"Tom's Topics "

 Livestock & Range Management  

Tom Platt , WSU Extension Educator -
Livestock & Range Management

Beef                         Forage         Farm-Ranch Management
Sheep & Goats     Swine   

WSU To Host First Pork 300 Short-Course for Individuals Involved with the Pork Industry

Washington State University Extension and Departments of Animal Sciences are excited to announce the first WSU PORK 300 short-course will be offered June 21-22, 2013 at the WSU Department of Animal Sciences on the Pullman Campus.  This course will be held immediately prior to the 2013 Annual WAAE Summer Conference for Washington Ag Teachers, which begins June 23 in Spokane.

WSU PORK 300 is a two-day, hands-on workshop designed for progressive individuals involved with the swine industry.  This course will also be an excellent educational opportunity for agriculture instructors who teach animal science classes; coach Livestock Evaluation and/or Meats Evaluation CDEs, are directly involved in the swine industry or advise FFA youth who raise show pigs.

Information & Registration Flyer (PDF) or contact:
Jan Busboom, WSU Extension Meat Specialist, (509)335-2880 or busboom (at) wsu.edu; or Sarah M. Smith, Regional Extension Specialist, (509)754-2011, Ext 413 or smithsm (at) wsu.edu. 

Forest and Range Owners Field Day
Saturday, June 22, 2013

This event will include classes and activities lead by
experts in forest and range health, wildlife habitat,
grazing, soils, fire protection, and timber and nontimber
forest products. Location: Fire Springs Ranch, Tonasket (Havillah), WA. Information: Andy Perleberg (509) 667-6540.

Information/Registration Flyer (PDF)

Farm Management Training Programs
Specifically designed for Eastern Washington producers

Check out the workshops scheduled January through December 2013. Sponsored by AMMO - the Agricultural Marketing & Management Organization - a group of local suppliers, accountants, attorneys, marketing companies, and lenders. Presenters include WSU faculty and other experts in the realm of farm management.

Workshop Titles and Schedule

USDA Food Safety Inspection Drug Residue Testing

August 1, 2012

USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will initiate new drug residue testing methods on livestock presented for slaughter beginning this week.

The new testing methods allow FSIS to test for a wider variety of pharmaceuticals and other compounds used in livestock production and to do it more quickly and more accurately.  FSIS inspectors are required to take random residue tests at the packing plant, and they also have the authority to target specific groups of livestock from certain farms or fairs that have a history of, or higher likelihood violative residues (chemical residue in meat that violate the law) than other livestock.

Although residue testing normally applies to animals slaughtered in Federally inspected plants, the law requires all livestock producers to employ proper use of animal pharmaceuticals and compounds and to observe withdrawal times specified on the product label whether or not the animals will be slaughtered under federal inspection or in custom plants that are not federally inspected.

Click on this article from WSU Director of Veterinary Extension, Dr. Dale Moore, for more information on this topic. The 4-H Pork Quality Assurance program (teaching materials are online here and here) or Dr. Moore's 4-H Quality Assurance module, also online, provides further information on the violative drug residue issue and why it is so important to the livestock industry and the public's perception of the healthfulness of meat.

Regards,

Tom Platt
Washington State University Extension
Box 399, 303 6th St.
Davenport WA 99122
509-725-4171; 725-4104 (fax)
plattom@wsu.edu

E. Coli: Current Perspectives on Cattle, Produce, and Human Health - part 4

Does What We Feed Cattle Have an Effect on 0157 Shedding?

Presenter, David Smith, DVM, PhD, Professor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, has studied the relationship of feedlot cattle and E coli O157:H7 shedding. He focuses this presentation on the role that cattle diet may or may not affect shedding rates in cattle and debunks some myths about the role of grain feeding.

CLICK HERE for VIDEO

Farm-a-cology Presentation

Click HERE for presentation

Interactive power point presentation, created by Dale Moore, DVM, MPVM, PhD, Washington State University, with audio voice over. Highlighted are some of the more common ‘mistakes’ that are made that can lead to meat and milk residues.

Right time, right place grazing key to sustainability

PULLMAN - Having the right number of cattle on the right piece of land for the right amount of time for the right reasons might be a key to long-term sustainability [more]

Trichomoniasis Update

June 28, 2010
Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle that can cause abortions, low pregnancy rates, return to estrus, and delayed or prolonged calving seasons.  The disease is present in Washington, and because of poor calf crops, it has severe economic consequences for Washington’s beef producers.  Belt tightening in tough economic times may contribute to  spread of trichomoniasis, because of  less pregnancy checking, longer breeding seasons, purchase of bargain cows and used bulls, borrowed bulls, and so on.   But trichomoniasis can be prevented and controlled through management.  For more information, download this brochure from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Veterinarian. 

Animal Disease Traceability

On August 9, 2011, USDA issued a proposed rule to establish general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate when animal disease events take place.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Market Livestock Calculator
for 4-H & FFA

A calculator designed to help youngsters and their families evaluate the economics of 4-H and FFA market livestock projects is available. It should be used as a planning tool prior to beginning the project, and again to evaluate the project after it is completed. CLICK HERE

Beef

Beef Information Series

Series of lunch time conferences, delivered over WSU's phone conferencing system in February 2009, focused on important topics in the beef industry. Some of the references from the series are available below.

Prevent Baby Calf Scours, The Sandhills Calving System.
Dr. Dale Moore, Washington State University
Handouts (1.8 MB, pdf. Be patient.)
Resources:
Nebraska Veterinary Extension: Sandhills Calving System
Prevents Calf Diarrhea
Calf Scours: Causes, prevention and treatment (43 KB, pdf)

Feeding Corn Processing and Ethanol Co-products on the Ranch. Dr. Dan Loy, Iowa State University
Handouts: Download here (pdf, 2.9 MB, be patient)
Referenece Material:
Ethanol Coproducts for Cattle: The Process and Products ,
ISU ( pdf, 1.17 MB. Be patient.)
Ethanol Coproducts for Cattle: Distillers Grains for Beef Cows ,
ISU (pdf, 522 KB)
Using Distillers Grains in Alternative Cow-Calf Production Systems ISU (pdf, 1.12MB)
Using Distillers Grains in the U.S. and International Livestock and Poultry Industries MATRIX
Corn Processing Co-Products Manual ,
Nebraska Corn Board (pdf, 1 MB)

Trickle Down Economics: Understanding the Relationship
Between Wholesale Meat Prices and Slaughter Cattle Prices. Mr. Jodie Pitcock, USDA AMS, Livestock and Grain Market News
Handouts (pdf, 1.6 MB. Be patient.)
Reference Material:
Boxed Beef Cutout & Cuts-Negotiated Sales Overview (pdf, 69 KB)
Beef Carcass Price Equivalent Index Value Overview (pdf, 85KB)
Daily Beef Reports (USDA AMS LGMN)
Weekly Beef Reports (USDA AMS LGMN)

Carbon Farming, Adding Value to the Ranching Operation.
Dr. Steven Sharrow, Oregon State University
Handouts (pdf, 4.8 MB, be patient)
Articles by Dr. Sharrow:
Carbon Farming - The Global Carbon Cycle (pdf, 362 KB)
Selling Environmental Services – Trading Carbon Offset Credits from Range and Forest Lands (pdf, 655 KB)

Washington’s BVD Control and Eradication Project.
Dr. John Wenz, Washington State University
Handouts:
Slides (pdf, (572 KB), 08 Project Summary (pdf 71 KB)
Reference Material:
BVD Information

Breeding

How to Get Cows Pregnant Using Artificial Insemination and Estrus Synchronization
by Dr. Cliff Lamb, University of Minnesota

      Synopsis: Dr. Lamb discusses research comparing several synchronization protocols using CIDR's
      followed by heat detection or timed breeding. He makes recommendations for synchronization
      protocols designed for cows and heifers.

      Slides and reference material from 4/5/07 Teleconference Presentation:

• PDF slides and illustration of synchronization protocols.
• Dr. Lamb's paper in 2005 BIF proceedings( pdf, 931 KB)
• CD of Dr. Lamb's presentation (narrated slide show) including reference material available from WSU Extension Office, Davenport, WA   e-mail  (509) 725-4171.

BVD - Voluntary Eradication Program

Persistent BVD can be a drain on any cow-calf operation. WSU recently launched a BVD herd screening program that can help calf producers and their veterinarian detect and then cull persistently infected BVD animals from their herd. Dr. John Wenz, who recently replaced Dr. Clive Gay at WSU’s Field Disease Investigative Unit, is leading the Voluntary BVD Control and Eradication Project.

How the program works. The herd is screened by taking an ear notch from all calves, retained open cows, and bulls. If the calf is negative, its dam is as well. Most ranchers do this work at branding, so the time is relatively short to sign up for this project. Cost of the screening is $1/ head.

More information. In order to explain the project and answer questions about BVD, Dr. Wenz held telephone conferences in March, 2008. If you have questions about the BVD project, feel free to contact Dr. John Wenz at 509-335-0773 or by e-mail at BVDCEP@vetmed.wsu.edu . You may also browse to the Voluntary BVD Control & Eradaciation Web Page.

Download Dr. Wenz' slide set from his telephone presentation here (1,104 KB, pdf)
Browse to links to more BVD information here .
Click here for printable version.

Carcass Quality

Beef Carcass Genetics ( 3.1MB, doc) by Art Linton   PDF File

Selection Indexes Fact Sheet (31KB, doc) by Art Linton PDF File

CD of  presentation by Lisa Kriese-Anderson, Extension Animal Scientist, Auburn University:
Ultrasound for Carcass Traits in the US Beef Indudstry available from WSU Extension Office, Davenport, WA   e-mail  (509) 725-4171.

Feeding

Alfalfa for Beef Cows (pdf, 117 KB) , Fact Sheet 93-23

Beef Cow Nutrition (html)

Choosing the Right Supplement (html)

Cowculator Beef Cow Ration Balancer (html download site, Excel Spreadsheet)

Factors and Feeds for Supplementing Beef Cows (pdf, 139 KB) , L5354

Fundamentals of Supplementing Low-Quality Forage (pdf, 43 KB), Cattle Producer's Library, CL317

Protein and Energy Supplementation to Beef Cows Grazing New Mexico Rangelands (pdf, 246 KB) , Circular 564

Supplementing Beef Cows on Low Quality Forages
By Norman Suverly, WSU/Okanogan County Extension Director

• Power Point Presentation (1,056 KB) Click here for free Power Point viewer.
• PDF slides of Presentation (167 KB)
• PDF handouts: Color, 131KB or Black and White, 169 KB)
• Budget Decision Guide Handout (pdf, 44 KB)

Supplementation of Energy and Protein for Beef Cattle (pdf, 116 KB), A Literature Review, AG/Beef/2006-1

Supplementing Winter Rations with Grain: Good or Bad Nutritional Stragegy? (html)

Using Grass Seed Residues for Wintering Beef Cattle (pdf, 26 KB)

Farm & Ranch Management

WSU Extension Ag Business Resources

Direct Marketing Meat Workshop Series - Nov 2012 - Feb. 2013

Forage

WSU Extension Forages Resources

Evaluating Hay Stands is Topic for Haygrowers Annual Meeting         

November 13, 2012 - Tom Platt 
The Northeast Washington Haygrowers Association will hold its annual growers’ meeting on Saturday, December 1 in Clayton. MORE

Range

WSU Extension Range Resources

Sheep & Goats

Shepherd’s Information Day

November 12, 2012 - Tom Platt    
Spokane Area Sheep Producers’ Association will hold its annual Shepherd’s Information Day on Saturday, December 8 in Spokane at the WSU Spokane County Extension Education Center at N 22 Havana. MORE

Small Ruminants

Central WA Animal Agriculture Team resource page

Goat Production Conference

Click HERE for archived slides and hand-outs from the March, 2008 phone conference.

Presenter: Sandra Solaiman, Professor and Director of Small Ruminant Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee Alabama

Factors Affecting the Palatability of Lamb Meat (PDF)
By Dr. Susan Duckett, Professor/Endowed Chair, Animal and Veterinary Science Department, Clemson University

Genetics of Scrapie (PDF)  Bob Wagner, Gene Check, Inc.

Scrapie and Codon 171, part 2 (PDF) Bob Wagner, Gene Check, Inc.

Genetics of Scrapie Resistance in Sheep (Word)      PDF  David Thomas, University of Wisconsin.

Spider Syndrome (PDF) Gerald Fitch, Oklahoma State University.

WSU Extension Small Ruminent Resources

Swine

WPP Winter 2011 Newsletter

Pork Information Gateway

Visit "Swine" on 4-H Livestock Page

WSU Extension Swine Resources

More Livestock Links

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