Make Every Morsel of Feed Count

Today commodity prices soaring, shipping costs are rising, commodity stockpiles are shrinking, drought persists in parts of the country and the cost of providing feed to livestock is projected to increase thus potentially providing significant negative impacts to your budget.  If you are a livestock producer, here are a few items for you to think about.

·       Developing a plan to efficiently maximize and utilize your available standing forages may be the lowest cost, easiest to implement and helpful strategy to reduce your overall costs production, may improve the lbs. of available DM produced per acre. This could allow you to provide adequate nutrition for most forms of livestock covering a majority of the year and where they are in their production cycle in Virginia. You may at programs like the Graze 300 program which can apply to most species.

·       Remember, using a TMR or (totally mixed ration) can improve digestion efficiencies just by maintaining a uniformly mixed feed. This improves rumen microbial digestion by having nutrient dense and consistent feeds to ferment. TMRs also reduce sorting at the feed bunk, allow for correct ration formulation, aid in correct ration delivery weights (when scales are used) and allow you to incorporate and alter the palatability of various feeds and feed additives. TMRs generally combine ground hay or other forages. Grinding forage allows for mixing with other feeds, decreases selectivity and reduces feed waste.

·       Consider adding feed additives.  Feed additives that are called ionophores (monensin and lasolocid) can improve feed digestion by changing the microbial populations in the rumen. A change in feed efficiency can be improved 7% to 10% when ionophores are added to the ration. Ionophores also can act to reduce the incidence of coccidiosis. Another additive, yeast and yeast cultures are referred to as probiotics/prebiotics and function to supply nutrition and stimulate bacteria in the gut. Some studies have shown increased feed efficiency and performance when these products are used on a consistent basis.

·       Make sure you provide plenty of water, it is needed for better microbial digestion and better the feed utilization.

·       Consider utilizing feed stuffs that you have not incorporated on your farm if they are available locally and this can potentially reduce costs associated with shipping.

·       Consider using some feeds containing high fiber content (forages and crop residues).  Often, they can be ammoniated with anhydrous ammonia or treated with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide to increase energy content. These are very caustic chemicals and caution is advised.

·       Keep the rations balanced, as a balanced ration feed consistently will improve overall digestion efficiency. Adequate protein along with adequate vitamins and mineral are needed for the animal to use the energy and proteins in feed efficiently. Increase the use of sampling and laboratory analysis of feeds and forages.   Use a qualified nutritionist to balance rations and use the appropriate feeds in the rations mix. Certain blends of feeds complement each other and improve digestibility.

·       Try to minimize feeding waste. Providing a ration in feed throughs/bunks or some type of container system is a good idea to reduce feed waste. Livestock on pasture without bunks will lead to feed waste. While the livestock may appear to have eaten the feed, 10% to 20% of the feed may be trampled or lost into the soil.

If you not not incorporate a budget in decision making and just do things because it cash flows, you may improve overall profitability by incorporating the use of budgeting and honing down in certain areas.  If you need assistance or have questions please contact you local VCE, Extension agent.  I can be reached at cchilds@vt.edu .

Equine Issues

Created by WVU Equine Studies Students

Blister Beetle Toxicosis by Jenna Carpenter

Equine Piroplasmosis by Hallie Jackson

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease by Ashley Birko

Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy by Emma Jones Osteoarthropathy by Emma Jones

Warren County Closeup

VCE Ag Today: Understanding Spray Water Chemistry (VCE-1027-48NP)

VCE Ag Today: Grow Award-Winnng Hay

Weaning Lambs

 

Period Extended

 

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USDA Extends the Comment Period on Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is providing an additional 30 days for public comments on the notice for Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2021. Comments are now due by June 21, 2021. USDA is extending the comment period to allow additional time to receive information valuable to the preparation of the report required by the Executive Order on “America’s Supply Chains.” During the first two weeks of the comment period, USDA received requests from representatives of critical supply chain activities asking for additional time to provide thoughtful and thorough feedback to this notice. Written comments in response to this notice should be posted online at www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be sent to Dr. Melissa R. Bailey at melissa.bailey@usda.gov or mailed to: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 2055-S, STOP 0201, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0201. Comments received will be posted without change, including any personal information provided. Comments submitted during the initial 30-day comment period from April 21 to May 21 will be retained as part of the public record and do not need to be resubmitted. For more information, contact Dr. Bailey at (202) 690-1300 or email melissa.bailey@usda.gov.

Cool Cows Produce More Milk and Pounds of Beef

The Sun’s rays are getting stronger and temperatures and humidity’s in Virginia are starting to rise, so now is the best time to start managing your forages to help make cows – cool cows!  For most of us the value of feeding high-quality forages may reach its peak during late spring, summer and fall. Digesting forage generally generates more heat than digesting grain and one way to correct this problem is to feed high-quality forage during the summer.  This allows for less forage intake while still maintaining nutritional requirements and a balanced diet.  This is because feeding forage that is lower in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and higher in NDF digestibility allows the cow to process feed in less time and expend less energy doing so. The net effect is a cooler cow during the heat of summer.

Cows take on heat from the environment and generate metabolic heat from eating and digesting feed. Problems start to occur if temperature and humidity increase and cows don't have opportunities to balance their metabolic and environmental heat gains in combination.  Like most mammals, a cow needs to maintain its core body temperature. The core temperature changes slightly throughout the day, reaching a peak in the early evening and a low early morning.

Metabolic heat (the heat the cows produces within her body) is being produced all the time. During the day this heat is not as easily dispersed. If night time conditions are sufficient to allow adequate dispersal of heat the cow will not suffer ill effects. If this cycle of heat accumulation during the day and loss during the night is disrupted by high night time temperatures the effects become more noticeable.

Factors that determine the level of environmental heat a cow is exposed to over time are:

• air temperature and relative humidity
• amount of solar radiation
• degree of night cooling that occurs
• ventilation and air flow
• length of the hot conditions.

How do cows keep themselves cool?

In hot environmental conditions, cows shed heat with a range of behavioral and physiological strategies.

Examples are:

• looking for areas with greater air movement or standing to increase air flow around their body
• seeking water and shade
• changing their orientation to the sun
• panting or sweating
• stopping or reducing feed intake which decreases rumen heat production.

The effects of Heat Stress can be costly.

Heat loads can build when farm infrastructure doesn't provide cooler conditions for the whole herd. Decreased milk and calf weight gains are the clearest cost, but some effects are less obvious and result in significant productivity losses. These include:

• reduction in fertility and calving rates
• low milk components
• body condition loss
• susceptibility to infection

Highly digestible forage NDF will help to reduce the overall heat load on the cow and provide the proper amounts and ratios of volatile fatty acids to maintain milk production and calf gains.  So now is a time to evaluate y0ur forages and grazing strategies to plan to utilize the available forages to the fullest.

Although providing high-quality forage during the heat of summer offers an added benefit, please remember conventional means of heat abatement such as natural shade, barns designed to shed heat, fans, and shade cloths or portable shades must also be used to realize the full benefits of feeding highly digestible forages during periods of heat stress.

You can Improve Your Mental Health with Simple Steps

Make May, Mental Health Awareness Month. Self-care is essential to maintaining healthy attitudes, thoughts and bodies.  These traits can lead to a healthy relationship with ourselves. This may mean planning steps to be proactive and to take care of our minds, bodies, and souls by engaging in activities that promote well-being and reduce stress. When you focus on your health of all types it not only improves your life but can positively impact everyone around you.

Self-care may be less time constraining than you think and can be practiced by doing something you enjoy, but do not always make time to include in your daily activities. This may include listening to a podcast or music, reading a book, watching a movie, or tinkering on a piece of equipment. For me it is sitting and watching the animals graze slowly around our farm and listening to the sound of nature all around me. Below you may find a suggested self-care practices to help eliminate stress and strengthen your mental well-being:

Put the phone down or close the computer: Take a break from Social Media, the news or calls for a segment of time.

Start an exercise program: Start with small changes by opting to take the stairs (if able), instead of the elevator or take walk to check the cows or corn. Take stretch breaks during the day. Go on a walk or a bike ride or ride your horse.

Start a hobby if you don’t have one: People can basically make a hobby out of anything, do something you enjoy.

Adopt better sleep habits: Turn off electronics, lights, and other distractions that may stimulate the brain.

Try a stress management technique: Try meditation, or breathing exercises, listening to calming sounds or smells.

Try a planner to set goals for yourself; You may feel more organized and be able to cross things off when you day is filled with lots of tasks.  Sometimes knowing what you have accomplished in a busy day helps reduce your stress.

Keep a journal or record: Instead of dwelling over negative thoughts, put them down on paper.

Volunteer: Helping others or your community feels good. You may be able to connect with old friends and develop new relationships.

Strengthen your communication skills: Become an active listener, engage in discussions.

Respect everyone, including yourself: Remember, we all make mistakes and it is perfect ok!

Corey Childs

Extension Agent