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”
Kansas State University beef extension specialists and agents will be hosting several cow-calf production focused meetings throughout the state in January and February. The programs are a joint effort between state specialists and local extension units and aim to address various topics pertinent to local needs and conditions experienced by producers. Specific program details will be made available at KSUBeef.org and county/district websites as events draw nearer, but dates and locations include: Continue reading “K-State Research and Extension holding Cow-Calf Production Clinics across state in January, February”
Logan Thompson, sustainable grazing systems & Carlee Salisbury, graduate student
Sustainability is a topic that has been commonly discussed, sometimes at a frustrating frequency, as something the beef industry needs to make progress on, on several fronts. Today, the aspect of sustainability that is brought up by consumers, policymakers and industry members is greenhouse gas emissions. Really, what the conversation is about is carbon. Either carbon in the soil as a result of sequestrated carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4) produced as a byproduct of rumen fermentation. This is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with a global warming potential of 28 times that of CO2 over a 100-year time horizon and is responsible for 30% of the methane budget in the U.S. Continue reading “Can Common Management Strategies Work for Sustainability Markets?”
AJ Tarpoff, DVM, extension veterinarian
Lice negatively impact the health, performance, and wellbeing of our cows, stockers, and feedlot cattle during the winter months. The months of greatest lice infestations generally range from December through March. Not only can lice be the cause of direct animal performance losses, but also increases wear and tear on our facilities and fences. The direct losses to cattle come in forms of decreased average daily gains (documented 0.25 lbs/day reduction in growing calves), skin infections, and potentially blood loss and anemia. Continue reading “Have a Plan for Lice Control this Winter”
