The Brazos Valley CEU Conference will be conducted on ...



100 West Buck Street, Suite 105

Caldwell, Texas 77836

(979) 567-2308

fax (979) 567-2370

burleson-tx@tamu.edu

Burleson County

Beef Cattle & Forage News

January - 2010

2010 BRAZOS VALLEY CEU CONFERENCE

The Brazos Valley CEU Conference will be conducted on Friday, January 29th at the Burleson County Fair EXPO Building in Caldwell. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The first presentation will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $25 per person if registered by Friday, January 22nd. After the 22nd, registration fee is $35.00. CEU’s (1 L&R, 2IPM and 2 General) will be available to TDA certified, licensed, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators. A catered lunch will be provided. The Burleson County Soil & Water Conservation District #358 will provide coffee, kolaches, and other refreshments. The program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. Call Texas AgriLife Extension service in Burleson County (979/567-2308) to get registered! (5 CEU’s will be offered with this program.)

Speakers and topics…

8:30 a.m. Mr. Keaton Ehrig, Lee County Extension Agent will discuss "Aquatic Weed Management" (IPM)

9:30 a.m. Dr. Larry Redmon, Extension State Forage Specialist will address "Lone Star Healthy Streams:

Keeping Texas Waterways Safe and Clean" (General)

10:30 a.m. Mr. Tim Reinke, Range Specialist with Natural Resource Conservation Service will cover

"Pasture Renovation Options" (General)

11:30 a.m. Catered Lunch

12:30 p.m. Dr. Don Renchie, Extension Program Leader for Ag & Environmental Safety ill address

"Laws and Regulations for Agricultural Producers" (L&R)

1:30 p.m. Mr. Aaron Sumrall, San Jacinto County Extension Agent will discuss "Controlling Feral Hogs"

(IPM)

Last Chance Video Series

Licensed and certified TDA private applicators needing continuing education units (CEU’s) to renew their license can participate in the “Last Chance Video Series” by contacting Texas AgriLife Extension in Burleson County and scheduling a time when the license holder can view the videos during office hours. Videos cannot be taken home. Four videos offering two CEU’s each are available for viewing. Cost is $5 per credit hour. For more information, contact Texas AgriLife Extension at 979/567-2308.

CENSUS 2010

The 2010 Census form should be received in March, completed and returned by April 1st. The Census is extremely important for many reasons, but, it affects agriculture in a significant manner, via the US Farm Bill. Agricultural producers need to ensure they accurately represent their interest so future Farm Bills can truly address what is needed. For more information, visit

The following articles were taken from the Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletters series prepared by the Extension Animal Science Department…

BALANCING PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

Lack of marbling has been identified as a problem in several National Beef Quality Audits. Price premiums for various high-quality marketing programs have led to increased genetic selection emphasis on marbling. How important overall is carcass quality in beef production? A recent symposium on “Balancing Live Cattle Performance and Beef Quality” provided some insight. In one paper, it was noted that “many data sets show that production parameters post weaning are two to three times more important than the value of the carcass.”

Another paper investigated “correlated responses and economic consequences to selection for increased marbling.” When selection was high for marbling, change in other traits was small. Also, in an integrated production system producing its own replacement females and retaining ownership through marketing on a carcass grid, selection for marbling resulted in little effect on net value. The authors attributed this to “lower importance of changes in marbling relative to other traits, including cow longevity and fertility.” So, while palatability is certainly needed to satisfy consumers, production traits remain paramount in the overall scheme of producing beef. (Univ. of Nebraska, University of Missouri; J. Animal Sci. 87, Suppl. 2, No. 230 and 232)

EFFECT OF WEANING TIME ON IMMUNITY

Brahman X Angus calves were weaned at 80 days of age (EW) or 250 days of age (NW). EW grazed ryegrass pasture from January to May and limpograss pasture from May to August, with supplement at 1% of body weight of 80% soybean hulls: 20% cottonseed meal. Upon weaning, NW calves were placed on pasture for 45 days with EW. At that time, both groups were challenged with endotoxin. Based on blood analysis, EW showed higher levels of immune response. Other research has shown that fresh-weaned calves have lower immune response than backgrounded calves. Here, even compared to calves that were weaned for 45 days, early-weaned calves in this study had higher levels of immunity. (University of Florida, USDA-ARS; J. Animal Sci. 87:4167)

CHARACTERISTICS OF MEXICAN BEEF

A survey was made of seven packing plants in Mexico. Approximately 90% of carcasses indicated features of strong Bos indicus genetics. Over 70% of cattle are slaughtered at live weights of 880 lb to 1100 lb. Almost 90% of carcasses weighed between 485 lb and 750 lb. Fat cover was less than 0.4 inch in 90% of carcasses. Over 70% of carcasses had ribeyes of less than 12.4 sq in and less than 10% had ribeyes over 14 sq in. Almost 94% had marbling scores of less than USDA Slight, the minimum for USDA Select. These findings shed some light on why Mexico is a good market for high-quality U. S. beef. (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; J. Animal Sci. 87:3782)

FEED EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT GENETIC TYPES

Efficiency was measured in a group of 581 calves of six breed types: Angus (A), Brahman (B), 3/4A-1/4B, 5/8A-3/8B, 1/2A-1/2B, 1/4A-3/4B. Calves were weaned, preconditioned for 3 to 6 week, and then fed for 70 days with individual feed intake measured. Residual feed intake, RFI (difference between actual and expected intake), was calculated. As the fraction of Brahman increased the following tendencies were noted:

feed intake was lower,

weight gain was lower,

RFI increased (more efficient),

feed conversion ration increased (less efficient).

So, the effect of genetic type on efficiency depended on whether RFI or feed conversion was the measure. The authors noted this lack of agreement and indicated a need for further evaluation. (Univ. of Florida; J. Animal Sci. 87:3877)

EFFECT OF DAM NUTRITION ON HEIFER GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION

Cows receiving protein supplementation on dormant Nebraska range were compared to un-supplemented cows. Compared to un-supplemented cows, heifer calves from cows receiving supplement had:

no difference in birth weight,

higher weaning weight,

higher weight at pregnancy determination,

higher weight at calving,

no difference in age at puberty,

higher percentage reaching puberty at breeding,

higher pregnancy rate.

Heifers from supplemented dams “appeared less feed efficient.” The authors noted that these findings provide “evidence of fetal programming response in female progeny to maternal nutrition.” (Univ. of Nebraska; J. Animal Sci. Supple 2, No. 8)

CURRENT BREED REGISTRATIONS

Angus, at about 334,000, continue to register by far the largest number of beef cattle in the U. S. (Holstein had slightly more registrations at last report). The remainder of the top 10 beef breeds were: Charolais (66,000), Hereford (64,000), Red Angus (48,000), Simmental (46,000), Gelbvieh (35,000), Brangus (30,000), Limousin (29,000), Shorthorn (16,000), Beefmaster (15,000). (National Pedigreed Livestock Council, 2009-10 Report)

PREDICTED EFFECTS OF CLIMATE-CHANGE LEGISLATION

What effects on livestock production might result from climate-change legislation currently being considered in Congress? Joseph Glauber, chief economist for USDA, recently addressed this topic while appearing before the U. S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research. Glauber predicted that conversion of cropland to forests over time would result in prices that would be higher for commodities and lower for cattle and hogs. Compared to not passing legislation being considered, his estimates for 2015 (and 2030) if the legislation passes were:

• corn production lower by 1.4 percent (and 7.2 percent);

• corn price higher by 7.1 percent (and 15.6 percent);

• soybean production lower by 3.5 percent (and 9.0 percent);

• soybean prices change little;

• fed beef production decrease 0.4 percent (and 3.4 percent);

• fed beef price increase 1.2 percent (and 3.9 percent);

• hog production decrease 5.7 percent (and 9.9 percent);

• hog price increase 4.4 percent (and 12.1 percent).

(Testimony before U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee, 12/03/09)

EFFECT OF ZINC TREATMENT ON AUCTION-BARN CALVES

A group of 88 calves were purchased from several auction barns, shipped as a group, processed upon arrival, and treated as follows: 3 ml of 10.8 mg Zn/ml sprayed into each nostril (NS); 40 ml of 16.25 mg Zn/ml oral drench (DR); or no-zinc control. Groups were then maintained in pens for 43 days, with no fence line contact between pens. Signs of respiratory disease were monitored daily and rectal temperatures recorded. Calves from each pen were randomly selected for nasal swab collection on arrival and 2, 4, and 7 days later. NS calves gained less for the first 28 days. NS has fewer bacteria in nasal swabs. Final weight and sickness did not differ among groups. Zinc treatment did not appear to offer any overall performance or health benefit. (Univ. of Arkansas; Research Update Dec/09)

GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG WEIGHTS AT VARIOUS AGES

American Angus Association data were analyzed to determine genetic relationships among female weights at weaning, yearling, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. Numbers ranged from 81,525 weaning weights to 7,546 for 5-year-olds. Genetic correlation between weaning and yearling weight was 0.84. Correlations between weaning weight and older weights ranged from 0.66 for 4-year-old to 0.72 for 2-year-old. Correlations between yearling weight and older ranged from 0.77 for 5-year-old to 0.85 for 2-year-old. Correlations among the four older weights were all greater than 0.98. This study confirms the high relationships between weights at different ages, and does so with a huge dataset.

Some steedstock producers are attempting to select for increased weaning and yearling weight without increasing mature cow weight, to create what are often termed “growth-curve benders.” These correlations between weaning and, especially, yearling weight with older weights demonstrate the difficulty, but not impossibility, of creating curve benders. (Univ. of Georgia; J. Animal Sci. 87 Supple. 2:497)

GRASS-FED BEEF REFERENCE

If you’re interested in grass-fed production and marketing a handbook is available at covering all aspects including identifying opportunities and barriers, grazing systems, direct marketing, processing and added-value cuts, consumer interest and demand, and nutrition and carcass quality.

IS WHOLE GENOME SELECTION THE SILVER BULLET?

The concept of whole genome selection is being advanced by some as the ultimate answer to genetic improvement of beef cattle. This subject was addressed in a recent research paper.

The beef cattle industry is characterized by a diverse assortment of breeds, division of production segments, and little vertical integration of those segments. Beef cattle genetic evaluation programs are operated by breed associations, using data provided by producers who register seedstock. Seedstock producers react to the needs and desires of their customers, primarily commercial cow-calf producers buying bulls. Many of the traits of economic importance to feeders, processors, and retailers have little if any economic importance to cow-calf producers.

Effective whole genome selection could provide genetic information on all traits. This would require development of base phenotypic and genotypic populations involving thousands of animals. And genomic prediction equations would need to be validated under different production conditions and for various breed combinations. Costs for all of these functions must be borne by someone. Time will tell if the potential of whole genome selection will be realized in the beef cattle industry. (Univ. of California; J. Animal Sci. 87 Suppl. 2:175)

Sincerely,

Cullen D. Tittle

County Extension Agent – AG/NR

Burleson County

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If you have any concerns regarding this newsletter, please contact the Burleson County Extension office at 979-567-2308.

Improving Lives. Improving Texas.

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