When Do I Intervene in Delivery of a Calf?

Photo from agricultureproud.com

If you subscribe to the KY Cattlemen’s Association’s Cow County News, then you probably read Dr. Michelle Arnold’s article on intervening during calving in the February issue.  I wish this article had been taped on my refrigerator during our first calving season at home.  We knew time was getting close, but thought we still had another week or two before any of our heifers were going to calf.  I came home from work on a Friday afternoon and noticed one of our heifers off by herself in the field and immediately knew what was about to happen.

Like a kid at Christmas, I rushed out to the field to check on her and noticed two hooves sticking out.  After that there are no words to describe just how excited I was.  I watched that heifer for almost 30 minutes without any progress.  Suddenly it seemed like everything I had ever been taught about calving quickly disappeared and a little bit of panic set it.  I quickly called one of our beef specialist asking how long we should wait until we intervene and assist.

Calving management, including supervision and intervention, is critical to minimize or prevent calf losses.  According to Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Large Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, the most critical factor is the timing of intervention during Stage 2 (active labor) of calving.  Dr. Arnold says that it has generally been recommended to intervene in the birth process when the feet of the fetus have been visible for two hours (“two feet-two hours rule”), but some have challenged this rule because of the uncertainty or confusion of when the clock starts ticking.

The onset of Stage 2 labor has multiple definitions including: 1)appearance of the amniotic sac at the vulva, 2)rupture of the amniotic sac or 3)appearance of feet.  Whichever definition of Stage 2 Labor you choose, numerous studies have proven that the total time allowed for Stage 2 should be 2 hours or less provided the fetus is in a normal position (two hooves facing down and a nose on top of the legs) for a mature cow and one hour for a heifer.

Dr. Arnold recommends frequent monitoring of the calving process in order to identify calving problems early.  Since the time from appearance/rupture of the sac to appearance of the feet is variable and sometimes may not even occur, it is essential to check cows frequently to identify those experiencing extended or difficult labor.

Many calf losses are attributed to a delay in receiving assistance or the amount of difficulty and time required to remove the calf.  Knowing when intervention is required and when to call for professional veterinary assistance can greatly increase the calf’s chance of survival.  Losses can prevented by good supervision and quick intervention when needed.  So general rule of thumb, remember the “two feet-two hour rule” for mature cows and one hour for heifers when trying to decide when to intervene in the delivery of a calf.

After one hour of Stage 2 labor, we had to intervene and thankfully ended up with a healthy bull calf on the ground that was nursing within no time!  For more information on intervention during calving and other calving problems, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.



Upcoming Events-
Feb 26th         Community & Economic Development Workshops 10am, Extension Office
Feb 26th         Farmers’ Market Meeting, Extension Office, 4pm
Feb 26th         Alfalfa Conference, Cave City
Feb 27th         Round Table Series, 8am Economics of Tiling and Control Drainage Structures
March 4th       IPM Training, Princeton Research Station, 9am
March 5th Forages & Grazing Meeting, 5pm-8pm, Extension Office
March 6th       Round Table Series, 8am Pond Management, Dr. Bill Wurts
March 13th Round Table Series, 8am Poultry Litter as Fertilizer, Dr. Edwin Ritchey
March 17th Plant Swap Planning Meeting, 3pm, Extension Office
March 17th Ag Festival Planning Meeting, 5pm, Extension Office
March 24th District Board Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office

Assessing Wheat Freeze Damage, by Dr. Carrie Knott, UK Extension Agronomist

Assessing Wheat Freeze Damage

Carrie Knott, Extension Agronomist-Princeton, University of Kentucky

Most of Kentucky is dealing with some sort of record: record low temperature, record snowfall amounts, record windchills.  We hope our wheat crop is safe because the snowfall has provided much needed insulation.  However many fields in western Kentucky had begun to ‘green-up’ prior to these chilly conditions.  Once we begin to thaw out and get consistent warm weather we will need to assess the damage. 

To determine if freeze damage has occurred to the wheat, wait until there has been at least 4 days above 40°F.  If you inspect before this occurs you may not get a clear picture of the damage because until temperatures reach at least 40°F they are essentially in a ‘refrigerator’ and damage cannot be detected.  Be patient, this time of year it may take several weeks before conditions warm up.

Once conditions warm up, inspect a representative area of your field for yellowing and plant death.  Pay particular attention to yellowing of the growing point and limp leaves.  In most situations 70 to 100 live tillers per square foot will produce acceptable yields.  If tiller counts are 50 live tillers per square foot or less then yield reductions of up to 40% may occur.  If they are between the 50 and 70 live tillers per square foot then the higher N recommendations of 120 lbs N/A should be considered for the Feekes 5 application. 

An additional concern for wheat stands and yield potential is heaving.  If extreme temperature changes occur the freezing and thawing cycle may push wheat plants out of the soil.  This will result in reduced stands and could ultimately affect yield if heaving occurs on a large percentage of the field.

For now, wait for warmer temperatures before assessing wheat freeze damage.

Winter Safety Tips

Photo from firstaidsuppliesblog.com

Judging by all the pictures on social media, it looks like a lot of you have had the opportunity to enjoy all the snow that fell Monday.  And I have a feeling that all this snow will be overstaying its welcome due to the dangerously cold temperatures. 

Whether you are outside by choice or because you have no other option, be sure to follow these guidelines recommended by the CDC: Dress warmly and stay dry.  Wear a hat, scarf, and mittens.  Avoid frostbite.  If you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly.  Avoid walking on ice or getting wet.  Notify friends and family where you will be before you go outdoors to travel, do outdoor chores or go riding.  Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible.  If you are stranded, it is safest to stay in your car.  

If you plan to be outside, I recommend wearing the following when possible: a hat, a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth, sleeves that are snug at the wrist, mittens or gloves, water-resistant coat and boots, several layers of loose-fitting clothing.  Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. Stay dry—wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.

Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.  When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.  Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.

For those of you that must be on the roads the CDC makes the following recommendations for traveling:  Listen for radio or television reports of travel advisories issued by the National Weather Service.  Do not travel in low visibility conditions.  Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible. Take a mobile phone with you but do not use it while driving.  If you must travel, let someone know your destination, when you expect to arrive and ask them to notify authorities if you are late.  Check and restock the winter emergency supplies in your car before you leave.  Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice or snow; shattering may occur.  Don’t rely on a car to provide sufficient heat; the car may break down.  Always carry additional warm clothing appropriate for the winter conditions.

Also, if possible please bring your animals indoors.  Your livestock will require more water since their bodies are working overtime to keep them warm so be sure to have an adequate supply for them. 

For more information on winter safety and cold stress on livestock, please contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

           

Upcoming Extension Events

Feb 24^th           Tobacco Update 10am and GAP Training 1pm, Extension Office

Feb 25^th           Pesticide Certification, 9am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Community & Economic Development Workshops 10am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Farmers’ Market Meeting, Extension Office, 4pm

Feb 26^th           Alfalfa Conference, Cave City

Feb 27th          Round Table Series, 8am Economics of Tiling and Control Drainage Structures
March 4^th         IPM Training, Princeton Research Station, 9am

March 5^th         Forages & Grazing Meeting, 5pm-8pm, Extension Office

March 6^th         Round Table Series, 8am Pond Management, Dr. Bill Wurts

March 13^th       Round Table Series, 8am Poultry Litter as Fertilizer, Dr. Edwin Ritchey

March 17^th       Plant Swap Planning Meeting, 3pm, Extension Office

March 24^th       District Board Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office

Yield Goals Could Cost You This Year, by Dr. Chad Lee, UK Extension Grain Crops Specialist

Yield Goals Could Cost You This Year

Chad Lee, Extension Professor, Grain Crops, University of Kentucky

Recently, I worked with a small group of farmers who were interested in trimming costs, but not yield, in 2015. They provided their soil test values, historical yields, crop history, and intended production practices for 2015. Those producers reported that were applying $124 per acre more for fertilizer than what was recommended by the University of Kentucky. Even if we factored in enough fertilizer for the following soybean crop, they were spending about $100 per acre more. They were using yield goals to make their fertilizer decisions.

Producers enjoy farming based on yield goals. Yield goals are positive thinking. They are a challenge to the producer to try to reach higher yields. Annual budgets have yield goals. Loans require an estimate of income which requires a projected yield. Yield goals are easy to market and easy to understand. Yield goals also could cost you a lot of money in 2015.



The University of Kentucky publishes AGR-1 Lime and Nutrient Recommendations every two years. These recommendations are based on decades of research on soil test values, fertilizer rates and yields in Kentucky. The rates in AGR-1 are based off of these research results. Many yield goal strategies include fertilizer rates to meet the expected crop removal rate. Often, those crop removal rates are much higher than the agronomic response of fertilizer reported in AGR-1.

The farmers in that small group were applying more phosphorus, potassium and zinc than what AGR-1 recommends based on soil test values. While these rates were high, the phosphorus, potassium and zinc were not high enough to be an in environmental risk. The additional phosphorus, potassium, and zinc should increase soil test values and a portion of each should be available for subsequent crops. As long as these fields are managed by the same growers in 2016 and 2017, they can recoup part of their investment on the additional fertilizer. With tighter margins in 2015, the only real loss these producers face is the additional expense on fertilizer that likely will not increase yields a single bushel.

While a yield goal method tends to recommend more fertilizer on fields that soil test in the moderate to high range (Table 1), the yield goal method could suggest less fertilizer on fields that soil test low or very low (Table 2). In these low-testing fields, AGR-1 is attempting to increase soil test values in addition to providing enough nutrients for the crops. So, a yield goal method likely over-fertilizes fields that soil test high and possibly under-fertilizes on fields that soil test low. 

Again, yield goals are fun to talk about and are easy to understand. They may not be the most economical approach in 2015. If we cannot convince you to step away from the yield goal approach for 2015 then we will suggest an adjustment to your yield goal. For 2015, consider using an Olympic average as your yield goal instead of the maximum. If you follow AGR-1 for fertilizer and we get a good season, then you have a great chance of beating your Olympic average.

Improving Reproductive Efficiency in Heifers

Picture from CanadianCattlemen.com

To improve the reproductive efficiency, and thus profitability, of a beef cattle operation, you must understand proper heifer development. Properly managing yearling heifer reproduction is the first step toward reproductive efficiency.  Your goal is to manage heifers so they’ll conceive early by reducing the age of puberty, shortening the time from puberty to conception and increasing fertility.

UK Extension Beef Specialist Drs. Les Anderson and Darrh Bullock agree that the age at puberty is the most important factor in managing heifer reproduction. For puberty to occur, a heifer should weigh at least 67 percent of her expected mature weight. This percentage of mature weight is a heifer’s “target weight.”

Most heifer development programs require that heifers reach the target weight by the onset of their first breeding season. For maximum fertility and reproduction, heifers must have at least one estrus before the breeding season begins. UK Extension research shows that fertility increases about 20 percent from the first to third estrus after puberty. Thus, it’s logical to manage heifers to reach puberty before the start of breeding season.

Crossbreeding is another management practice to reduce heifers’ age at puberty.  Crossbred heifers, with a genetic makeup of not more than 75 percent of one breed, have a significantly reduced age at puberty compared to straight-bred heifers. Crossbred heifers also have greater overall fertility resulting from hybrid vigor.

Drs. Anderson and Bullock suggest to examine the cowherd to determine the cows’ approximate weights and use these data to set the heifers’ target weights. Then, determine how much heifers must gain daily to reach the target weight. Once you determine the necessary daily weight gain, develop a ration that provides the proper nutrients to help heifers reach the target weight. Periodically weigh heifers to ensure that they’re gaining the appropriate weight. If not, adjust the ration to compensate.

Also, be sure heifers are properly vaccinated according to label and veterinarian recommendations.

Breeding is the final step in managing heifer development. It’s advisable to consider estrus synchronization and/or artificial insemination. Some advantages of estrus synchronization are potentially higher pregnancy rates; heavier, more uniform calves at weaning; and increased production and labor efficiency. Using AI gives producers the ability to use superior, more predictable sires.

Most calving problems occur when heifers have calves for the first time; thus, there is merit in using estrus synchronization and AI with bulls of proven calving ease on first-calf heifers.

By getting heifers bred as early as possible, you give them more time to rebreed after calving. For more information about cattle reproductive efficiency or other cattle topics, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

The Agriculture Water Quality Plan

The Agriculture Water Quality Plan was passed in 1994 by the KY General Assembly.  The act protects surface and groundwater resources from pollution from agriculture practices, and 20 years later is becoming a very hot topic. 

According to Amanda Gumbert, UK Extension Water Quality Liaison, the Ag Water Quality Act effects all landowners with 10 more contiguous acres and who conduct agriculture or silviculture (forestry) operations on their land.  All landowners/land users with 10 or more acres must develop and implement a water quality plan based on guidance from the KY Agriculture Water Quality Plan.

These Water Quality Plans consists of best management practices from six areas: silviculture, pesticides and fertilizers, farmstead, crops, livestock and streams and other waters.  First, landowners must assess their operations and determine if they need an agriculture water quality plan.  Once that assessment is complete, the landowner must choose the appropriate best management practices for his/her operation.

The landowner is responsible for preparing an agriculture water quality plan that best meets the needs of his/her particular operation.  An interactive online tool is available at www.ca.uky.edu.awqa to help landowners decide which management practices are best suited for their operation.  Assistance in developing a plan can also be found at the Extension Office.

Producers are strongly encouraged to complete a Water Quality Plan if they have not already done so.  For more details on The Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act or for assistance in developing a plan for your operation, please contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.

This Friday, February 6^th UK Extension Soils Specialist Dr. Josh McGrath will be speaking about nutrient management for water quality at 8am.  This is becoming a very important issue and I know Dr. McGrath will have a lot of valuable information to share with us. 

Feb 6^th             Round Table Series, 8am Nutrient Management for Water Quality,

Dr. Josh McGrath

Feb 6^th             Pesticide Certification, 2pm, Extension Office

Fed 10^th           Farm Bill Meeting, Extension Office, 9am

Feb 10^th           Plant Swap Organizational Meeting, Extension Office, 3pm

Feb 20^th           Round Table Series, 8am Diversifying Your Operation, Cary Hicks

Feb 24^th           Tobacco Update 10am and GAP Training 1pm, Extension Office

Feb 25^th           Pesticide Certification, 9am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Community & Economic Development Workshops 10am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Farmers’ Market Meeting, Extension Office, 4pm

Feb 27^th           Round Table Series, 8am Grain Crop Profitability, Economics, Dr. Greg Halich

March 5^th         Forages & Grazing Meeting, 5pm-8pm, Extension Office

March 6^th         Round Table Series, 8am Pond Management, Dr. Bill Wurts

March 13^th       Round Table Series, 8am Poultry Litter as Fertilizer, Dr. Edwin Ritchey

Farm Bill Meeting on Feb 10th