Arkansas researchers used high levels of limit-fed corn or corn gluten feed (CGF) to maintain dry cows. A control group was maintained on bermudagrass hay and supplement. The corn and CGF rations had about 20% roughage (either cottonseed hulls or rice hulls) and a mineral-vitamin premix. The corn ration also had about 7% cottonseed meal, which the CGF ration did not require as CGF contains 20-25% crude protein. Over a 3-month period, average dry matter consumption was: controls, 26.0 lb; corn ration, 10.7 lb; CGF ration, 12.6 lb. There was no difference in effects on body condition, as all groups went from mid-5 BCS to low 6 BCS during the study.
VACCINES FOR VALUE ADDED CALF PROGRAMS
The list of post-weaning vaccines recommended for the various Texas A&M Value Added Calf programs has been considerably shortened. Products no longer being manufactured and duplications within companies have been deleted. The recommended products for postweaning use are BoviShield 4 (Pfizer), Express 5 (Boehringer Ingelheim), Frontier 4 Plus (Intervet), IBR Plus 4-Way (Merial), Pyramid MLV 4 (Fort Dodge), and Titanium 5 (Agri Labs). CattleMaster 4 (Pfizer) and two intranasal products, Nasalgen IP (Schering-Plough) and TSV-2 (Pfizer), are recommended for use pre-weaning.
USING EPD TO COMPARE SALE BULLS
The annual fall bull sales are here. If you're in the market, you may be faced with deciding how much difference there might be in the potential value of bulls. Most breeds calculate Expected Progeny Difference values for weight. Let's say you sell all calves at weaning, so weaning weight EPD should be a prime factor in comparing bulls. How much difference is there in potential value of bulls, of the same breed, that differ in weaning EPD? Assume a bull is used for 5 years and you sell 25 calves each year. Using average calf prices and interest rates over the last few years, every 5 lb difference in weaning EPD of bulls is worth about $300-350 difference in their sale price.
BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE - WHAT IS IT?
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a term being used a lot these days. What is it? BQA is intended to ensure the safety, environmental compatibility, wholesomeness, and eating satisfaction of beef. BQA is not some program designed to prepare calves for special backgrounded sales or other value-added processes, although such things certainly include parts of BQA. BQA may be divided into three basic areas, things that affect safety, quality, and environment. Safety items include such things as antibiotic and pesticide residues, feed contamination, broken needles, etc. Quality items include injection site blemishes, correct vaccine use, preconditioning, castration, dehorning, castration, placement of brands, genetics, etc. Environmental considerations include water quality, grazing management, disposal of dead livestock, riparian areas, etc. You will hear more about BQA as various efforts are made to implement the concept. Just understand what it is and is not.
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