Volume 16, No. 8
A reminder that we're taking the August meeting on the road! Come on out to Little Grassy Creek Farm at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 8 for the monthly dinner meeting. Please bring a chair! Directions to the farm are on the next page.
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News, Views, and Mostly Other Matters
--Paul Westfall, Livestock Extension Agent
What a summer we have had so far! It's been a while since we've had temperatures this moderate in June and July. Until this year, it's been pretty dry around here since 2007. I really don't hear many people complaining about the excessive amount of rainfall that we have received this year, even though it has made hay harvest a bit difficult. The thing is - we still need rain because once we get through the topsoil down into the next layer of subsoil, it is still pretty dry with no moisture reserves. We saw this when the pit for the earth roast was dug. I expected a pretty wet trench, but the sidewalls were pretty dry, and even the shower we got overnight didn't do much to cool down the "oven". Let's just ask that the rainfall be spaced out a bit more evenly to best meet the needs of our crops, forages, and livestock.
Speaking of forages, we've been pretty lucky this summer that we haven't had really hot temperatures for an extended period of time. With only a handful of days above 90 degrees F., cool-season grasses have slowed down the growth rate, but really haven't gone dormant as usual. That's been a good thing for animals, with a good supply of fresh forage available most of the time. I'd like to know, however, what the levels of endophyte has been this summer on Fescue pastures. If anyone has had their pastures tested for endophyte, please let me know what the level was. If anyone would like to have a forage test run for endophyte, call me and we'll arrange to take some samples. An endophyte analysis costs $15.
Here's a hay storage tip. For best results and least amount of spoilage, store round bales under cover, preferably under a roof. If that is not possible and you have to store round bales outside under the sun and stars, please follow these steps:
- Make the most even bale possible. Even bales shed water better and don't have pockets where rain can pool up, leading to a spot of rotted hay on the bale. Once started, these spots only get bigger during storage.
- Store the bales on old pallets or something to get them out of direct contact with the soil. If they have to sit on the ground, do some grading or landscaping to facilitate getting water away from the bale storage area. Spread some gravel or crushed stone to assist with getting water away from the bales. Hay will act as a wick, drawing moisture from the soil up into the bale causing - you guessed it - rotted hay.
- Leave a few inches of space between bales placed in a row. Again, don't supply a place for water to accumulate and facilitate rotting hay.
- Leave some space between rows of bales. The curved sides of round bales touching will create a wonderful place for rainfall to accumulate. You know what happens when water pools up on hay.
Now for the August herd management tips. Remember that it is August - one of the hotter months of the year - so use caution when working cattle. If you have to work cattle or haul them in a trailer, time the work to take advantage of cooler temperatures early in the morning or haul them at night. Cattle will suffer heat exhaustion at lower temperatures than we do, and no one wants to lose cattle due to heat stress. In extremely hot weather, shade is essential, so make sure the cows have access to some. The best activity they can do during the heat of the day is stay in the shade and ruminate, or chew their cud. They will graze and fill the rumen during the cooler parts of the day, and rumination time is necessary to proper forage digestion anyway.
Don't allow cattle in ponds or streams. While it may seem like a good way to let cattle to cool off, it is also a good way to spread disease and cause some environmental problems. Make sure there is an adequate supply of fresh water. Continue the fly control program. Hot, dry weather brings out the worst in face flies, which are hard to control. Check cattle for pinkeye and treat as soon as symptoms are seen. As fly tags get old, you may need to begin spraying, using back rubs, or replace fly tags. Watch cattle for signs of lameness. If foot rot is detected, treat ASAP.
Managers of spring-calving herds should check cows for bad eyes, udders, and legs, and review herd production records to identify cows that need to be culled. Some time at the kitchen table planning the weaning management program is time well spent. Be sure the weaning pens/pastures are ready and make sure the weaning feeding program is in place prior to that event. Wean and vaccinate calves for respiratory diseases at least 45 days prior to shipment. Check with your veterinarian now so that you can order recommended vaccines.
Those with fall calving herds are also doing a lot of checking. Replacement heifers are 8 to 10 months old, so keep an eye on heifer weight gains and supply supplemental feed as needed. To have a calf at 24 months, they will need to be bred by 15 months of age and will need to weigh 2/3 of their mature weight at breeding. Check the cowherd body condition. Cows should be in moderately good condition (BCS 5 to 6) prior to calving. If cows are thin (BCS 4 or lower) either give them higher quality forage or provide supplemental feed. Check the calving supplies and order anything needed so that you will be ready in September. Check the bred heifers frequently. They should begin calving in September. Vaccinate any early calves with 7-way clostridium. Feed the weaned calves for desired gain based on the management and marketing plan.
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Directions to little Grassy Creek Farm - 7609 Sam Young Road:
- Go North on Hwy 15 toward Stovall.
- Turn LEFT onto Gela Road, then RIGHT onto Sam Young Road.
- When you see the farm's white fencing on the left side of the road, turn left at the SECOND driveway - after the two-story white house.
- FYI - If you use GPS, you'll be directed to the third driveway - that's NOT the farm, but the farm office.
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From the President :
Hello Fellow Cattlemen:
I hope all of you are well and enjoying your summer. I missed seeing everyone in July, but I look forward to next week's meeting out at the Gabel farm.
I know it's been a rough season getting hay cut and baled. I looked at some of my spring grass hay that I cut and it needs cutting again. Well, I guess I'll start off August by cutting hay again, Hey, you reckon we could get three cuts this year?
Hope to see all at Sandy and Laura's next week. Bring a friend or a neighbor and let's get the second half of the year off right!
Thanks again for all the hard work you all did to make the Earth Roast another success. We have the final figures and will give a report at the meeting. Hint: The numbers look real good!
See you Thursday!
Kay
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Classified Ads:
Remember that GCCA members can advertise items in the MoosNews - if you have an item you'd like to sell, or if you're looking for something that you need on the farm, consider placing an ad right here. $5 for 3 lines each month. Just send Laura an email - lssantos@mindspring.com with the information and she'll get it in the next issue.
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Officers and Board Members
President, Kay Stark Directors:
Past President, Joy Morgan Marshall 2013: Kent Currin, Steve Walker
Vice President, Sherby Slaughter 2014: Linda Currin, Wendy Lane
Treasurer, Sandy Gabel 2015: James Gooch, Eddie Denny
Secretary, Jean Gill
Newsletter, Laura S. Gabel
