Weaning calves early has benefits during drought, says USDA

Weaning calves early when severe weather conditions such as drought affect cattle production has its benefits, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture studies.
Working with local ranchers, Montana State University scientists and American Simmental Association collaborators in Bozeman, Mont., animal scientist Richard Waterman at the Agricultural Research Service Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory (LARRL) evaluated the early weaning of beef calves and its impact on cow, heifer and steer performance. Calves at two locations in Montana - Judith Gap and LARRL - were weaned early at 80 days of age and at the more traditional age of 215 days. Cows that weaned a calf early weighed more and were in better body condition at the start of winter. As a result, the amount of harvested feedstuffs required for cows to maintain satisfactory body weights and condition throughout winter was reduced.
Waterman confirmed that early weaning is a viable management option, presents fewer problems and allows producers to better control their production environment. He also demonstrated that early weaning increases the likelihood that heifers will become pregnant on time in the following breeding season.
Additional studies showed that early-weaned steers reached maturity sooner than traditionally weaned steers when body weight gain, feedlot performance and carcass traits were measured. Waterman noted that management of early-weaned steers can directly impact how they grade at harvest. In some cases, early-weaned steers had poorer USDA yield grades because carcasses were too fat. However, Waterman demonstrated that producers can maximize carcass value of early-weaned steers if animals are identified before they enter the feedlot and then harvested at an earlier age.

Sodium butyrate in calf milk replacer shows positive effects

The addition of encapsulated sodium butyrate in milk replacer and prestarter has been shown to improve the performance and health of suckling calves, according to research published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Sodium butyrate increased the average daily weight gain during the first 21 days of life and avoided weight loss during the first week of life, according to the data. In addition, the sodium butyrate increased the intake of prestarter feed during the first 21 days. Calves fed sodium butyrate had longer ruminal papillae, and the rumen weight compared to the total body weight was also modified. The need for antibiotic or electrolyte therapies were reduced when butyrate was used and the treated animals had improved fecal scores, according to the research.

Iowa Beef Center offers forage testing at ISU

A forage testing project sponsored by the Iowa Beef Center (IBC) at Iowa State University (ISU) offers cow-calf producers the chance to test their forage rations.
For less than $7 per sample tested, the project offers producers a 50% cost share per sample for up to three forage samples. "This may be the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy," said ISU Extension beef program specialist Beth Doran. "This project focuses on hays and silages that have been hampered by wet weather this summer."
The project was developed to assist producers in managing rain-affected forages when developing cow rations. "Energy in the cow diet is important because calves born to thin cows are at higher risk of weak calf syndrome," said ISU Extension beef veterinarian Grant Dewell.
The testing will provide both protein and energy analyses. "The goal is a live, healthy calf," said Doran.