Farm & Ranch
Think outside the box when selecting replacement cattle
By: Blair Fannin
Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected]
BRENHAM – With cattle prices at record highs, ranchers looking to build back beef cattle herds need to take careful consideration of the composition of replacement heifers to yield top-quality calves, according to experts.
About 200 cattle producers attended the recent 43rd South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham, hearing from a variety of experts. The event was hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service with support of beef and forage committees from Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Grimes, Harris, Lee, Waller and Washington counties.
“This year we focused on heifers and took the opportunity to talk about the basics of genetics, selection, function, design, (and) utility,” said Kara Matheney, AgriLife Extension agent for Washington County. “We are at a unique time right now, where we are making some serious decisions about the quality of stock we are purchasing to restock or what we are raising as replacements.”
Doug Pierce, division chair for agriculture at Blinn College in Brenham, said cattle producers should look at a number of criteria when selecting good replacement heifers. Skeletal soundness and length of stride are among those to consider. He also said to observe things not commonly thought of.
“Look for weird things, such as width of mouth,” he said. “A wide-mouth cow will eat more and perform better. Good traits of a cow also include having a good body. She should also be a cow that cares for and can nurse her calf until weaning. I tell my students if it (the cow) can’t pay that rent check, she’s a freeloader and get rid of her.”
Dr. Jason Cleere said structure is important, and don’t select females that are post-legged or stand too straight up and down.
“Cattle that are straight, their joints start to wear out sooner,” he said. “That is a trait you do not want.”
Both Cleere and Pierce said to watch a cow’s stride. Cows that take shorter strides require more steps and can have reduced longevity. Width of pin bones is another thing to consider. Cows that are wide between their pin bones tend to have more calving ease than those with narrow openings, Cleere said.
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By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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