MoosNews
Volume 16, No. 5 – May 2013
We look forward to
seeing everyone at the upcoming GCCA dinner meeting – Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m.
Cost of a meal is $5. Gov. Pat McCrory has officially proclaimed May as “Beef
Month” in North Carolina – come to the meeting in honor of this proclamation!
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News, Views, and Mostly Other Matters
By Paul
Westfall, Extension Livestock Agent
If anyone
has been walking around in the woods lately, they may have found some of those
little creepy-crawly things we call ticks. They are out and active. If they are
bothering us, think about how they are also bothering our livestock. Ticks get
carried from place to place on animal bodies since they feed on warm-blooded
animals by biting and taking a blood meal. Once full, they drop off and get
started on the next phase of their life. Ticks go through two stages called
instars as they develop, and once fully developed, females will lay eggs and
thousands of seed ticks are ready to start the cycle over again. They are not
easy to control since they are tough and can withstand extreme heat and cold.
They are not active during cold weather, but many do survive as we can tell
from that walk through an infested area.
Think
about how our livestock handles these critters. They are walking around in
pastures and wooded areas picking up ticks all the time. Ticks cause the same
irritations on them as they do on any animal. I recently fielded a question
about treating pastures to kill ticks. There are several problems with that, with
the main one being there is not an insecticide registered for that use that I
have found. If there were, the cost would be prohibitive, and it would only be
a temporary solution since deer and other animals would bring in a fresh crop
of the insects.
On cattle,
we have ear tags that release their insecticide slowly that are used to control
flies. These can help to control some ticks, but they are not all that
effective. I checked a couple of labels, and the only ticks listed on the fly
tag label were Gulf Coast ticks and ear ticks. That leaves the brown dog tick,
the Lone Star Tick, and other tick species in limbo as to control. (Again, the
ear tags are mainly for fly control.) However, since permethrin is listed as an
ingredient for at least one fly tag, there is likely to be some control. There
are insecticides formulated as dusts, pour-on products and sprays that work
pretty well.
The NC AG
Chem manual shows five products labeled for use in beef and dairy cattle. Two
of those cannot be used on lactating dairy cattle, though. Those products are
Co-Ral and Rabon. Permethrin, Tactik,
and RaVap are OK to use on beef and dairy cattle regardless of whether the
dairy cattle are lactating or dry. Sprays give best control since the animal is
thoroughly wetted. Since most cattlemen are more concerned with controlling
flies, I like to recommend back rubs or other “self-applicating devices” for
dispensing insecticide. While the entire animal does not receive the treatment,
there is still some control of ticks from this method. Cattle will go to them
and rub on their own once they feel the benefit of getting rid of their load of
pests. However, these work best when placed where cattle or other livestock have to walk under them to get from one place to another. Using two or more methods
together, and rotating insecticides, will reduce the chance of ticks building
up immunity.
Herd
management tips for May include taking care of the pastures and hay fields by
controlling the summer weeds either by clipping or using herbicides. It’s late
to be worried about controlling the early spring weeds, but the thistles and
dogfennel are starting to take off. For fly control, use spray, dusts, or back
rubs early, and delay using fly tags as late as possible. Monitor the herd’s mineral
intake and watch for grass tetany.
Managers
of spring-calving herds need to vaccinate calves more than 3 months old for
clostridial diseases (7-way blackleg). Castrate and dehorn any calves that were
missed at birth. Implant calves if that is a management practice on your farm.
Calves that were implanted at birth may be reimplanted after 90 days according
to the product label. Check the condition of the bulls during breeding season. If
they are losing weight or body condition, provide supplemental feed. Keep an
eye on the cows and spot check to make sure they are settling.
Folks with
fall-calving herds need to wean calves if they weren’t weaned last month. Go
ahead and pregnancy check the cows when the calves are weaned. Sell the open
cows if they are in BCS of 5.0 or better. If they are thin, put them on good
pasture and plan to market them once they reach a BCS of 5.0. Check the cows
for bad eyes, udders and legs. Those showing any of these should be culled.
Also check the production records to identify other cows that need to be added
to the cull list. Basically, get rid of the low performers and replace them
with some young stock that has potential to improve the overall herd
performance.
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From the President’s Pen!
Fellow Cattlemen:
Our concession sales went
well at the cattle sale on April 20th. Special thanks to Diane Walsh for
getting there early to serve coffee and biscuits and to Sandy Gabel for getting
there with the biscuits. Thanks so much to Phyllis, Madison and Linda Currin, Cynthia
Capps, Mammie Pleasants, Wayne Hicks, David Dickerson, Jacob Adams and anyone
else I forgot to mention for all your work!!
Before the sale started, E.
B. Harris thanked the Cattlemen’s Association for helping get the sales
extended and presented us with a gift of $1,000.00 to acknowledge our efforts.
Well, as you know, the
Earth Roast is right around the corner -- June 14, 2013. I hope we can make
this 40th year the biggest and the best yet.
Hope to see you at our
monthly meeting on May 9th. Come and enjoy a meal, good fellowship and a good
program on fly management. Don't forget come and bring your spouse, neighbor
and friends.
Kay
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April Meeting Minutes
The regular monthly meeting of the Granville County
Cattlemen's Association was held on April 11, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board
Room of the Cooperative Extension Service.
Following dinner, Richie Roberts demonstrated techniques for the care
and maintenance of cattle hooves. Mr. Roberts, experienced in dealing with hoof
problems, shared some causes of hoof problems and made suggestions for avoiding
and alleviating them. He used a freeze-dried hoof to demonstrate the inside of
a cow’s hoof and some of the issues with which cattle producers may be faced.
Lameness issues were discussed and cattlemen were reminded that the right feed
is important to hoof health, forage being the best. Hoof problems are more
prevalent in dairy cows than in beef cows.
Betty Kornegie, Director of Farm Service Agency,
provided information on a Micro loan now available through FSA for purchase of
cattle. More information is available in the FSA office. Ms. Kornegie reminded
attendees that the new Farm Bill has not been finalized.
President Kay Stark presided over the business session.
Minutes of the March meeting were approved. The Treasurer's report was
accepted.
Members were encouraged to help with the concessions
during the auction on April 20 at the Cattle Arena.
Tickets were distributed for the Earth Roast to be held
on June 14, 2013. Members were encouraged to join the committee of their choice
to support this annual event. FFA students will be encouraged to help with this
year's Earth Roast.
Members were thanked for supporting efforts to rezone
the Arena.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Y. Gill, Secretary
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FFA Update
Casey West was installed
as a regional officer at the recent East Central Region FFA Rally at Johnston
Community College. Casey and fellow J.F. Webb student Betsy Murphy are the
school’s first two FFA members to land regional positions. Casey is a faithful
member of the GCCA and it is a real pleasure to recognize him for outstanding
leadership in the FFA. Casey is an asset to this association, his school and
his community. Way to go, Casey!
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Officers Directors
President,
Kay Stark 2013:
Kent Currin, Steve Walker
Past
President, Joy Morgan Marshall 2014:
Linda Currin, Wendy Lane
Vice
President, Sherby Slaughter 2015:
James Gooch, Eddie Denny
Treasurer,
Sandy Gabel
Secretary,
Jean Gill
Newsletter,
Laura S. Gabel
