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Early Weaning Strategies for Challenging Forage Conditions
When forage quality becomes a problem, producers should consider early weaning to help pastures recover. Nebraska Extension Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management Specialist Karla Wilke discusses what producers need to be prepared for when forage is scarce for cows and calves.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
Nebraska extension specialist Carla Wilkie says early weaning may be a viable option for producers when quality forage is scarce.
She says early weaning can be beneficial not only to the calf, but to the pastor plants as well.
[Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
Early weaning calves helps the pasture from the standpoint that the calf is already starting to eat some grass, even though he's still pretty dependent on his mom for milk.
And so he's eating some grass.
The lactation demand that she has increases her forage intake.
So if we can wean them and put the calf somewhere else, and we can reduce her intake on the forge by about 20%, take him away from it.
That can help the pasture.
The cows this year, if there's a lack of overall quantity of grass because of the drought, could be losing some body condition and so removing lactations away to help them as well.
And so early weaning can have some benefits for the cow in the pasture.
But some challenges for the camp if we're not overly prepared for that or ready for that.
And so, if we're talking about weaning a calf that is, you know, a £300 calf instead of our traditional £600 calf that we're used to, we have to think about facilities management and whether cavs can be held in those facilities or if they can crawl through the bunk or out the corner of the pin or whatever because of their smaller size and whether they can actually reach the bunk or if we need to modify the bunk a little bit so they can reach feed in it and same with the water, things like that that
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Carla says beef caps can be weaned around 3 months of age, but every operation is different.
[Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
So producers will need to make their own decisions based on age, weight, performance, and other considerations.
Camps that are around 3 months of age have developed their rumen enough that they are considered a ruminant animal and not a pre-reminant.
And so if you consider all the digestive system, by the time they're about 90 to 100 days of age, 85% of that digestive system is rumen, and that's enough to be considered a ruminant animal.
And so at that point, um, we can remove milk intake and the calf can be dependent on feeds fairly self-sufficiently, they are going to have to have a little more viewing for, you know, monitoring at maybe is a better word for health issues and making sure everybody's getting access to the diet, needs to be a, a highly digestible diet because the rumen is developed, but it's very small.
[Brad Mills, Sultan of Swing]
Carla says preconditioning the cast for early weaning. Is critical to their growth success.
[Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
Well, much like a normal weaning, you know, it's very...
Critical, and fortunately, in the Great Plains region.
It's very common to do preconditioning, um, vaccination shots.
And so, um, I would encourage anybody to, to think about early weaning to go ahead and visit with their veterinarian and say, okay, here's what we're going to do.
And so, you know, what and when do I need to give for vaccinations and then, what do I need to be prepared to watch for, you know, and what do I need to have on hand if I should run into some other health issues so that we get on that very quickly.
Another thing to think about is any opportunity that a person has to expose KFC to some of the feeds that they will be consuming once they're weaned, if they can have exposure to that on the cow, then they do go to that feed much quicker.
Today's program was taken from a recent beef watch podcast offered by Nebraska extension to read the detailed article, or hear the complete interview, go to beef.unl.edu, or download the program from Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
For Nebraska Extension Almanac, I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of IANR Media, and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
Build Cows that Stay: Smarter Heifer Development for Long-Term Productivity
A productive herd needs resilient cows that consistently produce calves. Extension Cow-Calf Specialist Kacie McCarthy discusses management practices producers can use to develop heifers for long-term productivity.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
There are several management factors that ranchers should promote to help their cows be long term producers on the operation.
Nebraska extension specialist Kacie McCarthy says, this goes beyond achieving their 1st pregnancy.
[Kacie McCarthy, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
One of those things that we like to talk about as we're thinking about setting heifers up is that concept of early conception.
So, right, heifers that conceive within the 1st 21 days of their initial breeding season tend to calve earlier, have more time to recover from a postpartum standpoint.
And we see that they're also weaning more pounds of calf over their lifetime compared to females that are later conceiving.
And so, as we start to set them up, and as we start to get females ready for the breeding season and we're doing pregnancy checks, really looking at where they've been developed, that early conception time point's going to be really critical.
And then when we start to think about range systems or traditional systems, where these females are also developed is going to be something that we need folks to be considering, right?
When we start to think about development costs, that's going to play a big role in where they're at, as well as then thinking about some of that long-term success for these females.
And so, for example, there's been research comparing kind of that intensive or dry lot scenario compared to an extensive range-based system.
A lot of that's going to come down to the type of protein and or nutrition strategies that we might be implementing the amount of exercise that these females may be exhibiting.
And then what we do after the breeding season as well.
And so these have fairs that were developed on range with a higher room and undegradable protein supplement, exhibited greater retention in the breeding herd through 5 years of age compared to these heifers that were either a low RUP or dry lot developed heifers.
And so knowing that protein type can have an impact and not just level of nutrition are going to play a role in some of these forage limited systems.
And so that, that would be one extreme, we're, we're thinking about not a lot of feed, lower inputs, but really targeting to make sure we're hitting those, you know, growth requirements for those heifers, um, and seeing some benefits long term as well.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Casey says the age of the heifer plays a role in these management decisions.
[Kacie McCarthy, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
There was a recent study out of Dr. Molenk's lab that I was a part of where we were looking at comparing March born heifers.
So older heifers compared to a May born heifer.
So we looked at if those heifers in the make group were born early or late in the calving season.
So we looked at over a five-year period what that retention rate was for these heifers developed in these different systems.
And so what we noted was that after 5 years, a greater proportion of those heifers that were born in that March system remained in the herd, with no differences between that early and Mayborn heifer group.
So basically, right, suggesting that age at that 1st calving, rather than position within the calving season, had a greater influence on retention.
So when we're thinking about, you know, maybe converting older heifers into a summer type system, that may be advantageous for those females, and or right, as we just look at older females within our calving group, and understanding, right, that we're also gonna need to set these females up from a nutritional standpoint when they move into lactation, and rebreeding, especially in some of these limited environments.
And so making sure that as we move these females into that 2nd, 3rd calving season, making sure they're getting enough energy for lactation, and also making sure that we identify if we are deficient in protein or, you know, in metabolizable protein within our forages and we're energy deficient, that we're maybe being strategic as well from a supplementation standpoint to help these females and be strategic throughout the breeding season.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Today's program was taken from a recent beef watch podcast offered by Nebraska extension to read the detailed article, or hear the complete interview, go to beef.unl.edu, or download from Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
For Nebraska Extension Almanac, I'm Brad Mills, Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of IANR media, and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
LRP – Feeder Cattle Insurance: Recent Enhancement and Performance History
No one wants to be in a situation where insurance needs to pay out, but Extension Farm and Ranch Management Specialist Jay Parsons says Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance can be a valuable risk-management tool to help protect a producer’s bottom line.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
Livestock risk protection insurance is a widely used risk management tool for cattle producers.
Extension specialist Jay Parsons says, recent enhancements to LRP programs have made it more affordable and accessible.
Jay talks about one specific policy that has made a significant impact on a producer's bottom line.
[Jay Parsons, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
It was basically a 13 week policy taken out in early August, and then the end date would be the 1st week in November, and it was for feeder cattle, and I'd looked at, I actually have it also for fed cattle.
But anyway, feeder cattle, weight one, weight 2 for steers in general.
And like I said, now it's up 21 years worth of tracking on that.
So you can start to see some patterns where it paid producers when prices dropped and then, of course, when prices were above expectations, it didn't pay.
But basically half the time.
Um, they're out of the 21 years, I think 10 years or an 11 was a split and basically where it paid or didn't pay.
But the big thing is, is that there's, you know, on the upside, you're basically, if the prices go up, you're really just out the or the premium payment, right?
There's no extra to pay there, but if prices go down, it's going to pay you anything below your actual coverage price.
So it's period like in 2006 to 2009-ish, I believe, where there's where producers were paid indemnities with that particular policy if they'd had that. 15 and 16 coming out of the drought years when prices cattle prices move the other direction.
And then not too long ago here, just in 2020, I think, through 23 where it paid.
So you start to see these kind of patterns in there, and it's not to encourage people to try to outguess randomness because it's a problem in and of itself.
But to see that if you stick with that as a protection tool.
There's times it's going to pay and it's going to, you know, protect you and the prices move down.
Prices move up, you're out the premium, but overall, it's a good risk management tool.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Jay says this type of risk management tool.
Might be especially effective when coming out of drought years.
[Jay Parsons, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
Yeah, well, that's interesting because it's been characterizes a slow rebuild or maybe a delayed rebuild, you know, with the stuff.
We actually had quite a few years of dry weather.
It wasn't like 2012 where it was really just 12 months.
The last part of 2012 and 2013.
You know, we had dry weather and, you know, cattle inventories went down and then they fairly quickly rebuilt from there.
We're just kind of wondering when all that's going to happen.
And the main thing is, is you can't predict it exactly.
If we could, we'd all we'd all be rich.
Um, but, uh, at some point, we're going to see these cattle prices come back down a little bit.
We're going to see inventories go up and prices come back down.
And that's when you need the protection or that's when you're going to be, you know, wanting to have the protection.
You just can't predict when it is.
So it just becomes kind of a business practices of, you know, what do I want to protect here?
You know, in case that does happen.
Do I need the protection or not at what level?
Well, the main thing is, is that nobody wants to collect on insurance in general, right?
I mean, when you buy insurance on your house, It's not like you want a hailstorm or a fire to happen, so you can collect on it.
Same thing here.
As a producer, you don't want the prices to drop in general.
You want them to stay strong and you want to get a good price in the marketplace.
So the expectation part is built into actually what the insurance is tied to, right?
So the insurance is tied to current expectations.
You don't want those expectations to be wrong.
I mean, you don't expect them to be wrong, I guess, is the point.
You just buying the protection in case they are wrong.
So, uh, so the mindset, I always tell people is you, you know, you with any insurance product, right?
You basically weigh the trade-offs.
You know, what's the premium cost me?
Protection, I get from that, is that the protection I need?
And so on.
And you hope that air conditions are fantastic and you don't have to, you know, collect an indemnity to actually compensate you for some loss for things not being well.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Today's program was taken from a recent farmcast podcast offered by UNL Center for Ag Profitability.
To read the detailed article, or hear the complete interview, go to cap.unl.edu, or download the program from Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, for Nebraska Extension Almanac.
I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of INR Media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
Summer Pneumonia in Calves Part 1
As colostrum-derived immunity in calves declines this summer, they may be more susceptible to health problems. Extension Animal Health Specialist Becky Funk discusses issues that can contribute to summer pneumonia in calves.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
Summertime is usually a lower stress time for cattle producers as calving season is behind them, and the herd is out to pasture.
But extension specialist Becky Funk says, there could be an issue with summer pneumonia that could creep into calves if not dealt with early.
[Becky Funk, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
July and August for most of our spring calving herds tend to be a little bit of a critical period for calf health.
Part of the reason for that is if you're thinking about those calves, where they're at from a maturity standpoint, this is when that cholosterol antibody or that antibody that mom supplied them with when they were born, starts to wane, right?
We start to see that that disappear from their systems.
So this is where they're transitioning to having to really kind of make their own way as far as immunity to disease.
And so there's a transition period where they're a little, they can be a little bit at risk.
Some things that we can think about.
And obviously, you know, it's it's thinking ahead in the spring.
Obviously, the 1st step is making sure that they have that classroom, right?
It really does go all the way back to birth and making sure we're managing those cows and calves well.
And setting them up for success as they go into pasture.
And then secondary to that is making sure getting them vaccinated, right?
Because even though we're vaccinating during a period where they have cholesterol immunity or have those antibodies for mom, that helps kick their own immune system into, into high gear.
Um, so they can start to, to build their own immunity that will take over um, when moms, moms supply wanes for them.
So that's important to think about.
Becky talks about some of the research that has revealed some good results for producers to look for.
A few things, you know, a few things that show up when we look at the research on on herds that seem to struggle with summer pneumonia.
They're also those herds that struggle with scowers in the spring, right?
So, So maybe we've got those Kavs that have, they've had previous episodes of disease, even if it's not an pneumonia disease, and that's going to put them more at risk for, for summer pneumonia.
So thinking, again, going back to that calving period, if we are a herd that struggles with scours, we maybe need to think about that as more of a long-lasting issue than just getting through that scour risk period.
Um, when we think about later summer health for those calves, those herds that introduce outside animals, um, right?
Anytime we introduce an outside animal, particularly those, you know, those orphan calves, right?
A lot of us, have a tendency to bring in, be a calf to put on a cow that's lost one, which makes sense from an economic perspective a lot of times, but understanding that that can put us at risk for for some health issues, either right then or down the road, depending on what that looks like for our herd.
As we get larger herds.
We tend to think about more risk for pneumonia.
And part of that is just having more animals to keep track of, right?
The more animals we have.
The more, you know, we're at risk that one or 2 of those will be in that population and develop pneumonia.
So those are awesome things to think about.
If we are, you know, if you are sorting cattle and handling them, often for something like estrasynchronization and AI, that's going to put those calves a little more risk for developing pneumonia.
A lot of that goes back to the stress of, of handling and sorting and maybe not being with mom for a significant period of time, depending on how you're, you're handling, um, that period, uh, of your hard work.
So all things to think about.
Um, some things we can, we can change how we manage.
Um, some things, we may just need to be aware of the risk and what we expect going forward.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Today's program was part one of a discussion on summer pneumonia in calves.
Stay tuned for Extension Almanac for part 2 where Becky talks about some management strategies for producers to employ to control this issue.
For Nebraska Extension Almanac, I'm Brad Mills, Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of IANR media, and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
Summer Pneumonia in Calves Part 2
Nebraska Extension Animal Health Specialist Becky Funk discussed declining colostrum immunity and pasture quality as factors that can contribute to summer pneumonia in calves. In today’s program, she focuses on pneumonia symptoms and when producers should bring the issue to their veterinarian’s attention.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
In part one of our discussion on summer pneumonia calves, extension specialist Becky Funk talked about how this illness can become a problem when colostrum immunity begins to wane.
On today's program, she focuses on some of the symptoms producers need to be aware of.
[Becky Funk, Nebraska Extension Specialist]
Yeah, I think for, you know, from my perspective, those suckling calves, those calves at side of cow, they're probably the hardest population for us to identify pneumonia in.
So the signs can be quite subtle.
If we're picking up some really severe signs, we're probably pretty late in the progression of disease.
So that's, that's an issue.
But things I'm looking for, you know, we're really just looking for that, that depressed calf, um, that calf that maybe he's not keeping up with the herd, or she's isolating herself somewhere, you know, off in a corner when the rest of the group is up at the tank or the mineral feeder, um, or hanging around when we're checking pastures.
So things that, you know, maybe, maybe you're an issue, maybe not, but we certainly want to take a 2nd look at those cans.
Because that gives us an opportunity to catch them early in the course of disease when we can intervene successfully for them.
Um, so those are kind of the 2 things.
A lot of times producers are going to describe that calf is, oh, just a little off, right?
Maybe not even something we can really describe well or put our finger on, but we look at them and we think, oh, I just don't, don't look quite likely to expect them.
They're not doing quite the things we'd expect.
We may see them.
You know, in the article, I describe inappetence, right?
So, they just don't feel like eating.
Um, and that, that can be harder to assess, but a lot of times it's those calves that were like, maybe they don't have the belly fill that we'd like to see.
Or maybe mom is is, you know, carrying around a full udder.
Doesn't look like she's been nursed.
We want to make sure we look up her calf and see what they look like because that can put them on our radar as a calf that's not feeling well.
A lot of times the pathogens we're worried about are the same ones we're worried about in our feeder calves or our feed lot cattle.
But in these young calves, a lot of times we're looking at a viral component.
And those viral components tend to spike a fever pretty readily.
So it's always a good idea to catch a temperature on those calves.
Just to give yourself an idea of always my question when I talk to clients to producers is, you know, are we chasing the right thing when we're trying to make decisions about what interventions should be?
So if we're catching calves that just aren't feeling well and and we're seeing some some fevers, then that gives me a little more confidence that we're that we're chasing a pneumonia or chasing the right thing.
One of the most important aspects of this issue is having a good relationship with your veterinarian.
And Becky talks about when producers should bring this problem to their attention.
So it's important to talk to somebody who knows what's going on.
They can help you decide on the best treatment protocols, how to approach that.
And ultimately, unfortunately, if we do have a loss in the herd, if you if you come across decaf that's that's a dead in pasture or if you know you have one that's severely affected, that's likely.
To go that direction, um, we can do a lot of things diagnostically with that carcass, um, that are important.
And again, coming back to that, making sure we're chasing the right thing.
When we're designing treatment protocols and helping figure out how we want to approach the problem, that postmortem exam can be really key.
Because if we're opening up chaos, then we expected to be pneumonias and they're not, we may need to start looking for a different cause of death and it's a totally different solution to the problem than what we expected.
So all of those things are important.
And then going back to that calving period, having that conversation about what's common in your area, um, what is your vaccination program need to entail?
What does that look like, um, for your specific operation in your region?
All critical things that your veterinarian can help you with.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Today's program was a portion of an interview taken from a recent beef watch podcast offered by Nebraska extension.
To hear the entire interview, go to beef.unl.edu, or download from Apple Podcasts for Nebraska Extension Almanac.
I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of IANR media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.