08/28/2006 01:50PM
The good old long (mostly dry) summertime brings threats to livestock
This year has brought a varied weather pattern that is cause for concern as the summer deepens. Last year’s dry weather in a substantial portion of the state raised issues of nitrate accumulation, aflatoxins and algae in ponds.
06/17/2006 06:50AM
Drought is once again looming large over much of the Southern Plains and rapidly spreading north and west. In Oklahoma, rains in late April provided some critically needed forage growth during early lactation and rebreeding of spring calving cows. However, for the most part, producers have utilized forage
06/09/2006 04:16PM
Understanding and avoiding heat stress in cattle can be a valuable management tool for summertime in Oklahoma. Most areas of Oklahoma have 10 or more days each year above 100 degrees and 70 or more days with high temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. (Source: 1997 Oklahoma Climatological
06/09/2006 03:52PM
The effects of heat stress on reproductive performance of beef cows has been discussed by many animal scientists in a variety of ways. After reviewing the scientific literature available up to 1979, one scientist wrote that the most serious seasonal variation in reproductive performance was
05/22/2006 11:52AM
Earlier this month, USDA-NASS resumed the national weekly pasture and range condition report published in the Weekly Weather and Crop Progress bulletin. The report is compiled of weekly survey results from the information provided by University Extension staff and other area specialists.
05/17/2006 10:40AM
In recent years, cressleaf groundsel - Senecio glabellas - has become an increasing problem in no-till row crop fields and aging hay fields with less than acceptable stands. Of significance to livestock producers is the fact that cressleaf groundsel is currently included in Ohio's Noxious Weed List due
05/16/2006 10:25AM
Through late April 2006 cow slaughter was above last year’s. Federally inspected cow slaughter totaled 1.626 million head from January through April this year, about 47 thousand head (3 percent) more than last year. All of the increase was attributable to an increase in beef cow slaughter
05/13/2006 06:37AM
When pastures burn during the winter, when spring is hot and dry, or when too many cattle are present on the pastures we get pasture stress. When a rancher loses livestock to poisonous plants during these times of stress, it only serves to compound the economic hardships he or she is already dealing
05/09/2006 04:30PM
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” is the opening sentence of A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Looking at the first release of the Pasture and Range conditions by the USDA one could almost say “It was the best of range, it was the worst of range” A Tale of Two Regions