3rd Quarter County Agent Comment

Transcription

1 3rd Quarter 2018 County Agent Comment BQA Strengthens Consumer Confidence As producers of America s and even some of the World s Food and fiber; it is not longer good enough to keep the product healthy and growing well. The emphasis is no longer on producing a better bred, faster growing, more feed efficient animal. Those are the basic demands on managing to be profitable, so you can keep doing what you love to do, Farm. In the beginning of this 21st century, with less than two per cent of Americans directly involved in farming, it is more important to consider the concerns of the ninety-eight per cent of the population who buy the animal and plant products produced. With very little knowledge of the time and resources it takes to produce and process food products, the consumer is still concerned with the food safety, environmental impact, and humane treatment of food source animals. Sustainable forests and pathogen and chemical free fruits and vegetables are very important to today s enlightened consumer. We, as producers, must do a better job educating those consumers with facts and backing those facts with positive proven action on the Farm. In Union County, and the State of Arkansas, there will be opportunity for producers to learn and do more with National Cattlemen s Association Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. Producers in South Central Arkansas will have an opportunity to join the Go Green for Arkansas pre-conditioned calf certification program. The Go-Green calf certification program is an effort to demonstrate to the ever vigilant and concerned consumer that Arkansas Producers care. I look forward to sharing more with you in the future. Keep producing and stay safe! Robin D. Brides County Agent 1

2 Recommendations for the Identification of Suspected Haemaphysalis longicornis (the Longhorned Tick) Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission (ALPC) and USDA Veterinary Services (VS) recommends that animal owners and producers work with their veterinarian in the event of unusual tick burdens or observations which lead to the suspicion of H. longicornis. We recommend that animal origin suspect ticks be sent to Dr. Susan Little at Oklahoma State University for further identification. Recommendations for tick removal, storage, and transport/shipping are provided below. Please contact ALPC and/or VS if you have additional questions or concerns. Recommendations for Tick Removal, Storage, Transport/Shipping: Remove with forceps and place directly in 15 ml centrifuge tubes with screw top lids or 10 ml red top tubes (no additive) with stoppers. Try to remove with mouthparts intact by grasping very close to the skin but if they break please still go ahead and submit we can PCR to confirm identity if needed. Submit as many as you have time to collect more is always better. We often find mixed species infestations and multiples stages. All ticks from one animal can be placed in the same tube unless you need to track a specific tick attached to a specific location or associated with a particular lesion. Each animal should have its own tube labeled with animal name or number. If you need to put them directly into fixative for any reason, 70% ethanol is preferred. Shipping Address: Attn: Dr. Susan Little 250 McElroy Hall Center for Veterinary Health Sciences Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK Lab phone: Recommendations for Large Animal Practitioners: if you examine cattle with anemia and a tick burden, suspect Anaplasmosis, please contact the State DVM/ VS, collect ticks, and duplicate blood samples. Contact the AR State Veterinarian and Veterinary services. Melissa Yates, DVM, Acting State Veterinarian Becky Brewer, AVIC, Veterinary Services AR Guy Allen, DVM, Veterinary Services, AR

3 Research Highlight: Beef Cattle Production Effects of dam age on growth performance and carcass measurements of crossbred steers Famous Yang, Fred Pohlman, Jeremy Powell, Karen Anschutz, Elizabeth Backes, John Richeson,James Hornsby, Jana Reynolds, and Bill Lindsey Past research has reported that the most productive cows in a cow herd are approximately 6 years old or older. A recent study reported that dam age affected pre-weaning performance of crossbred male calves, but had minimal effect on carcass traits when steers were finished to a common compositional endpoint over three years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dam age on Angus crossbred steer performance and carcass quality measurements over a four-year period. Calves born to cows in group Age 11+ had greater birth weight compared with the rest of the groups and Age 3 and Age 4-7 calves had the lowest birth weight. Calves from Age 7-10 had greater adjusted weaning weight than Age 4-6. Steer carcass measurements (hot carcass weight, ribeye area, yield grade, back fat thickness, percent kidney, pelvic and heart fat, and marbling) were not different regardless of cow age group. The percentage of steers grading choice, select, or prime did not differ between age groups. As previous research suggested, a possible reason for these measurements being similar between treatments is because steers were fed to a common endpoint degree of finish (1/2 inch back fat). Dam age affected preweaning performance of crossbred male calves. Carcass traits and measurements were not affected by dam age. } 2018 PASTURE TOUR 3

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8 NON-PROFIT ORG. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID El Dorado, AR PERMIT NO. 8 Robin D. Bridges County Extension Agent Staff Chair Union County UofA Cooperative Extension Service 307 American Road Suite 101 El Dorado, AR Ph: Fax: All meetings and activities announced in this newsletter are open to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (large print, audiotapes, etc.) should notify the county Extension Office as soon as possible prior to the activity. 8