Farm Help

After an in-depth look at Missouri's rendering laws in the last issue of Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, it became apparent there is more to this issue than just an inconvenience to producers locally. The FDA has created stiff regulations for rendering plants, which likely didn't help with the Halfway plant's decision to close.

When it comes to Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, it’s important to use all the weapons at your disposal… because the bugs have got you outnumbered.

In any animal herd, culling for parasite resistance can be a beneficial and cost effective practice. Mike McClintock, Boone County Cooperative Extension Agent for the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture Extension is familiar with the purposes and benefits behind culling for parasite resistance in a goat herd. Internal parasite management, especially of the round worm, nematode and stomach worm, is a primary concern for many sheep and goat producers. These parasites have become more difficult to manage because they have developed some resistance to most available dewormers.

When does a cow have the most nutritional needs? Before she calves, and after. That’s according to Bill Doig, regional livestock specialist at the University of Missouri Extension.

Finishing cattle on grass is nothing new. Rotational or management intensive grazing has been around for at least 200 years. As recently as the 90s in the Ozarks, many dairies were still pasture based. But in efforts to increase production, operations began to “move the feed to the cow.”

In any animal herd, culling for parasite resistance can be a beneficial and cost effective practice. Mike McClintock, Boone County Cooperative Extension Agent for the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture Extension is familiar with the purposes and benefits behind culling for parasite resistance in a goat herd. Internal parasite management, especially of the round worm, nematode and stomach worm, is a primary concern for many sheep and goat producers. These parasites have become more difficult to manage because they have developed resistance to most available dewormers.

With the December 2008 closing of the Halfway Packing Company, in Halfway, Mo., many livestock producers were left with the realization, there's no 'dead wagon' to come by anymore. This was reiterated in a recent Springfield News-Leader front page article, complete with glamorous dead cow photo. It is important for livestock producers to understand their new responsibility in keeping with regulations on dead animal disposal, especially with the public eye turned in the producer's direction.

Put 200 cow/calf pairs on a couple of acres of pasture. A few hours later the grass is eaten or heavily trampled. Not a pretty sight. Yet this ultra high stock density (UHSD) grazing approach, also known as mob grazing, is working for some cattle operations with stock densities as high as 500,000 lbs. per acre.

When it comes to Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, it’s important to use all the weapons at your disposal… because the bugs have got you outnumbered.

In the current economic situation — when saving money is a must — it is tempting for cattle producers to forgo providing supplements to help boost their bottom line.