Schedule of Events- Fall 2011

September 5- Labor Day; State/County Holiday- Extension office will be closed

September 10- Greene County Goat Show; part of the Carolina Youth Meat Goat Circuit.  Call Eve to register by September 8.  Spectators welcome.

September 23 & 24- Lenoir County Fair Youth Livestock Shows at Lenoir County Fairgrounds.  Registration deadline September 21.

October 13-23- North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh

October 29- NC Sweet Potato Festival, Snow Hill; Chicken and Rabbit Show 10 am

November 5 - Equine Dentistry Educational Series and Clinic at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension office between 6:00 pm and 8:000 pm.  To register, contact Craven County Cooperative Extension at (252) 633-1477

November 11- Veterans Day- State/County holiday- Extension Office will be closed.

November 17 – Southeast Regional Pork Conference; Lenoir County Extension office.   Call 252-527-2191 to pre-register.  Registration fee is $5 per person. You will receive 6 hours of CEC and a delicious meal.

Getting your Goats Ready for the Breeding Season

Submitted by Margaret Bell, Livestock Agent-Jones & Craven County

Written by: Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, NCSU

Extension Sheep and Goat Specialist

Breeding is a very important aspect of any meat goat operation. But, preparing the breeding does and buck(s) for the breeding season could have a large influence on the outcome and the profitability of the operation. 

Will body condition influence breeding success?

As the breeding season approaches, producers should be concerned with the body condition of their breeding does. Goat should not be allowed to become too thin or too fat. Failure in reproduction, low twinning rates and low weaning rates will result if does are too thin. Overly fat does can suffer from pregnancy toxemia, but fat does are rarely a problem.

The term body condition refers to the fleshing of an animal. Simply looking at an animal can easily be misleading. Rather, animals should be touched. The easiest area to feel and touch to determine the body condition of an animal are the rib areas, on either side of the spine, by running a hand over those areas and pressing down with a few fingers. In doing so, one is able to determine the amount of fat covering the ribs. In general, does in good condition will have a fat thickness of not more than 0.03 to 0.05 inches over the backbone. Other areas to monitor are the shoulders, the tail heads, the pins, the hooks, the edge of the loins and the backbone. Practice makes perfect, thus use your animals to get a feel for it. An easy way to start is to select a few animals that are over conditioned and some others that are thin to get a feel for extreme body condition. Then introduce a small group of animals and compare their body to the animals having extreme body condition. Producers should develop an eye and a touch for the condition of their animals and strive to maintain a moderate amount of condition on their goats.

One should also be concerned with the body condition of the breeding bucks. If bucks are overfed and become too fat, they may have no desire to breed does. Because of the increased activity and decreased feed intake during the breeding season, breeding bucks will most probably lose weight. Therefore, they need to be in good body condition and physical shape before the season starts.

Body condition is also used to determine whether flushing will be of benefit to breeding does. Flushing means increasing the level of feed offered to breeding does, mostly energy, starting about one month prior to the introduction of the bucks. By increasing the amount of feed offered, does will put on weight. This in turn will signal to the body that the doe can afford to raise several kids and ovulation rate and litter size will increase. Increasing the level of energy offered to does should continue throughout the breeding season and for approximately 30 to 40 days after removing the bucks for adequate implantation of the fetuses in the uterus. Does in extremely good body condition will tend not to respond to flushing. On the other hand, does that are in relatively poor condition, that is on the thin side, as a result of summer pastures of poor quality, high worm loads, late kidding of twins or triplets, will respond favorably to flushing by improving their body condition.

Flushing can be accomplished by moving breeding does to a lush nutritious pasture 3 to 4 weeks prior to the introduction of the bucks. This cost-effective flushing method or “feed flush” or “green flush” is underutilized in the Southeast where forage is abundant. Another method is feeding ½ lb/day of a high energy supplement. Corn is the grain of choice for flushing; whole cottonseed is another low cost, high energy supplement. The goal being to increase the intake and body weight, breeding does should be grouped according to their body condition and fed accordingly to first improve their body condition, then to maintain it.

What other measures will increase reproductive performance?

Several other important measures will affect breeding indirectly, such as trimming feet, the grouping of animals, deworming, using the “buck effect” to synchronize does, and vaccination.

1. Trimming feet. Feet and legs should be examined closely for sores, overgrown hooves and sources of strange smells that could be associated with infections or foot rot. Start trimming the feet of your animals several weeks before the breeding season to make sure that they will be in top shape during that period of increased activity. The buck in particular will cover a lot of territory. A lame buck will cover does only sporadically, or might give up altogether. Similarly, limping does may not let bucks breed them.

2. Grouping of animals. Goats are very social animals and should be grouped together several weeks before the breeding season so that the pecking order of the animals is established. Forming groups just prior the breeding season will disrupt the pecking order of the animals. The fighting that will ensue to establish a new pecking order within the newly-formed groups will be a source of stress and will influence reproductive performance.

Young does should have reached approximately 70 to 75% of their estimated mature body weight to be bred successfully without adversely affecting their mature size.

3. Deworming the breeding does and the buck(s) before the start of the breeding season is an important management tool. If flushing is planned, it is advisable to deworm prior to flushing. Wormy does will not increase their body condition during the flushing period and therefore flushing may not increase ovulation rate. In addition, wormy does will not breed well or may not breed at all, or may conceive and abort later.

4. The “buck effect”.

Keeping the does away from bucks is important in the development of sound breeding programs that should be paralleled with feed resources and market demands. The best approach to separate does from bucks is to develop a secure buck pasture. The buck pasture should be far enough from the breeding doe herd, otherwise scent emitted by glands located behind the base of the bucks' horns will induce estrous in does. Due to this "buck effect" does will come into heat approximately 7 to 10 days after the introduction of the buck. It is a good strategy to use to naturally synchronize breeding does at the start of the breeding season.

5. Vaccination. Although some producers have had no problems so far without implementing a vaccination program, it is recommended that goats be vaccinated against overeating disease (enterotoxemia) and tetanus prior to the start of the breeding season.

Is the buck ready for breeding?

Bucks may be easily overlooked but one cannot assume that they are reproductively sound.  A buck that was sound one year may not be the next. The results of using a reproductively unsound buck will be reduced kidding rates and profits. It is a good idea to watch bucks for normal urination and also for signs of sexual behavior as the breeding season approaches. For a more thorough breeding evaluation, immobilize the buck and examine the testes. They should be roughly the same size, fairly firm to the touch and devoid of lumps. The presence of testicular abnormalities could indicate that the buck is unsound for breeding. Next, examine the sheath (also called the prepuce) and the penis if you can protrude it. It requires some experience to push the prepuce down to reveal the penis. The penis should be checked for sores and the pizzle (the thin worm-like process at the end of the penis) should not be hard anywhere. The presence of hard, small lumps could be an indication of urinary stones (a condition also called urinary calculi). A buck suspected of reproductive problems, whether in its testes or any part of the penis, should be examined by a veterinarian before allowing it to breed does.

Don’t Wait Too Late For Your Winter Pasture

 by: Emily Herring- Pender County Livestock Agent

            As of right now, the last thing on everyone’s mind is winter pastures with the warm days and the warm nights that seem to follow.  But now is the perfect time to prepare your pastures for the winter.  The importance of a winter pasture is going to be even more important this winter due to the drought we have experienced this summer.  Local hay is going to be short and the need to sustain your own animals will be greater. 

         For this article, the focus will be on winter annual ryegrass with the best dates being September 1- September 30, and the possible dates being September 1- October 31.  But first things first, be sure to take representative soil sample of the field you want to seed/overseed with ryegrass and get that sent off to the lab for results as soon as possible. OR if you have taken a soil sample within the last three years those results can be utilized for gaining information about the pH.  The recommended pH level for winter ryegrass is 6.5 which is the same as Bermuda and Fescue.  The pH is the most important part of the equation when establishing pastures of any kind.  Once this is completed and the results come back, apply the nutrients as the soil test indicates.  Keep in mind if you are using an old soil test report and you have already applied lime at the recommended rates then lime may not be necessary and the other nutrients may not be the same for ryegrass as for other grasses. 

         Next, decide on the ryegrass seed that you want to plant.  While at the store deciding on the different seed, be sure to look at the label on the seed bag for germination rate, percent of the desired seed, inert matter, and weed seed.  Compare the different varieties of seeds based on those seed labels to make a logical decision on the right choice based on high germination rate, high desired seed, and low inert matter and weed seed.

         Getting the field (seedbed) ready to plant should be the next step.  If there is a substantial amount of yield left on the perennial summer pasture be sure to graze it down to keep other grass competition down when seeding with ryegrass.  If

grazing is not an option, mowing the perennial summer pasture down is another way.  By doing either one of these methods it’s called overseeding and it’s a good option to keep a warm season stand of grass while utilizing the land for winter grazing.  If overseeding is your preferred method, then seeding by a grain drill will be the most beneficial way of establishment.  When deciding on having a pasture that is solely ryegrass (no other grass being present, like Bermuda) then total elimination of weeds will be necessary by applying roundup (glyphosate) at the recommended rates on the label for the weeds being controlled.  Getting the seedbed prepared will be necessary by lightly disking and lightly packing the soil back.  After this is completed, then broadcasting seed can take place with a light drag to cover the seed.  When dragging over the seed keep in mind the seedbed needs to be clean and free of debris because it can cause more soil to cover the seed therefore making the chances of germination lower.  

 After deciding on the ryegrass and getting the field prepared, plant at the recommended seeding rates of 30-40 pounds per acre when broadcasting it and at 20-30 pounds per acre when drilling.  The planting depth should be at only ¼ inch to ½ inch deep.  Good seed-soil contact needs to be met when planting ryegrass but special care needs to be taken to make sure the seed is not too deep.  The most common problem seen when trying to establish pastures is planting depth and planting hen the soil is too dry.  Adequate moisture needs to be in the soil when planting any type of seed. 

When the ryegrass is getting established, keep livestock/horses off of it until it reaches 6-10inches in height and then grazing can be allowed until ryegrass is 3-4 inches in height.  When this level is met animals should be moved off the pasture to another area and fertilization with nitrogen is required for optimum re-growth.  If overgrazed more than 3-4 inches, then grazing on the pasture will be a one time occurrence and money will be wasted. The total amount of nitrogen in the entire growing season is 80-100 pounds per acre so split applications of nitrogen after each grazing segment should not amount to more than 100 pounds at the end of the life cycle of the plant (until April). 

Don’t wait too long to get your winter annual pastures established, remember the possible recommended dates for planting annual ryegrass is September 1^st until October 31^st.  Waiting too late into the fall can affect yields greatly and reduce the chances of a stand. 

Understanding the New Swine Transportation Law

by Eileen A. Coite, Wayne County

Have you heard of House Bill 432, better known as the “Transportation of Swine”?  If you produce and market swine in North Carolina, and transport hogs on public roads, you will want to be familiar with the details of this new law as of June 27^th, 2011.  The law takes effect October 1, 2011, and will very likely be a concern of some small and mid-sized swine producers.

Most producers identify all animals on their farm with some form of identification, whether an ear tag, tattoo, ear notch, or combination of these.  However, after October 1, each animal that is transported either to another farm or a processing facility must be identified with a method approved by the State Veterinarian.  Producers are invited to give input to determine which methods will meet requirements of the law, but also be of little hassle, cost, and inconvenience to them.  In fact, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division will be providing tags for identification, free to producers. Producers may contact the NCDA office to order these tags.  

What has caused the need for this legislation?  Feral swine is the sole purpose for this law.  This new law is not intended to trace animals back to a particular farm, but is only intended to distinguish between domestic and feral swine. Feral swine have become a major problem in North Carolina, and identification of domestic swine is critical to identifying those that are transporting feral hogs. 

It is important to note that even though the law is in effect October 1, 2011, the State Veterinarian’s office will be using this first year to educate producers and not penalize those unaware.  However, anyone that is found blatantly conducting illegal activity and transporting feral swine will be fined, at a rate of $5000 per feral hog being moved.  This is why identification is so critical.  

For more information on the Swine Transportation Law, to order tags, or give input to the State Veterinarian’s office, producers are asked to call 919-733-7601 and ask for someone in the livestock section.  Additionally, producers may be added to an email distribution list to stay in tune to any changes, notices and items of interest with regard to this law.  Anyone interested should send an email to Joe.Web@ncagr.gov and request to be added to the “swine ID distribution list”. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission can give details on trapping and/or hunting feral swine, which is legal for anyone with a hunting license.  For more information on this, please contact the NCWR Commission or visit http://www.ncwildlife.org/hunting/index.htm

Fecal Egg Counting Service Available

by Eve Honeycutt, Lenoir & Greene Counties

For those producers who are battling drug resistant parasites on their farm, or if you just want to know whether or not you need to de-worm your animals, I will now offer fecal egg counting as a free service at the Extension office. 

 All you have to do is collect a fresh sample of manure- less than 30 minutes old.  Use a plastic zip-top bag to collect the sample and bring it to the Extension office.  If you can't get to the office right away, refrigerate the sample and bring it to the office as cool as possible without freezing.  I can perform the fecal egg counts at your convenience, in less than 30 minutes.  Knowing your worm load before you use a chemical de-wormer can help you determine if you need to de-worm at all, or help you choose the best product. 

If you are planning to bring a sample, please call me at least one day in advance to check my schedule and make sure I will be in the office that is most convenient for you.

Common Cattle Diseases and Treatments

By Eve H. Honeycutt

Extension Livestock Agent, Lenoir and Greene Counties

There are many common cattle diseases that occur in eastern North Carolina cow/calf herds.  Below is a discussion of two of these diseases, possible treatments, and advice on veterinary care.

PINKEYE

Pinkeye is one of the most common diseases in cattle.  It can affect all ages of cattle and it is highly contagious.  Multiple strains of bacteria can cause the disease, and it can be difficult to determine which one is the culprit in your herd.  In the early stages of pinkeye, the animal will be very sensitive to light, and you may see a bluish spot on the lens of the eye, followed by watery discharge.  Once the animal has pinkeye, it will be bothered easily by vectors such as flies, dust, and tall grass seedheads. 

Treating Pinkeye:

Pinkeye can be treated with over the counter medication such as LA-200 or penicillin.  If these treatments do not improve the eye, a vet should tend to the eye in order for the animal to recover.  Over the counter treatments or home remedies that involve powder, sprays, or salt should not be used due to the irritating nature of these products.  Cancer eye should not be confused with pinkeye, since cancer eye is much more serious and usually is first noticed by lumps or bumps growing around the eye.  Animals with cancer eye or pinkeye should not be taken to a stockyard in order to safeguard the human food supply and prevent other animals from contracting the diseases. 

CALF DIARRHEA/SCOURS

Calf scours is one of the most common diseases in newborn calves.  Contrary to popular belief, it is impossible to tell what bacteria is affecting the animal based solely on the color of the feces.  However, a good guess can be made about the possible bacteria present based on other factors.  If the scours occurs in a calf less than 10 days old, the bacteria present is probably E. Coli, Rotavirus, or Coronavirus.  Cryptosporidium is a protozoa that can cause scours in calves at 5-35 days of age.  Salmonella is severe bloody diarrhea and a high body temperature.  Calves less than 21 days old will not be troubled by Coccidia because of the incubation period of the disease in the calf’s body.  When treating calf scours, it is important for the animal to continue to drink (or be forced to drink) milk to prevent further dehydration and provide adequate nutrition.  Because of the diarrhea, metabolic acidosis may occur which will cause the animal to breathe heavily.  If the calf is lying on the ground and willing to accept your intervention, then it should be treated.  If the animal readily gets up to follow its mother, even with diarrhea, then it will most likely recover quickly.

Treating Calf Scours (Clell V. Bagley, DVM, Extension Veterinarian, Utah State University):

There are a variety of fluid and electrolyte formulas available and most will work to some extent. Consult with your veterinarian about his choice and why. If the products are not working, re-evaluate with him again. Some formulas also contain a gel substance which helps to add bulk and may absorb some toxins (poisons) from the gut. Most calves with scours tend to be acidotic (their system is too acid). It will help these calves to receive electrolytes that are alkaline (basic) in nature for 24–36 hours. After that they should be changed to non-alkaline electrolytes.

If being used with or near milk feeding, an acetate form should be used. If this is not a problem them bicarbonate or lactate can be used. The use of systemic antibiotics by injection may also be of benefit if a bacterial infection has become generalized in the calf’s body. The major problem encountered in treatment with fluids and electrolytes is that producers give too little, too late. Plan to give 2 qts., 2–4 times per day. Determine the frequency of treatment needed by the amount of dehydration present; this is evidenced by sinking of the eyes and elasticity of skin on the neck and withers. Don’t mix the fluid and electrolytes with milk; that prevents curd formation and the milk is then of no benefit. If you are feeding milk, wait for 15–20 minutes before giving the fluid and electrolytes.

Irrigation Guidelines for Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, and Flood Watches

All farms covered under a permit in North Carolina need to be aware of the regulations you are expected to abide by as a tropical weather system approaches.  Your permit states in Section II.22:

"Land application of waste shall cease within four (4) hours of the time that the National Weather Service issues a Hurricane Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, or a Flood Watch associated with a tropical system including a hurricane, tropical storm, or tropical depression for the county in which the permitted facility is located.  Watches and warnings are posted on the National Weather Service's website located at: www.weather.gov"

You can also call the National Weather Service office that serves our area.  For Lenoir and Greene Counties, it is the office in Newport/Morehead City.  The phone number is 252-223-5737.  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Found in Eastern North Carolina

North Carolina’s Office of the State Veterinarian and the Center for Disease Control were notified August 18^th that one horse in eastern North Carolina had tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE).  Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of all members of the equine species.  EEE is classified as a zoonotic disease, meaning humans may also contract the disease.  Healthy adults who contract EEE may show flu-like symptoms including high fever and headaches, while older adults and children may become severely ill.  Death may result in cases involving both equine and humans.  The equine mortality rate due to EEE ranges from 75 to 90 percent.

Equine infected with EEE may show signs that include fever, depression, loss of appetite, irritability, weakness, excitability,  central nervous system disorders (ie. circling, lack of coordination, head pressing, the tell-tale “saw horse” stance, sensitivity to light, and blindness).  In rare instances, horses have been known to show no signs of the disease prior to death.

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis is spread when a mosquito feeds on an infected horse, then moves on to a healthy horse.  Dr. Ray, Director of Livestock Health Programs for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Veterinary Division noted that in many years we would have had one or more cases of the disease prior to early August and, that recent rains following drought conditions in eastern North Carolina may be partially responsible for the presence of the disease.

The best way to protect your equine against EEE is to keep their vaccinations up-to-date.  Work with your veterinarian to be sure your horses are vaccinated annually.  In addition, measures to limit mosquito populations will help decrease spread of the disease.  It is also important that horse owners report to a veterinarian, any cases in which signs of EEE are observed.  While a few cases of the disease are reported in North Carolina annually, it is thought that many more cases go unreported.  Reporting any suspicious signs to your veterinarian may save other equine and possibly human lives.

Do you have the right driver’s license?

Eileen Coite, Livestock Agent, Wayne County

Having the right type of driver’s license and tags on your vehicles sounds simple enough, but is it?  I often find that things are not always as easy as it would seem, and sometimes just as we think we know the laws, there is a change.  I originally wrote this article a couple of years ago, but a few things have changed and I have heard that the state highway patrol have been more frequently stopping drivers hauling livestock and other agricultural commodities, so it might be a good time to review our driving rules for pulling livestock and horse trailers. 

The bottom line on licenses to pull trailers is to know the weight of your trailer.  Every trailer (and vehicle) has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVRW) listed on the body of the vehicle.  Look for a small metal plate on the front end or side of your trailer which lists all specifications, including the GVRW.  For regular passenger vehicles, a class C regular license will suffice.  According to the DMV, a class C license allows you to “operate any combination of noncommercial motor vehicles that have a GVRW of more than 10,000 pounds and less than 26,001 pounds, as long as the driver is 18 years of age or older”.  Furthermore, according to the DMV “most drivers need only a Regular C license to operate personal automobiles and small trucks.”  So, if your horse or livestock trailer is rated with a GVRW which is less than 10,000 pounds, you are fine with a class C license. Most small livestock and horse trailers fall into this category, such as a two horse tag-a-long or even some aluminum goosenecks.  If it’s over this weight, read on.  

There are two other classes of “regular” licenses.  These are a Class A and Class B.  The only real difference between the two of these is that the Class A is for any vehicle towing a vehicle of 10,000 pounds or more and the Class B is for a vehicle that weighs 26,001 pounds or more.  Most truck/trailer combinations with a trailer over 10,000 pounds would require a Class A license, since small or passenger trucks weigh less than 26,001 pounds.  If you have a large or long bodied horse or livestock trailer, you most likely will need a Class A license to haul. Occasionally, horse or livestock owners have been stopped and asked to see their license, and some have had to find drivers to get their rig back home!  Don’t let this happen to you. Check your trailer now and make sure you are in compliance. 

Another thing to consider is vehicle tags.  In addition to having the correct license, most vehicles must have a weighted tag if hauling a trailer or carrying weight that goes over 7000 pounds.  So, if you are hauling a livestock or horse trailer, you will need weighted tags, or possibly farm tags, and should weigh your loaded trailer to know how much weight you are pulling and how much to have registered for your tags.  Farm tags are only offered if you can document that your vehicle is used for farming as your source of income.  There is an official form with questions that must be submitted to qualify for farm tags.  Finally, make sure to give your trailer a good overall inspection.  Checking the brakes, the floor, and lights is critical. Especially if you are ever hauling after dark, all lights should be operational and I’ve been told that just one non-functional light could cause problems if you are stopped.  In fact, if your trailer has a gross weight of over 4000 pounds it also needs a yearly state inspection, so that might be something else to check into.

Much of the information I have provided here can be viewed at the NC Division of Motor Vehicles website, at www.ncdot.org. Otherwise, contact the closest DMV office for questions you may have.

Updated Publication for Calibration of Stationary and Traveling Systems

By: Emily Herring- Livestock Agent –Pender County, Publication courtesy of NCSU, AG-553-09 and Amanda Hatcher, Duplin County Livestock Agent

North Carolina State University has released an updated version of “Calibration and Uniformity Assessment for Animal Wastewater Application Equipment” to give updated information on hard hose travelers and solid set systems.  Irrigation systems wear and develop buildup, therefore affects their performance, both from an irrigation standpoint and from an economic standpoint.  Calibrations are required once every two years for swine facilities in North Carolina with a state general permit and required once a year for swine facilities with an NPDES permit.

Here’s a summary of things to keep in mind before starting a calibration:

·      A manufacturer’s chart for your system’s sprinkler and nozzle combination is needed for your irrigation design or wetted acreage determination.

·      Perform calibrations during periods of no to very light wind (less than 5 mph).

·      Check wetted diameter and flow pressure under periods of normal pressure.

Equipment needed to complete a calibration:

1.     Pressure gauge, either a mounted gauge or a handheld with pitot tube. (Which will cost roughly $38.00 offline.)

2.     Flow meter with in-line adapters IF field-measured nozzle pressure and manufacture’s charts will not be used to obtain flow rate.

3.     Measuring tape, 200-300 feet or wheel. (A measuring tape will cost roughly $25 offline.)

4.     Flags for checking wetted diameter. (Roughly $5 for a set of flags.)

5.     Caliper for measuring nozzle size. (Roughly costs $10.)

6.     Calibration forms for recording measurements.  These can be found at your local Extension Office.

For hard-hose travelers and stationary systems (solid sets), the following steps are needed:

1.     Measure the nozzle size of traveler guns.

2.     Measure pressure at the nozzle or sprinkler.

3.     Measure the wetted diameter of the nozzle or sprinkler.

4.     Measure the flow rate.

5.     Compare the measured pressure, wetted diameter, and flow rate against the manufacturer’s chart, irrigation design documents, and/or the wetted acreage determination.

Although the rain gauge method that was once needed every three years is not required now to determine uniformity, sprinkler spacing (or lane spacing for travelers) must be within design specifications and pressure must be within the ranges provided by manufacturer (Liu, 2009; 9^th SB 1217 Guidance Document, North Carolina 1217 Interagency Group, 2009).  To check for uniformity:

1.     Compare field-measured wetted diameter and pressure to manufacturer’s charts.

2.     Calculate the sprinkle or lane spacing as a percentage of field-measured wetted diameter to determine if spacing falls in the recommended range.

Field data sheets at the end of the publication help calibrations to go more smoothly.  If you would like to receive a copy of this publication contact or if you have any questions about calibrations, contact your County Extension Agent.  For a total estimated onetime cost of the equipment needed to do a calibration at the most roughly being $78 it would be a good way to save money on the farm versus paying a company to do it. 

Hardware Disease In Cattle

By: Margaret A. Bell, Livestock Agent – Craven & Jones Counties

Adapted from: ‘Hardware Disease in Cattle’ from Michigan Extension

Have you ever heard of Hardware Disease? Did you know that it could cause serious problems with your cattle’s health? Hardware Disease is when some type of sharp objet pierces the wall of the stomach and then has access to the heart. Then the object may pierce the heart sac causing even more problems.

So, what symptoms will your cows have if they have Hardware Disease? They will be depressed, have a poor appetite and will most likely be reluctant to move. Cattle may also have indigestion, or show signs of bloat. These symptoms may disappear but will most likely show back up within the next seven days. If you suspect Hardware Disease in your cow and the animal is slaughtered, it is possible to find a wire of nail that is poking through the reticulum wall. A cow has four compartments to its stomach and the reticulum is one of those four compartments.

What type of treatment is there for Hardware Disease? Treatment for this disease varies from animal to animal. If the animal is extremely valuable, you may consult with your veterinarian to see if a rumenotomy is recommended. This is when your veterinarian approaches the problem surgically to the reticulum. Also, they may palpate the area to verify a foreign object or some type of adhesions. If any object is found, it is possible for your veterinarian to make an incision into the wall of the animal’s ruminal wall and manually remove the object. Much care are needed with all of the above options, so please consult with your veterinarian and make sure you have a good patient – client – veterinarian relationship. Another option in a case where the animal is not exceptionally valuable would be to slaughter the animal and try to diagnose the problem that way and use it as an example for future possible cases of Hardware Disease in your herd.

As for prevention, a popular way routine is to use magnets in the reticulum. As with other procedures, it is recommended you ask your veterinarian to perform this procedure. The goal of the magnet is that it simply keeps foreign objects that are metallic and they will adhere together in a ball. This will reduce the chances that this object will penetrate the reticulum wall causing major medical problems.

The prognosis of Hardware Disease varies due to several factors. The main factor is how much infection is present and how long the animal has had the foreign object. However, if this is caught early enough, sometimes it can be fixed and the animal will live a normal life after.

Supplementing Cattle on Drought-affected Pastures

Submitted by Eve H. Honeycutt, Livestock Agent, Lenoir and Greene Counties

 Adapted from an article by Greg Lardy, Extension Beef Specialist, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, North Dakota State University

As I write this, it is too early to tell if the recent rain will do enough to improve the effects of the recent dry, hot weather on our forage crops.  With any luck, there will be more rain in the near future to increase soil moisture and forage yield.  But just in case, I thought some good information about drought affected pastures would benefit those of you with grazing animals.  Cattle producers generally have two main options for meeting the nutrient requirements of cattle on drought affected pastures and ranges. The first is to provide supplemental feed to ensure the cow herd has adequate energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The second is to reduce the nutrient requirements of the cow to a point where they can be met with available forage.

Drought-affected pastures generally do not produce adequate forage to maintain "normal" stocking rates, so producers must provide supplemental energy to meet the needs of the cow herd. Pastures that are dormant due to drought conditions may be low in vitamin A, phosphorus, and protein.  Meeting the need for these nutrients is important if cow herd productivity is to be maintained.  Reductions in stocking rate will benefit plants by reducing stress and will also provide more forage for the remaining cattle. When stocking rates are reduced in accordance with production, only small effects on weaning weight may be noted.

Providing Supplemental Feeds During a Drought

Minerals. Provide the same salt and mineral mixture during drought as you would during normal conditions. However, during drought phosphorus supplementation is critical.  A mixture of 50 percent trace mineralized salt and 50 percent dicalcium phosphate supplied free choice to the cow herd will meet the phosphorus requirement. The salt mixture should be placed close to stock watering locations.

Vitamin A. Lack of vitamin A may be a problem during fall and winter for cows that grazed drought-affected pastures during summer. Vitamin A is lacking in forages during drought and hay produced from drought-affected forages. Cows should receive vitamin A and D booster shots approximately 30 days prior to calving and their calves should receive vitamin A and D at birth.

Protein. Pastures dormant due to drought conditions may be deficient in protein. If these conditions occur during the breeding season, reductions in pregnancy rate can occur. Provide dry cows with approximately 0.5 to 0.75 pounds of supplemental crude protein and lactating cows with 0.9 to 1.2 pounds of supplemental crude protein per day. This can be fed as approximately 1 to 1.5 pounds of soybean meal for dry cows and 2 to 2.5 pounds of soybean meal for lactating cows. Protein supplementation may be necessary for optimum breeding rates during drought conditions. Alfalfa hay, sunflower meal, safflower meal, as well as other protein meals may also be used as protein supplements.

Energy. Since forage production is generally limited during a drought, energy may be the most limiting nutrient for grazing cattle. Several options are available for supplying energy to cattle on drought-stressed pasture. Hay, grain, and crop processing byproducts can all be used to supply energy to grazing cattle.

Grain processing coproducts, such as wheat midds, soyhulls, barley malt sprouts, beet pulp, and corn gluten feed, which contain highly digestible fiber provide energy while alleviating much of the negative impact that grain supplementation has on fiber digestibility. In addition, these byproducts provide protein which may also be limiting in drought-stressed forages.

Drylot Feeding. If pasture conditions are extremely poor, producers may consider feeding cows in drylot. This may be more cost effective than supplementation if large amounts of supplement must be transported and fed to cows daily. In addition, it may allow pastures a much needed rest period to begin recovering from the drought.

Weaning Lambs and Kids

submitted by 

Emily Herring- Livestock Agent, Pender County ,Adapted from Susan Schoenian, Weaning Primer http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/weaning.html

           

     Weaning is the act of taking milk away from an animal’s diet and is replaced by another form of feed that will become its main source of nutrition.  A producer decides on whether to wean early which is less than 90 days or late which is longer than 90 days.  Early or late weaning, either way, weaning is an important part of any farmer’s management plan.  There is no magic time to wean, therefore weaning needs to be based on the circumstances and production system that is in place on the farm.  The factors to consider  when weaning is age, breeding season, parasite problems, the market, facilities, labor, and forage ability on the farm.   It is better to wean kids when they are 2 to 2.5 times their birth weight, and lambs when they are 2.5 to 3 times their birth weight. 

Late weaning is also referred to as the doe or ewe weaning the young naturally.    An operation that is only kidding once a year with the lack of labor being a major problem then late weaning maybe the best option to employ for that farm.  The lambs and kids will continue to keep nursing until the doe or ewe’s body slows down production of milk and then that forces the young to go elsewhere to find food to forage on.  When the lambs/kids stop nursing then the doe/ewe will stop producing milk. The longer the kid/lamb is on the doe/ewe then in general the poorer the body condition of that mother will become over time due to the extra work she has to do maintain herself and a large, growing lamb/kid.   The risk of mastitis is much less.  Late weaning usually allows producers to take advantage of their forage to finish their lambs and kids. Pasture is the cheapest form of feed much more economical than hay and grain diets.  Management is simpler, as females and offspring can be maintained in a single group for a longer period of time.  But there is an increased risk of infection of parasites to the kids/lambs and more of an increased competition for forages between the older mothers and their young.

Early weaning is a desired management practice for producers who are in the sheep and/or goats as a business with breeds who have a high genetic potential for growth.  It takes the burden off of high-producing females making them less stressed and helps them return to a more ideal body condition for breeding sooner.  It has been noted there is less risk of parasites when lambs/kids are weaned early and fed in a dry lot.  When considering your pocket book, it is less expensive to feed lambs/kids than the dams with their offspring if you have to feed grain and hay. There is a greater risk of mastitis in the dams because they may still be in peak milking production time.  Early weaning causes a higher stress level in both the young as well as he dams and requires a higher level of management from the farmer.  Lambs and kids weaned early are usually finished on hay and or grain diets and are normally creep fed. 

  Weaning is a stressful time for the animals; therefore, take special care to make the process easier for them.  Creep feeding is a suggested practice to help reduce the stress level in the kids/lambs when they are weaned early.  When weaning, keep the young within their groups in familiar surroundings to reduce their stress and remove the dams.  Be sure not to change the diets of the young two weeks before or after weaning, this would upset their system and allow the incidence of disease to set in quicker when weaning.  Cocciodiostats should be given to the kids/lambs in their feed, mineral, or water before and after weaning because coccidoiosis is a serious concern for the young during this stressful time.  If the lambs are weaned early, their first vaccination for overeating disease and tetanus  (CD-T) should be given two weeks before weaning and then again four weeks after the first initial vaccine.  Early weaned does/ewes should be fed lower quality feeds and forages to help decrease her milking production before weaning time.  This helps her prevent mastitis and it is a huge no-no to allow newly weaned mothers to graze or have access to a beautiful lush pasture, this increases their risk of getting mastitis in their udder.

Spring Planting Considerations

submitted by

Margaret Bell, Extension Livestock Agent, Craven and Jones Counties

Over the years, most livestock owners have acknowledged crabgrass as a weed. Now, however, we are realizing the great nutritional value it has to certain animals, especially horses. As for the new herbicide product labeled just this past year, Metsulfuron Methyl & Nicosulfuron (Pastora), brings about quite the mountain of questions as well. In this article, we will discuss a few of the common misconceptions about both and discuss good planting options for the spring season.

     Crabgrass has a lot of advantages. Here are some facts you need to know if you want to plant crabgrass. It is very cheap and grows well in areas that drain appropriately. For crabgrass to get its optimum growth, air temperature needs to be between 85 and 95 degrees because it is a warm season grass. It will not grow very much when the temperature is below 60 degrees. Also, warm season grasses are more tolerant to moisture stress than cool season grasses. For the coastal plain, crabgrass needs to be planted from April to May 15. Make sure you plant only about ¼ of an inch deep as crabgrass is very sensitive to how deep or shallow it is planted. You will need about 3 – 4 pounds of seed per acre.

            As for Pastora, you need to do your research since it is such a new product. It is labeled for chemical weed control in hay crops and pastures in coastal bermudagrass (as found on the label): suppresses large crabgrass and goose grass, controls barnyard grass, broadleaf signal grass, foxtail species, Johnson grass up to 18 inches, panicum species, Italian ryegrass, sandbur, volunteer cereals, Pensacola Bahia grass, wild garlic, and many broadleaf weeds such as bitter sneezeweed, buttercup, geranium, chickweed, curly dock, dandelion, dog fennel, henbit, horseweed, jimsonweed, lambs quarters, morning-glory, pigweed, plantain, smartweed, and wild mustard. Consult with your local livestock agent for formulation amounts and how to properly apply these chemicals. Don’t forget to use a surfactant if the product calls for it. There are not any hay or grazing restrictions for Pastora use and it provides post emergent grass weed control. It also provides pre and post emergent broadleaf weed control. You should only apply it to established bermudagrass pastures and you could potentially injure your crop if you treat new growth more than two inches or after seven days following harvest. 

            Other spring planting considerations include taking a soil sample and sending it to North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s lab to be analyzed. Although right now is the busy time of the year for the lab, you can always take a sample and have the information to work with next year. They will send you an analysis and give you recommendations based on your soil type and what you want to plant. It is important to follow the recommendations of a soil analysis to ensure you are properly preparing your pastures for planting. If you would like to learn how to take a soil sample, like to pick up free soil sample kits, or would like to discuss the advantages / disadvantages of crabgrass and herbicides, or how to prepare your pasture for spring planting, please contact your local Extension agent. 

*Chemical Disclaimer

Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader.  The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned.  Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label.  Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical.  For assistance, contact an agent of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in your county.

Consider Beef Marketing Options

submitted by

Eileen A. Coite,, Extension Livestock Agent,

Wayne County

So, how do you market your beef?  There are so many options today, and lately beef prices have been high enough that everyone has benefitted, but will that trend continue?  Some say that prices have peaked and may not continue on this level.  Let’s take a look at many of the options available to producers today, and give thought to which might be the best choice for your situation. 

Many producers don’t give much thought into strategic marketing.  If its time to market a few calves or the bank account has dropped a bit, and its sale day at the weekly livestock auction, maybe its time to load up and head over there. This might not be a bad idea, but is it always the best choice?  That is a decision all producers have to make, and having this flexible option is great, especially when prices are high.  As I write this article, 5 weight steer calves brought on average 1.40 per pound this week.  Heifers brought 1.26.  Cull cows brought nearly 70 cents, and bulls brought 94 cents.  So if you are marketing cattle things are looking good right now.  What about when its not?

Marketing options increase for producers that follow a more stringent management system in their herd.  Things like having a designated breeding and calving season to increase uniformity in calves, a vaccination and de-worming program to keep everyone healthy, and a calf development program to have them “bunk broke” so they will be on feed earlier once they get to their backgrounding destination. 

The weekly livestock market is a great resource and probably the most used marketing option for beef producers. It gives flexibility of bringing small groups of cattle that might not be the same age, size or breed. There is also flexibility of being able to drop calves off on any given week.  The downside of this is that producers must pay a commission fee to the market for this service, which is a small percent of the animal’s sale value.  An understandable tradeoff for the convenient service the market provides.  If your calves are not uniform, or are not on a healthcare/vaccination program they will still be sold.  However, premium prices won’t be paid if your calves have been vaccinated.

Another option is marketing at one of the NC graded feeder calf sales.  These sales are coordinated by a combination of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the NC Cattlemen’s Association, NC Cooperative Extension, and participating livestock markets. Producers still have the option of bringing any number of calves, mixed sexes, sizes, and breeds, but the sales are on designated dates throughout the spring and the fall.  Calves are graded by a NCDA marketing specialist and sorted by sex, grade, and weight into pens of similar calves within 100 pounds of weight.  Graded sales most often ask for consigners to notify ahead of time how many calves they will be bringing, and sometimes have other requirements, such as vaccinations, dehorning, castration, etc.  The plus to the graded sale versus the weekly market is that calves often bring a few to several cents more per pound. 

Direct farm sales and tele-auctions are another option.  Producers with large numbers of like cattle most often benefit from this type of sale, as they must fill a semi-truck with calves from one location.  Video and tele-actions often also offer a way for the buyer to see the cattle ahead of time, as representatives from NCDA, Extension, or otherwise qualified and trusted verifier can assist with visiting the farm and confirm the number, size, health and quality of the cattle for the buyer. 

Another option that has grown attention more recently are cattle marketing alliances.  Many producers have increasingly become interested in learning more about these and deciding to participate.  In alliances, several producers work together to market their calves, by having similar breeding season, health and nutrition program, as well as similar genetics. There are stricter guidelines for each producer to follow to become an alliance member, but there are advantages that come with the requirements.  This is another appealing option to the buyer, knowing that the calves will be more uniform and knowing the history of these calves.  Because of this, the cattle bring a premium price over the weekly auction market and graded sales.

So, remember, things are looking great right now, but as in most years, prices that are high in the spring will drop off in the fall.  This has been very predictable over the years with the basic rule of supply and demand.  Studies have shown that cattle prices usually peak in the months of March to May, but then usually bottom out around October. As you enjoy the high cattle prices right now, keep in mind the many marketing options that might benefit you when prices drop off in the fall, because as well all know, history often repeats itself.