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Historic note | |
Dates to remember | |
Beef-forage emphasis program... | |
Current situation | |
Economics and performance of pigs... | |
No clear-cut link between meat,... |
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Historic note
Copyright Dates to remember Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Beef-forage emphasis program update Page 4 Current situation Page 5 Economics and performance of pigs weaned at 3, 4 and 5 weeks of age Page 6 Page 7 No clear-cut link between meat, heart disease: pearson Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 |
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HISTORIC NOTE The publications in this collection do not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. These texts represent the historic publishing record of the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences and should be used only to trace the historic work of the Institute and its staff. Current IFAS research may be found on the Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) site maintained by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Copyright 2005, Board of Trustees, University of Florida 2 z DATES TO REMEMBER AUGUST 10-12 29-31 OCTOBER 6 10 14 19 19 27 31 NOVEMBER 1 1 1 3 28-29 DECEMBER 12 4-H Southern Regional Horse Championship Show and Judging Contest Montgomery, Alabama Annual Extension Conference Gainesville Beef Cattle and Forage Field Day ARC, Ona Florida Chapter of the Range Management Society - ARC, Ona Pure Bred Bull Sale, University of Florida, 9:00 12:00 a.m., Livestock Pavilion Gainesville Cattlemen's Tropical Forage Field Day St. Lucie Co. Ag. Center Swine Field Day Armory Marianna 16th Annual Bull Sale ARC, Brooksville North Florida Fair Feeder Pig Show North Florida Fair Tallahassee Youth Swine Evaluation Contest N. Fla. Fair - Tallahassee 4-H and FFA Market Hog Show N. Fla. Fair Tallahassee Beef Cattle Show N. Fla. Fair Tallahassee Open Breeding Hog Show N. Fla. Fair Tallahassee Animal Science's In-Service Training for Extension Agents Gainesville Florida Meat Packers Association Short Course - Reitz Union Gainesville .I 00 r- J- Lr-LlO- BDU W- u B Rx37UDi0OD 00QvBGG INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE iN IM AL CIE. NL 78-4 AU GUST / 19' -2- Beef Cattle Management Calendar AUGUST Cut corn silage S Cut hay Apply lime for fall and winter crops Harvest Bahiagrass seed Check mineral and salt feeder Update market information and marketing plans Check for army worms, spittlebugs and mole crickets. Treat if necessary Check dust bags Check for external parasites and treat if needed. Wean calves and cull cow herd Watch for evidence of abortions Observe animals regularly for signs of diseases If cattle grubs were found on cattle last winter or heel flies were observed in the pasture, treat for cattle grubs this month. SEPTEMBER Cut hay Heavy grazing on pastures to be interplanted to cool season pastures Check mineral and salt feeder Check for mole crickets, spittlebugs and grassloopers. Treat if necessary. Check dust bags Check for external parasites and treat if needed. Wean calves and cull cow herd Train cowboys to observe normal and abnormal behavior and signs of diseases Be sure any replacement purchases are healthy OCTOBER Plant cool season legumes Plant small grain pastures Check mineral and salt feeder Check for spittlebugs and grassloopers. Treat if needed. Check dust bags Check for external parasites and treat if needed Watch condition of cow herd, maintain adequate nutrition Isolate any additions to the herd for 30 to 60 days and observe for signs of diseases; retest for brucellosis and leptospirosis S Be sure you have adequate handling facilities in good repair. Georgia Cattle Stocker Finisher Conferences co-sponsored by the Georgia Cattlemen's Association and the Extension Animal Science Department, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia will be held August 3, 1978, at the Macon Coliseum, Macon Georgia. A copy of the program can be obtained from Clyde Tripplett, Extension Animal Scientist, Rural Development Center, Tifton, Georgia 31794. ---RSS- University of Florida Purebred Bull Sale:The annual sale of coming 2 year-old purebred bulls from the Animal Science Department's Angus and Brahman herds will be held Saturday, October 14, 1978 at the Live- stock Pavilion. It is anticipated that 40 bulls will be available for the sale. ---RSS--- Brooksville Experiment Station Bull Sale: The annual Bull sale featuring 125+ Hereford, Angus, Brahman and Brangus bulls will be held Friday, October 27, 1978. Additional information is available form Cal Burns, Sale Manager, Box 246, Brooksville, Florida 33512. ---RSS--- Chipley Beef Demonstration Unit: The April 6, 1978 Field Day at the Beef Demonstration Unit was a huge success. However, this is a dynamic unit things are growing, conditions are changing. In order to follow and have an understanding of the production practices used at the unit, return visits during the year are essential. Points of interest now include: a) Winter legumes still growing b) Improved varieties of permanent grasses c) Sod seeded millet vs. conventional seeding d) Crossbred calves resulting from matings to Brangus, Hereford and Simmental bulls. ---AFJ--- Time Management: Many farmers in West Florida have been busy planting their crops for several months now and some will soon start harvesting. What has happened to the beef herd during this time? They are left to fend for themselves. A year-round total farm management calendar can help organize time. Less hectic periods for field work can be utilized for more intense beef management operations; such as, calving and weaning. A limited breeding season (90 days) at the proper time, will permit calving -4- and weaning during these periods of reduced labor requirements for field crops. Improved beef cattle management techniques can be more easily followed, thereby improving production and income from the beef herd. ---AFJ--- AUGUST: Time to treat for cattle grubs. Reports are coming more frequently and from more locations of cattle grubs and heel flies. -August is the best month to treat for Grubs from spring strikes before the larva migrate. Use a pour on or spot on labelled for this purpose and follow the directions on the label--especially withdrawal time before slaughter on cull cows. As additional data becomes available it is beginning to look like more than one treatment per year may be needed as a result of our mild winters allowing flies to live over. As soon as enough data is accumulated to make this a recommendation, you will be informed. ---PK & RSS--- BEEF-FORAGE EMPHASIS PROGRAM UPDATE: Things are beginning to move rapidly in several areas. Status of the various study groups is as follows: 1. Government Regulations having a tough time getting started. Several activities in this area are already underway. 2. Brucellosis Committee has met and discussed the upcoming Series of educational program planned by Drs. Abbitt and Meyerholz. There will be a preview of this program during 0 the noon hour Wednesday, August 30 in rooms 150 C & D, Reitz Union. This is during the Annual Extension Conference, so V go through the cafeteria line and bring your lunch up and help preview this important program. 3. Pests Off to somewhat of a slow start in comparison to some others, Dr. Koehler has been busy preparing Integrated Pest Management materials for Livestock and requesting funds for a pilot program. 4. Marketing Alternatives Met via "Conference Call". Members of this committee will be going to Chicago in August to visit the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as their guests. Also attending will be the hosts for 4 training sessions to be held next winter. The training sessions will be conducted by the CME and are on Hedging as a Marketing Tool. Several publications and materials are being developed around on "Ranch Marketing Decisions and Alternatives". -5- 5. Forages Met and divided into 2 groups responsible for developing a recommended forage package for north and south Florida respectively. Hope to have initial drafts ready for study and discussion in August. 6. Overall Management Met and was assigned job of reviewing "Beef Production Handbook" and list of fact sheets to be published for it. Looking for additional subjects that need to be covered as well as for ones that need to be adjusted to our conditions ("Floridaized"). They also discussed program delivery systems and will be looking at how we reach our audience and for ways to do this more effectively. Two areas being investigated are (1) feedstores and supply houses as a source of information and (2) livestock markets with the idea of possibly having regular scheduled times monthly when the Extension Agent would have a "field office at the market". Your interest and suggestions about this program are welcomed. Please feel free to contact Dr. Bob Sand if you have questions or suggestions. ---RSS--- CURRENT SITUATION: The U.S. Cattle industry is subject to cycles of about 10 years in duration. The cattle herd reached a record high 132 million head as of January 1, 1978, and will decline further this year. The rebuilding phase of the cattle cycle will soon begin but several years are required for increased domestic beef supplies to reach consumers. Since 1974, many livestock producers have experienced losses. For 15 of the past 23 quarters cattle feeders have suffered net losses. How- ever, returns in producers are now above cost and prospects for the next 2 to 3 years are for a continuation of this situation. Retail meat prices, stable for the past three years with record meat supplies, have increased about ten percent during the first four months of 1978. This price increase is in response to the reduced cattle inventory and adverse winter weather, combined with strong demand stemming from record employment levels and increased earnings. Retail beef prices declined in 1976 and remained about the same in 1977 due to record beef supplies. However, choice beef prices have risen about 14 percent during the first four months of this year alone. These higher prices have contributed to the 5.9 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for food during the first four months of 1978. Meat production for 1978 will total approximately 51.1 billion pounds. About 1 percent below year earlier levels. Although beef production is expected to be down 4 percent, pork production will be up 2 percent and poultry output will expand about 7 percent. Source--Fact Sheet on Meat Imports USDA 1636-78 ECONOMICS AND PERFORMANCE OF PIGS WEANED AT 3, 4 AND 5 WEEKS OF AGE: One of the best possibilities for improving overall production efficiency is to increase the number of pigs raised per sow per year. This can be accomplished by weaning more pigs per litter and/or shortening the farrowing interval. Physiologists have demonstrated that the sow can be successfully rebred on first heat following weaning if the pigs are approximately 21 days of age or older. Pigs can be successfully weaned at 3 weeks of age but they require a more precise environment and nutritional program than those weaned at 4 or 5 weeks of age. We plan- ned and conducted a trial last fall in an effort to determine the most optimum weaning age with "average" environmental conditions and feeding programs. Litters from 42 fourth-litter sows were equalized as near as possible by transferring pigs within 48-hours after birth. Sows were scale fed (1 pound per nursing pig per day plus three pounds for the sow) a 15% sorghum-soy diet from 5 days postfarrowing until the pigs were weaned. Creep feed (20% complex starter diet) was offered when pigs were 10 days of age. One third of the sows were weaned when the pigs were 3, 4 and 5 weeks of age. At weaning, pigs were placed in a confinement nursery pen and fed until they reached approximately 63 days of age. The number of pigs weaned per litter was very similar (8.50, 8.64, 8.64 for those weaned at 2, 4 and 5 weeks, respectively). Average weaning weights for the 3, 4 and 5 week pigs were 10.8, 13.3 and 15.4 pounds. Pig performance was measured over three time periods: first 7 days, first 14 days and the entire test period (42, 35 and 28 days for pigs weaned at 3, 4 and 5 weeks, respectively). Measured over the first 7 or first 14 days, pigs weaned at 5 weeks consumed more feed than the 3 and 4-week groups which resulted in higher daily gains. Gains for the 4-week group were also superior to the 3-week group. Differences in performance among the 3, 4 and 5-week groups was less when measured over the entire test period, but pigs weaned at 3 weeks had a lower feed intake, lower gains and less desirable feed efficiency than those weaned at 4 and 5 weeks of age. This resulted in pigs weaned at 3 weeks having lower 63-day weights (36.3 pounds) than those weaned at 4 weeks (40.6 pounds) and 5 weeks (39.1 pounds). Sow feed intake during lactation, creep feed intake and pig feed from weaning to 63 days of age were determined and multiplied times the price of each diet to determine the total feed costs for the different weaning regimes. Average sow feed intake increased from 216 pounds when pigs were weaned at 3 weeks to 307 and 388 pounds for sows weaned at 4 and 5 weeks. Creep feed intake per litter also increased greatly from 3-4-5 week weaning (.90, 3.0 and 5.7 pounds, respectively). The total cost for sow feed and creep diet per litter increased from $11.96 for 3-week weaning to $17.17 for 4-week weaning to $21.85 for 5-week weaning. Feed costs incurred during the postweaning test period on both a per pig basis and per pound of pig produced basis were also determined. As expected, pigs weaned at 3 weeks (which were on test for 42 days) had the highest feed cost per pig ($4.31), followed by those weaned at 4 weeks ($4.21) and 5 weeks ($3.45). When sow feed, creep diet and intake during the postweaning performance were totalled on a per pig basis, the -7- 3-week group had the lowest total cost ($5.72) followed by the 5-week ($5.98) and 4-week ($6.20) groups. However, when total feed costs were expressed on a pound of pig produced basis, the 4 and 5 week groups were the same (15.3 cents) which was slightly less than for pigs weaned at 3 weeks (15.7 cents). Another important economic consideration of weaning at various ages is the reduced sow weight loss experienced with earlier weaning. The average weights for sows taken within 24 hours after parturition and on the day of weaning showed that the sows weaned at 3 weeks gained 3.6 pounds during the 21-day lactation while sows weaned at 4 and 5 weeks lost 12.6 and 17.7 pounds, respectively. This advantage in weight loss must be considered in evaluating the overall economics of the different weaning systems. General conclusions included the following: 1. Feed intake and resulting daily gains are greatly influenced by weaning weight. Performance of pigs weaned at 4 and 5 weeks of age were very similar and more desirable than those weaned at 3 weeks. 2. Total feed costs per pound of pig produced (63 days of age) were essentially the same for pigs weaned at 3, 4 or 5 weeks of age. Source--T. D. Tanksley, Jr. from Texas Agricultural Extension Service's Prescriptions for pigs June 1978 ---KLD--- BY-PRODUCT OF A BY-PRODUCT, EXTRACTING PROTEIN FROM TRIPE: Organ meats, save for liver, have never been popular with American consumers, so these very nutritious meats are primarily processed into by-products. New research, however, may provide a means of utilizing organ meats for human foodstuffs. Some 80% to 90% of protein in tripe can be extracted by soaking in a special solution and precipitating the protein. Process, developed at Oregon St. Univ., could potentially yield additional 60,000 tons of high-quality animal protein from current annual cattle slaughter. Source--Meat Board Reports, Monday June 26, 1978 ---RSS--- SO MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T HEARD THAT EATING MEAT IS DANGEROUS: At least one country isn't jumping on the eat-less-meat-eat-more-grain bandwagon. During a recent tour of the Soviet Union, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Robert Bergland learned that Russians plan to boost livestock production to increase domestic meat consumption. According to Boris A. Runov, All Union Deputy Minister of Agriculture, "Right now our meat consumption is 55 kilograms (121 lbs.) per person (per year). By 1980 we want to raise it to 75 kilograms (165 Ibs.)." And just how do the Russians plan to boost livestock production? By expanding their use of grain feeding, which they have found is the fastest way to increase the supply of meat. Source--Meat Board Reports, Monday, June 26, 1978 ---RSS--- NO CLEAR-CUT LINK BETWEEN MEAT, HEART DISEASE: PEARSON: Reducing heart disease risk by replacing animal fats with vegetable fats in diets is unlikely, says A. M. Pearson, Ph.D., Mich. State Univ. food scientist. Pearson offered positive aspects of meat eating in a paper presented June 20 during American Meat Science Assn.'s Reciprocal Meat Conference at the Univ. of Conn. "All available evidence suggests there is no clear-cut relationship be- tween meat consumption and cardiovascular disease," said Pearson. In- creased rate of coronary heart disease in the U. S. since first decade of this century has often been blamed on meat consumption. But animal fats consumption declined by 9% in that period, while vegetable fat consumption increased three-fold, he said. This implicates, but does not prove, that vegetable fats contributed to the increase in heart disease, he said. Flesh foods (meats, fish, poultry) make their major contribution by supplying an abundance of high quality protein, appreciable amounts of vitamins, minerals, Pearson pointed out. It is nearly impossible to obtain the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin B12 without including flesh foods in the diet. A majority of premonopausal women need flesh foods to stay in positive iron balance. * * * SMOKING CITED AS MAJOR CAUSE IN DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE: Smoking, not diet (see story above) is "by far the most important" factor increasing the risk of heart disease, according to Dr. Alton Ochsner, Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Tulane University. Writing in Executive Health, Dr. Ochsner cites research showing men who smoke have sharply higher death rates from coronary artery disease than non-smokers. Male smokers between 45 and 54 years old had 3.3 times death rate as non-smokers; those 55 to 64 had 4.8 times death rate; at 65 to 74 years, smokers chances "improve," they had only about twice the death rate as non- smokers. Nicotine and carbon monoxide found in smoke are suspected heart disease culprits. Nicotine known to cause spasms of small blood vessels, may be involved in abnormal heart beating (ventricular fibrillation) and also may be a factor in arteriosclerosis. Carbon monoxide enters blood, inhibits ability to carry oxygen. Smoking also known to increase "Stickiness" of blood platelets, boosting risk of blood clots leading to coronary thrombosis. Source--Meat Board Reports, Monday June 26, 1978 ---RSS--- A- . -9- 1978-79 Steer Show Season: Steer Show chairmen should make prepara- tions to obtain identification tags and birthdates of steers for the 1978-79 Steer Show Season. Mr. Harold Herring, Gainesville Stockman's Supply Co. and Mr. John Hunt, International Minerals, will sponsor the Champion Carcass Value Award for the champion carcass from County Carcass Contests. The Champion Carcass will be selected by committee from nominees for all carcasses nominated from the County Carcass Contests. Value will be determined on the basis of quality, yield, and hot carcass weight per day of age. Carcasses nominated will be re- quired to have proof of age of the steer nominated. The Award will be presented at the 1979 Animal Science Short Course. ---RLR--- 1964 Meat Import Act: The 1964 Meat Import Act was passed to control the growth of imports of fresh, chilled, or frozen beef, veal, mutton, and goat meat. Since its implementation, voluntary restraint agreements have been negotiated in six years at or below the level at which quotas would be imposed, and on three other occasions (1972, 1973, and 1974), the President suspended quotas entirely allowing unrestricted imports. The quotas have been imposed once, in 1976. Imported meat accounts for a small share of total U.S. consumption, about 4.2 percent last year. Source--Fact Sheet on Meat Imports USDA 1636-78 ---RSS--- Current Voluntary Restraint Agreements: The negotiated voluntary restraint program for 1978 is for 1,292.3 million pounds. It includes agreements with 12 nations and an exchange of letters with Canada. Today's announcement, calls for a renegotiation of the agreements to increase this amount by 200 million pounds. the country allocations now in effect are as follows: --in million pounds-- Australia 663.5 Belize .5 Canada 76.2 Costa Rica 56.5 Dom. Republic 15.2 El Salvador 12.1 Guatemala 36.2 Haiti 2.0 Honduras 37.8 Mexico 63.1 New Zealand 272.6 Nicaragua 51.5 Panama 5.1 Source--Fact Sheet on Meat Imports USDA 1636-78 ---RSS--- -10- Economic Impacts: The economic impacts of increasing the supply of meat by 200 million pounds during the second half of the year (July- December) will not be large for either retail meat prices or cattle prices. The retail price impacts will be reflected primarily meats and the less expensive cuts such as hamburger. could be held 5 to 6 cents per pound below what they for convenience Hamburger prices would otherwise be. The net savings to consumers could be $500 million or more -- income that can be directed to other goods and services. Domestic cattle prices are not expected to be materially affected. Impacts will be largely on utility cow price which could decrease $2 to $3 per hundredweight. Source-- Fact Sheet on Meat Imports USDA 1636-78 --RSS-- U.S. Customs Service Monitorings of Meat Subject to Meat Import Law 1978. (In 1.000 lb.) Country of Origin May January May 1977 1978 1977 1978 Australia 56,048 76,345 228,730 341,700 Belize -- 38 Canada 10,293 4,333 48,018 32,692 Costa Rica 3,699 6,574 43,163 26,786 Dominican Republic 149 -- 2,089 El Salvador 567 1,623 2,423 2,851 Guatemala 2,411 2,121 12,401 12,334 Haiti 207 196 574 562 Honduras 2,553 4,387 20,837 16,687 Mexico 5,990 5,415 27,124 29,832 New Zealand 35,590 32,745 108,268 114,088 Nicaragua 2,464 6,902 23,976 25,877 Panama 201 249 2,017 384 Iceland 24 -- 25 Other -- -- 1,289 - Total 120,196 140,890 520,972 603,792 Source--Foreign Agriculture Circular US Dept. of Agriculture FLM MT 9-78 June 1978 -11- Planning the Winter Feed Supply for Beef Cattle: In some areas of the state cattlemen are ensiling corn and grain sorghum for silage. A full feed of corn silage is equivalent to six percent of body weight daily. In other words, a thousand pound cow will consume approximately 60 pounds daily. These same figures apply to grain sorghum. Ranchers should ensile at least 3.5 tons per 1000 pound cow. When allowed access to grass hay, a 1000 pound cow will consume 2.0 to 2.5 pounds per hundred pounds liveweight daily. A hundred pound cow will consume from 20 to 25 pounds daily. Ranchers should save from 3500 to 4000 pounds per 1000 pound cow. ---JEP--- Algae in Water Troughs: We have recently received a number of inquiries with regards to controlling algae in water troughs. Copper sulphate is the recommended control product. Apply at the rate of ounce per 100 gallons of water. If possible, remove cattle from pasture for several days. The troughs should be completely filled and the water supply cut off. ---JEP--- Use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of products named and does not signify approval to the exclusion of others of suitable composition. This edition of the Animal Science Newsletter edited by R. S. S d. We welcome your comments and suggestions for improving t ef 1- ness of this publication. Prepared by Extension Specialist in Animal Science. H. D. Wallace, Professor Department Chairman J. E. Pace, Professor, Extension Beef Specialist K. L. Durrance, Professor Extension Swine Specialist R. L. Reddish, Professor Extension Meat Specialist R. S. Sand, Associate Professor, Extension Livestock Specialist B. H. Crawford, Associate Professor, Extension Horse Specialist A. F. Jilek, Assistant Professor, Area Livestock Specialist, Quincy |