A recent survey was conducted by Oklahoma State University to determine what feedyards think is important in the cattle they feed. The three most important factors were feed efficiency, health and "misfits". Next in importance were price, biological type, muscling and average daily gain. Least important were color, implant history, and horned or polled. Even though color was not highly ranked, it obviously enters into consideration of biological type and misfits. Feedyards indicated projected quality grade and yield grade would become more important as more cattle on some carcass basis.
Merck is marketing a new parasite product, eprinomectin, called Eprinex (TRADEMARK HERE). This is another in the avermectin family of compounds of which ivermectin (Ivomec) is a member. Eprinex is a pour-on using a trigger-type applicator. It has a clearance for common species of roundworms as well as lungworms, lice, mites, grubs, and hornflies. Of particular importance is there is no slaughter withdrawal and no milk discard period.
It has been known for some time that increased dietary fat can improve reproduction in cattle, by increasing follicular growth and shortening intervals between calving and heat. Texas A & M researchers at Beeville and College Station recently reported some differences depending on type of fat. Response was higher from vegetable fat, such as found in soybean oil or whole cottonseed, than from animal fats (tallow) or fish oil.
Oklahoma researchers have reported a study on selection for milk production in beef cows. Daughters of Angus and Polled Hereford high-milk and low-milk EPD sires were selected. The difference in milk EPD of the sires was 33 lb in Angus and 27 lb in Polled Hereford. In the first two years of production, daughters of high-milk sires weaned heavier calves, 40 lb in Angus and 28 lb in Polled Hereford, very close to EPD predictions. High-milk daughters were lower in body condition at weaning. In producing second calves, high-milk daughters averaged 23 days longer calving interval and 2% lower in calving %. For third calves, the high-milk group was 7 days shorter in calving interval but 12 % lower in calving %. Overall, the high-milk group weaned 393 lb/female exposed compared to 390 lb/female for the low-milk group. This is further evidence that milk production and reproduction may be antagonistic.
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national original.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas cooperating.
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