OCR Text |
Show i : n ' " j v M 1 ' " d I xx W- , I .. X " ; c I " Si" t i: t- -a Kv1 , - , 'I I '" 'I !f r F 1' : i . i " ' , ., I i Careful Planning Now Critical In Cattle Business Never has there been a time in the cattle business that required more careful planning and management than now, according to animal ani-mal science specialists with Utah State University. This requires identification identifica-tion and selection of the most productive animals to keep in the herd, matching feed supplies sup-plies with numbers of animals ani-mals to keep, and maintaining maintain-ing a conslstant herd health program. First, with feed costs and cattle numbers at an all -time high, the specialists note that it is essential to identify the animals that are producing a return this, year to know which ones to keep. Pregnancy Preg-nancy testing will identify open cows and late -calves so they maybe removed from the herd. Performance records, rec-ords, if available, will help further to remove those that have poor production potential. poten-tial. They advise using wisdom in selecting heifers to replace re-place cows removed from the herd. Where possible, use production records because simply "eye balling" cattle presents a fifty percent chance of being wrong. They also note that if one does not have enough feed for all of his animals, now is the time to decide which It .huWm - -- ,. s :i i 1Pi,"'fc J.J-mM.J..JJ , ' v. 4 J ' ' ... i , ,y' f - tr j ... mm a. animals to keep or to make arrangements for more feed. Roughage type feeds such as hay, silage, and straw are available to purchase or for contract feeding. Some farmers who do not care to risk buying and feeding cattle cat-tle this year have such feed available. A couple alternatives alterna-tives are custom feedlots to feed some of the cattle for slaughter if this is thought to be economical and custom wintering programs utilizing some of the feed available. Besides the pregnancy testing to avoid feeding through the winter a cow that will not produce a calf, veterinary vet-erinary service and advice is essential to avoid disease where possible. The livestock live-stock specialists say this is not a year to attempt false saving by not vaccinating for the common diseases. Health management may be even more critical this year since many cattlemen may feel forced to keep their 1974 calf crop and feed them during the coming winter months. This can cause some critical management problems |