Farm Help

Will the future of cattle production include fenceline weaning? “I would hope so,” University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Dona Funk told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “I really see that it works a lot better than some of the other methods, and (the calves) don’t seem to get as sick… The people that I have that are trying it really like it, and many of them won’t go back to anything else – unless, of course,” she added with a laugh, “something happens.”

Throughout most of our adult lives we have been told to drink eight glasses of water to maintain good health and well-being. But what water rules apply to our livestock as scorching summer temperatures rise throughout the Ozarks?

Times are as bad for dairy producers as many of them have seen in their lifetimes; federal and state governments and producer associations are scrambling to find ways to keep the farmers in business, but nobody sees a quick turnaround.

Now’s the time for cattle producers to prevent winged pests from taking a bite out of profits. According to University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist Bill Doig, if you want to minimize fly problems in the heat of summer, it’s important to get control of them early. “Right now is definitely the peak time,” he said. “As we’re seeing all these weather systems come in, the flies are hatching and starting to take an effect on the animals.” 

In the early 1800's, as Henry Schoolcraft explored the Ozarks, he wrote frequently of the abundant stands of thick grassees, such as big bluestem, Indian grass, switchgrass and Eastern gamma grass. He was amazed that often these grasses grew so tall and thick that they would hide a man on horseback. However, as the area was settled more heavily, overgrazing, crop rotations and competition from non-native vegetation nearly wiped out these native grasses.

We all know dairy farmers are struggling to make a profit these days. Federal and state governments and dairy producer associations are scrambling to find ways to keep dairy farmers in business, but right now, nobody sees a quick turnaround.

"There is a lot of opportunity for people to participate," Steve Jones, Extension Horse Specialist and Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas said of the University’s Horsemanship School held May 14-16, 2009. The school is trying to serve people wanting to learn how to start their colts under a saddle for the first time or those with some riding experience wanting to develop their skills further. Steve said he realized to handle that many colts at the same time; he would have to have several round pens and individual instructors. Steve limits the class to between 12 and 14 riders and unlimited non-riders each year.

Now’s the time for cattle producers to prevent winged pests from taking a bite out of profits. According to University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist Bill Doig, if you want to minimize fly problems in the heat of summer, it’s important to get control of them early. “Right now is definitely the peak time,” he said. “As we’re seeing all these weather systems come in, the flies are hatching and starting to take an effect on the animals.” 

With summer upon us, pink eye is more of a threat. Pink eye, or Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), is a bacterial disease of the eye in cattle (though another form can be found in goat herds as well). The disease is not fatal, though the economic damages from decreased weight gain, decreased milk production and treatment were estimated to be at least $150 million per year in the United States alone.

Urinary calculi is a common metabolic disease among male sheep and goats. According to sheep and goat specialist Susan Schoenian, the disease occurs when calculi, which are small stones, become lodged in the urinary tract. The most common type of calculi according to Dr. Richard V. Machen, Associate Professor and Extension Livestock Specialist from Texas, is struvite. Struvite stones generally contain calcium, magnesium, and ammonium phosphate. There are several causes and risk factors for developing urinary calculi.