Safe Travels John Maday May 6, 2019 03:03 PM

 

 

Dr. Clyde Lane, professor emeritus from the University of Tennessee, stresses knowing the weight limits of your truck and trailer, and conducting regular inspections for safety.

( John Maday )

Just about every cattle producer with a pickup truck also has a stock trailer to connect to it, but many don’t give their trailer a lot of thought. They hitch it up when they have cattle to haul, and park it under a tree when they’re finished.
During a 2015 Cattle Transportation Symposium in Fort Collins, Colo., University of Tennessee professor emeritus Clyde Lane, PhD, discussed the importance of proper maintenance and operation of stock trailers for minimizing stress on animals and drivers, protecting animal welfare, preventing economic losses and preserving the public image of beef production.
Lane notes that for many in the general public, their only exposure to livestock production occurs when they see animals being transported on public roadways. If they see cattle confined in a broken-down trailer on a hot day, or even worse, injured cattle resulting from a preventable accident, their perception of beef production is likely to become more negative. And from the producer’s standpoint, no one wants the frustration of delays on the road or the economic losses associated with cattle shrink, sickness and potentially deaths.
During the symposium, Lane walked participants through a set of recommended procedures for stock-trailer transportation, including checking the truck, the trailer, the cattle and the emotional state of the driver. His suggestions include the following:

• Know the weight limits and ratings of your truck and make sure the loaded trailer adheres to those limits. Lane says if you are in a wreck and the trailer exceeds the truck’s limits, you could be legally liable even if the accident was not your fault.
• Make sure your truck is in good condition, with plenty of tread on the tires, a sound trailer hitch and working electronics.
• Communicate with your insurance carrier to confirm coverage on the trailer and the cattle you haul. Some companies, Lane says, will not cover the trailer if you are hauling cattle owned by someone else.
• Be prepared for a breakdown by carrying the appropriate jack and tools for on-the-road repairs. Ideally, carry contact information for producers along your route who could transport and house the cattle in case of an extended delay.
• Mount the trailer’s spare wheel in an accessible location. On many goose-neck trailers, Lane says, the wheel is mounted inside the neck section. He recommends moving the wheel to an outside mount so you don’t have to enter a trailer full of cattle to access it when needed.
• Check the age of your spare tire (and other tires). The last four digits of the DOT number on the sidewall indicate the month and year the tire was manufactured. Even if it was never used, an old tire can be unsafe, and lane recommends replacing tires over seven years old regardless of wear.
• Prior to transporting cattle, give the trailer a good safety inspection. Check the tires, flooring, gates and latches for damage. Have someone check to confirm all the lights are working properly. Once loaded, check the brakes before heading out on the highway.
• Load cattle quietly and carefully to minimize stress. The closer the back of the trailer matches the floor or the loading ramp, the easier it will be to load. Lane says sometimes digging a narrow trench for the back wheels of the trailer can help align the trailer with the ramp for easy loading. Do not load any animals that are not fit for transport, including those that appear they could become a “downer” during the trip.
• If you experience a breakdown that can’t be fixed quickly, such as having two blown tires and only one spare, deal with the cattle first. Locate another trailer or portable panels so the cattle can be offloaded to temporary housing, then work on fixing the trailer.
• Provide some shallow bedding in the trailer to improve footing for cattle, particularly on slick metal floors. Clean the trailer as needed to prevent corrosion, ensure cattle comfort and reduce trailer weight.
• Finally, assess the emotional state of the driver, whether that is you or someone else, before hitting the road. A driver who is stressed, frustrated, angry or otherwise agitated is more likely to drive aggressively, with excessive acceleration, hard braking and too much speed through curves. Take time to calm yourself down, relax and drive in a manner that minimizes cattle stress and the risk of an accident.

Evaluate Udder Soundness Soon After Calving to Use as Culling Criteria Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist April 3, 2019 04:14 PM

Every year at "preg" checking time, ranchers evaluate cows and make decisions as which to remove from the herd. One criteria that should be examined to cull cows is udder quality. Beef cattle producers are not as likely to think about udder health and shape as are dairy producers, but this attribute affects cow productivity and should be considered. It may be easier to be accurate in your culling decisions, if you exam the udder soundness of the cows shortly after calving when they are at the peak of lactation and the udder is as large as at any time. Take time now during the peak of lactation to write down which spring-calving cows have unsound udders. Record the cow numbers of those to be culled next fall due to unsound udders. Their heifer calves would be undesirable prospects to become replacement heifers for your herd.

The heritability estimates of udder characteristics are variable. A study done in Brahman cattle for the heritability of udder soundness indicated that progress could be made by selecting for udder soundness. They reported that 25% of the differences in udder soundness was due to genetics. Beef Improvement Federation Guidelines have suggested that the heritability of udder soundness in beef cattle is estimated at .16 to .22 which means that some progress can be made by selecting against unsound udders.

Recent research at Kansas State University (Bradford, 2014 KSU Cattlemen’s Day) with large numbers of Hereford data has given even greater hope that improvement in udder quality can be made. They found heritabilities of .32 for overall udder score, .31 for suspension, and .28 for teat size. Plus, genetic correlations between traits were strong (.83). This means that selection for one trait (teat size or suspension) will result in improvement in the other trait.
An experiment conducted at the OSU Range Cow Research Center near Stillwater gives some indication as to the impact of mastitis on beef cow performance.  They found that cows with one or two dry quarters had calves with severely reduced weaning weights (50 - 60 pounds) compared to cows with no dry quarters.   This represents a sizeable economic loss at weaning time.
An evaluation system for udder soundness has been developed and used by some breeds.  Teat shape and udder suspension are the two primary characteristics evaluated.

Seminar Set to Assist Agricultural Producers with New Tax Laws, Managing Taxable Income

Seminar Set to Assist Agricultural Producers with New Tax Laws, Managing Taxable Income

Congress passed a new tax law in December 2017 that will impact all business entities and people who file a tax return for the 2018 tax year.

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Noble Research Institute will provide farmers, ranchers and landowners with the latest tax preparation information during a Managing Taxes Seminar from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, at the Noble Research Institute’s Kruse Auditorium.

During the seminar, Noble Research Institute agricultural economists and Doug Dean, CPA, will provide information, tips and advice:

·         New legislation

·         Income and expense issues in agriculture

·         Depreciation

·         Tax changes

·         End-of-year planning strategies.

“Time spent learning about the various aspects of your tax bill is always time well-spent,” said Dan Childs, agricultural economist. “Attendees will leave with the knowledge to help them successfully navigate some of the finer details of the tax process.”

This event is offered at no charge, but preregistration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.noble.org/events or call 580-223-5810.

First Aid Kits for Production Agriculture from Iowa State University Extension And Outreach October 4, 2018

Accidents on farms and ranches can be quite severe, and space in a first aid kit is limited, so it is important to choose items for kits wisely. ( AgWeb )

Complied by Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice

Most farms and ranches require multiple first aid kits due to the many types of jobs and the dispersed areas of work in a production agriculture operation. Not only is it important to have appropriate first aid kits on your farm or ranch, it is important that you and others in your operation understand basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

First Aid Kit. Source: Penn State University

Accidents on farms and ranches can be quite severe, and space in a first aid kit is limited, so it is important to choose items for kits wisely. Follow these guidelines when assembling a first aid kit:
Include pertinent personal information in first aid kits for individuals who have specific medical conditions. For example, indicate that a certain person has an allergic reaction to bee stings.
Include the contact information for the family doctor of each person working in the vicinity of the kit.
Remember that agricultural incidents may occur at night or in winter, so include items such as flares, flashlights, emergency blankets, and waterproof matches.
In an emergency situation, it is common for people to forget what they have learned in first aid classes, so include a first aid manual in each kit.
For the kits, use containers that are dust-free and water-resistant. Label the kits clearly.
Check first aid kits annually for expired products such as ice packs, heat packs, ointments, saline solution, and so on, and change the flashlight batteries. When you use any items in a first aid kit, replace the items immediately.
Larger first aid kits should be located at main farm or ranch buildings or in the home. Smaller first aid kits should be kept on major pieces of farm equipment and in vehicles.
The following items should be included in a large first aid kit:

• Sterile first aid dressings in sealed envelopes, in the following sizes:
  • 2 in. by 2 in. for small wounds
  • 4 in. by 4 in. for larger wounds and for compresses to stop bleeding
• Two trauma dressings for covering large areas
• Small, sterile adhesive compresses in sealed envelopes
• Roller bandages and 1 in., 2 in., and 6 in. cling bandages
• Rolls of adhesive tape in assorted widths (to hold dressings in place)
• Triangle bandages to use as slings or as coverings over large dressings
• Antiseptic wash
• Tongue depressors
• Bandage scissors and heavy-duty scissors to cut clothing
• Tweezers to remove insect stingers or small splinters
• Splints that are 1/4 in. thick by 3 in. wide by 12 to 15 in. long for splinting broken arms and legs
• Sterile saline solution
  • 8 fl. oz. for small kits
  • 2 qt. for large kits
• Safety pins
• Ice packs (chemical ice bags) to reduce swelling
• A pocket mask for resuscitation
• Three small packages of sugar for individuals with diabetes
• Disposable rubber gloves and eye goggles
• An emergency blanket

Note that dressings must be sterile—do not make your own dressings.
Farm first aid kits can be purchased through certain businesses and organizations. Click the links below to view kits and ordering information:

• National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
• Gempler’s Farm First Aid Kit
• Gempler’s First Aid Kit – Serious Farm Injury

Specialty Kits
Injuries vary from job to job in production agriculture, so first aid kits should be tailored to the potential injury that could result from a particular job. Listed below are specialty kits and recommended items, in addition to the basic items outlined above, for inclusion in each kit.

Specialty First Aid Kits
Type of Specialty Kit	Types of Injury	Kit Items
Tractor/Combine	Small wounds, minor or major bleeding, fractures, sprains, or severed limbs, amputation, or entanglement	Basic first aid manual Two triangular bandages (36 in.) Antiseptic spray Six large adhesive bandages Four safety pins Sterile compress bandages (four 2 in. by 2 in. bandages and four 4 in. by 4 in. bandages) Roll of 2 in. wide tape Two pressure bandages (8 in. by 10 in.) Scissors Two rolls of elastic wrap Five clean plastic bags (varied sizes from bread bags to garbage bags)
Amputation	Amputation of a finger or limb	Plastic bags of varying sizes (one large garbage bag, four medium kitchen garbage bags, and eight small plastic bread bags) Closable container to store bags
Dressing Supplies	Major trauma	Sterile compresses (2 in. by 2 in. and 4 in. by 4 in.) Gauze roller bandages (1 in., 2 in., and 6 in. wide) Adhesive tape Triangular bandage Tongue depressors Heavy-duty scissors Chemical ice packs Disposable rubber gloves Goggles Tweezers and safety pins Emergency blanket Antiseptic spray
Fracture (for immobilization of an injured limb)	Broken bone	Wooden or plastic splints Roll of elastic wrap Tongue depressors
Pesticide Exposure (for use during pesticide application season or to keep in pesticide storage area)	Ingestion of or contact with pesticide	Emergency and poison control center contact information Two 1 qt. containers of clean water Ipecac syrup Emergency blanket Plastic bags Tape Disposable rubber gloves Goggles

Action Steps

Take the following steps to prepare for potential emergencies or accidents on your farm or ranch:
Get training in first aid and CPR. Contact the American Red Cross, National Safety Council, or local emergency medical service or hospital to locate trainings in your area.
Make specialized first aid kits for various areas of the farm or ranch. Follow the instructions above to assemble the kits and remember to restock the kit after use and to replace expired items annually.
For more information about preparing your farm or ranch personnel for an agricultural incident, click here to access the article "Basic First Aid" and here to access "Basic CPR."


Sources
First aid kits for production agriculture. (2013). Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/66377/first-aid-kits-for-production-agriculture.
Murphy, D., Pollock, J., Smith, G., Bean, T., & Sailus, M. (1989) First on the scene. National Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES). Retrieved from http://host31.spidergraphics.com/nra/doc/Fair%20Use%20Web%20PDFs/NRAES-12_Web.pdf.
Schwab, C. & Sheridan, C. (2008) Farm emergency and first aid kits. Iowa State University Extension. Retrieved from https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1044&context=exte....
Schwab, C. & Miller, L. (2008) How to respond to farm injuries. Iowa State University Extension. Retrieved from https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/How-to-respond-to-farm-injur....

Reviewed and Summarized by:
Linda M. Fetzer, Pennsylvania State University – lmf8@psu.edu
Gary Erisman, Retired Safety Faculty - Illinois State University and active farmer (Has since retired)
Davis Hill, Pennsylvania State University – (has since retired)
Dennis J. Murphy, Pennsylvania State University - (has since retired)
Aaron M. Yoder, University of Nebraska Medical Center – aaron.yoder@unmc.edu

When Do We Intervene and Assist a Cow or Heifer in Labor? Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University August 15, 2018 10:33 AM

Before the fall calving season commences, now is the time to put together and post a protocol for family members and hired employees to follow when they find a cow or heifer starting in the process of calving. An issue facing the rancher at calving time, is the amount of time heifers or cows are allowed to be in labor before assistance is given. Formerly, traditional text books, fact sheets and magazine articles stated that “Stage II” of labor lasted from 2 to 4 hours. “Stage II” is defined as that portion of the birthing process from the first appearance of the water bag until the baby calf is delivered. Research data from Oklahoma State University and the USDA experiment station at Miles City, Montana clearly show that Stage II is much shorter, lasting approximately 60 minutes in first calf heifers, and 30 minutes or less in mature cows.
Table 1. Research Results of Length of Stage II of Parturition

Source	No. of Animals	Length of Stage II
USDA (Doornbos, et al.1984. JAS:59:1)	24 mature cows	22.5 min.
USDA (Doornbos, et al.1984. JAS:59:1)	32 first calf heifers	54.1 min.
Oklahoma State Univ. (Putnam, et al. 1985. Therio:24:385)	32 first calf heifers	55.0 min.

In these studies, heifers that were in stage II of labor much more than one hour or cows that were in stage II much more than 30 minutes definitely needed assistance. Research information also shows that calves from prolonged deliveries are weaker and more disease prone, even if born alive. In addition, cows or heifers with prolonged deliveries return to heat later and are less likely to be bred for the next calf crop. Consequently a good rule of thumb: “If the heifer is not making significant progress 1 hour after the water bag or feet appear, examine the heifer to see if you can provide assistance. Mature cows should be watched for only 30 minutes before a rectal examine is conducted.” Make certain the cervix is completely dilated before pulling on the chains. If you cannot safely deliver the calf yourself at this time, call your local large animal veterinarian immediately.
Most ranches develop heifers fully, and use calving ease bulls to prevent calving difficulties. However, a few difficult births are going to occur each calving season. Giving assistance in a timely manner will save a few more calves, and result in healthier more productive two-year old cows to rebreed next year.

Additional Informaton on Armyworms - Allen Knutson, Extenstion Entomologist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

    Regarding fall armyworm in pastures and hay, the pyrethroid insecticides are commonly used as they are effective and generally less costly, due to some being available as generics.  Pyrethroid insecticides can be recognized by their active ingredient which ends in “thrin” and include beta-cyfluthrin, cyfluthrin, gamma and lambda cyfluthrin and zeta-cypermethrin.  Prevathon and Besiege can provide longer residual control but can be more expensive than pyrethroids.  Intrepid, Tracer and Dimilin should be applied when armyworms are small, , less than ½ inch.  Dimilin is sometimes added to a pyrethroid insecticide to extend the control period. 

    Fall armyworms can also damage fall planted small grains and other forage grasses.  The insecticides labeled for these crops can be different than those listed here for pastures and hay.

    Fall armyworms can be active through October and even into early November if temperatures remain warm.  

As always,  check products before you purchase to make sure they fit your need.  Read the label to ensure you use the correct amount for the most effective control.   Also follow container disposal procedures when container is empty.

The Fall Armyworm – A Pest of Pasture and Hay. Allen Knutson Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Dallas

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a common pest of bermudagrass, sorghum, corn, wheat and rye grass and many other crops in north and central Texas.  Larvae of fall armyworms are green, brown or black with white to yellowish lines running from head to tail.  A distinct white line between the eyes forms an inverted “Y” pattern on the face.  Four black spots aligned in a square on the top of the segment near the back end of the caterpillar are also characteristic. Armyworms are very small (1/8 inch) at first, cause little plant damage and as a result often go unnoticed.  Larvae feed for 2-3 weeks and full grown larvae are about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. Given their immense appetite, great numbers, and marching ability, fall armyworms can damage entire fields or pastures in a few days.

Once the armyworm larva completes feeding, it tunnels into the soil to a depth of about an inch and enters the pupal stage. The armyworm moth emerges from the pupa in about ten days and repeats the life cycle.  The fall armyworm moth has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The front pair of wings is dark gray with an irregular pattern of light and dark areas.  Moths are active at night when they feed on nectar and deposit egg masses.  A single female can deposit up to 2000 eggs and there are four to five generations per year. The fall armyworm apparently does not overwinter in north Texas, but survives the winter in south Texas.  Populations increase in south Texas in early spring and successive generations move northward as the season progresses. 

Management.  Fall armyworm outbreaks in pastures and hay fields often occur following a rain which apparently creates favorable conditions for eggs and small larvae to survive in large numbers.  Hay fields with a dense canopy and vigorous plant growth are often more susceptible to armyworm infestations than less intensely fertilized and managed fields. Irrigated fields are also susceptible to fall armyworm infestations, especially during drought conditions.  Also monitor volunteer wheat and weedy grasses in ditches and around fields which may be a source of armyworms that can move into the adjacent crop.

Look for fall armyworm larvae feeding in the crop canopy during the late evening and early morning and during cool, cloudy weather.  During hot days, look for armyworms low in the canopy or even on the soil surface where they hide under loose soil and fallen leaves.  A sweep net is very effective for sampling hay fields for fall armyworms.  When fields are wet with dew, armyworms can stick on rubber boots worn while walking through the field. Small larvae chew the green layer from the leaves, creating a “window pane” effect and later notch the edges of leaves. 

The key to managing fall armyworms is frequent inspection of fields to detect
infestations before they have caused economic damage.   Once larvae are more than ¾  inch long, the quantity of foliage the eat incvreases dramatically.  During their final 2-3 days of feeding, armyworms eat 80% of the total foliage consumed during their entire development.

The density of armyworms sufficient to justify insecticide treatment depends on the stage of crop growth and value of the crop.  Seedling plants can tolerate fewer armyworms than established plants.  Infestations of more than 2-3 armyworms (1/2 inch or longer) per square foot may justify an insecticide application. If practical, apply insecticides early in the morning or late in the evening when armyworm larvae are most active and therefor most likely to come into contact with the insecticide spray.  If the field is near harvest, an early harvest, rather than an insecticide treatment, is an option.






Parasitic wasps and flies, ground beetles, and insect viruses help suppress armyworm numbers. However, these natural enemies can be overwhelmed when large numbers of migrating moths move into an area and weather conditions favor high survival of eggs and larvae.