Farm Talk Livestock

Select forages present potential risk for livestock

2010-09-01T09:50:44-05:00

Prussic acid, sometimes referred to as cyanide poisoning, typically occurs shortly after cattle are turned on a field that contains the high risk plants such as johnsongrass or sorghum sudan.

Fescue management discussed at field day

2010-08-17T09:30:51-05:00

Missouri beef producers lose $160 million a year from poor-gaining calves and from the number of open cows caused by grazing fescue.

Feed hay if pastures are limiting performance

2010-08-17T09:24:28-05:00

Pastures fall in the “too short for optimum performance” category when there are less than three or four inches to graze. That is when hay should be put out.

Scales a valuable tool for cattle producers

2010-08-10T09:28:40-05:00

Besides using a set of scales to arrive at the market value for cattle, scales also help determine genetic merit.

Mineral purchases based on tradition rather than nutrition

2010-07-27T09:46:32-05:00

Mineral supplements being fed and most mineral purchases are based on tradition rather than nutritional need.

Take steps to reduce heat stress in cattle

2010-07-27T09:38:38-05:00

Cattle lack the ability to sweat significantly, so it is critical that producers and livestock handlers take steps to reduce heat stress.

Weather serving threat to livestock

2010-07-21T09:55:37-05:00

Management strategies for dealing with extreme heat in feedyards are limited. Research has shown the most effective practices include providing adequate shade, spraying with water, careful monitoring and proper feeding and watering.

Pinkeye popping up in Ark. cattle

2010-07-13T10:20:07-05:00

Pinkeye, or Moraxella bovis, is usually acute and spreads rapidly in a herd. Left untreated, it can result in blindness in one or both eyes.

Maximizing multi-species grazing benefits

2010-07-13T10:17:58-05:00

Multi-species grazing is the practice of using two or more species of livestock together or separately on the same land in a specific growing season.

Hair sheep interest on the rise in Mo.

2010-07-06T10:49:28-05:00

Some producers wish to minimize time and management with their small ruminant enterprise. Hair sheep appear to fit this niche of requiring less management than some of the other breeds of sheep and goats.