by Cassandra Olds, extension entomologist
With warming weather and cattle going out onto pasture soon, many of you may be considering your fly control options. Every year, stable and horn flies cause significant economic losses, but a good fly control program can minimize this impact. Although often grouped together, these are very different flies that need different control approaches. Continue reading “Make 2025 your year to finally beat flies!”
Introduced for forage and soil-conservation properties, old world bluestems began establishing and spreading through the Great Plains to the great detriment of native flora populations. While they are grazable grasses early in the growing season, rapid rates of maturation lead to unpalatability and decreased nutrient profiles much earlier than native warm-season grasses. Grazing, mowing, and spring burning seem to promote old world bluestem populations. When decreased cover of yellow bluestem was reported following late-summer prescribed fire treatment, our goal was to determine if similar effects could be found in Caucasian bluestem. Continue reading “Effects of Late-Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills”
Alternative methods to reduce the use of synthetic products in cattle production, as well as reduction in feeding antibiotics to cattle, have been a growing preference in consumer opinions. The objective of this study was to determine if essential oils produce the same performance for stocker steers as consuming an ionophore. Continue reading “Effects on Stocker Steer Performance While Consuming Essential Oil or Ionophore Minerals”
Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in humans and is recommended by the American Heart Association as a preventative for CVD. Cattle diets can be altered to favor the deposition of desirable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in beef, providing an opportunity to address concerns over the contributions of beef to overall saturated fatty acid consumption by consumers. This study investigated feeding greatOplus (GOP), an extruded mixture of flaxseed and Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae biomass (NBO3 Technologies LLC; Manhattan, KS) on feedlot cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Continue reading “greatOplus (Extruded Blend of Flaxseed and Nannochloropsis oculata Biomass) Improves Finishing Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics”
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of freezing and aging sequence on palatability, overall tenderness, and objective color readings of three different beef muscles and two aging periods. Continue reading “The Effects of Aging Period and Freezing Sequence on Consumer Palatability Ratings, Tenderness, and Color Stability of Longissimus Dorsi, Semitendinosus, and Biceps Femoris Steaks”
Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an acquired sensitivity to galactosealpha-1, 3-galactose (α-Gal) after exposure to a bite from the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum). Affected individuals can experience a range of symptoms from mild itching to potentially fatal anaphylaxis after consuming products containing mammalian tissues that contain α-Gal. Little research has been done to examine the α-Gal content of different products; thus, the objective of this study was to establish the α-Gal content of striploin steaks cooked to varying degrees of doneness to evaluate if heat treatment reduces the α-Gal content of red meat. Continue reading “Influence of Degree of Doneness on the Alpha-Gal Content of Striploins and its Relationship with Red Meat Allergy”
Vitamin D is critical to the normal development and growth of all cattle. Recent reports have shown a positive role for vitamin D in immune function of dairy cattle. Calcidol is a metabolite of vitamin D metabolism. It can be used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects on feed intake, growth performance, and health when calcidol [25(OH)D3] or a combination of calcidol and beta-carotene (precursor to Vitamin A) was supplemented in high-risk, newly received growing beef heifers. Continue reading “Evaluation of Calcidol (25(OH)D3) or Combination of Calcidol and Beta-Carotene on Feed Intake, Growth Performance, and Health in High-Risk, Newly Received Beef Heifers”
By Jason M. Warner, Ph.D., Extension Cow-Calf Specialist
Cow Herd Management
Evaluate BCS and adjust nutrition for spring-calving females going into breeding.
Pregnancy check fall calving cows and make culling decisions.
Plan your mineral supplementation for this coming spring and summer.
Risk of grass tetany is greatest for lactating cows and older cows. Consider magnesium levels in mineral supplements, particularly for cows grazing the following:
Use the estrus synchronization planner to help plan synchronization protocols.
https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/estrussynch.html
Schedule breeding soundness examinations on bulls well prior to turnout.
Calf Management
Review health protocols for spring-born calves and schedule processing activities.
If not already completed, wean and market fall-born calves.
Consider the economic return by implanting nursing calves and grass cattle.
If not already done, schedule your breeding protocols for replacement heifers in advance of the breeding season.
General Management
Use the Management Minder tool on KSUBeef.org to plan key management activities for your cow herd for the rest of the year.
https://cowweb.exnet.iastate.edu/CowWeb/faces/Index.jsp
Adjust turn-out dates as needed for drought stressed pastures.
Consider your storage method for any leftover hay and feed and look for opportunities to minimize shrink during extended storage.
Good sanitation around winter feeding and bedding areas helps reduce stable fly populations.
Take a balanced, multi-tool approach to fly/insect control.
Wrap up any last minute pasture management projects before spring turn-out:
There are very few issues, outside of health, that can wreck cattle performance and decrease cattle comfort more than muddy pen conditions. Some regions of Kansas have seen record snowfall amounts this winter and although we are getting closer to spring, we still have a lot of winter left. The impact of mud on cattle performance is profound, 4-8 inches of mud reduces gain by approximately 14% and 12-24 inches of mud reduces gain by approximately 25%. Thus, for every four days cattle have to slog through hock-deep mud, add another day and 20 lbs of dry matter feed to reach finish and add 1 additional day for every seven days of slogging through mud over their pasterns.
It is also not uncommon for cattle to make fewer trips to the bunk when pens are exceptionally muddy, leading to reduces feed intake. Reduced feed intake coupled with increased maintenance energy requirements due to cold
and the additional energy expenditure associated with getting to the bunk and the water tank further reduces cattle performance.
We cannot prevent winter storms, but we can prepare for them. Use the good days to improve pen conditions.
Make sure all pens have good drainage to prevent water from standing and creating permanently muddy pens. Also, have a plan for snow removal. A wet snow has about 1 inch of moisture in each 8-10 inches of snow. If snow is
removed from the pen immediately after the storm and before it can melt, that can prevent additional moisture from further degrading the pen surface.
Finally, if muddy conditions do occur, have a plan in place to remove at least a portion of the mud. After several days of severely muddy pens, you can watch cattle follow the box scraper and lay down in the firm, dry area the scraper leaves behind.
For more information, contact Justin Waggoner at jwaggon@ksu.edu
Justin Waggoner, KSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Garden City, KS
Effective communication is essential in the workplace. Communication is an important aspect of workplace satisfaction, organizational productivity and customer service. In today’s world there are many different methods of
communication, which adds to the complexity and challenge of communicating in the workplace. There are countless examples of poor communication that led to unfortunate, unintended outcomes. So, what is effective communication and how can we become better communicators? Effective communication in the workplace
accurately conveys information in a clear and concise manner while maintaining or enhancing personal relationships. Communication is a two-way process and requires an intentional effort from both the sender and the receiver. A recent article from Penn State Extension (https://extension.psu.edu/effective-communication-in-the-workplace) suggests that senders should clearly define the idea of the message and identify the purpose of the message (gain information, behavior change etc.) before sending. Senders also have to be increasingly aware of the physical and emotional environment the message is communicated in. Receivers are encouraged to focus on the message, and not let emotions determine the meaning of the words. It also best to assume positive intent and ask clarify questions if necessary. Effective organizational communication is essential and should strengthen the workplace by building trust and commitment within the organization.
