Cow-Calf Corner | February 19, 2024
Record Calf Prices and More
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
The first week of February 2024, 500-pound steers (M/L #1) in Oklahoma posted a new weekly record price of $321.34/cwt., surpassing the previous high of $312.72/cwt. in November 2014. For the first three weeks of February, the price of these 500 pounds steers has averaged $323.64/cwt. For the 800 pound (M/L #1) steers, prices in February have averaged $235.36/cwt., still below the September 2023 record of $253.58/cwt., which exceed the previous high in October 2014 of $241.79/cwt. The overdone feeder market correction in late 2023 took the price of 800-pound steers to a low of $216.47 in December with the feeder price rallying back some $19/cwt. thus far in 2024. Oklahoma feeder auction volume thus far in 2024 is down 14.6 percent year over year.
The pending February Cattle on Feed is expected to show lower January placements but with a February 1 feedlot total still higher than one year ago. Feedlots are quite full in many cases and are dealing with muddy conditions and lost performance due to winter weather in December and January. The sluggish pen conditions resulted in sluggish cash fed market conditions with fed prices dropping back about a $1.00/cwt this past week to $180/cwt. As feedlots clean up pens, on-feed numbers are expected to tighten up in the coming months as the reality of limited feeder supplies becomes apparent. Estimated feeder supplies were down 4.2 percent year over year in the January Cattle report, the lowest level in data back to 1972. The key once again is the question of heifer retention. If and when heifer retention begins, feedlot inventories will drop more sharply,
Beef production is projected to decrease roughly 5 percent year over in 2024. This follows a 4.7 percent decrease in 2023 from record 2022 levels. In the first few weeks of 2024, beef production is down 4.2 percent year over year. Cattle slaughter will decrease this year with fewer steers and heifers and decreased beef cow slaughter. Thus far in 2024, steer and heifer slaughter is down 3.3 percent year over year with beef cow slaughter down 15.7 percent from last year. Steer and heifer carcass weights have dropped sharply in recent weeks as a result of earlier winter weather. Current steer carcass weights are close to year ago levels at 909 pounds, having dropped from highs of 942 pounds in late December. Although carcass weights dropped slightly on an annual basis in 2023, there is a good chance that carcass weights will increase modestly this year with cheaper cost of gain in feedlots and both cattle feeders and packers having incentives to find pounds of beef wherever they can in the face of decreasing cattle supplies.
Choice boxed beef prices the past four weeks have averaged $296.03/cwt., nearly 10 percent higher than one year ago. The January retail all-fresh beef price was $7.81/lb., up 8.5 percent year over year. Cattle and beef market supply fundamentals continue to tighten up and prices are higher for cattle and beef at all levels.
How to Assist with Calving
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist
When you come upon that cow or heifer in the process of calving and followed the timelines given in the Cow-Calf Corner article "When to Assist With Calving" from the February 12, 2024 newsletter, how do you proceed? The steps to examining and assisting heifers or cows in need during the calving process is the topic of this article.
Preparing to Assist
Before starting the exam, it is critical to be as clean as possible. Even when the
calf is saved, longer term the reproductive performance of the cow may suffer if bacteria
is introduced into the cow from the hands and arms of the person assisting or the
equipment used. Following is the suggested list of equipment to have on hand (if possible)
when assisting in the birth process:
- A clean, well-lighted barn or shelter
- A chute, head catch or halter to restrain the cow
- 2 clean buckets with water (disinfectant in 2nd bucket) * Soap (for cleaning you and the cow)
- Disinfectant
- Obstetrical lube
- Paper towels
- Calving chains and handles (in the bucket with water and disinfectant) * Calf puller
- Plastic sleeves
- The phone number of your Veterinarian
Steps in Assisting
Scrub the area around the cow's vulva, rectum and tail with soapy water. Rinse and
dry with paper towels. Wash your hands and arms. Wear plastic sleeves and use lubricant
for the examination. Start the exam by determining if the cervix is fully dilated.
Feel for the cervix, if it is not dilated, it will feel like your hand is passing
through a through or along a firm, tubular or circular structure. If the female is
fully dilated, you should not feel the cervical edge.
From there, can you put your hand on the calf? Is the calf presentation normal? If the presentation is normal and the water bag is still intact around the calf you can allow the cow to continue to labor for up to an hour. If the water bag has broken and the cervix is fully dilated, the calf needs to be delivered sooner. Figures 1 and 2 (shown below) give an idea of what you might feel during examination indicating the type of presentation. A normal presentation is a green light to proceed with assistance. An abnormal presentation increases the likelihood that the assistance of your Veterinarian will be required.
If the presentation is normal, try to determine the calf size relative to the birth canal. If the calf is too large and head and feet are still in birth canal, the opportunity for a caesarean section birth exists. If the presentation is normal and your examinations indicates the calf fetus should fit, proceed by attaching chains to each of the front legs. Attach the obstetrical handles and pull gently alternating pull on one leg at a time. Proceed to mechanical calf puller if necessary. Permanent damage to calf and cow can result from improper use of a calf puller.
Figure 1. Abnormal positions of the calf for delivery.
Figure 2. Normal positions of the calf just prior to delivery.
More details on proper techniques of getting calves pulled safely can be found in the articles referenced below.
References:
- The Beef Site: Assisting the Beef Cow at Calving Time
- Iowa Beef Center: Calving Stages and Process of Delivery
- UW Extension: The 3 Stages of Bovine Parturition
- Mark Johnson, OSU Extension beef cattle breeding specialist, explains when it's time to assist during calving on SunUpTV February 17, 2024
The Basics of Wheat Pasture Frothy Bloat
Dana Zook, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension NW Area Livestock Specialist
Bloat can be a prominent issue this time of year for cattle grazing small grains pasture. Environment, weather, forage growth stage and forage quality all play a role in the occurrence of bloat. Even though we understand why it occurs, bloat can be hard to predict.
What is frothy bloat?
Frothy bloat refers to the digestion of high-quality forages and the formation of a stable matrix within the forage mat floating on top of the rumen contents. Frothy bloat is not only specific to wheat pasture. It can occur in cattle consuming alfalfa, legume type forage, and other small grains. Due to fermentation occurring in a ruminant's digestive tract, gases are a natural part of the digestive process. However, the nature of these forages creates conditions where excess gas can be an issue. When the gases work their way up through the liquid in the rumen and get caught in that matrix, a dense foam can develop. This foam blocks the gas from being released through the esophagus. Without treatment, cattle can expire very quickly due to intense pressure on the lungs and heart.
Why is bloat common in calves grazing small grains?
Small grains forage is high in protein and low in fiber which makes it highly digestible. Many other factors contribute to this high quality feed to play a role in the occurrence of bloat.
An increase in growing degree days in February and March can cause bloat. Pastures grazed through December and January may be clipped down and when temperatures increase and moisture is available, growth rate increases. This immature fast-growing stage of the plant is the main contributor to bloat. Consumption rates may also be very high due to the high level of water content within the plant.
Frost is also a big factor. Frost disrupts the cells of the growing plant making those soluble nutrients even more available. This time of year, frequent frost may cause a large percentage of calves to exhibit signs of bloat just after their morning grazing session. Intense bouts of bloat don't typically last the whole grazing season, being limited to times when the forage is immature and growing quickly. As the forage matures, bloat will become less prevalent due to increased plant fiber content. More fiber in the forage will require more digestive activity therefore alleviating most bloat issues. Activity such as mastication (chewing), saliva production, and muscle contraction of the rumen will break up the matrix and reduce the foam.
What are some things that can be done to manage bloat in cattle?
Decades of research by Oklahoma State University Animal Scientists have provided the industry with tools to manage and treat bloat. The first line of defense is providing a basic free choice mineral. The mineral should contain 15-20% calcium, 0.5-1% magnesium, and minimal phosphorus. Calcium is needed for proper rumen muscle contraction during digestion making it the most important mineral to supplement on wheat pasture. The assumption that magnesium or "Hi-Mag" is crucial on wheat pasture should be limited to mature beef cows who are prone to grass tetany when grazing lush growing forages. Research shows a basic non-medicated free choice wheat pasture mineral manages bloat and can boost performance 0.25 pounds daily.
The second line of defense is the addition of monensin (Rumensin®) in free choice mineral or small package energy supplements. Research has proven that monensin reduces the severity of bloat in addition to improving efficiency and boosting weight gain.
The final defense is the treatment of bloat when it occurs. Severe bouts of bloat can be treated effectively with paloxalene (Bloat Guard®) which can be found as a feed additive and in pressed blocks. It is good practice to have a supply of paloxalene on hand in case of severe bloat. This product is somewhat expensive and may be most cost effective to treat bloat rather than provide the entire grazing season.
This article is a summary of a recent episode of the Extension Experience Podcast. You can find this podcast on your smart phone on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or Google Podcast Apps. You can also access the podcast by visiting Insights Into Oklahoma Agriculture -Tis the season for Bloat!
Also, a Rancher's Thursday Webinar focused on wheat pasture bloat from March 16, 2023 is available at OSU Extension Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Series on Bloat or on OSU Extension Youtube - Options for Dealing with Bloat.
The Basics of Frost Seeding Clover
Mike Trammell, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension SE Area Extension Forage Agronomist
Legumes are an essential part of a strong and healthy pasture ecosystem. Legumes form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in which the bacteria fix nitrogen (N) from the air into a plant available form. Legumes, such as clovers, may be used in much of central and eastern Oklahoma as a means of extending the length of grazing season, increasing the nutritional plane of grazing livestock, reducing the amount of N fertilizer required in a forage production program and/or limiting the effect of fescue toxicosis. There are several techniques for introducing or reintroducing clover into pastures including no-till seeding, minimum tillage, and frost seeding. Of these techniques, frost seeding requires the least amount of equipment and is the simplest to implement. Frost seeding is accomplished by broadcasting clover seed onto existing pastures or hayfields late winter - early spring and allowing the freezing and thawing cycles to incorporate the seed into the soil. Frost seeding is not foolproof but will normally succeed if moisture is favorable for establishment, insect populations have been reduced by frosts, and pastures are closely grazed prior to seeding to minimize grass competition. Here are a few tips to ensure the best chance of getting clover established from a frost-seeding. This method works best with crimson, red and white/ladino clover. It is NOT recommended for alfalfa.
- Address soil fertility needs. Get a current soil test and apply the needed nutrients. Clovers need a soil pH of 6.5 to 7 and adequate or better levels of phosphorus and potassium. Do not apply additional N except for that supplied from diammonium phosphate (DAP) if used to supply the needed P. But get the soil tested; anything else is just a guess.
- Select a good variety. Choose an improved variety with known performance and genetics. Choosing a better red or white/ladino clover variety can mean additional hay tonnage, improved forage quality and longer stand life. Spread enough seed. Oklahoma State University Fact sheet PSS-2585, Forage Legumes for Oklahoma, recommends broadcast seeding rates of 6 to 8 pounds for crimson and red clover and 3 to 4 pounds per acre for white/ladino clover. If mixing the red and white clover when seeding, apply the minimum seeding rate of red clover (6 lb./A) mixed with 1 lb./A of white/ladino clover. This will put over 50 seeds per square foot on the pasture (about 37 red and 18 white).
- Make sure seed lands on bare soil. Excess grass or thatch must be grazed and/or disturbed until there is some bare ground showing prior to overseeding. The biggest cause of seeding failure with frost seedings is too much ground cover. Judicious cattle traffic or dragging with a chain harrow can accomplish this.
- Get good soil-seed contact. With frost seeding, we are depending on the rain and snow or freeze-thaw action of the soil surface to work the clover seed into the top ¼ inch of soil. A corrugated roller can also be used soon after seeding to ensure good soil contact.
- Control competition next spring. Do not apply additional N on overseeded fields next spring and be prepared to do some timely mowing if grass or spring weeds get up above the clover. Clover is an aggressive seeding but will establish faster and thicker if grass and weed competition is controlled.