Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Newspaper – written for, by & about farmers

Over time, thousands of breeds have evolved or been created within each livestock species.  For example, there are several hundred known breeds of cattle.  Each breed has a unique combination of genes which have been exploited across a wide array of environmental conditions worldwide to ultimately provide human consumers with meat, eggs, milk, fiber and a variety of by-products necessary for our survival.  The opportunity to select individuals from a diverse spectrum of genetic material is the basis for the productive breeds of livestock that are utilized in the commercial sector of agriculture today.  Moreover, hybrid vigor or heterosis, which is the increase in performance of a crossbred animal over that of its purebred parents, is only possible if genetic diversity exists. The application of hybrid vigor is considered by many as one of the most important contributions of genetics to scientific agriculture.

An alternative watering system for livestock can increase animal health, grazing efficiency and environmental stewardship.

We’ve come a long way from the days when cows were milked two or three at a time in a bucket. From the step-up barn through the herringbone, parallel, and parabone to the circular 60 stall barn. All of these barns have some common equipment concerns. According to State Dairy Specialist, Dr. Barry Steevens, Professor of Animal Science at the University of Missouri, all equipment should be checked on a regular basis. The bulk tank should have the milk cooled to 45 degrees at the end of each milking, and continue to cool to 38 degrees. Pulsators should be checked to see that they’re working properly and there are no loose wires. The rubber wear inspection should be coupled with a regular replacement schedule. The washing system also depends on vacuum and the washer cups should be inspected to insure there are no leaks during the washing and sanitizing of the equipment. Dr. Jodie Pennington, Dairy Specialist at the University of Arkansas, said mastitis is often caused by improper vacuum or pulsation rate. “The pulsation ratio can also get out of whack,” said Pennington. Acute mastitis can be treated with approved antibiotics. Subclinical mastitis, which causes the high Somatic Cell Count, must be monitored and individual cows tested, treated or culled.

Those tiny flies that stay put on the cattle, unless disturbed, could be causing more trouble than it appears. Horn flies, about 3/16” long, usually rest head down, often with wings in the delta position, on the back, sides or belly of cattle. A horn fly has piercing, sucking mouth parts and can take 20 to 40 blood meals per day.

Out in these rural Ozarks, where I spend a lot of time, I’ve found a little family of foxes. They’re living either in my boyfriend’s barn or under the highway in a fox hole. These little guys are so cute and funny to watch. I’ll crest the hill in the evenings and see five or six little heads pop up, ears alert and intrigued, and eyes watching my car turn onto my boyfriend’s farm road. On several occasions we’ve come upon them in the barn lot at night, frolicking with each other or celebrating their successful hunting venture of late. They sure are cute, and we couldn’t help but celebrate them being back this season, after the highway killed most of them off last year. A celebration I fear is halfhearted now.

Somewhere I once read a novel about Rome in the pre-America ages.  The author’s description of the diverse people milling in the streets of the then-capitol of the world stayed in my mind. He listed them in a colorful rainbow of ethnic costumes and dress.  While the dress is not as obvious today in Washington DC, I met lots of folks in my recent sojourn up there for my local electric co-op. Ozarks Electric out of Fayetteville, Ark., that were from other places.  Cab drivers hailed from Ethiopia, Nigeria and some other country that I did not even know the name of.  A doctor I met from Argentina, who spoke little English, assured me the trout fishing in his country was wonderful.