Keep grass tetany from tackling your operation

Grass tetany, sometimes called grass staggers or hypomagnesaemia, is a metabolic disorder of cattle related to a deficiency of magnesium (Mg). Early lactation cows are the most susceptible, with older cows considered more susceptible than those with their first or second calves. The logic is that older cows seem less capable of mobilizing Mg reserves from the bones than their younger counterparts, reports onpasture.com.

Unfortunately, in many cases of grass tetany, symptoms are not noted and the only evidence is a dead cow. In mild cases, milk yield is decreased and the animal is nervous. These signs indicate the need for preventive measures. Animals affected by acute grass tetany may suddenly stop grazing, appear uncomfortable and show unusual signs of alertness, such as staring and keeping their heads and ears in an erect position. Cows may also stagger, have twitching skin (especially on the face, ears, and flanks), and lie down and get up frequently.

Click here for a complete look at the causes and treatment of grass tetany.

Are you ready to run a flerd?

Research past and present indicts that ranchers can run cattle and sheep together in a flerd, for flock and herd, and increase the efficiency of their operation. Kris Ringwall, beef Extension specialist with North Dakota State University, says recent research at the Dickenson Research Extension Center sales caused him to ponder the concept of adding a sheep for every cow, reports Farm Forum.

“The center sold market cows on March 9 for $68.24 per cwt, or $995.58 per head, and a market ewe on March 13 for $71 per cwt, or $113.60 per head. When adjusted for body weight, an equivalent weight in sheep was worth $1,035, or $40 more than the market cows.”

Click here to read more.

Settlement stops EPA from releasing private information

A federal judge accepted a settlement agreement recently that secures the private information of thousands of livestock and poultry farmers in 36 states, according to the Oklahoma Farm Report.

The Farm Bureau and National Pork Producers Council filed a lawsuit in 2013 after EPA released a vast compilation of spreadsheets containing personal information about farmers and ranchers in 29 states. EPA was poised at that time to release more spreadsheets containing similar information on farmers in an additional six states.

Click here to read more.

Assistance available to help rangeland recovery

Southwest ranchers and landowners who lost grazing from recent wildfires should get to their local USDA service centers as soon as possible to sign up for assistance, reports the Southwest Farm Press.

The Agriculture Act of 2014 provides financial assistance for some losses through the Livestock indemnity Program. Also the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) has funds available to help in grazing recovery efforts.

For instance, there is $2 million available in Texas through EQIP to provide assistance to install measures that reduce post-fire damage and aid in the rehabilitation process, says Stan Bradbury, NRCS rangeland management specialist in Lubbock, Texas. “But landowners need to come in soon. Deadline for filing applications is April 21.”

Click here to read more.

FFA, others keep the contributions coming

Even a month after the massive fires that devastated families, cattle and ranches, the true depths of human kindness continue to shine. Ron Hays with the Radio Oklahoma Network reports on a Facebook post he read from Matt Boyer, ag teacher with the Claremore, Okla., FFA chapter. Boyer and his students delivered feed and fencing supplies to the collection point at Buffalo Feeders in Buffalo, Okla., to donate to the fire victims.

"Pulling in, we stood about 8th in line to unload behind a pickup from Texas, 5 from Michigan, the Quapaw FFA, 1 from Missouri and a man from NW Wisconsin with a bumper trailer loaded with corner post and milk replacer. The students helped grab a couple cases of water from his pickup and he stated he needed to get back to the dairy. He handed Tom (Fanning, manager of the feedyard) a check for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association fire relief fund and headed back to Wisconsin.

"When they started unloading us, a gentleman from Southern Kansas was there to pick up fencing supplies we delivered on behalf of Bradley Criner and his crew. This gentlemen's ranch had been destroyed. The fire burned 3 of the family's homes including his parents, brother and his while also killing hundreds of cattle and destroying hundreds of miles of fence. As they offloaded us and placed directly onto his trailer, he began to cry and continued to thank me. I told him I was simply the driver and wished he had a bigger trailer to put more stuff on. It hurt driving away.”

Masters of Beef Advocacy program hits major milestone

Earlier this month, the beef checkoff's Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program reached 10,000 graduates! This group welcomes beef and dairy producers—along with chefs, teachers, doctors, dietitians and others in the beef community—to help lead the way in advocating for the industry and all of agriculture. After completing the program, MBA grads are equipped to have engaging conversations with consumers, both online and in person, and are encouraged to participate in advocacy campaigns, according to the Oklahoma Farm Report

Building on the initial success of the program, which celebrated 5,000 graduates in the first five years, the checkoff released a brand new set of lessons in 2015. To accompany the new courses, MBA program staff developed an interactive "Mobile Conversation Guide" app for iPhone and Android in 2016, giving MBA graduates access to information from the courses at their fingertips.

Click here to continue reading about the Beef Checkoff's Masters of Beef Advocacy program and the celebration surrounding this great accomplishment