Yes. Wheat straw is greatly underutilized as a feedstuff, particularly in beef cow rations. It can be used as the primary forage in dry cow rations and at low levels in lactating rations. For example, wheat straw can make up …
I have a heifer calf that is very small for her age. She was born to an old cow who didn’t produce enough milk to feed her. She was put with a cow that had lost her calf. Will ever catch up weight-wise, or will she always be stunted?
This calf is behind the rest of the calves because of low energy intake. If the calf has not been severely stunted, it will begin to grow once exposed to a high-quality diet. Some data suggest that these calves, if …
Can a bull breed with its offspring, daughter and granddaughter, without genetic problems? Should I change bulls every generation, or every two to three generations. This will be a small brood cow herd with one-bull operations.
You can have father-daughter matings in beef cattle, but it is not recommended. This type of breeding practice is called inbreeding or close breeding. Again, this breeding practice is rarely practiced today, although it was common in the foundation animals …
How is boxed beef cutout calculated?
The explanation of the box beef cutout values for a carcass basis are calculated from the primal cut values (primal rib, rib, chuck, round, loin, brisket, short plate, plate, and flank) which are calculated from the various subprimal cut values, …
Can cattle get lockjaw? If they can, what can we do about it?
Tetanus, commonly called lockjaw, results when a wound is infected with the soil-borne bacterium Clostridium tetani. Tetanus is characterized by a very high fever and the development of rigid, tense muscles. In the latter stages, the animal goes down …
What is the typical butterfat and protein analysis of milk from a range cow? Has anyone done research on either an “average” beef cow or different breeds as far as butterfat and production in beef females?
Some variation exists in the protein and fat composition of milk from beef cattle. Some data indicate that fat percentage ranges from 2.5 to 6.5% and that of protein from 3.0 to 4.0%. The range for protein percentage appears to …
I am trying to update my system of identification on my cow/calf herd. Can you suggest another system of identification with ear tags?
Number identification in a beef cow enterprise can sometimes be difficult to formulate. Having the birth year as the first digit is a good idea. This will help you quickly determine the age of a female. The next digits in …
What is the formula for converting inches of chest/heart girth measurements to pounds when measuring a calf at birth?
You could estimate weight using a heart-girth tape. These tapes for cattle are available in animal-supply magazines, such as Wiggins & Associates Inc. They sell for about $5. The tape is usually supplied with a chart that converts a tape …
Are plans available for building a calf-warming box?
Yes. Some material is available in the MidWest Plan Service book. Most Cooperative Extension offices will have a copy. If you want your own copy, the 2006 MWPS (MidWest Plan Service) catalog is available at the MWPS website or by …
Sometimes the AI (artificial insemination) gun passes freely through a heifer’s cervix; in other cases, it just meets a dead end. So, in this case, should I deposit semen just inside the cervix when the gun cannot pass through freely?
More than likely you are either hitting the blind pouch, which is formed where the front end of the vagina joins the back end of the cervix, or you are getting stuck in one of the circular rings of the …