use.   Do you have the extra barbed wire and steel posts, as well as grass seed and motor oil stored in the calving shed?  Now would be a good time make certain that these items are placed in another facility or at least out of the way.  This is a lot easier to do on a sunny afternoon than on a cold dark night when you need to have the calving area ready in a short time.

If calf diarrhea has been a significant issue in your herd in the past, now is a good time to visit with your large animal veterinarian.  Ask about a scours vaccine given to the cows before calving, and about other management strategies that help reduce the pathogen exposure to baby calves when they are most vulnerable.

More information about management of cows and heifers at calving time can be found by downloading and reading the Oklahoma State University Circular E-1006 Calving Time Management for Beef Cows and Heifers.


Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.  References within this publication to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

Monday, November 20, 2017

COW/CALF CORNER The Newsletter From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service November 20, 2017



COW/CALF CORNER
The Newsletter

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
November 20, 2017

In this issue:

Cattlemen thankful for cattle prices this fall
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Breeding cows and heifers on wheat pasture
Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist


Cattlemen thankful for cattle prices this fall
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Strong stocker demand pushed calf prices counter-seasonally higher before Thanksgiving.  For the week ending November 17, the Oklahoma combined auction price for 475 pound, medium/large, number 1 steers was $183.34/cwt.  That is the highest price for that category of steers since May of 2016 and is $28.86/cwt higher than the same week last year.  Across weight groups, feeder cattle prices are generally 17 to 24 percent higher than one year ago.  Steer calves are bringing $140-$200/head more than last year and heifer calves are bringing $100-$150/head more.  The strength in feeder cattle prices has been quite remarkable given increased supplies.  Auction volumes have been 25 percent higher than last year for the last four weeks.

Prices for bigger feeder cattle dropped last week under the pressure of declining Feeder futures.  However, heavy feeder prices have been a bit stronger relative to calves all fall and thus remain very good.  Steer prices are realigning to a more typical rollback with heavy weights declining relative to calf prices.  Heifers, however, continue to have a very flat price structure with heifers from 475 to 725 pounds all priced within $3.00/cwt. last week.

The November Cattle on Feed report was a continuation of recent months.  Placements were larger than expected, up 10.2 percent year over year.  Marketings were up 5.6 percent leading to a November 1 on-feed total of 11.332 million head, up 6.25 percent over last year.  Feedlot inventory growth is slightly higher in the north with year over year Nebraska and Iowa on-feed totals up 8.6 and 15.0 percent while Kansas and Texas are up 2.2 and 6.0 percent. 

Year to date steer and heifer slaughter is up 5.5 percent year over year with steer slaughter up 2.5 percent and heifer slaughter up 12.0 percent.  However, in the last eight weeks, steer and heifer slaughter is up just 4.4 percent year over year. So far this year cow slaughter is up 7.1 percent led by a 10.4 percent year over year increase in beef cow slaughter and a 4.2 percent increase in dairy cow slaughter.  Fed carcass weights continue to inch toward a seasonal peak but remain well below year ago levels.  Latest steer carcass weights were 902 pounds compared to 913 pounds the same week last year.  Heifer carcass weights are currently 833 pounds, nine pounds less than the 842 pound level at this time last year. 

Beef production is up 4.1 percent for the year to date but the year over year increase is declining.  In the last eight weeks, beef production is up only 1.8 percent compared to the same period last year.  Boxed beef prices enjoyed a nice rally through early November but have since pulled back with most holiday meat sales already completed.  October retail beef prices were steady with year ago levels for both Choice and All-Fresh beef. All in all, cattle and beef markets appear set to finish 2017 on a strong note.




Breeding cows and heifers on wheat pasture
Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist

Many areas of Oklahoma have grown some wheat pasture for use as winter feed.  Some producers may have questions about the utilization of wheat pasture for growing replacement heifers or cows before, during, and after their first breeding season.  Unsatisfactory breeding performance has occasionally been anecdotally reported when replacement heifers have been exposed to bulls or AI while grazing wheat forages.  Therefore an Oklahoma State University study was conducted to compare reproductive performance of heifers grazing wheat pasture before, and during breeding, with heifers grazing wheat pasture until approximately 3 weeks before breeding. 

In each of two years, 40 spring born Angus and Angus crossbred heifers were placed on wheat pasture in December and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups in mid March.  Group one (Wheat Pasture; n=20) remained on wheat pasture (mean crude protein = 26.6 %) through estrus synchronization and fixed-time AI.  Group two (Dry Lot; n=20) was placed in drylot and had free choice access to a corn-based growing ration (11.1% crude protein) through estrus synchronization and fixed time AI.  The heifers were inseminated on about April 5 both years.  Heifers were exposed to fertile bulls starting 10 days after fixed time AI for 45 more days.  Fixed time AI conception was determined at 32 days  after AI by ultrasonography. 

The percentage of heifers cycling at the start of estrous synchronization was 75% and 55% for Wheat Pasture and Dry Lot, respectively.  Weights of Dry Lot heifers were slightly heavier than Wheat Pasture heifers (897 vs. 867 pounds) at the time of AI but were similar at ultrasound (917 vs. 910 pounds).  Conception rate to Fixed time AI was similar for Wheat Pasture (53%) and Dry Lot (43%) and final pregnancy rate was similar for Wheat Pasture (95%) and Dry Lot (88%).  Reproductive performance of heifers grazing wheat pasture during estrus synchronization and Fixed time AI was similar to heifers consuming a corn-based growing diet.  Source: Bryant, et al. 2009 Oklahoma State University Animal Science Research Report.

Kansas State University looked at grazing wheat pasture, before and during breeding with first and second calf cows.  They compared the fixed time AI and final pregnancy rates for cows on wheat with cows on native rangeland.  Five years of data were summarized in the 2011 KSU Cattlemen’s Day Report.   The AI pregnancy rates were 51.7% and 57.7% for wheat pasture and rangeland respectively.  The final pregnancy rates after a natural breeding clean up breeding season were very similar at 94.4% and 95.9% respectively.  They concluded: “This trial showed no evidence that the high protein diet of wheat pasture reduces pregnancy rate of beef cows. However, because timing of the breeding season remained constant, protein content of the diet may have moderated prior to breeding.” Source: Johnson, S.K. 2011 KSU Cattlemen’s Day Report.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!


Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.  References within this publication to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.