Cattle

Cattle Tales Livestock is a quarterly newsletter published by the University of Maryland Extension that focuses on bringing timely, relevant information to Maryland's livestock producers. Topics in this issue (May 2021, Edition 1) are: Body Condition Score is a Critical Management, Tool for Cow-Calf Producers, Determining your Pasture Stocking Rate, Getting your Herd Ready for the Breeding Season, Considerations for Improving Hay Quality, Culling considerations for beef cow-calf herd, Controlling Flies and Ticks in Your Livestock, Implanting Pre-weaned Calves, and When should I deworm my sheep/goats?

Limit feeding is the practice of feeding cattle less dry matter (DM) than they would naturally consume on their own if given ad libitum (unlimited) access to a forage diet (hay, silage, etc.). Limit feeding can result in improvements in feed efficiency, or feed: gain (F:G), as well as result in less manure production. Both of these factors can help to decrease the cost of gain (COG) for growing calves, or the cost to the producer to grow one pound of live animal weight. Such management is especially useful this year, as grain prices are much higher than years past. Limit feeding slows the rate of passage in the gut of the animal, allowing the ruminal microbes to better digest feedstuffs.

What is bloat and why does it occur? The rumen is the largest compartment of the ruminant stomach and is home to a host of microbes, such as bacteria, protozoa, and fungi, which break down feeds through a process called microbial fermentation. This fermentation process allows ruminants to digest and utilize fibrous plant products that cannot be utilized by other species. While the main products of microbial fermentation are fatty acids that can then be utilized by the animal to support energy and protein metabolism, gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, and ammonia, are also produced as byproducts. The majority of these gases are normally released from the rumen through a process called eructation, or belching. Bloat occurs when these gases become trapped in the rumen, resulting in ruminal expansion that puts pressure on the lungs, prevents appropriate respiration, and, if severe, can lead to death.

Although the weather has been unseasonably cool through April and May, it’s not too early to start thinking about fly control.  There are three major types of flies with economic significance to the U.S. beef and dairy industries.  These include horn flies, face flies, and stable flies. Often, a combination of fly control measures will be the most effective.  If one method does not seem to be working, double check to make sure that it is the right approach for the type of flies you see on your cattle.  Make sure the proper dose of insecticide is being administered to the animals at each application.  Furthermore, implement cleaning procedures to regularly remove decaying organic matter from sacrifice or feeding areas. 

How many animals will my pasture support? This is a common question, especially for the first-time livestock producer. Unfortunately, it is a complex and often difficult question to be answered.

Producers should make culling decisions based on what is best for their farm’s profitability and what is best for animal well-being. In short, market cattle while they are in a condition that processors prefer before they become a transportation risk and their value declines.

Managing the nutritional status of cows is one of the cornerstones for a successful and profitable cow-calf operation.  It is important to pay attention to a cow’s nutritional status to ensure that she is 1) able to produce sufficient quantities of milk to grow her calf; 2) ready to conceive during breeding season a few months after calving; and 3) capable of sustaining that pregnancy to generate another healthy calf.  One of the best and most informative tools that can be used to evaluate the nutritional status of animals is body condition scoring. 

Fly and tick season is here, unfortunately. But there are management methods, both chemical and environmental, that will help you better control both the fly and tick populations that are going to try and wreak havoc with your livestock. Generally, in a pasture-based setting, chemical control of flies and ticks is going to be more effective than most environmental management strategies, though an integrated approach of both is recommended.

The overall goal for a seasonal cow-calf operation should be to have cows calve roughly every 365 days (or once per year). Some management tools, such as estrous synchronization programs, can be used to complement good nutrition and herd health management to enhance reproductive success.