More Cattle Grazing Winter Wheat in Oklahoma

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist 

 

In the final crop progress report of 2023 at the end of November, the Oklahoma wheat crop was rated 53 percent good to excellent with 7 percent poor to very poor. This compares to one year ago when the Oklahoma wheat crop was rated 31 percent good to excellent and 24 percent poor to very poor. Figure 1 shows that much of the major wheat belt in western and northwestern Oklahoma have received well above average precipitation in the past two months. The latest Drought Monitor shows that just 3 percent of the state has D2 level drought with no D3 and D4 conditions.

 

 

Figure 1. Normal rainfall amounts in Oklahoma 1991-2020.

 

I recently traveled from Southeastern Colorado through the entire length of the Oklahoma Panhandle and the northwest part of the state. The majority of wheat fields looked very good with well-developed wheat stands, with just a few later planted fields with less growth.

 

Many fields are stocked with grazing cattle, including irrigated fields in the Panhandle and in Southeastern Colorado. The number of stocker cattle grazing winter wheat appears to be significantly larger than last year. In 2022, the estimated January 1 supply of feeder cattle outside of feedlots in Oklahoma (many of which are typically grazing wheat), was down 18.5 percent year over year and the lowest since 2014. Although overall cattle numbers now are less than one year ago, the January 1 feeder supply in Oklahoma may be larger year over year.

 

It is just an anecdotal observation, but it seemed that the number of stocker heifers on wheat in late December exceeded the number of steers. Although it appeared that cow-calf producers took advantage of strong prices to market both steer and heifer calves last fall, it is possible that decisions about whether stocker heifers on wheat will be feeders or replacements have not yet been made.

 

 

Proper Vaccination Increases Calf Welfare and Value

Paul Vining, OSU Extension OQBN Coordinator

 

In beef calf preconditioning programs, the importance of vaccinations to minimize respiratory illness, related to bovine respiratory disease (BRD), cannot be overstated. The Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) Vac-45 program mandates that calves receive two vaccinations against respiratory pathogens, with at least one being a modified live viral (MLV) vaccine. MLV vaccines, containing weakened viruses, elicit a more robust immune response compared to killed viral (KV) vaccines, which use inactivated viruses.

 

Research findings suggest that administering respiratory vaccinations after calves have departed the ranch of origin does not significantly prevent BRD at the following stages of the beef supply chain. Hence, administering appropriate respiratory vaccines before sale and commingling is crucial for providing immunity during the stocker and feedlot stages of the beef supply chain.

 

A 2011 study conducted by Oklahoma State University consisted of 337 non-preconditioned, unvaccinated heifers sourced from Western Kentucky. These heifers underwent evaluation during a 63-day backgrounding period before entering the feedlot finishing phase. The results revealed that heifers not requiring treatment for BRD, those treated once, twice, and three times, displayed a greater average net value of $111.12, $92.51, and $20.62 above heifers considered chronically ill. These variations in net value primarily stemmed from differences in medical treatment costs and average daily gain (ADG).

 

Breaking down the medical costs, heifers treated for BRD once, twice, or three times, and those considered chronically ill, exhibited average higher costs of $9.63, $23.62, $35.71, and $35.34 compared to heifers that did not require BRD treatment. Furthermore, heifers treated for BRD once, twice, or three times, and those chronically ill, demonstrated ADGs that were 0.31 lbs., 0.93 lbs., 1.65 lbs., and 2.16 lbs. less than the ADG of heifers not requiring treatment for BRD.

 

In summary, proper vaccination against BRD-related pathogens during calfhood establishes robust immunity. This not only enhances calf welfare but also improves performance and overall value throughout the beef supply chain.

 

Table 1. Economic and production effects of BRD for heifers during a 63-day backgrounding period

 

 

 

Developing a Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine

Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, Oklahoma State Extension Beef Cattle Specialist 

 

Veterinarians are critical to the success of rural communities and rural economies. Veterinarians support food and fiber animal industries, maintain the health of companion animals, identify zoonotic diseases, and play a critical role in disease surveillance to protect US agriculture. As cattlemen know, there is a growing challenge to food supply veterinary medicine. In particular, the number of veterinarians serving rural communities has declined during the last thirty years.

 

Oklahoma State University is committed to addressing challenges in rural communities including impacts to veterinary medicine and animal agriculture. The percentage of OSU graduates entering food animal or mixed animal practice is routinely higher than the national average. From the Class of 2023 respondents, 25% percent of OSU grads entered large or mixed animal practice while the national average historically fluctuates between 10-15%.

 

To fully address this multifaceted challenge, OSU CVM intends to create a Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine (CRVM). The CRVM represents a team-based approach to the study of rural veterinary medicine and associated challenges and shortages, and the development and implementation of strategies to address these challenges. The current vision for the program includes a service component in underserved/rural regions, as well as outreach programs to mentor youth in these regions to help prepare them for STEM careers, including veterinary medicine. One CRVM program, the Integrated Beef Cattle Program for Veterinarians, has already started.

 

The Integrated Beef Cattle Team, comprised of faculty from veterinary medicine, animal science, agricultural leadership, and agricultural economics was established with grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture. Based on feedback from beef industry stakeholders, the team created a curriculum for a class of 20 Oklahoma veterinarians and 20 OSU veterinary students.

 

The program intends to enhance the sustainability of veterinary practices serving the Oklahoma beef cattle industry and surrounding region. Topic covered in the curriculum included leadership, communication, mentoring, practice management, welfare, stockmanship, mental health, and production medicine. A heavy emphasis has also been placed on connecting veterinarians, students, and industry leaders. Class III of this program will begin in January 2024.

 

 

In Memory of Jarold Callahan, Cattle Industry Icon

Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University State Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist

 

We were notified on Christmas Eve that Jarold Callahan had unexpectedly passed away the previous day. He was the President of Express Ranches, a member of the OSU A&M Board of Regents, had served as Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and was recognized as the 2023 inductee to the Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. To me his biggest impact on the Beef Industry was his time as a faculty member and livestock judging coach at Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College and Oklahoma State University Department of Animal Science. The generation of students he affected in that role al industry leaders today. That the real legacy of a great man.

 

Jarold Callahan’s obituary can be found at: Burckhatter Highsmith Funeral Home

 

The recording of his Celebration of Life is available at: LiveAuctions TV YouTube