Country World Archives 2001-2008
Cow-calf clinics debut across Texas
By JULIET BRISKIN | Country World staff writer
Continuing education and keeping up with trends in the beef industry are vital to running a successful cattle operation. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service, in conjunction with counties across Central Texas, have begun hosting a number of cow-calf clinics and trade shows to provide the most up-to-date information available for farmers and ranchers. Two of these events were recently held in Brownwood and Bryan.
One of the hottest topics this year is foreign animal diseases, how to keep them out of the U.S. and what to do if a suspected outbreak has occurred. One of the greatest threats to cattle and the beef industry is BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or "mad cow" disease, but so far this has only affected cattle in Europe. At both the Heart of Texas Cow Calf Clinic in Brownwood, May 3, and the Brazos Valley Cattleman's Clinic and Trade Show in Bryan, May 4, this topic was covered in great detail.
"I really want to make sure that you are aware of the fact that we do not have BSE in the U.S., and more importantly that we are doing everything possible to prevent it from reaching our cattle," said Dr. John Edwards, professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M University, one of the speakers at the Brazos Valley Clinic. According to Edwards the U.S. has taken swift action to prevent this disease from ever infecting cattle in the United States.
Steps include the destruction of all livestock in the U.S. from foreign countries where BSE has been identified, quarantining suspicious animals, on-going testing on brain tissue from a sampling of dead U.S. cattle, no importing of livestock from countries with BSE, and a reduction in the number of products made from animal by-products.
Dr. Floron Farries, a Texas A&M University veterinarian, speaking at the Brownwood meeting, warned about the dangers of the frenzy created by the mass media regarding BSE. Edwards also cautioned clinic attendees about feeding into that frenzy.
At the two clinics the topic of toxic plants and the dangers they pose to cattle was also covered. According to Dr. John Reagor, head of the Texas Veterinary Medical Toxicology Lab at Texas A&M University, Johnson grass is the most significant toxic plant in Brazos County.
When grass becomes stressed the prussic acid levels increase dramatically. The prussic acid is converted in the rumen to cyanide and can quickly kill a cow. However, during usual circumstances, prussic acid dissipates in the plant allowing time after the introduction of any stress such as drought followed by heavy rains, or frost to decrease the chance of endangering a cattle herd.
Nitrate poisoning can be a further concern for ranchers. This poisoning sequence can be generated through almost any plant. The highest levels of nitrate are usually found in the sorghum family and when proper growth of the plant is hindered nitrate builds up and is not converted into protein. Nitrate does not dissipate and when in doubt about the nitrate levels of a pasture "the best thing to do is to have the plants tested," Farries said.
The Texas Agricultural Extension Service has recently released a book, Toxic Plants of Texas, that describes and illustrates toxic plants, details clinical signs in livestock, treatments for poisoned animals, and toxic plant management strategies. For more information on the book call 888-900-2577/
During the Brownwood session New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service livestock specialist, Dr. Jason Sawyer, discussed the importance of heifer development. According to Sawyer heifers are an important but often overlooked topic. They are a considerable investment, are necessary to maintain the cow herd size, and they contribute greatly to the genetics of the cow herd.
Dr. Larry Redmon, associate professor and Extension agronomist at Texas A&M University, was on hand at the Brazos Valley Clinic to discuss the importance of a 12-month grazing program and proper management practices. According to Redmon, to have a successful year-round foraging program the first thing that must be done is to create a written plan. In that plan, Redmon said, a producer should address the needs for - utilizing more than one pasture, the availability of both warm and cool season forages, and purchasing as little off-farm as possible. Each of these topics he said would help develop a successful 12-month grazing program.
For more information about a clinic in your area contact your local Extension agent.