MAFES Livestock Sale

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) are holding its 30^th annual livestock production sale.

            Date:          Thursday, November 15, 2012

            Location:   Mississippi Horse Park; Mississippi State, MS

            Sale Time:  1:00 P.M.

There will be 40 total lots in this sale.  The first 10 lots will be composed of registered Angus and Charolais bulls.  The next 30 lots are a combination of bred heifers (x-bred) and two registered open heifers (1 Angus, 1 Charolais). 

If you are unable to attend the sale, there will be 2 interactive video bidding sites:

-          Forrest County Extension Office          Hattiesburg, MS

-          Central MS R&E Center                         Raymond, MS

For more information on this sale (directions, sale catalog, cattle lot videos) please visit: http://msucares.com/livestock/beef/mafesbeef.html

MSU Artificial Insemination School

The Mississippi State University Extension Service and Animal and Dairy Science Department host two cattle Artificial Insemination (AI) Schools each year.  The dates for these schools are as follows: 

-         October 25-27, 2012

-         March 14-16, 2013

This three day event consists of lecture portions that allow you to become familiar with terminology and lab portions which give you the opportunity to practice AI techniques.  This school will take place on MSU’s campus in Starkville and is limited to the first 25 registrations. 

How much?

-         MSU’s AI school cost $250 per person.

Are there AI schools taught in my area?

-         Mississippi State Extension service provides schools at select MAFES locations.

-         For more information on school locations go to msucares.com and click on Livestock-Beef

Ø For more information on registering visit http://msucares.com/livestock/beef/aischool.html

Winter Management in your Cow Herd

Winter management for your cow herd should not be centered only on the winter months.

Cattle farmers in Mississippi are busy plowing fields and planting their winter forages, preparing for the cold winter ahead.  By now dry-matter forage supplements such as hay, balayage, and silage have also been stored for feed preparations.  These forage precautions are necessary for maintaining cows through the winter as they produce for their calves, and also to ensure their Body Condition Scores (BCS) are adequate for rebreeding. 

            A BCS of 6 is an adequate score for cows entering the winter months.  To help cattle maintain health and body condition during the winter, the following topics should be addressed:

- Vaccinations

- Parasite Population/Deworming

- Forage varieties

- Trace-minerals

The importance of BCS is often underestimated by producers.  Dr. Ron Skinner, a DVM and seedstock producer, says about 70% of open cows in Montana each year are a result of inadequate fall nutrition.    

            The most important factor that affects your winter management is matching the cow to the environment and your management style.  Breeds, climate, and soil type are factors that should be evaluated also.  Cows that need additional feed to perform under normal standards should be culled from the herd. 

            Furth more, BCS of your cow pre-winter, environment, proper forage preparation, and management styles are the main topics that need to be evaluated, seasons prior to winter, in order to ensure proper winter management. 

Vet Fined For " Mad Cow "

       In 2009, the U.S. almost encountered another scare with a cow that tested positive for BSE.  What is BSE some ask? BSE is an acronym for bovine spongiform encephalopathy or known by many as "Mad Cow".

        A judge in Winnipeg fined Dr. Fawcott George Taylor, a Manitoba veterinarian, $80,000 for allowing the infected cow to be shipped to the U.S. and Canada boarders.  An U.S. inspection agent at the boarder found one animal unable to stand and stopped the shipment.  After further test, the cow tested positive for BSE.
 
      I feel these large fines are very necessary so everyone stays up to date on this topic and ensures its containment.  In addition to the Vet, three farmers were also fined due to their negligence.