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.

Cattle on Feed (COF) report

The USDA released the monthly COF report, which is the number, or percent, of cattle that are being shipped to feedlots.
Over the past 10 years(2001-2010), the U.S. has averaged a 21% increase of feed cattle from July to August. Last year, 2011, was the year of the Southern Plains Drought and rendered an unsurprising 5% increase.
This year as a nation we have experienced some rocky weather activity, such as storms and low water tables, but still managed to produce a higher yield of corn and soybeans. This yield is measured by comparing the amount and quality produced this month a year ago.
This being said, July to August COF only reached a 4.2% increase this year. Only one year has recorded lower numbers in the 16 years COF has been documented. In summary, record lows of cattle on feed are being recorded in a month of higher yield of feed products.


 

Isaac's Impact on Farms/Pasture

Hurricane Isaac has played a large role in pasture land for many farms across the nation, both good and bad.  According to the USDA drought has covered 62% of the lower 48 states.  With Isaac stringing showers across Arkansas and some central states, many row croppers and cattlemen were thankful of the rain provided. However, many farms located in the southern region of the state (MS) were not so lucky.  Many places, such as mine, experienced flooding of fields which lead to roads, fences, and pasture washing away from strong water flow. 

Fields are soon to be disked in preparation of ryegrass being planted so many farms are quickly trying to rebuild.  Rebuilding of fence and land causes large amounts of debit to build.  The FSA and USDA are currently trying to form some type of disaster relief program to aid in damages received by Hurricane Isaac.  For more information and these programs you will need to contact your local county agent or government office.

Proud to be a Mississippi Cattleman

    Poultry, catfish, timber, and row crops are what come to mind when many think about Mississippi’s agricultural commodities.  Often overlooked, Beef productions play a large role in Mississippi agriculture production.  Mississippi’s cattle inventory totals 950,000 head state wide with 568,000 being beef cows.  Stocker calves also represent 42% of cattle farmed in Mississippi.  Our state has approximately 18,000 functioning beef cattle operations, which ranks 7^th in value of production among agriculture commodities.  I have grown up on a cow-calf production farm my entire life so my cattle roots run deep.  We currently have commercial Angus and Braford cows along with registered Angus cattle.  I consider myself to be a blessed man each day I get to spend on my farm and hope to be farming cattle in many years to come.