BORDER OPENINGS
Mexico has agreed to open its borders to American Beef. This should improve finished cattle prices by approximately $1.50 - $2.00 cwt. However, Mexico will only accept boneless beef from animals 30 months of age or younger and will not accept any variety meats. Variety meats are meat items made from the "drop" of cattle such as the stomach, liver, spleen, tongue, etc. Shipments of beef across the Mexican Border will probably begin in late March or early April.
On March 8, USDA entered into the federal register the proposed rules to open the Canadian Border to fed and feeder cattle under 30 months of age and beef from cattle over 30 months of age that has had specific risk material removed. Specific risk material are materials such as the spinal column that has been known to harbor the organism that causes Mad Cow Disease. The proposed rule comment period will be open for 30 days but no time line has been issued by USDA as to when the final rule will be established and the rule become law. We have been receiving boneless beef from cattle 30 months of age or younger from Canada since the last part of 2003. Therefore, the impact on American beef prices should be minimal.
GRASS TETANY SEASON IS HERE
With the flush of green grass comes grass tetany season. All beef cattle should be on a high mag mineral to prevent grass tetany. Grass tetany is a disease caused by a deficiency of magnesium in the cow's diet. Symptoms of the disease are tetany (twitching of the muscles), staggering, convulsions, and death. If caught in time, an infusion of a magnesium solution delivers a quick recovery. If a cow is found dead from grass tetany, there are usually signs of the animal struggling on the ground. These signs include grass and debris under the head and legs worn away with some bare soil underneath. Of course this could be a sign of any number of diseases but at this time of year, grass tetany should be one of the first considerations.
Prevention is simply supplementing the cattle with a high mag mineral. The preferred source of magnesium is magnesium oxide. So, check your mineral tags for this ingredient and if it is some other source of magnesium, it may not be as effective. In addition, for it to be considered a high mag mineral, it must contain at least 14% magnesium. Be sure the high mag mineral is the only source of minerals available to the cattle. High mag minerals are not as palatable and if given a choice, they will eat the lower magnesium minerals.
LIVESTOCK DEATHS
The state veterinarian's office has reported a large number of cases where livestock, have been accidentally starved to death due to feeding poor quality hay. The 2003 hay crop was a bumper crop but because the hay was cut late due to excessive rain, the quality of hay was very poor. In addition, a lot of the hay was rained on after it was cut thereby lowering the quality and palatability even more. If this wasn't enough, some of the hay molded after it was baled due to the high humidity experienced last year. The bottom line is, a lot of last years hay will not meet the animals protein and energy requirements regardless of how much you feed, and livestock are slowly starving to death. Because starvation symptoms are slow in developing, they are sometimes over looked. The most obvious sign is cattle with ribs and backbones showing. The cattle become progressively weaker and finally go down. They don't die until after they have been down for several days.
Take a good look at your livestock. Do you see several head with ribs and backbones showing? If so, you need to evaluate your feeding program and provide supplements to get them back into the proper body condition. Be aware that not all animals in the herd will be affected in the same way. Some animals in the herd may be in pretty good shape while others are poor condition. It is these animals in poor condition that are slowly starving to death.
If you need assistance with your nutritional program, please contact me or your large animal veterinarian.
COMING SOON TO A PASTURE NEAR YOU-
PRETTY YELLOW FLOWERS
Those pretty yellow flowers that invade pasture fields are
about to make their appearance once again! Those yellow flowers
are know as tuberous buttercup and they spread very rapidly taking
over a large portion of the pasture fields if not controlled.
Unfortunately, many livestock producers do not notice this pesky
weed until it flowers and by that time the optimal control period is
gone. Now is the time to spray to control tuberous buttercup.
Several herbicides can be used to control this weed. They include2,4D; banvel; combinations of 2,4D and banvel, Ally, Crossbow; or
Grazon. Which one to use depends on the presence or absence of other weeds or grasses and the amount of money available to spend. If clover is present in the fields, then 2,4D at 2 pints per acre, is probably the best choice since it will not kill the clover. It will stunt the clover but it will recover. The other products will kill the clover.
As always, when using herbicides or any other chemical, be sure to read, understand, and follow all label directions.
The use of brand names does not imply endorsement of the products or services names or criticism of similar ones not mentioned.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CATTLE, HORSE, SWINE, SHEEP, GOAT, OR PASTURE MANAGEMENT
CALL ME OR CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL. I AM AVAILABLE FOR FARM VISITS IN THE
ALAMANCE AND GUILFORD AREA, OFFICE CONSULTATIONS, PHONE INQUIRES, ETC, AT
NO CHARGE TO BOTH SMALL AND LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS.
Letter content by Paul Walker, Agricultural
Extension Agent.
This page was
created and is maintained by
Beverly Jenkins, Extension Secretary. Last updated on
April 14, 2004.
