Land and Livestock Post

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDBRYAN, TX 77802PERMIT # 23

JAMES THOMPSONStraight from the horse's mouth.PAGE 3




August 2014— Issue 2

Protectingyour investment

Following biosecurity guidelines to critical herd healthPAGE 12

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDBRYAN, TX 77802PERMIT # 23

ALL CHOKED UPDuckweed clogs lakes and kills fish.PAGE 5

FIELDTRIALSPigweed threatens the Texas cotton crop.PAGE 8

SLOWGOINGRebuilding cattle herds will take time, patience.PAGE 10

GOOD ECONOMIC SENSEUsing EPDs properly leads to smart purchases.PAGE 18

August 2014— Issue 2

August 2014— Issue 2 The Land & Livestock Post2

From the General ManagerIrevived an old habit this summer. It’s one I

had quit cold turkey, and hadn’t looked backand figured I was better off. But, some of my

friends were doing it, so I figured, “What theheck? A few hits can’t hurt,” and next thing youknow, I’m off the wagon and spendingmoney likecrazy just to get my next fix.That’s right, I started playing

golf again.I’m not good at golf. Every sin-

gle personwho plays golf claimshe or she is not good. If youmeetpeople and ask them if they aregood at golf, and they say, “I’ma decent player,” or “I’m notterrible,” or they give any otheranswer that is not self-deprecating, then theyprobably have a PGATour card.I myself hardly even keep a scorecard. After

eight or nine holes, it gets to depressing and I juststop. It’s more fun that way.Now, I may not be able to give you tips to im-

prove your golf game, but in this issue we do have

some tips on how to keep your herd safe fromdisease. In our cover story we look at biosecurityandways you can keep your ranch and yourcattle safe from illness. We also have some newsfrom around the industry along with our regularfeatures.Hope you enjoy it, and as always thanks for

reading.’Til next time,

• For more information about content or advertising,contact Jesse Wright at [email protected].

JESSE WRIGHT

NewsLIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT

Brazos ValleyResults of the Brazos Valley Live-

stock Market’s July 29 sale:Head: 814Steers: 200-300 lbs., $329-

$365; 300-400 lbs., $299-$355;400-500 lbs., $254-$325; 500-600 lbs., $229-$260; 600-700lbs., $209-$238; 700-800 lbs.,$205-$222.Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $295-

$340; 300-400 lbs., $254-$320;400-500 lbs., $221-$260; 500-600 lbs., $204-$235; 600-700lbs., $194-$219; 700-800 lbs.,$195-$206.Slaughter bulls: $126-$140.Slaughter cows: $90-$135.Bred cows: $1,275-$2,250.Cow/calf pairs: $1,500-$3,000.

BuffaloResults of the Buffalo Livestock

Market’s July 26 sale:Head: 1,365Steers: 150-200 lbs., $325-

$385; 200-300 lbs., $300-$355;300-400 lbs., $285-$350; 400-500 lbs., $235-$315; 500-600lbs., $215-$285; 600-700 lbs.,$200-$255; 700-800 lbs., $195-$227.Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $270-

$340; 300-400 lbs., $265-$330;400-500 lbs., $235-$282; 500-600 lbs., $205-$260; 600-700lbs., $195-$250; 700-800 lbs.,$150-$215.Slaughter bulls: $110-$153.Slaughter cows: $65-$133.Bred cows: $1,150-$2,250.Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$2,850.

GroesbeckResults of the Groesbeck Auc-

tion and Livestock Exchange’s July10 sale:Head: 355Steers: 300-400 lbs., $230-

$285; 400-500 lbs., $210-$240;500-600 lbs., $180-$220; 600-700 lbs., $175-$185.Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $185-

$240; 400-500 lbs., $175-$210;500-600 lbs., $170-$195; 600-700 lbs., $170-$185.Slaughter bulls: $115-$132.Slaughter cows: $78-$118.

Stocker cows: $1,150-$2,000.Cow/calf pairs: $1,300-$2,300.

JordanResults of the Groesbeck Auc-

tion & Livestock Co.’s July 31 sale:Head: 560Steers: 300-400 lbs., $300-


$335; 400-500 lbs., $210-$280;500-600 lbs., $190-$260; 600-700 lbs., $185-$235.Slaughter bulls: $124-$145.Slaughter cows: $74-$135.Stocker cows: $1,400-$3,300.Cow/calf pairs: $1,800-$3,800.

MilanoResults of the Milano Livestock

Exchange’s July 29 sale:Head: 423Steers: 300-400 lbs., $221-


$287; 400-500 lbs., $230-$271;500-600 lbs., $209-$235; 600-700 lbs., $193-$215.Slaughter bulls: $98-$133.Slaughter cows: $81-$128.Cow/calf pairs: $1,675-$2,000.

NavasotaResults of the Navasota Live-

stock Auction Co.’s July 26 sale:Head: 1,349Steers: 150-300 lbs., $200-

$415; 300-400 lbs., $200-$345;400-500 lbs., $175-$315; 500-600 lbs., $160-$80; 600-700 lbs.,$155-$240.Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $195-

$350; 300-400 lbs., $185-$280;400-500 lbs., $175-$260; 500-600 lbs., $165-$255; 600-700lbs., $160-$217.50.Slaughter bulls: $100-$151.Slaughter cows: $85-$123.Stocker cows: $1,200-$1,850.Cow/calf pairs: $1,500-$2,000.

— Special to The Post

The Land & Livestock Post August 2014— Issue 2 3

• Calfing Ease - Gentle• Growth and Muscle Means $$$• Virgin - Red or Black Bulls• Replacement Heifers• All w/E.P. D. Papers• Certified Bangs & TB Free• LimFlex - Limousin Angus Hybrid

• Growth and Muscle Means $$$AWideSelecti

onto Cho

oseFrom!

Improve your herd’s productivity

LIMOUSIN CATTLE

WILL GUARANTEE HALF OFYOUR CALF CROP WITH:

C.F.L.X. Ranch21314 O.S.R.

Madisonville, TX 77864(903) 344-2331

Cell 281-808-5511 or (281) 808-3473

MARTINDALE

SHOW

FEEDS

WIX

CATTLE

OILER&

MINERAL

FEEDERS

VIGORTONE

MINERALS

ANDTUB

FEEDERS


For more information contact:

South Texas Cattle Marketingʼs“Cattleman’s Opportunity” Replacement Female Sale

Saturday • August 30, 2014 • 1:00 p.m.Nixon Livestock Commission • Nixon, Texas

(3 miles east of Nixon on Hwy. 87)

Featuring 1,250 Head of Quality Replacement Females

Lyssy & Eckel Feeds

Sale Sponsored by

SOUTH TEXAS CATTLE MARKETINGLew Thompson,Marketing Director

(830) 334-8227 (O) • (830) 965-3058 (M)www.southtexascattlemarketing.com • (830) 334-2123 Fax

Farm & Ranch

ProudSponsor Visit our website for more information,

consignment detail and photos.

From Kallion Farms

Our unique group of cattlemen are dedicated to supplying the bestin replacement females, backed by our reputation and guarantee.

Special Consignment fromKallion Farms

220 Registered Brahman Females

130 Registered Brahman Cows3-6 yrs. old and bred to 3 of the top

Kallion Farms Registered Brahman bulls.90 Kallion Farms

Registered Gray Brahman Heifers40 of these registered heifers will sell bred to

Ellis Farms Hereford Bulls which is awell known leader in feed performance and

carcass marbling traits in the Hereford industry.50 head of these Registered

Gray Brahman Heifers will sell open.

Over 1,000 F-1’s, Brahman, Brangusand Crossbred Females will Sell.

NewsDuckweedcanchokeoutapondandthefish in it

By Sean HuBBardOklahoma State University

STILLWATER, Oklahoma —Fish need a steady supply ofoxygen in the water to survive.Without it,pondownersmayfindtheir pond surfaces litteredwithdead fish.Duckweed can choke out a

pond—andthefishthat live in it.Many ponds and lakes

throughout the region can beseenwith duckweed growing onthesurface.While thisplant typi-cally does not cause too manyproblems, if left uncontrolled,it can cover the whole pond andchoke its oxygen supply.MarleyBeem,OklahomaState

University Cooperative Exten-sion aquaculture specialist, saidyou should never let any plantentirely cover the surface of apond.

“Whenyoudo that, you’repre-venting light from getting intothe water column, preventingphotosynthesis, preventing oxy-gen production and that leads to

fish kills,” he said. “In our typi-cal pond, the wind action is usu-ally enough to keep [vegetation]blown over to the side.”However, duckweed can be-

comeaseriousproblemforpondslocateddown inaholloworcom-

Lemna, common duckweedCourtesy of www,mobot.org

See DUCKWEED, Page 6


Your SOURCE for Top Quality Registeredand Commercial Brangus Cattle

Bobcat Bottoms Ranch • Persimmon Creek Ranch • Camp Cooley RanchSpring Valley Ranch • Windy Hill Ranch • Vista Ridge Ranch

Bobcat Bottoms Ranch • Persimmon Creek Ranch • Camp Cooley RanchBobcat Bottoms Ranch • Persimmon Creek Ranch • Camp Cooley RanchBobcat Bottoms Ranch • Persimmon Creek Ranch • Camp Cooley Ranch

Circle Land&Cattle Co., Ltd. SteveDensmore,CattleMgr.,

(979) 450-0819, cell • (979) 778-1055, homeChrisDuewall,OperationsMgr.,(979) 777-6803, cell

located just offHwy. 6 andOSR1415EastOSR •Bryan,Texas 77808Office: (979) 776-5760 • Fax: (979) 776-4818Website: www.circlexbrangus.com

ProudMembers

of

Brazos Valley LivestockCommission, Inc.

6097 East Hwy. 21 • Bryan, TX

(979) 778-0904

Sales: Tuesdays@ 12 Noon



(979) 778-0904




(979) 778-0904




(979) 778-0904


News

pletely surroundedby trees, pro-tected from the wind.

“It spreads and reproducesrapidly and covers the entiresurface of the pond,” Beem said.

Beingable to identify theplantand taking some early steps toprevent its spread are essentialto the overall health of the pond.

“Get after it early,” Beem said.“Once it becomes thick and cov-

ers the entire pond to a depth ofseveral inches, you are facingsome major labor in trying tothin that out.”

Aquatic-safe herbicide treat-ments are usually a safe bet inmanagement of pond plants.However, herbicides used onland can be toxic to aquatic life,so caution should be takenwhenputting it in the water.

For help, contact your localcounty Extension educator.

Duckweed, from Page 5

Photo courtesy of Oklahoma State University Extension ServiceLeft uncontrolled,duckweed can cover awhole pond and choke its oxygen supply,killingthe fish in the pond. It is best to control duckweed and similar plants quickly, beforethe task becomes too big to manage properly.


Farm& ranch EquipmEntAuction

Saturday, August 23 • 10 a.m.1036 S FM 331 H Sealy, Texas

10% BP On Items $1,000 or Less~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sale Day Announcements Take

Precedence Over Printed Material979-885-2400 TXS #7342

1998 Freightliner FL106 Truck Tractor

1997 IH 4700 with Simon-TelectUtility Bed & Hi Ranger Bucket

JD 4850 -FWA, CA, Duals, 6 RM, PS Trans,Quick Hitch

JD 456 Round Baler Ford 6610 II Tractor - FWA, CA, 3 RMwith Bush Hog QT FE Loader

School and Municipal Surplus

MF 1839 Square Baler

Vermeer 605L Round Baler w/Net Wrap

www.switzerauction.net

Rural Land LoansCountry Home LoansFarm & Ranch LoansLivestock LoansEquipment LoansOperating CapitalLeasing

Bryan Credit Office1714 E. 29th Street

979.775.0404 | 877.775.0404CapitalFarmCredit.com

T E X A S ’ L A R G E S T R U R A L L E N D E R

Bryan Credit Office3000 Briarcrest Dr., Ste. 101979.775.0404 | 877.775.0404CapitalFarm Credit.com

SALE EACH SATURDAY


Express Tire & Lube

NOW OPEN!NOW OPEN!

HARVEYRD.

S. TEXASAVE.

SOUTHWESTPARKWAY

HIGHWAY6

204 E SOUTHWEST PARKWAY • COLLEGE STATION • 979.485.2899 • MON-FRI 7AM-6PM • SAT 8AM-1PM

Same Great Service. Same Great People. Just Closer to Home!

News

Aggressiveweedbrings increasingwoe toTexascottongrowers

By BETSY BLANEYAssociated Press

LUBBOCK — A fast-spread-ing weed is causing problems inTexascottonfieldsandcouldcostgrowersmuchof their harvest if

left unchecked.Pigweed, which can grow as

tall as 10 feet andovertake crops,is spreading aggressively in theHigh Plains this year after be-

AP Photo/Betsy BlaneyPigweed grows in a cotton field east of Lubbock.The aggressive weed is causing prob-lems in Texas cotton fields and could cost growers much of their harvest.

See PIGWEED, Page 16


Sign up for the Land & Livestock Post

Electronic Newsletter

Visit:landandlivestockpost.com

Ag newsyou can use,

now at theclick of amouse!

And sign up

today for Land

& Livestock Post

news to be

delivered to

your e-mail

inbox.

landandlivestockpost.com

& Livestock Post

Clark Angus Ranch L.L.C.Since 1952

CROCKETT, TEXAS

PRIVATE

TREATYCARCASSDATA

100 REGISTERED BULLS, 18-24MONTHS, EPD’sREADY FOR HEAVY SERVICE

OPEN & BRED HEIFERS - COWS AVAILABLE

CALL FOr AN AppOiNtmeNt

BiLL CLArK936/544-9013888-252-7501

GeNe StOKeS, mGr.WeBSite: clarkangus.comemAiL: clarkangus.aol.com

SemenTested

100%Guaranteed

NewsEconomicchallengespersist forcattleproducers

By Blair FanninTexas A&MAgriLife Extension

Service

CORPUS CHRISTI — Texascattle producers looking to re-stock herds may choose to ex-amine all options as financialdynamics have changed due tohistoric high cattle prices, ac-cording to Texas A&M AgriLifeExtension Service economists.A recent Financial and Risk

Management Assistance re-port outlined several factors forSouth Texas cattle producersto consider when purchasingreplacements. The publicationwas compiled by Corpus ChristiAgriLife Extension economistsMacYoung andLeviRussell andJoe Paschal, AgriLife Extensionlivestock specialist in CorpusChristi.Steven Klose, AgriLifeExtension economist in CollegeStation,alsoservedasco-author.The Financial and Risk Man-

agement Assistance program,commonly referred to as FARMAssistance, is a computerizeddecision support system devel-oped to perfect methods in riskanddecisionmaking for farmers,according to AgriLife Extension

economists.The economists used a

200-head herd in South Texas asa case study. Costs and returnson management practices weretypical of the area. These canvary by operators. Ten-year av-erages were used to analyze andcompare net cash farm income.Openheifers,bredheifers,youngpairs, old pairs and open cowswere evaluated to see whichtypes would generate the mostnet income.“As we move forward, higher

feeder and replacement cattleprices in 2014 will have a signifi-cant impact on the short- andlong-term profitability of cattleoperations in South Texas,”Young said.Current cattle prices, includ-

ing replacements, are averaging20percentmorewhencomparedto July 2013 prices, the reportsaid.Availability of young pairs

and open cattle will continue tobe a challenge for cattle produc-ers looking to rebuild or expandherds, the economists said.“Depending on the availabil-

ity and price of quality replace-ments, more than one stockingstrategy may have to be used torebuild a herd,” Young said. “Infact, it would be wise to revisitthese and other options prior topurchase to re-evaluate them asconditionschange in the future.”Based on current 2014 market

prices and conditions, restock-ing with older open cows maybe the most profitable strategyat present time, according to thestudy.Prices foropencows in thepast year have not increased inproportion toother replacementfemales, but availability may bean issue due to previous culling,Youngsaid.Average10-yearcashfarm income per cow was $377for open cows, while older pairsgenerated$341,youngpairs$275,bred heifers $346 and open heif-ers $209.“Bred heifers and older pairs

also may offer more profitablestrategies than young pairs oropen heifers,” Young said. “The

lower the initial capital outlay torepurchase cattle, and the avail-ability of a calf to sell the firstyear, improves net cash farm in-come for bred heifers and pairs.Open heifers may be the leastprofitable way to replace due tonothavingacalf tosell inthefirstyearandadditionaldevelopmentcosts.”Youngsaid inevaluating these

restocking options, the impor-tantpoint toconsider is theorderorrankintermsof netcashfarmincome, not the actual value. InpreviousFARMAssistancestud-ies, bred heifers and older pairs

weremore financially profitablethan open cows.Paschal emphasized that re-

stocking considerations need toinclude more than the age andpregnancy status of the replace-ments. Additional managementcosts for extra feed and health,and death and replacement loss-es need to also be considered.“Inthisanalysis,opencowsare

now themost profitable,” Youngsaid.According to the study, actual

results will likely vary by pro-ducer, management practices,forage conditions, and cattle

markets.Thecullingandcalvingrates used in the study may notreflect actual practices.“Forexample,youngerfemales

may have been culled too heav-ily andolder femalesnot heavilyenough,”Young said. “Addition-ally, the availability and qualityof females by class may be anissue. This analysis should beusedonlyasaguideinevaluatingrestockingoptions, and it shouldbe remembered that the best re-stocking scenario may changefrom season to season.”To view the report, go to

farmassistance.tamu.edu.

Texas A&MAgriLife Extension Service photoCurrent cattle prices, including replacements, are averaging 20 percent more than a year ago, according to a Texas A&MAgriLifeExtension Service study.Availability of young pairs and open cattle will continue to be a challenge for cattle producers looking torebuild or expand herds.

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc.(979) 776-4444 or (800) 299-7355

President - Crystal Dupré ..................................................... Ext. 4613

Publisher and Editor- Kelly Brown ......................................... Ext. 4656

Advertising Director - Ron Prince ........................................ Ext. 4740

Advertising Sales/General Manager - Jesse Wright ............... Ext. 4721

Financial Director - Rod Armstrong ....................................... Ext. 4605

Production Director - Mark Manning..................................... Ext. 4671

Circulation Director - Jack Perkins ....................................... Ext. 4752

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc.,P.O. Box 3000, Bryan, Texas 77805.E-mail: [email protected]

All offices are located at 1729 Briarcrest DriveBryan, Texas 77802.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toThe Eagle, P.O. Box 3000,Bryan, Texas 77805-3000

The Post is printed in part on recycledpaper and is fully recyclable.


News

Cattleherdrebuildingwillbea slowprocessBy DonalD StottS

Oklahoma State University

STILLWATER, Okla. — Con-sumers looking at the price ofbeef in grocery store meat mar-kets may be lead consumers towishmorecattlewere in the foodproduction system to lower thehitontheirwallets,but that isnotlikely to happen anytime soon.

“Data from the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture providessomeindicationthatherdexpan-sion may be beginning but moreclearly shows herd rebuildingwill be a long process and a slowone, at least initially,” said Der-rell Peel, Oklahoma State Uni-versity Cooperative Extensionlivestock marketing specialist.

The July Cattle report showsestimates of herd inventoriesdown in most categories com-pared to the last report in 2012.Since no 2013 report is availablefor comparison, it is not readilyevident whether inventories arehigheror lower than lastyear forthe various categories.

“It is likely most are lower,”Peel said. “However, it also ap-

pears the beef cow herd is stabi-lizing and is likely only slightlylower than last year.”

The July 1 estimate of beefreplacement heifers was downfrom July 2012 despite the factthat Jan. 1 estimates of beef re-placementheifersincreasedeachof thepast three years. The ratioof the July 1 beef replacementheifers to theJanuary inventoryof replacementheifers is the low-est since the July estimates be-gan in 1973. This ratio typicallyrises duringherd expansionanddecreases during liquidations,

“This indication of additionalherd liquidation is somewhat incontrast to the heifers on feed intheJulyreport,whichisdown4.6percent fromyear-earlier levels,”Peel said.

Theyear-over-yeardecrease inJuly 1 heifers on feed is consis-tent with modest levels of initialherd expansion. Quarterly es-timates of heifers on feed haveposted year-over-year decreasesfor the past eight quarters, withan average decrease of 6.8 per-cent.

So far this year, heifer slaugh-terhasdeclined7.9percent,asig-nificantly larger decrease thansteer slaughter, which declined2.9 percent for the year to date.Beef cow slaughter is down 16.4percentsofarthisyearcomparedto the same period last year.

“These decreases in femaleslaughter strongly suggest herdexpansion is beginning,” Peelsaid. “Aggregate herd balancenumberssuggest thecapacity forherd expansion is greater thanwhathasbeenobserved todate.”

Analystshaveputforthseveralfactors thatmaybe limitingherdexpansion in these early stages.Record-high feeder cattle pricesthat eventually will stimulateherd expansion may, in theshort run, increase the tempta-tion to sell heifers rather than

retain them for breeding. This isparticularly true for producersstill recovering financially fromdrought and other economic dif-ficulties.

“Forsomeolderproducerswhoare considering retirement, cur-rent market prices may providethe incentive to sell out and exitthe industry,” Peel said. “Whilenew producers will, in most cas-es, replace the older producers,theremaybealag inherdgrowthduring the transition.”

Additionally, the record-highprices that cattle sellerscurrent-ly enjoy also imply high pricesfor breeding females. This couldbe a deterrent to expansion, atleast initially, for cash-strappedproducers.

Regional factors may be mod-erating herd expansion as well.

Much of the eastern half of theUnited States has lost pastureand hay acreage as crop pro-duction has expanded in recentyears, leading many analysts toproject less herd rebuilding inthis region.

“Drought conditions persistin much of the Great Plains andWest regions, where proportion-ately more herd expansion islikely,”Peelsaid.“However,herdrebuildingmaybemoderated forseveral months to several yearsto allow recovery of pasture andrange.”

Furthermore, the biology ofcattleproduction impliesa strictlimitonhowfastherdexpansioncan take place. Herd expansionwill startslowlyfromthecurrentlow herd base under the best ofcircumstances.

Cargill to closeMilwaukee beefprocessing plant due to lack of cattle

NEW YORK (AP) — Cargillplans to close a Milwaukee beef-processing plant which employsabout 600 people on Aug. 1 due toa shortage of cattle.

A Midwest drought in 2011and 2012 hurt cattle levels, saidCargill spokesmanMikeMartin.Now,manyherdersarebreedingthe cattle they have and not sell-ing them. The U.S. beef cattleherd is at its lowest level since1951, Cargill said.

The Milwaukee plant slaugh-ters livecattleandpackagesbeefproducts. The meat producerbought the plant, which can pro-cess as many as 1,400 animals aday, in 2001.

Employees were told aboutthe closure after an 18-month re-

view of cattle supply. A separateplant at the site, which producesground beef and employs about200 people, will remain open.

Cargill said the 600 people los-ing their jobs can apply for workat other facilities in the region.The employees affected will re-ceive60daysof payaftertheplantcloses, Martin said.

Privately-held Cargill is basedin Minneapolis and has about143,000 employees around theworld.


Questions AboutCattle Health?

Ask the Vet!

P.O. Box 3000 Bryan, TX 77805or [email protected]

Submit your questions to:

Steve Wikse - Retired DVM Large Animal Clinical SciencesCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University

WIKSE


TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

Your Texas Cat® Dealer can put together a deal that works for your operationand your cash w. You can purchase, short or long-term lease or we offer apay-by-the hour solution including all maintenance. Don’t need to own? Askus about our extensive rental t.

When you add in owning and operating costs, maintenance intervals and trade-invalue, what looks like a good deal on a competitive machine on the front end, maynot look so good over the life of the machine.

Beyond the purchase price, you’ll d value in guaranteed uptime, immediate partsavailability, knowledgeable product support, in the ld or in the shop, and maintenanceplans whether you or your Texas Cat Dealer do the wrenching.

We invite the comparison. Contact your Texas Cat Dealer below.

© 2014 Caterpillar All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.www.cat.com www.caterpillar.com

CHECK OUT CAT®.THE BEST FIT FORA DAIRY OPERATION.

nd, may

ate partsmaintenance

.

nance

HOLT AGRIBUSINESSHoltAg.com

San Antonio • 877-882-5992

WARREN CATwww.warrencatag.com

Midland866-2WARREN

WAGNER AGwww.wagnerequipment.com

El Paso10501 Dyer Street • 915-821-7651

MUSTANG CATwww.mustangcat.com

Houston713-460-2000

News

Safety firstBiosecurity is important forabeef cattleoperation

By RoBeRt FeaRsSpecial to The Post

Aherdhealth program forbeef cattle operations is notcomplete without an execut-ed biosecurity plan. Bios-ecuritymanagement prac-

tices are designed to prevent the spreadof disease byminimizing themovementof biologic organisms and their vectorssuch as viruses, bacteria, rodents andflies onto andwithin your operation.While developing andmaintaining

biosecurity is difficult, it is the cheapestandmost effectivemeans of disease con-trol available. A disease prevention pro-gramwill not workwithout biosecurity.

How disease spreadsIn order to establish andmaintain an

effective biosecurity program in a beefcattle operation, methods of diseasespreadmust be understood. Diseasespreads directly— from an infectedanimal to a susceptible animal— orindirectly— from an infected animal toan object or equipment, and then to asusceptible animal.For example, feeding a calf with a bot-

tle that has not been properly sterilizedcan be a way of indirect transmission.Disease is transmitted in seven pri-

mary ways:• Aerosol —Disease pathogens are

carried in the air onmoisture dropletsfrom sneezing or coughing.• Direct contact —Disease pathogen

contacts an openwound, saliva, blood ormucousmembranes, or is passed fromnose to nose, by rubbing and biting.• Oral — Susceptible animals con-

sume disease-causing pathogens in con-taminated feed andwater or lick or chewcontaminated objects.

Photos by Robert FearsA neighbor’s bull can contribute more than the wrong genetics to your herd. Purchsing bulls and cows only from breeders who follow strict health pro-tocols can help ensure the safety of your herd.

On the cover: You can’t have a biosecurity program without good perimeter fences or an effective program to keep areas clean and free from dead carcasses.See BIOSECURITY, Page 13


News• Reproductive —Disease pathogens

are spread duringmating or gestation.• Vehicles —Contaminated objects,

such as needles, trailers, trucks orclothing transfer the disease-causingpathogen from an infected animal to asusceptible animal.• Vector-borne —A living insect,

animal or human carries the diseasefrom an infected animal to a susceptibleanimal.• Fomites —Diseases are transmitted

through contaminated soil, water andfood.

Clean up your ranchA good biosecurity program has to

begin at home.Workwith your veteri-narian to write a health program thatwill reduce disease incidence and helpdevelop herd immunity against futurepathogen exposure. Identify and removeanimals that are reservoirs for certaindiseases such as Johne’s, trichomoniasisand bovine viral diarrhea. These ani-

mals continue to shed the pathogen andinfect other animals.Jason Cleere, associate professor and

Extension beef cattle specialist with theTexas A&MAgriLife Extension Service,suggests several general biosecuritypractices. He stresses the use of good hy-giene practices whenworking cattle.“Don’t insert a used vaccination

needle back into an open bottle,” Cleeresaid. “Always use a sterile needle. Usea sterile transfer needle or needle andsyringe to reconstitutemodified-live vac-cines.“Disinfect syringes with boiling water,

not chemical sterilizers. Reusable equip-ment such as tattooers, implant guns,ear notchers, dehorners and castrationknives should be disinfected chemicalsterlizers beforemoving to the next ani-mal,” he saidCleere recommendsmonitoring herd

health by identifying each animal andmaintaining up-to-date treatment andproduction records. Up-to-date records

Biosecurity, from Page 12

Photo by Robert FearsNewly purchased cattle should be placed in quarantine for least three weeks before adding them to the herd.See HEALTH, Page 21


Experts inWater Well Drilling & Irrigation Systems

WATERWELL DRILLING• Agricultural• Residential• Commercial

PUMP SALES & SERVICE• Pressure Tanks• Home & Farm Pumps &Parts• Submersible & LineshaftTurbines for Irrigation& Public Systems

Hwy 6 South, Hearne, TX

979-279-2427

BrienWaterWells

BrienWaterWells has the experience and know-howto assist you in all your water needs, call today!

Serving your water needs for 4 generations.

BrienWaterWellscirca 1940s.

BrienWaterWellspresent day.


*AS LOW AS 0% FINANCINGFOR 84 MONTHS!

#1 Selling Tractor In The World

With Loader,2WD, 55HP

84 mos @ 3.99%*

$260mo

MAHINDRA 5525

84 mos @ 3.99%**

$285mo

MAHINDRA 4025

With Loader,4WD, 41HP

$447mo

MAHINDRA 6110With Loader,

4WD, Remotes,Cab & Air, 59HP

84 mos @ 3.99%*

BUY ANY 2IMPLEMENTS

with a TRACTORPURCHASE

GETUP TO

$300REBATE

www.J5tractors.comCheck out our website at

Conroe, T

X

936-441-811

0

Nasota,

TX

936-825-87

22

Normange

e TX

936-396-60

32

84 mos @ 3.99%*

MAHINDRA 6530

4WD,Loader,

DualRemotes,

65HP

mo$402

84 mos @ 3.99%*

$238mo

MAHINDRA 45252WD, Loader,

46HP

***

With ved edit. Prog strictions apply See dealer for details.

www.J5tractors.comCheck out our website at

Conroe

Conroe, T

X

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0936-4

41-8110

936-441-811

0

Nasota,

TX

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

936-825-87

22

Normange

e TX

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

936-396-60

32

*****

WithWithWithWithWith vedved edit.edit.edit.edit. ProgProg strictionsstrictionsstrictionsstrictionsstrictions applyapply SeeSee dealerdealerdealer forfor details.details.details.details.details.

NewsTexasA&MAgriLifeResearchstudy:Mesquite is acomplementarybiofuel feedstock

By Kay LedBetterTexas A&MAgriLife Extension Service

VERNON—As requirements growfor use of cellulosic biofuels tomeet the energy needs of the na-

tion, researchers look at potential feed-stocks and any effects these alternativesourcesmay have on greenhouse gasemissions.A recent Texas A&MAgriLife Re-

search studywill be published in theBioEnergy Research journal, outlininghowmesquite, growing in abundance insome regions of the Southwest, could fitinto the overall picture.The paper is based on the study “Eco-

nomic and Greenhouse Gas Efficiencyof HoneyMesquite Relative to OtherEnergy Feedstocks for Bioenergy Usesin the Southern Great Plains.”The AgriLife Research team conduct-

ing the study included Seong Park,economist; TongWang, a post-doctoralresearcher; and JimAnsley, rangelandecologist, all in Vernon. They werejoined by Steve Amosson, Texas A&MAgriLife Extension Service economist inAmarillo.Bioenergy feedstocks have been pro-

moted globally as potential means to off-set greenhouse gas emissions by replac-ing fossil fuels such as gas and coal, Parksaid. In the U.S., federal support hasplayed a key role in the biofuel industry.Examples include the Renewable FuelStandard, established with the EnergyPolicy Act of 2005, and later expanded.The Energy Independence and Secu-

rity Act of 2007 stipulates the annual useof at least 16 billion gallons of cellulosicbiofuels and a cap of 15 billion gallons ofcorn starch ethanol by 2022, Park said.In addition, biofuels are being examinedfrom the standpoint of lifecycle green-house gas emission reductions.Despite the initial promise of grain-

based biofuels, such as corn, there havebeen a number of concerns that grain-based biofuel may generate even highergreenhouse gas emissions than fossil

fuels, he said. Planting grain-based spe-cies also could accelerate the depletionof the Ogallala Aquifer or other scarcewater resources.The AgriLife Research study evalu-

ated the economic and greenhouse gasefficiencies of honeymesquite comparedto irrigated and dryland sweet sorghumand dryland switchgrass, Park said.Despite its higher energy density per

pound, mesquite production values on aper-land area basis are lower than otherfeedstocks observed in this comparisonand therefore could not replace thementirely, he said. But, mesquite appearsto be suitable as a complementaryfeedstock to contribute tototal biomassdemand.“Our results suggest that mesquite

lagged slightly behind switchgrass when

the biomass and energy efficiency wereconsidered,”Wang said. “However, mes-quite appeared superior to all the feed-stocks in two categories: greenhouse gasoffset efficiency and greenhouse gas useefficiency once land-use change effectswere accounted for.”She said the study results are “pretty

robust as they still hold true in the worstscenario proposed formesquite.”Park saidmesquite has even greater

potential if additional benefits such asincreased grass production for livestockgrazing and reduction in herbicide ormechanical removal costs formesquitecontrol are considered.“The biggest negative is lower bio-

mass production per acre per year formesquite compared to other feedstocks,”he said.

Features such as no fertilizer, irriga-tion or weed control costs; the unlimitedre-harvest potential every 10-12 years;the ability to harvest year round; and adrymoisture content all help costs andimprove carbon efficiencies, however.Additional studies are needed to put

mesquite’s potential into perspective,Park said. Future research areas couldfocus on developing a landscape scale,GIS-based decision support system to de-termine optimum feedstock harvestingand processing logistics on rangelands.Other potential studies he outlined

could determine the rate of ecosystemrestoration, hydrological impact, andecological and economic sustainabilityof woody harvest, as well as comparethese fuels on regional water use andwater use efficiencies.

Texas A&MAgriLife Research photo by Jim AnsleyBrady Surber, a Texas A&MAgriLife Research technician, measures the 7-year-old regrowth height of a mesquite tree.


News

comingresistant to theherbicidethat once easily eradicated it.Above-average rainfall also

hashelpedthegrowthof pigweedin theworld’s largest contiguousgrowingpatch,wherecottonpro-ducers are checking their fieldsand seeking other herbicides toensuretheircropsaren’taffected.“It just happens so fast,” said

Walt Hagood, who farms about1,600 cotton acres southwest ofLubbock. “If we don’t get on topof themearly, it’s just likeabase-ball game. You get down a fewrunsand it’shard tocomeback.”Putsimply,pigweedisacotton-

picking headache and could cutproducers’ yields by as much as40percent.WhilesomefieldsnearLubbockrecently lookedclearofthe weed, pigweed plants dotted

cotton rows in other places.For those areas, eradication

gets more difficult if pigweedgoes to seed.One female plant can have as

many as 600,000 seeds that arecarried by water but not wind.Above-average rainfall in theHighPlainssincelateMayhelpedflush the seeds to other areasof fields, though they’re lightenough to sometimes be blownaround.To overcome the proliferation

of pigweed, cotton producersmust use different herbicidesthroughout the growing season.They can also be hoedmanuallyfrom fields, though the weed’sthick stems anddeep rootsmakethat hard work.

“Its reproductive capacity is

Pigweed, from Page 8

See COTTON, Page 23August 2014— Issue 2 The Land & Livestock Post16

Jesse Wright [email protected]

To advertise in MarketplaceContact:

Registered Angus16-20 MonthBULLS

Madisonville, TXErnieAlbers

936-349-1955903-445-7817

Green MeadowsRANCH

ALL TYPES OF STRUCTURALSTEEL & PIPE

Steel Buildings

979-589-23331-866-959-2333pioneerboys.com

Cleere Earthworks L.L.C.TEXAS A&M CLASS OF ‘02

Land Clearing • Ponds • Roads • PadsDozer • Excavator • Scraper • Dump Truck

979-324-8746Travis Cleere

www.cleereearthworks.com

BRAHMAN BULLS/HEIFERS

Anthony Kubicek(979) 324-7391 cell.(979) 567-4201 ranch.Email: [email protected]

22 – 24 Month OldOpen Brahman Heifers Ready to Breed.

Good Selection of GentleBreeding Age Bulls Available.

Registered Gray Brahmans • F1 Brafords

903-445-7817

Out ThereGet Your Name

Cattle&

Domestic HogProcessing

TheissSausageCompanyNormangee, TX936-396-9300

www.theisssausageco.com

RANCH FARMRESIDENTIAL

979.779.0420979.218.8674call for appointment or

[email protected] BARNS

PENS GAME FENCESCUSTOMBUILDINGSSTALLS REMODELS

BuddyMicklitz

DEER • RANCHCOMMERCIAL

C 979.218.8674H 979.779.0420

CHAIN LINK

Bryan Credit Office979.775.0404 | 877.775.0404

CapitalFarmCredit.com

Bryan Credit Office3000 Briarcrest Ste 101

979.775.0404 | 877.775.0404CapitalFarm Credit.com

Solid Rock RanchAngus Bulls

Twos and coming twos.One breeding season guarantee.AI sires include In Focus, CAREfficient, Danny Boy, Mainline

& Retail Product.Matt Jones. Franklin, TX.979-777-7571, 979-828-3410www.solidrockranch.com

AI sires include Final An-swer, Thunder, Cedar Ridge &VDAR Really Windy 4097.

MARKETPLACE

www.cattlemanbullsale.com

1X21 time - $25

12 times - $20/per run24 times - $15/per run

1X31 time - $37

12 times - $31/per run24 times - $21/per run

MarketplaceAdvertising Rates

MarketplaceAdvertising Rates1X1

1 time - $1412 times - $12/per run24 times - $9/per run

MarketingQuality ReplacementCattle

Please call with any questionsOr to list your cattle with us!WWW.LESTERLIVESTOCK.COM

(979)777-9387

News

Using EPDs as a primary selectiontoolmakes good economic sense

By RoBeRt WellsSamuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Surprisingly, I still find thatmany producers do not use theexpected progeny differences(EPDs) as a primary selectiontool for their bull.

Many select their next herdbull based only on physical ap-pearance or a perceived abilityto perform, or low birth weight.In other words, does he have awell-balanced body with plenty

of muscling, yet look like hewillbeeasyoncalving?Severalpure-bred breeders have said that theonly question most of their cus-tomers have is: “Is the bull calv-ingease?”Thesebuyers typicallycomplain that EPDs are confus-ing touseor that theydon’twork.

With some basic knowledge,however, utilizing EPDs can beeasy and beneficial to all cattleoperations.

Photo courtesy of the Samuel Roberts Noble FoundationUtilizing EPDs can be easy and beneficial to all cattle operations.

See EPDs, Page 18


ATS IRRIGATION, INC.2509 Hwy 105 East • Brenham, TX 77833

1-800-656-2197 • www.atsirrigation.com

K-Line Irrigation SystemsA revolutionary new irrigation system designed for pastures and forage crops

K-Line Irrigation benefits include:

Cost effective irrigation•Simple installation•Easy shifting•Suits all terrain and property sizes•Slow application rate for maximizing•absorptionEfficient use of water•Easily expanded•

LowMaintenance

9 miles N. of Carlos19685 FM 244, Iola, Tx 77861

(936) 394-2507

Jet Dealer & ServiceFor Over 30 YearsSTJS Hardware

Texas Jet Systems, “Specialists in Waste Water Treatment”

3/8 Guy Wire Cable,Cable Ends, Springs,

Clips, Caps

Cable Fencing Supplies

Concrete Products

Water Troughs,Cattle Guard Beams,

Septic Tanks,Storm Shelters

CustomCattle Guards

Also ATV CattleGuards

Cattle Guards

New PipeNo Threads - No Bell Ends1050 Ez Weld .100 Wall1- 5/16 .115 Wall1- 5/8 .110 Wall1- 7/8 .110 Wall2- 3/8 SCH-402- 7/8 .145 Wall4- 1/2 SCH-40

Certified Dealer

WINCO Generator Tractor Driven PTOWINCO Generator Tractor Driven PTO

190 GallonConcreteWater trough

Concrete legfeed trough

Cattle Panels •WaterWell SuppliesWasteWater Chlorine • Corral Panels

Aerobic Sewer Systems • GatesPoly & Galvanized Culverts

WeCarry

CALDWELL LIVESTOCK COMMISSION

Carl Herrmann(979)820-5349

Hwy 36 South, P.O. Box 542, Caldwell, TX 77836Sale Barn Phone: (979) 567-4119

REGULAR SALE EVERY

WEDNESDAY, 1:00 PM

News

Typically, when a producerreports that EPDs don’t work,it is usually because he or sheselected a bull with the wrongexpectations for a particularEPD. The first thing one mustdetermine is in which direction,higheror lower,aparticular traitis desired.The following is a brief list of

some EPD traits and the typi-cal target direction for terminalproduction systems. Each breedassociation has numerous otherEPDs they measure. The inclu-sion or exclusion of traits doesnot necessarily imply signifi-cance of a particular trait. Thefollowing list is common amongmost breeds, however, and is im-portant toconsider ina terminalproduction system. A terminalproduction system does not re-tain and develop replacementheifers, and typically sellsoff theranch to the next segment of theindustry or retains ownership

through the feeding phase.

Performance traits•CalvingEase,CalvingEase

Direct — A high Calving Easescore will indicate less potentialfordystociaorcalvingproblems.This trait takes intoaccountbothcalf birth weight and calvingscore data, which ranges fromone to four.The higher the value, the bet-

ter. Use this EPD instead of justthe birth weight EPD since ittakes into account other factorssuchas framesizeof thecalf andrelative difficulty of the calvingprocess.

•BirthWeight—Lowernum-bers are more desirable. Birthweight EPD is an indicator traitinpoundsof calvingease inheif-ers.Thedifferencesbetween twobullBirthWeightEPDs is theav-erageexpectationof differenceinpounds of calf weight. The ge-netic relationship between birthweight and calving ease is high

(0.76); however, it is not perfect.This is the reason Calving Easeis a better indicator for calvingease than birth weight.•WeaningWeight—Typical-

ly for most terminal productionsystems, a higher value is moredesirable.A production system develop-

ingandretainingitsownreplace-ments typically would want tomoderate this trait. This indica-tor ismeasured in pounds and isan indication of the sire’s abilitytopass onweaninggrowth tohisoffspring.• Yearling Weight — Typi-

cally for most terminal produc-tion systems, a higher value ismore desirable. A productionsystem developing and retain-ing its own replacements wouldtypically want to moderate thistrait, however.This indicator is measured

in pounds and is an indicationof the sire’s ability to pass ongrowth between weaning and ayear of age to his offspring.

Carcass EPD Traits• Marbling — This is the dif-

ferencebetweenmarblingscoresof progenyforonesirecomparedto another. Typically, a higherMarbling EPD value is more de-sirable in a terminal productionsystem.• Fat Thickness— This is the

measure, in inches, of the 12thrib external fat difference fromone sire compared to another.Typically, a moderate value is

better, depending on the breedof choice.• Ribeye Area — This trait is

measured in square inches andis the difference in ribeye areaof a sire’s offspring relative toanother sire of the same breed.Smaller-framed breeds wouldbenefit fromlargervalues,whilelarger continental breeds willwant to moderate this trait butremain above breed average.

EPDs, from Page 17

See TRAITS, Page 19


Marek Grain Bin Co.GSI Grain Bins•Grain Handling Equipment•Hutchinson Augers•

254-985-2242

News

EPD values are not directlycomparable across breeds.However, across-breed EPD

adjustments can be made tocompare a particular bull in onebreed to another bull in a differ-ent breed.Remember, single trait selec-

tion is dangerous and can haveunintended consequences. Fur-thermore, recognize that selec-tion for extremes in a specific di-rection for any trait can changemature cow size or productionefficiency over time.Selectmultiple traits thathave

economic significance for youroperation.

Traits, from Page 18

Foodwriters called in ‘pink slime’ suitBy REGINA GARCIA CANO

Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota— Several food writers, includ-ing a New York Times reporter,have been subpoenaed by ameatproduceraspartof its$1.2billiondefamation lawsuit against ABCin regards to coverage of a beefproduct dubbed “pink slime” bycritics.The subpoenas were issued to

five writers — three reportersfor the online Food Safety News,TimesreporterMichaelMossand

noted foodwriterMicheleSimon— asking each to supply copiesof anycommunications theyhadwith ABC in 2012.

Beef Products Inc.suedABCin2012 for the coverage of themeatproduct the industry calls “lean,finely textured beef,”which crit-ics dubbed “pink slime.”

Beef Products Inc. said ABC’scoveragemisled consumers intobelieving theproductwasunsafeand led to the closure of threeplants and roughly 700 layoffs.


BESIDES BUILDING THE BEST TRAILERS ON THE MARKET,WE ALSO OFFER A HUGE SELECTION OF:

TRAILER AXLES • HUBS • BRAKES • LIGHTS • JACKSCOUPLERS • TOWING • HARDWARE • CARGO CONTROLTIRES ANDWHEELS • TRUCK ACCESSORIES •WINCHESGOOSENECK HOOKUPS IN TRUCKS • ANDMUCHMORE!

(979) 778-0034See our complete Parts Inventory and order online at:www.goosenecktrailerparts.com

www.gooseneck.net

4400 East Hwy 21, Bryan, TX 77808

BRING IN THIS ADTO ENTER A

DRAWING FOR A$50 GIFT CARDTOTHE RESTAURANTOFYOUR CHOICE!

Metal Roofing &Building SupplyNavasota, TX

936-825-0500 1-800-91-HILCO12503 HWY 6 NAVASOTA,TX 77868

www.hilcosupply.com

• Pipe• Latches• Fence Cable

•Weld Up• Bolt Up• Residential• Agricultural

$12,50000+ TAXPipe /FencingSupplies

METALBUILDINGS

METAL ROOF-ING

40’ X 105’16’ Clearance3 - Sided Hay Barn

(Round Bale)All Galvalume

ALSO30’ X 60’ X 12’ Eave

1 - 10 X 10 FOAll Galvalume

Call for Pricing!


Cassie KearnsSouth Central Territory Manager

903-278-2678

9,5009,0008,5008,0007,5007,0006,5006,000

JUMBO TAMTBO Marshall TAM 90 Nelson PasserelPlus

Prine

Texas A&M - Overton, Texas2013-2014 Yield Totals

Poun

dsPe

rAcr

e

Jeff SchwartzBrenham, TX • Washington County

Charles DoonanCaldwell, TX • Brazos County

®

6,400

5,900

5,400

4,900

4,400MAXIMUS Nelson TAMTBOPrine Gulf TAM 90 Passerel

Plus

Texas A&M - Beaumont, TexasThree Year Mean Yields 2006-2007

Poun

dsPe

rAcr

e

Newshelp identify carrier animalsand aid in culling decisions onanimals that exhibit low resis-tance to pathogens. In addition,watch cattle for adverse healthsymptoms or behavior such as:• Sudden and unexplained

deaths• Large numbers of sick ani-

mals•Unusual ticks ormaggots•Blisters around an animal’s

nose, teats, mouth or hooves•Difficulty rising andwalk-

ing•A drop in production•A large number of unex-

plained dead insects, rodentsor wildlife also indicate diseasepresence.It is a good idea to keep cattle

away from recently importedexotic wildlife that may harbordisease.“To avoid spreading disease

from dead animals, develop acarcass disposal plan,” Clee-resaid. “Avoid fecal and urinecontamination of feed andwater sources. Control pestpopulations and limit access tofeedstuffs.”Create an emergency contact

list of resource people withinthe community, including yourlocal veterinarian, the countyextension agent, and thenearest Texas Animal HealthCommission representative.Post copies of the list near tele-phones and on bulletin boards.Have employees enter thesenumbers into their cell phones.

Control trafficControlling disease and

pathogen egress onto the ranchis just as important as reduc-ing their presence within yourproperty lines. Good fencesare important in an effectivebiosecurity program becausethe visiting bull may contributemore than the wrong genetics.There is always a possibility ofstray cattle introducing diseaseinto your herd.

Know your neighbors andtheir production practices. Ifthey don’t have a sufficient herdhealth program it may be pru-dent to install an electric wireinside your boundary fence todeter contact of cattle throughthe fence.“Have procedures for han-

dling incoming cattle,” recom-mends RonGill, professor andExtension livestock specialistwith the Texas A&MAgriLifeExtension Service. “Almostevery ranch eventuallymustadd new breeding animals andsome stocker or feedlot opera-tions continuously add cattle.“Disease can be transported

to the ranchwith cattle, sominimize this possibility bydefining the level of diseaserisk for the new arrivals. Forexample, yearling virgin bullsfrom a seed stock breeder witha strict health protocol may below risk, while cows from anunknown sourcemay be highrisk.”Gill said, “New animals

should be isolated from restof the herd for at least threeweeks, and possibly at a loca-tion off the ranch.“Watch the isolated animals

closely for symptoms of illness,such as elevated temperatureand abnormal behavior. Con-sult a local veterinarian tolearn the diseases for which thequarantined cattle should betested. Vaccinate the quaran-tined cattle according to ranchprotocols.“Unauthorized access to pas-

tures and cattle should be lim-ited,” Gill said. “Visitorsmayintroduce diseases to the ranch,increase the risk of theft andcause liability issues.“To help prevent unauthor-

ized access, keep doors andgates locked at all times andpost ‘No Trespassing’ signs.Conduct random securitychecks and look for signs of un-authorized activity or entry.“Asmentioned previously,

maintain good perimeter fencesand know your neighbors.

Workwith your neighbors toorganize a crimewatch pro-gram. Secure water sourcesand identify alternates in theevent one becomes contaminat-ed with pathogens,” Gill said.Invited guests also can

threaten ranch biosecurity.Ask visitors if they have beenaround other livestock. Beforetouring your working facilitiesand pastures, check their shoesand clothes to ensure they arenot coated withmanure anddirt.Biosecurity should not be

conducted in a haphazardman-ner.Additional biosecurity infor-

mation can be obtained fromTexas A&MAgriLife ExtensionService Bulletin L-5506, datedSeptember 2008 and titled Bios-ecurity for Beef Cattle Opera-tions. The authors are quotedin this article.The bulletin can be found at

www.agrilifebookstore.org/product-plel-5506.htm and isprinted in the 59th AnnualTexas A&MBeef Cattle ShortCourse Proceedings, which washeld in August 2013.

Health, from Page 13

Photo by Robert FearsPart of biosecurity is thoroughly cleaning your trailers between hauls and using fresh needles and clean tools.


New Subscription

Address Change

Name:

Address:

City:_____________________ St:________ Zip:

Phone #:

Old Address (if applicable):

City: _____________________St: _______Zip:

Email Address:

PAYMENT INFORMATION

Check Enclosed (Please make checks payable toThe Eagle)

Please Bill my: Mastercard VISA American Express

Discover

Account#:_____________________________CIV#:_____________

Name on Card:

Amount: _________________________Expiration Date:

Signature: Date:

SUBSCR IPT IONSubscribe to the award-winning Land & Livestock Post and receive 24 issues

of the latest ag news and information about the issues that affect you!

Mail or Register Online:c/o Land & Livestock Post

P.O. Box 3000Bryan, TX 77805

OR www.landandlivestockpost.comand click “subscribe”.

$19.9524 Issu

es

NEWS YOUCAN USERIGHTIN YOURMAILBOX


News

tremendous,” said Wayne Keel-ing, an agronomist with TexasAgriLife Extension Service inLubbock. “The problem is herenow and it needs to be dealt withbefore it gets worse.”

Pigweed, also known as Palm-eramaranth, isasummerannualthat’s native to the Sonoran Des-ert and the Lower Rio GrandeValley and affects all row crops,including vegetables and pea-nuts. By the late 1990s, pigweedhad become a major agricultur-al weed in the southern GreatPlains and remains an issue intheCarolinasandMidweststatessuch as Iowa and Illinois. Cottongrowers in the South alreadyspend about $100 million a yearto try tokeep itoutof theirfields.

Growers foundthatherbicidescontaining glysophate weresuccessful in killing the weed,though over the years severalstates had seen it become resis-tant to the chemical. This year

thatresistancereachedtheTexasfields, forcingproducers tofindamix of other herbicides to com-bat the problem.

“There’snothingreallynewonthehorizon,” saidLarrySteckel,a weed specialist at the Univer-

sity of Tennessee at Knoxville.But he said using different her-bicides, includingonecontainingthe chemical glufosinate, haveproved effective.

Growers will not have oneherbicide in their toolbox afterthe U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency recently denied anemergencyexemptionappliedforby Texas agriculture officials forachemical calledpropazine.TheEPAciteddrinkingwateranden-vironmental hazard concerns.

Pete Dotray, a professor ofweed science at Texas TechUniversity, said cotton growersneed either to rotate crops orthe herbicides they use to staveoff pigweed growth. Dotray saidagriculture users in the South-east have had problems with re-sistance for years because theyreliedsolelyonproductscontain-ing glysophate.

“It seemed like the technol-ogy lasted longer here becausewe were more diversified” in theherbicides, he said.

Cotton, from Page 16

AP Photo/Betsy BlaneyCotton growers in theSouth already spendabout $100 million a year to try to keepoigweed out of their fields.


Signup deadline isNovember 15, 2014

Ask us about the new program for annually•planted forage (fall or spring)Insure a percentage of avg. rainfall on•hayable land or native pastureBased on RAIN GAUGES measured by NOAA•Insurance of native pastures NETTED as•much as $5/acre in 2011, whereas Hayland inmany areas exceeded $50/acreBacked by USDA•Not billed until September 2015•Hargrove Insurance has been serving farmers•and ranchers since 1983


Quality and Integrity at Prices You Can Afford.

NAVASOTA, TX936-825-6575

BRYAN, TX979-822-7684

CAMERON, TX254-697-6551

TEMPLE, TX254-773-9916

TAYLOR, TX512-352-5296

CPTRACTOR.COMVisit the newly redesigned

ENDLESS CAPABILITIES.

1 Family Sub-Compact Utility Tractor

FOR60MOONTTTHSSS1

+$ OFFFFIMPLEMENNT BOONUUS2

3 Series

FFFOOORR6600MMOONNTHHSSS33

++++++++$$ OOFFFIMIMPLPLEMEMEMENENT BOBONUNUNUNUSS44

CFP5X110801BCE-4C

Land and Livestock Post

Documents

james thompsonstraight

horses mouth

slaughter cows

bred cows

slaughter bulls

im notterrible

golf claimshe

golf game