Opinion

Beef up calving knowledge

Monday, October 26, 2009

A great opportunity for beef project 4-H'ers and beef producers alike is forthcoming locally on November 5 at 6:30 PM in Harris Hall, Putnam County Fairgrounds. This is the joint meeting of the Area 5 Purdue Extension and Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA). The IBCA region representative will also be elected at this meeting. A ribeye steak sandwich meal will be provided and there is no charge for the program.

The program focus will be about calving, vaccinating for scours and the Sandhill Calving System. Cow/calf numbers in Indiana and nationwide have been declining since 2007 and it is important to understand significance of calf survival to maximize production in addition to considering input costs for profitability.

Scours is usually caused by a bacteria or virus and is one significant threat to new born and young calves. Rapid dehydration is a characteristic of scours and is a leading cause of death. Force feeding electrolytes with an esophageal feeder to rehydrate the calf is an important part of treating calf scours according to Purdue Beef Specialist Dr. Ron Lemenager. The program will provide discussion regarding nutrition, antibody protection from colostrum, and weather protection to go on offense against scours.

The Sandhill Calving System (also to be discussed) is a management strategy designed such that each cow that is calving is able to give birth in a clean pasture. It involves rotating bred cows to a clean pasture on a weekly basis. Lemenager recommends starting out with a set number of cows ready to calve within a month of each other while moving the non-calved cows to a clean pasture each week. This separates newborn calves from later-born calves thus minimizing the spread of disease.

Besides, Purdue Extension staff, others including Dr. Jason Huff of West Central Veterinary Services will be giving tips for cow-calf health and provide insight to when one should look for veterinarian help when calving problems develop. Also representatives from IBCA will be present for questions and provide comments.

Please RSVP to the Purdue Extension-Putnam County office if you plan to attend this program so there is an accurate meal count and adequate room set-up.

Check our website www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam to view the most up to date info. You can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding column topics or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 5: Area 5 Purdue/IBCA Beef Cattle Meeting, Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 6-7: Arts & Crafts Fair, Fairgrounds

Nov. 7: 4-H Achievement and Award Recognition Program, Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 7: Master Gardener Advanced Training Gardening by the Season

Nov. 10: Bread Making 101, Area 30 Career Center, RSVP by Nov. 5.

Nov. 25: Vegetable Grower's Meeting-Growing plants and managing pests in commercial vegetables

Dec. 2: Crop Production Clinic, Alexandria

Dec. 3: Putnam Extension Advisory Council Annual Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 10: Bi-State Crop Management Workshop, Beef House, 9 a.m.