Finally…Some Rain in Oklahoma

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

 

Data from the Oklahoma Mesonet shows that Stillwater, Oklahoma received 2.36 inches of rain on August 11, 2024.  For the next 78 days, a total of 0.92 inches of rain fell with only one day receiving more than 0.2 inches and 72 days with zero precipitation.  Starting October 30, Stillwater received 5.49 inches of rain in 5 days (Figure 1), with additional rain falling at the time of writing.  Figure 1 confirms that the majority of Oklahoma received significant rain in this period. As is frequently the case in Oklahoma, the much-needed rain arrived in the form of severe storms with several tornados, leaving a trail of damage in several communities.  

 

Figure 1. 5-Day Rainfall Accumulation (inches) 7:25 AM November 4, 2024 CST

 

The rain is very helpful to the Oklahoma winter wheat crop and revives prospects for limited late wheat grazing.  The Crop Progress report for the last week of October showed that wheat planting in Oklahoma was at 59 percent, compared with the five-year average of 81 percent for that date.  Wheat emerged was at 36 percent, compared to an average of 62 percent.  The moisture will jump start wheat growth, but very little winter wheat will be grazable before December and perhaps not much before the end of the year.

 

The heavy storms likely provided some critical recharge of water supplies for cattle.  Refilling ponds will allow some cattle producers to avoid difficult decisions to relocate or liquidate cattle due to lack of drinking water. It is not clear how much or how wide-spread pond water recharge occurred.  The extremely dry conditions meant that much of the rain absorbed quickly and did not run, although flash flooding occurred in several locations.  

 

Weight Per Day of Age and Average Daily Gain

Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

 

In response to a recent question from a producer, the topic this week addresses the difference between a couple of growth performance measures commonly used in beef production. As well as some anecdotal evidence observed on handful of Angus calves we are feeding at the OSU Purebred Beef Cattle Center. The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) defines Weight per Day of Age (WDA) and Average Daily Gain (ADG) as follows:

 

WDA - Weight of an individual divided by its age in days.

 

ADG - Measurement of the average daily body weight change over a specified period of time of an animal on a feed test.

 

Both are measures of growth that are easy to calculate but are distinctly different. For example if a calf was born weighing 80 pounds and later weaned at 200 days of age weighing 500 pounds. The WDA (500 divided by 200) is 2.5 pounds/day. The ADG of the same calf from birth to weaning would be 2.1 pounds/day. The result of 500 minus 80, divided by 200.

 

The measure of WDA is useful to evaluate on young growing cattle from approximately weaning to yearling time. The measure of ADG has been used in performance testing for decades and is commonly used to measure the growth performance of pens of finishing cattle. Both these measures would be based on the genetic potential of calves to grow as well as the environmental effects of factors like weather and the plane of nutrition. ADG could also be heavily influenced by plane of nutrition prior to the testing period which could impact the amount of compensatory gain during the test period.

 

The OSU Purebred Beef Center is currently developing a group of four Angus heifers and a group of four Angus bulls to potentially exhibit in Angus Pen of Three Show at the Cattlemen’s Congress Show in Oklahoma City in January. The calves were born from January 17th to February 25, 2024. The calves were on a 14% Crude Protein creep ration, fed ad-lib, for several months prior to weaning in mid-August. Six of the eight calves have Weaning and Yearling EPDs in the best 5% of non-parent Angus cattle. The other two rank in the best 20% of the breed for Weaning and Yearling Weight EPDs. Based on Weights taken at the beginning of October when the calves were 219 to 258 days of age the range of actual weights, ADGs and WDAs of the calves are summarized as follows. 

 

Bulls

• Weight range = 970 – 1110
• ADG range = 3.83 – 4.1
• WDA range = 4.14 – 4.41

 

Heifers

• Weight Range = 780 – 815

• ADG range = 2.9 – 3.2

• WDA range = 3.2 – 3.55 

   

We Might Not Like It, But We Need to Evaluate Overheads…

Scott Clawson, Oklahoma State University, NE Area Extension Economist

 

Cattle prices in 2023 and 2024 have ranged from good to great depending on if your glass is half empty or half full.  Adding to this, feed grains have been getting progressively cheaper since the start of 2023.   And finally, Oklahoma has put together two productive hay seasons back-to-back.  Cheaper feed and hay along with strong calf and cull prices all pave the way for some profitable years (keeping our fingers crossed that the drought conditions are short lived).  Yet, as I have traveled to talk to livestock groups across the state it hasn’t felt as rosy as one would have thought in 2018 for example.  A phrase I hear repeatedly is that it just costs more to do business than it ever has.  That is something we can all agree on, it seems to cost more to do everything these days.  If we subtract these earlier mentioned issues from the profit math, that leaves overhead expenses as a likely culprit for the less than rosy outlook.

 

USDA Agricultural Prices

 

Overheads have been explained in many ways.  I like to describe them as all the things that we need to take care of the cattle, that don’t go into the cattle.  For example, a bale of hay is not overhead.  But all the things it took to get the bale in front of the cow likely is.  The tractor, baler, rake, truck, hay bed, repairs, labor, etc. all are a part of our overhead expense.  Costs that fall into the overhead category tend to not follow a normal “commodity trend”.  More specifically, when we enter drought and hay supplies are already tight, we can expect hay prices to climb. We expect hay prices to stay high until we have a good hay growing season and adequate supply returns.  Most overhead items don’t behave like this.  They tend to have a slow but steady increase in cost over time that is corrosive to our profit margins. 

 

Don’t get me wrong, there is a degree of overhead that is required to care for the cowherd.  That will vary among ranches based on goals, labor and resource availability.  Minimizing overhead costs is difficult.  Just be aware that the decisions made to repair, replace or upgrade these assets will impact our profitability for many years.  As the cost of these items that we need to do business with continues to increase, be especially diligent of how we can stretch each dollar a little further. 

 

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