Some work has shown promise in using infrared diagnosis of feces to detect pregnancy. Texas and Mississippi workers recently reported collaborative studies designed to assess this idea. Their technique correctly identified some groups, grazing various forages, in various stages of estrous and pregnancy. However, 35 of 36 estrous-cycling heifers grazing cool season grass were classified as pregnant, as were eight bulls. The authors concluded that more research is needed.
PREMIUMS FOR ANGUS
The American Angus Association has monitored spring and fall prices at10 markets from Kentucky to California for the past two years. Compared to non-Angus, premiums were: fall-sale steers, $3.27/cwt; spring steers, $1.99; fall heifers, $2.24; spring heifers, $1.43. That amounts to about $11 a head more for 500 lb calves, or about the same difference that an additional 10 lb of sale weight would have returned last week. Remember, profit equals number of head X average weight X average price/lb minus total cost of production. Price is only one factor.
IRM POCKET REFERENCE AVAILABLE
A handy reference for beef cattle producers is now available from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. This 170-page pocketbook has text, charts, and graphs covering most aspects of production from "Signs of Approaching Parturition" to "Quality and Yield Grading". The price is $6.50 for item no. 12-975 from the NCBA at (800) 368-3138 or Renee Lloyd, rlloyd@beef.org.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON BIRTH WEIGHT
Nebraska researchers studied records from a 3-year period in the mid-90's on over 400 2-year-old first-calving heifers. Over the three years, average Dec-Feb temperatures increased 11 degrees, average birth weights decreased 11 lb (81 vs 70), and calving difficulty went down by 22 percentage points. Oklahoma workers compared calves born in early fall or late winter/early spring out of similar crossbred cows AI'ed to the same sires. Fall-born calves averaged 4.5 lb (77.7 vs 82.2) lighter birth weight. While we might think our climate is not so great at times, say in July, it does have one side benefit, generally less calving difficulty than they have Up North.
NEW CALVING PUBLICATION
"Choosing the Time of Year to Breed and Calve Beef Cows in Texas", L-5381, by Dr. L. R. Sprott, Texas A&M Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and Research Scientist, is now in print. It can be obtained from either: County Extension Offices; TAEX Publications, PO Box 1209, Bryan, TX 77806-1209 (979-845-6571); or the TAEX website, http://texaserc.tamu.edu .
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