Life Sciences Commons^™

2008 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report Summaries, Richard J. Rasby, Galen E. Erickson, Dennis R. Brink

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Reports on recent beef research are briefly summarized in this publication. Summaries of the research featured in the 2008 Beef Report appear here. Topics include cow-calf, growing, finishing and beef products.

G1420 Direct Sales Of Beef, Paul Swanson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide offers producers suggestions for selling beef directly to consumers.

Successful direct selling of beef to consumers requires a different mind-set from our traditional sale of commodity beef to processors, wholesalers and retailers. The much closer relationship of the beef producer to the actual consumer creates many opportunities to provide more income from each individual animal and for the consumer to receive a product which is generally not available in the store. A growing number of consumers are interested in purchasing beef that is produced locally, on small farms or ranches, humanely raised, without implants, without the feeding of …

Mp99-40 The Economics And Control Of Insects Affecting Beef Cattle In Nebraska (Northern Great Plains), John B. Campbell, Gustave D. Thomas

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Livestock insect control should be considered an integral part of an efficient beef herd health program.

This extension circular discusses the behavior and control of these major insect parasites of range and pasture cattle in Nebraska: stable fly, horn fly, face fly, cattle grubs, cattle lice, cattle scabies, horse and deer flies, mosquito, black fly, and biting midges (gnats).

G97-1314 Medication Withdrawal In Beef Cattle, Dicky D. Griffin, Dale Grotelueschen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide lists the current withdrawal times for medications used in beef cattle.

Using proper livestock medications is very important. Proper use not only ensures maximal benefits from the medication but minimizes the chances of an unwanted residue. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has worked hard to develop a premiere quality assurance program. In conjunction with other national and state beef and veterinary associations, the Beef Quality Assurance program now extends to almost every state in the nation. As a result, the safety and quality of beef has never been better. The outstanding record includes having an extremely low rate …

G96-1301 Income Tax Issues Related To Scaling Down Or Liquidating A Beef-Cow Operation, Gary Bredensteiner

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the tax implications of reducing or shutting down a beef-cow operation.

Downsizing cattle numbers is occurring through herd reductions and complete liquidations. Whether partial or complete, liquidations have income tax implications. Those implications vary depending on the timing of liquidation, origin of the animals liquidated, nature of the liquidation, and organizational structure of the business. This publication considers the tax situation of the sole proprietor beef cattle business owner who uses cash accounting for tax purposes.

While the information contained in this document is thought to be accurate, it should not be used as a substitute for …

Ec95-137 Producing And Marketing Proso Millet In The High Plains, D. D. Baltensperger, Drew J. Lyon, R. Anderson, Tom Holman, C. Stymieste, J. Shanahan, Lenis Alton Nelson, Karen L. Deboer, Gary L. Hein, J. Krall

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Proso millet, Panicum miliaceum (L.), is a warm season grass capable of producing seed 60 to 90 days after planting. It has been called millet, hog millet, and yellow hog. It has been grown in many countries of the world including China, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Romania, Turkey, and India.

Historically, proso production in the High Plains has been quite variable, depending on the survival of the winter wheat crop, government programs, and market price.

Proso can be used in several ways. Proso millet grain is used as bird and livestock feed in the United States and for livestock …

G94-1231 Harvesting Corn And Sorghum For Silage, Rick Grant, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication describes how to make high-quality corn and sorghum silage.

Quality Silage

Silage feeding quality is determined by 1) the nutrient content of the crop stored, 2) the stage of maturity and moisture content when harvested and 3) the effectiveness of silage preservation.

G93-1172 Starting Cattle, Dicky D. Griffin, Louis Perino, Don Hudson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide gives guidelines to help feedlot operators prepare and establish a plan for starting new cattle on feed that minimizes stress, reduces morbidity (sickness) and improves performance.

An animal's first few weeks in a feedlot can influence performance throughout the entire feeding period. The cattle are adapting to a new environment and may be exposed to disease, some for the first time. It is vitally important to prevent and deal with health problems at this time to prevent loss of performance.

Cattle entering the feedlot encounter a range of problems that arise from several sources, including health and nutritional …

Mp92-64 The Stable Fly: A Pest Of Humans And Domestic Animals, Gustave D. Thomas, Steven R. Skoda

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Many species of flies are pests. Many people, if you were to ask them about flies, would be at least vaguely aware of the potential to flies to transmit disease organisms. But yet, for the most part, a fly is a fly is a fly. Sayings like "It must be about to rain, the house flies are biting" are still common and show a general need for more, readily accessible information, particularly about some of the pest flies.

Stable flies, obligate blood-feeders, are very important pests to the cattle industry and, at times, are pests to other groups (they're most …

G89-915 Testing Livestock Feeds For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep And Horses, Rick Grant, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides tips on how to determine feeds you should analyze and nutrients to measure. It tells how to interpret the results of feed analysis.

Why Test Feeds?

Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds, especially forages. Protein in alfalfa hay can range from 10 to 25 percent or more of the dry matter; grass hay will contain between four and 18 percent protein.

Use feed tests to target specific feeds to different livestock. Feed high quality forage to the most productive livestock or when nutrient needs are highest. Feed lower quality forage to animals with lower nutrient needs. …

G89-915 Testing Livestock Feeds For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep And Horses (Revised April 1997), Rick Grant, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides tips on how to determine feeds you should analyze and nutrients to measure. It tells how to interpret the results of feed analysis.

Why Test Feeds?

Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds, especially forages. Protein in alfalfa hay can range from 10 to 25 percent or more of the dry matter; grass hay will contain between four and 18 percent protein.

Use feed tests to target specific feeds to different livestock. Feed high quality forage to the most productive livestock or when nutrient needs are highest. Feed lower quality forage to animals with lower nutrient needs.

G89-915 Testing Livestock Feeds For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep And Horses, Rick Grant, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides tips on how to determine feeds you should analyze and nutrients to measure. It tells how to interpret the results of feed analysis.

Why Test Feeds?

Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds, especially forages. Protein in alfalfa hay can range from 10 to 25 percent or more of the dry matter; grass hay will contain between four and 18 percent protein.

Use feed tests to target specific feeds to different livestock. Feed high quality forage to the most productive livestock or when nutrient needs are highest. Feed lower quality forage to animals with lower nutrient needs. …

G88-878 Management For Disease Prevention In Feedlots, Gene White, Duane Rice, Don Hudson, Dale Grotelueschen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

When cattle are put in feedlots, they change diets and environments. This NebGuide discusses ways to minimize possible losses caused by those changes. Cattle are a vital link in the human food chain in the United States. The utilized agricultural area in this country is about 1.06 million acres, of which 64 percent is range (government and private). Grazing is the only practical method of harvesting these valuable resources. Ruminants convert forage produced by the soil nutrients, water and solar energy to a high quality protein source for humans. The feedlot phase of cattle feeding follows the utilization of roughages …

Mp51 Distillers Grains, Glen Aines, Terry Klopfenstein, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In the conventional production of alcohol from grain for fuel, byproducts are produced with excellent feeding value for ruminants. Appropriate use of these byproducts aids the efficient production of animals and enhances the economics of alcohol production. In the fermentation of corn to produce alcohol, the starch in the corn is converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide. The nutrients in the corn other than starch are concentrated about three times because corn is about two-thirds starch. Even though starch is high in energy, the one-third of the corn remaining in the byproduct after fermentation contains as much energy per pound …

G85-761 Feed Additives For Beef Cattle, Rick Stock, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses feed additives, including how they work, feeding restrictions and feeding recommendations.

One of the best methods to reduce feed costs is through the use of feed additives. Their primary effects are to improve feed efficiency and/or daily gain. Some feed additives have secondary benefits which include reducing the incidence of acidosis, coccidiosis, and grain bloat, while others suppress estrus, reduce liver abscesses, or control foot rot problems.

Feed additives can be divided into five general categories: 1) ionophores; 2) antibiotics; 3) estrus suppressants; 4) buffers; and 5) others. Each feed additive has its own characteristics and feeding …

G85-759 Prominent Congenital Defects In Nebraska Beef Cattle, J. L. Johnson, H. W. Leipold, Donald B. Hudson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes congenital defects that affect the economic value of beef cattle, and provides recommendations on how to minimize them in breeding programs.

Congenital defects are abnormalities of structure or function present at birth. They may be caused by genetic or environmental factors, or a combination of both. The causes of many defects remain unknown.

Developmental defects may be lethal, semi-lethal, or compatible with life, causing very little effect or only aesthetic effect.

With the increasing use of artificial insemination (AI) in cattle, defects are no longer rare occurrences and are important collectively to the cattle industry. Congenital defects …

G85-741 Estrous Synchronization For Beef Cattle, Gene H. Deutscher

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the potential benefits of estrous synchronization, how the products and programs work, and the results and costs involved. Estrous (heat) synchronization can help beef producers improve production efficiency and economic returns. Controlling estrus and ovulation in cycling females means breeding is completed in a short period of time. Instead of females being bred over a 21-day period, synchronization can shorten the breeding period to less than 5 days, depending on the program selected. The use of synchronization has great potential for improving beef production, but it requires good management for success. Producers should understand the advantages, as …

Ec84-1510 Insect Control Guide For Beef Cattle In Nebraska, John B. Campbell

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This extension circular contains information on: precautions; insecticide formulations; and insecticide application methods (sprays, pour-ons, spot-ons, self-treatment devices, feed additives, dips, and injections). It contains a table on insecticides and the pests they target such as cattle grub, cattle lice, face fly, horn fly, mosquitoes, and stable fly. It also contains information in a table on the insecticides registered for use on beef cattle which covers the insecticide, percent active ingredient, method of application, dosage and the restrictions.

G78-409 Cattle Grub Control In Nebraska (Revised November 1989), John B. Campbell

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The control of cattle grubs is discussed here, as are possible insecticide reactions, warnings and restrictions.

Cattle grubs are the immature or larval stages of heel or warble flies. Losses from this insect begin with the fly stage in the insect's life history. As flies seek animals on which to deposit eggs, cattle become frightened and run. The running animal has its tail in the air, bent over the back. This behavior is termed "gadding."

Cattle fail to graze normally during the warble fly season because of gadding. They seek shade or stand in water to avoid the flies. The …

G78-395 Feeding Corn And Sorghum Silages To Beef Cattle, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Corn and sorghum silages are versatile feeds that can be supplemented so that they are satisfactory for part of most growing and finishing rations. Harvesting corn as silage and planting forage sorghums for silage have the advantage that they maximize beef production per acre compared to harvesting these crops by other methods and other cropping programs. Another important advantage is that harvesting, storage and feeding can be completely mechanized.

However, as the costs of machinery, fuel, and labor have increased, the cost of harvesting silage has increased more rapidly than harvesting as grain.

G78-389 Nutrient Requirements Of Breeding Beef Cattle, James A. Gosey, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The major nutrient requirements as listed in Tables 1a and b are modifications of similar tables published by the National Research Council, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, fifth edition. They have been (1) rearranged to emphasize "English" weights rather than metric; (2) modified so that daily nutrient requirements and the nutrient concentration recommendations are in closer agreement and (3) expanded to include estimated requirements for pregnant yearling heifers of heavier weight and 2 year old heifer nursing calves.

G77-327 Acute Bovine Pulmonary Emphysema, James H. Bailey

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The disease, Acute Bovine Pulmonary Emphysema, has been recognized for many years and under many different names including "Pulmonary Adenomatosis," "Panters," "Lungers," "Bovine Asthma," "Fog Fever," and "Atypical Interstitial Pneumonia." It is characterized by sudden onset of acute respiratory distress with the affected animals producing an audible grunting noise when they exhale.

The cause, occurrence, clinical findings, treatment, prevention and control are covered in this NebGuide.

G77-363 Vitamin Requirements Of Beef Cattle, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Vitamins are organic substances that are required in very small quantities for various metabolic functions. Twenty-five to 30 have been identified, but cattle can synthesize all that are needed of these vitamins in the rumen except for two or three. Even though the supplemental amounts needed of these two or three vitamins (A and possibly D and E) are quite small, a deficiency can have a drastic effect on the animal. The NebGuide discusses these effects.

G77-372 Water Requirements For Beef Cattle, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Water requirements of cattle are influenced by a number of physiological and environmental conditions. These include such things as the rate and composition of gain, pregnancy, lactation, physical activity, type of ration, salt and dry matter intake, and environmental temperature.

The minimum requirement of cattle for water is a reflection of that needed for body growth, for fetal growth or lactation, and of that lost by excretion in the urine, feces, or sweat or by evaporation from the lungs or skin. Anything influencing these needs or losses will influence the minimum requirement.

G76-308 Principles Of Beef Cattle Selection, H.A. Fitzhugh, Jr.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Selection of superior seedstock leads to lasting genetic improvement by increasing the frequency of "desirable" genes and decreasing frequency of "undesirable" genes. The definition of "desirable" varies. Nature favors genes which improve fitness to survive and thrive in the natural environment. Man should favor genes which improve biological and economic efficiency of beef production.

The concepts, definitions, formulas and symbols that are the tools necessary for effective selection programs are discussed in this publication.

G75-269 Calf Scours: Causes, Prevention And Treatment, Don Hudson, R. Gene White

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Calf scours or calf diarrhea: understand how to recognize and treat this costly condition. Calf scours or calf diarrhea causes more financial loss to cow-calf producers than any other disease-related problem they encounter. Calf scours is not a disease--it is a clinical sign of a disease which can have many causes. In diarrheas, the intestine fails to absorb fluids and/or secretion into the intestine is increased.

G74-100 Feeding High Moisture Corn, Terry L. Mader, Paul Q. Guyer, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In recent years the use of high moisture grain has become more popular due to the increased costs of handling and dry feed grains. For cattle feeders in particular, storing grains as high moisture is one practice that can improve their competitive position and reduce costs. Using high moisture grains allows greater opportunity to design a system that will minimize harvest, storage and feed processing costs.

Grains such as sorghum and wheat have been stored as high moisture, but corn is the principal high moisture grain stored. High moisture corn can be processed and stored as whole shelled corn, ground …

G74-136 Grain Sorghum Processing For Beef Cattle, Rick Stock, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the feeding value of grain sorghum relative to corn and various grain processing methods for grain sorghum.

It has been widely recognized that grain sorghum (milo) must be processed to be efficiently used by finishing cattle. Grain sorghum shows more improved utilization from processing than corn, wheat and barley. Dry ground or rolled grain sorghum has a relative feeding value of 85% to 95% (avg 90%) of dry rolled corn. Processing grain sorghum by more sophisticated methods (early harvesting, steam-flaking, etc.) greatly enhances its feeding value.

Chemical composition suggests that there should be less difference in the …

G74-166 Creep Feeding Beef Calves, Richard J. Rasby, Ivan G. Rush, James A. Gosey

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Effects of creep feeding calves are covered here. Gross income of the cow/calf enterprise is partially dependent on weaning weight of the calves. Three possible non-genetic ways of increasing calf weaning weight are to increase milk production of the dam, increase forage consumption of the calf, or provide supplemental feed to the calf to increase nutrient intake. Management practices exist to increase standing forage quality, but management of that grass for the calf only is difficult. Likewise, increasing milk production of the dam requires greater feed inputs and possibly supplemental feed. Creep feeding studies consistently have shown an increase in …

The Nebraska Agricultural Outlook For 1938, A,W, Medlar, H.C. Filley, F. Miller, L.F. Garey, G.E. Hendrix, W.W. Heuermann, L.B. Snyder, A.G. George, Muriel L. Smith

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Each year the federal government gathers data relating to agriculture through the various departments of the United States Department of Agriculture. These data are classified and analyzed by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics at Washington and all information which may be helpful to farmers is published. For several years it has been the policy of the Department of Rural Economics and the Agricultural Extension Service of the College of Agriculture, Lincoln, to select from the federal information facts which may be especially helpful to Nebraska farmers. These facts and other economic conditions in Nebraska are published this year as the …