Spring Beef News
Calvin Bryant / Lawrence County Extension Agent
Pasture & Hay Weed Control Meeting
There will be a meeting to hear about all the latest weed control herbicides and weed control strategies at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, March 17th. The meeting will be held at the Lawrence County Health Department Meeting room located right beside the Lawrence County Extension Office. We will begin the meeting at 7am. with coffee, juice, donuts, and biscuits and conclude by 8:30am. ,--- just in time to make it to your respective work place.
UT Extension Forage Weed Control Specialist, Dr. Neil Rhodes will be the featured speaker. Also on the program will be updates from NRCS and UT Extension. Commercial Applicators can attend the meeting and get 1 recertification point for most categories including Cat.
1/10/15. Please call the Lawrence County Extension Office at 762-5506 by noon on Tuesday, March 16th to confirm your attendance and so we can have enough biscuits.
Still time to get calves consigned for the March 29th Sale as long as they meet the below requirements:
Lawrence/Wayne County Cattlemen’s Associatio n Announces:
2010 Feeder Calf Sales Spring Sale–March 29 th
Fall Sale–September 13th
Pre-Conditioned State
Graded Approved Health Program
The Lawrence/Wayne County Cattlemen’s Association has teamed up with Tennessee Livestock Producers, Maury County Cattlemen’s Association and other Southern Middle Tennessee and North Alabama beef producer s and scheduled 2 Feeder Calf Sales in 2010. The sale dates have been set for March 29th & September 13th at the TLP Livestock Barn in Columbia.
Feeder Calf Sale Guidelines:
1. No minimum or maximum head requirements.
2. Any beef producer, not just members of the cattlemen’s association can participate.
3. Recommended weight --500-900 pounds (Calves consigned outside of this weight range will most likely be sold as individuals or in smaller groups.
4. Sale open to any breed or breed combination.
5. No sick or injured calves & heifers must be open.
6. All calves must meet an approved Health Care Program Including:
*Castrated and Dehorned
*Adjusted to a feedbunk & water trough
*2 rounds of shots from and approved Health Care Protocol
*Examples of approved protocols–Boehringer Ingelheim, Merial, & Pfizer.
Calendar Of Events:
1. MTREC Junior Bull Sale—3/11/2010---Spring Hill—Middle Tennessee Research & Education Center
3. Lawrenceburg Bull Test—3/12/2010----Large Animal Clinic
2. Tennessee Beef Agribition—3/12/2010—
3/14/2010----Murfreesboro
4. Weed Control Meeting--3/17/10--Lawrence County Health Dept. Mtg. Room—7am.
5. Lawrence/Wayne County Cattlemen’s Association Spring Feeder Calf Sale 3/29/2010
Spring Maintenance Adds Value to Feeder Cattle As spring approaches, beef producers can add value to their calves by performing recommended management practices. Suggested practices include castrating, dehorning, implanting, and preventing pinkeye.
Three to five dollars per hundred pounds can be added to the value of bull calves if they are castrated. The price spread between bulls and steers will vary depending on calf weight and time of the year, but there is almost always a difference.UT Extension Beef Specialist, Dr. Clyde Lane recommends the surgical
(knife) method. He also suggests castrating early, which puts less stress on the calf as well as the producer. Producers should also remove the horns from horned cattle. Calves that do not have horns
sell for up to two dollars more per hundred pounds than horned calves. Horns should be removed while the calf is small and easier to handle.
To increase the weaning weights of calves, Lane suggests implanting.
“Research and demonstrations have shown an increase of 15 to 25 pou nds for each implant when adequate nutrition was provided to the calf,” said Lane. Follow with a second implant according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for additional gain.
Pinkeye prevention is also important to ensure the best price for cattle. Calves not affected by pinkeye are heavier at weaning and will not be discounted in price because of a spot in the eye. “To control pinkeye, you must control flies,” said Lane. Several insecticides are available that can be applied with insecticide-impregnated ear tags, back rubbers, sprays, or dust.
By performing these recommended maintenance practices, beef producers can significantly increase returns to their beef operation.
Update On Some Animal Abuse Laws That Are Being Proposed In The Tennessee State Legislature & Clarification On Current Livestock
Abuse Laws
Livestock owners need to be aware of the onslaught of discussion and potential legislation being pushed by animal rights groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), People for the Ethical
> Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Animal Welfare League. The Lawrence County Animal Welfare League has a strong presence locally and this group is in no way associated with the Lawrence County Humane Society. The Lawrence County Humane Society is the only humane society group recognized by the state to refer livestock abuse cases to Extension Agents or Large Animal Veterinarians. As the law (39-14-211) states now, when an allegation of animal abuse or neglect is brought against an individual with livestock it must be first reported to the local law enforcement authority or a recognized Humane Society. In Lawrence County the recognized Humane Society is the Lawrence County Humane Society. At this point either the law enforcement agency or the Humane Society contacts an Extension Agent or Vet to accompany them to the location of the allegation and an investigation is completed. The Extension Agent or Vet then decides whether or not there is probably cause for abuse or neglect. If probable cause of abuse or neglect is found then the
case is turned over to the local law enforcement agency and charges
are usually filed. In most cases probable cause is not found and the livestock owner is provided with information and educational resources to assist them to better manage and feed the livestock in question.
Many states like California and Ohio has already passed legislation that dramatically hinders Livestock Production Agriculture. These animal rights groups are getting stronger and more vocal all the time. We need to stay on top of these issues right here in Tennessee and in Lawrence County. Livestock Production is big business in Lawrence County with an estimated annual market value of all livestock enterprises at 34 million dollars which ranks us 8th in
the state.
Below are some examples of proposed legislation in Tennessee that was taken from the Farm Bureau Legislative Report.
UT Extension does not endorse or oppose any of these bills. They are listed for your information.
Summary of Some of the Bills related to Animal Cruelty
Providing care for non-livestock animals (SB 2796* Henry – HB 3749 Sontany) – Provides immunity from civil liability for any person who in good faith provides medical care or treatment for a non-livestock animal that is abandoned or injured and such medical care results in injury or harm to such animal. Establishes that this provision does not apply to a person who fails to take reasonable steps to locate
the owner of such animal prior to providing medical care.
Food and shelter for livestock defined (SB 3180 Crowe – HB 3315* Ford) – Defines food and shelter for both livestock and non-livestock animals concerning animal offenses. Definition for non-livestock animals requires a structure of adequate size and material to protect animals from the weather. Shelter for livestock is defined “in accordance with usual and customary practices that are accepted by colleges of agriculture or veterinary medicine with respect to that animal”.
Honey's Law (SB 3676* Burchett – HB 3760 West) – Specifies that cruelty to an animal “resulting in physical injury to the animal” is a Class A misdemeanor. For second offenses, specifies that cruelty to an animal resulting in “serious bodily injury or death to the animal” is a Class E felony.
Offense of animal cruelty (SB 3546 Ketron – HB 3386* Sontany) – Makes the offense of aggravated animal cruelty applicable to all animals, including livestock. Aggravated animal cruelty currently applies to companion animals only. Also, adds the “intentional” deprivation of food and water to livestock as an aggravated animal cruelty charge where the deprivation results in the death of the animal or a substantial risk of death.
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