The National Beef Checkoff recently released the findings of an online study conducted in January 2012 designed to measure consumers’ purchasing habits at foodservice establishments based on current economic pressures facing Americans.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that is enzootic (i.e. established in animal populations) in South Dakota. Over the past 10 years, this disease has been reported in animals from all but 7 of South Dakota’s 66 counties.
The agricultural industry is taking steps to better understand today’s consumers. A recent study commissioned by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), presented the results of consumers perceptions of food production.
What you would do if a weather disaster struck your ranch or feed lot? I remember thinking that following the tornado that destroyed Manchester, SD. I think we’re all guilty of focusing so much on the day-to-day issues that we ignore potentially serious possibilities. While there is nothing that we can do to prevent a severe weather outbreak, some time spent thinking about our response could prove very valuable.
Summer months in the northern plains mean an opportunity for cattle producers to graze weaned calves on pasture. While “grass calves” are considered to be under less risk of infectious diseases compared to calves weaned and concentrated into drylots in the fall, these calves still are at risk for certain disease issues while out on pasture.
Summer heat waves pose a serious danger to cattle. It’s not only the death loss, but also the loss in performance and the potential for poorer reproductive performance of bulls and breeding females caused by heat stress that cause economic harm to beef producers. Taking some steps now to plan ahead will put producers in a better position to deal with heat waves when and if they occur.
Research from University of Nebraska may add a few more dollars to the pockets of cattlemen. According to some latest research from the “2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report” sorting fed cattle prior to feeding Zilmax has shown some beneficial effects on carcass traits.
Although fall precipitation and winter snows were far below normal this past year, even minimal precipitation during cold weather can result in significant mud in feedlot pens during spring. During colder temperatures, moisture resulting from precipitation and cattle (through urine and feces) does not dry quickly. This can result in muddy conditions when the ground thaws.
When talking with cow/calf producers in South Dakota many would agree that they typically see cases of pinkeye every year to some extent. According to an USDA study, producers stated that pinkeye was the second most common disease in calves greater than 3 weeks and the leading condition affecting breeding age beef heifers.
Nearly every summer, cases of anthrax in cattle are reported from pastures in South Dakota. Anthrax is a disease that can strike quickly, usually causing death losses without prior noticeable clinical signs in the animals. Anthrax is caused by bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, which has the ability to form very resistant spores in the soil.
Right now cow calf producers are enjoying some of the highest prices we’ve ever seen. Any tools that producers can use to improve performance and increase production are much more valuable and important than in the past.
It seems like every day we are learning more about the best ways to artificially inseminate cattle. New protocols appear to pop up daily, but as a producer, who is to say which protocol will give the highest pregnancy rates?
It’s the time of the year when farmers markets start sprouting up in communities around South Dakota and residents are able to purchase local goods and fresh items as they come in season.
In an effort to help consumers get to know the ranchers who produce the beef they eat, iGrow will be featuring a South Dakota ranch each month. This month Slovek Ranch, Bill and Pennie Slovek and Bo Slovek will be featured. The Slovek Ranch is one of the case study ranches for beefSD. They are progressive in many things they do and Bill is actively involved in various organizations across the state. I had the opportunity to visit with Bill and learn more about his operation.
Quality Assurance training focuses heavily on how to give intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SQ) medications and vaccines in front of the shoulders of a beef animal to avoid causing damage to higher valued regions of the carcass. Beef producers also need to be able to identify and use correct needles for certain medications, be skilled in giving medications via different routes, and dispose of needles properly as part of their management practices. Utilizing the correct needle has a major impact on ensuring producers are raising a safe, quality beef product for consumers.
Public perception of “Faith Outreach” programs typically would involve a connection with a religious community or church and a desire to guide followers in the way of their fundamental beliefs. That mission would be led by a trained, educated leader of the community or church.
A variety of plants that occur as normal constituents of native pastures can accumulate toxic compounds and represent a risk to grazing livestock if they are consumed. Surveys suggest that 3 to 5 percent of the cattle, sheep and horses that graze native rangelands in the western U.S. are affected by plant toxicity – representing a major economic loss.
New demands for corn such as ethanol production and growing export markets have increased the price of corn, and the repercussion has been increased costs of virtually all other feedstuffs. Through both direct and indirect influences, this has also driven land prices and rental rates up, including range and pasture land.
Now that we have completed a forage and animal inventory and made sure that is was balanced based on the information from the previous two weeks’ articles, we need to start to develop the grazing plan. This is when we will refer to your goals for your grazing operation quite often because this planning is to help you manage your grass the way you want to manage it.
Research conducted at the SDSU Antelope Range Livestock Research Station demonstrated superior persistence of alfalfa populations that were derived from local materials and were predominantly yellow flowered. Locally adapted yellow-flowered would complement extensive crested wheatgrass characteristics of large areas in the Northern Great Plains.