Beef Nutrition Program Inspired by Study of World War II Survivors is Focus of Northern NY Beef Week Presentation

Northern New York – An exciting new beef nutrition program inspired by a study of World War II concentration camp survivors is focus for the Fall 2013 Northern New York Beef Week program organized by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Northern New York Regional Livestock Team.

In a November 7 webcast to four locations across the Northern NY region, Ted Perry, a Marketing Beef Nutritionist and Beef Technical Services Manager with Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Kansas City, KS, will explain how a human health study of war survivors has led to a new beef cattle feeding program designed to encourage the in-utero nutrition of calves.

“A study by the University of Idaho of the long-term health issues of children born to mothers suffering starvation in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II and during the period known as the Dutch “hunger winter” late in the war has been applied to how we raise livestock with phenomenal results,” Perry explains. “This is one of the neatest developments in cow-calf nutrition we have seen in the last 25 years.”

During the November 7 webinar Perry will share the results of the Idaho study that showed a doubling of the quality grade of the calves fed on this new program.

As beef quality grade increases so does the profit opportunity for beef producers. Perry says beef quality grades increase in herds east of the Mississippi.

“Beef raised in the Northeast tends to be well-fed because of the high quality forages in the region and because producers have been practicing what we call sustained nutrition,” says Perry, with more than 20 years’ experience working with beef cattle.

Perry, a Beef Extension and Research Specialist at Cornell University before joining Purina as a formulation specialist, works closely with beef producers nationwide to answer their questions about proper nutrition for beef production. During the discussion part of his November 7 NNY webcast, Perry hopes regional producers will particularly ask questions about how to manage their winter feeding programs.

“Last winter regional beef producers were challenged by poor feed quality and low supplies, so this presentation by Ted Perry on how cow nutrition does indeed impact calf health and viability is timely as we head into the 2013-2014 winter season,” says Northern New York Regional Livestock Team Leader Betsy Hodge with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.

The sites hosting the program with registration at 6:30pm followed by 7pm webcast are:
Clinton County:  CCE Clinton County office, Plattsburgh, 518-561-7450

Essex County:  CCE Essex County office, Westport, 518-962-4810

Jefferson/Lewis Counties:  Lloyd Garnsey Farm, Clayton; farm tour at 6pm, 315-788-8450

St. Lawrence County: CCE St. Lawrence County Learning Farm, Canton, 315-379-9192.

To attend the webcast in person or to watch from a home computer (e-invitation is required), register with the local Extension office as listed above.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Bedded Pack Manure Storages Can Produce Dangerous Levels of Manure Gases, Including Hydrogen Sulfide, Especially When Gypsum or Other Sources of Available Sulfur are used as Bedding

DANGEROUS LEVELS HAVE BEEN MEASURED!

 

Last week we reminded farmers and manure handlers that all stored manure can produce hazardous gases at levels of concern in some conditions.  Some of these gases (like hydrogen sulfide [H₂S]) are toxic and heavier than air and therefore are prone to sink to low areas like storage pits, sumps, or other depressions and accumulate to potentially LETHAL levels.

Since last week it has come to our attention that gypsum is also being used by some New York State farmers as a bedding material in deep bedded pack barns.  Deep bedded pack systems have the same anaerobic (little or no oxygen) conditions as long-term liquid manure storages – the conditions needed for the formation of H₂S by microbes.

Therefore, the potential for human exposure to high levels of H₂S is possible with bedded pack situations as well as long-term liquid manure storages.  In fact, the opportunity for a farmer to be exposed to high levels of H₂S may possibly be even higher with bedded packs, especially during clean-out.  The packs are normally under roof, and enclosed barns may not provide enough air movement to maintain safe working conditions. For more details go to: Gypsum_Bedding_bedded_pack_final.

Opportunities for Beef Farmers

     A continued, new opportunity for beef farmers exists in the Capital District.  A bulk-food purchaser interested in local grass-fed beef is pursuing a relationship with the Adirondack Grazers Cooperative. They are looking to procure lots of 8-14 animals every 2-3 weeks.  The request is for 18-26 month-old grass-fed animals dressing out at 550-650 pounds.

The cooperative, which provides gourmet fresh and frozen beef, is discussing working with non-members who meet the protocols and might be interested in trying this out as a group marketing opportunity.  The pay rate for the farm works out to be close to $1.70-1.75/pound on the hoof.

The critical point the cooperative has been providing for farmer members is the ability to focus on production, growing wonderful animals, producing high-quality forage and maximizing time spent on those endeavors.  The effort of marketing, billing and distribution has been moved to the staff of the cooperative to coordinate.

If you are interested in trying out the group or joining as a member, please call 518-638-8263 or 917-941-0481, or visit the website www.adkgrazers.com to learn more about our story and farmers.

—–

David G. Cox

Agriculture/Horticulture Program Leader

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties

173 South Grand Street, Cobleskill, NY 12043

518-234-4303/296-8310; 518-234-4305 (fax)

dgc23@cornell.edu

www.cceschoharie.org

NYBPA Southern Region Beef Producer’s Fall Meeting

Wednesday, November 6^th, 2013

Greenside Restaurant at the Bath Country Club, 330 May St., Bath,

Featuring an interactive an educational presentation by Mr. Don Burkard, independent Nutritionist entitled:

“Do You Know What is Going on Inside that bale of Hay?”

Mr. Burkard is an experienced and innovative nutritional consultant who specializes in helping producers understand the nutritional needs of cattle.  Although he specializes in Dairy Production, he has created a unique and energizing presentation for the beef producer.  We will be using actual feed samples from beef producers in the Southern Tier area (dry hay, grass baleage, and corn silage), to determine if these feeds are adequate for beef cattle in the growing, the gestation, and the lactation periods of the average beef cattle herd.  Additionally, we will be analyzing how the nutrient requirements change when the weather gets colder, and when the mud gets deeper.  This presentation will be showing the importance of having your forage tested in order to know if you are meeting the nutritional needs of your beef cattle.  This promises to be a great workshop filled with essential nutritional tips and strategies as we prepare for the onset of the winter feeding period in New York.

Southern Region Meeting to Follow:

Agenda items include:

1)       Introduction of Regional Chairman and selection of co-chair

2)      Appointment of Secretary/Treasurer

3)      NYBPA Council Updates

4)      Preparing for the Winter Conference/Annual meeting

5)      Establishment of Spring meeting date and location

6)      Adjourn

Cocktails.Cash Bar beginning at 6:00 pm

Dinner: 6:30 pm

Dinner Entrees:

Option 1

Open faced steak sandwich, baked potato, vegetable side, side salad, roll w/butter.

 

Option 2

Homemade lasagna with meat sauce, garlic bread and garden salad

Cost – $17.00, including tax, gratuity, coffee or tea, and desert.

Cash payment accepted at registration.

Location:

Greenside Restaurant at the Bath Country Club
330 May St
Bath, NY 14810
607-776-3390

 Reservations are absolutely necessary, and must be received by Friday, October 26^th.

All interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

Reservations can be made in 3 ways:

 

1)      Call John Kriese at (315) 595-6198  (home) Leave a message if no one picks up!

2)      Email John Kriese at hereford@frontiernet.net

3)      Mail the reservation form to John Kriese   4385 Italy Hill Road   Branchport, NY  14418

Cornell Cooperative Extension Presents:

Producing the Quality Beef Your Customers Seek

Mike Baker, Extension Beef Specialist

Chris Wilson, Wilson Beef Farms
November 4^th, 2013

Registration at 5:30 pm, Dinner at 6 pm with program to follow

             The last three bulls you used account for 75% of the genetic makeup of your cow herd. Good bulls are not cheap and bad bulls cost you money with every poor calf weaned out of an underperforming cow. You really can’t afford to make a mistake in selecting a bull. The Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) is the most accurate tool a farmer can use to reduce the risk of making the wrong decision in purchasing a bull.

             This program will provide the basics to understanding EPDs, which EPDs are relevant to your farm, and how to use them to reach your marketing objectives.

Chris Wilson will discuss the quality he needs for his customers with a hands on demonstration looking at cuts of beef from different quality carcasses.

We will end the session with an exercise in which you will choose the right bull for a given set of herd conditions. This is the first of a series of educational meetings covering factors that influencing profitability culminating with a Hoof to Rail program in March 2014.

Location – Anastassia Events: 6440 Pike Street, Portageville, NY 14536

 

Registration is required by October 29th.
Cost for the workshop is $15/person, includes dinner.

For more information contact:  Lynn Bliven, Agriculture & Natural Resources Issue Leader,

Cornell University Cooperative Extension Allegany/Cattaraugus County, 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or Nancy Glazier, Small Farms/Livestock Specialist, Northwest Dairy, Livestock, Field Crops Team, 585-315-7746.

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Program Sponsored by Northeast SARE NE 2012 SARE Professional Grant:

“An Educational Program for Traditional and non-Traditional Beef Production.”

Producing the Quality Beef Your Customers Seek Pre-registration Form
Registration is required by October 29th.

Download registration form here: Beef meeting 11_4_13_final.

Mail Registration Form to:

Attention: Lynn Bliven

Extension Allegany/Cattaraugus County

5435A Country Rd 48 Belmont, NY 14813

There will be a Beef Quality Assurance training on November 2, 2013, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm at Fleur-de-lis Farm, 2497 Canoga Rd, Seneca Falls, NY (Seneca County). For more details go to Seneca County BQA Workshop Flyer.

Weaning season has arrived for NY cattle producers. With this comes the decision of marketing your feeder calves.  Have you castrated, pre-conditioned, vaccinated, de-horned? Have you decided how you are going to sell your calves yet?  Have you done all you can to demand top $ for your calves? Data collected on factors that affect the price of NY feeder cattle along with a discussion on health practices for weaned calves will be presented October 26, 2013, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at Carl Hinkle’s – New Penn Farm, 5493 Cheningo Road, Truxton (Cortland County).

Come hear about:

–       What Effects Feeder Calf Prices in NY

Dr. Mike Baker, Cornell Cooperative Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

–       Suggested Vaccination Protocol for Weaned Calves

Dr. Ken Osborn, Mid-State Veterinary Clinic

–       View Feeder Calves Ready for Market

Pre-Registration is appreciated.

For more information and pre-registration contact CCE of Cortland County, Sharon VanDeuson at 607-753-5078 or shv7@cornell.edu.