Show Gunnison How do you decided how much to feed your cows? By John DeVilbiss Utah State University Extension Service them climb production through 1995 said a Utah State University Extension economist There’s How do you decide how much to feed the cows — all they can eat or keep nice and hungry? Eventhough hay prices are out of sight this winter it still pays to meet the requirements of cows Inadequate feed will likely cause calving problems reduced calf vigor fewer cows breeding back late calving next year and smaller weaning weights The right level of nutrition is critical both before and after calving Getting the maxium net income depends on getting this feed level right according to Nyle Matthews USU Area Livestock Specilist Modem research indicates the best way to decide how much out there with milk mist During the past 50 years the mim ber of dairy cows has been decreasing This past year however that trend leveled off Cow numbers have remained stable and milk production is up Part of the reason for this related to the beef industry Beef prices are down so the price of cull cows dairy cows sent to slaughter is not as profitable “You can’t get anything out of them” he said Cull prices have dropped 8 from cents a pound to 0 cents a pound With prices that low it is more advantageous for dairy farm- has a body condition scoring system that has nine different range from emaciated to super fat Moderate is right in the middle (score 5) These cows have a good covering of flesh with only the last rib or two visible Very little evidence of fat is seen in the brisket over the ribs industry scores of milk letting up In fact will continue to In Utah milk production was up 78 percent in 1994 with most of that occurring in the last two quarters said Bruce Godfrey USU Extension econo- - to feed your cows is like the old timers did by the way they look Body condition is a gopd indicator of whether cows are getting the right amount of feed Cows kept in moderate condition will produce at the most advantageous level The beef cattle a lot of They or tailhead Moderate fleshed cows need to be fed enough to maintain this level of flesh for fetal development (about 150 lbs) A score five 1 100 pound cow would need the equivalent of 20 pounds of alfalfa hay daily If cows are in a lower condition (score 3 or 4) it does pay to bring them up to the moderate condition level to assure proper calf vitality and reproductive level It and provide takes about Where alfalfa hay is in short supply and expensive producers need to look Some straw can be used for dry cow rations Cereal for cheaper feed sources grains can replace some of the alfalfa in cow rations and they are cheaper on an energy basis Some feeds that are being utilized and potatoes millrum pellets and bread products livestock specialists will be happy to help producers are: Northern Utah producers who have relied upon Idaho for hay will find the market and prices more competitive As well because more milk is being produced in this region it will also as higher cow numbers and the resulting increased milk production hesaid Milk consumption is up a bit but not enough to offset the increased The excess milk is exproduction pected to drive milk prices down Utah dairy farmers can expect milk prices in February through March to be in the low $ per hundredweight (cwt) range Prices should begin moving back up to the mid $12 range and higher as maybe he said In Utah the year progresses the dairy industry is lookat the huge extension of ing closely dairy production in Idaho While the number of dairy farms is shrinking in there has been dramatic the Midwest age point hormone “I ensiled poultry litter agents and Those who will be hardest hit by increased milk production are the nancially weaker producers Their vulnerability will be accentuated this year when combined with other factors such Bovine Somatotropin (BST) is having some effect By using BST a natural that increases milk BST is hard to say There is no data available on how may farmers are now using BST he said five will compete for forage and said in growth in the West particularly New Mexico and Idaho These two It is best to think BST states lead the nation from a percent- of view in increased milk and the number of cows production he said In New Mexico milk production was up 268 percent between 1993 and 1994 — the largest increase in the In nation neighboring Idaho milk- HORSE USE AND CARE - The a video conference series on various aspects of Equine Science This is a two part program which originates at the University of Wisconsin begins Monday February 13 with a program on “Horse Driving” and a “Management Update” This part will deal with the fundamentals of putting the horse before the cart and such management topics as toxic plants feeding precautions and improved management techniques of horses The second part on Monday February 27 will cover care of “Older Horses” same however can’t be said for hay of good produced last sumWith hay being in short supply then prices are expected to remain high In some areas of the was Utah alfalfa Although qualityless was mer than normal state hay is fetching as much as $ 100 or more a ton he said are like humans be- - owners had high Clinton’s State hopesduringPresident Union address when they heard him advocate reducing burdensome of the federal regulations cutting the size of and allowing working government Americans to keep more oftheir dollars But hopes have a major impact on Utah dairy farmers in terms of the market “Because we’re so close to where this milk when the is being produced Idaho part of the program explores the versatility of use and involvement of horses as their numbers This and variety increase turned to dread dent Horse and all in horses are invited will be in the Sevier The programs County courthouse auditorium beginning at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm LOANS FOR LOW INTEREST - With rising inter AGRICULTURE minimum producers wage To ers a minimum wage hike to $500 are not many better the Agriculture Resource DevelopmentLoansofferedbyheUtah Departmenrof ‘Agriculture through the Soil Conservation Districts The of 3 is hard to beat It is still not too late to get signed up for a loan to get a development project on its way this spring Many soil and interest rate gible Sevier conserving practices are for these funds Producers and Wayne in or call David piute in counties Pace at stop or stop in at the local office 180 North 100 E in Richfield should at eli- TRACTOR TESTING: Darwin Jolley Utah State University Extension Farm Machinery Specialist will or more per hour would amount to another federal mandate on small busiview it as ness Most entrepreneurs 13 County February 16 to do dynamometer tejng 0f tractors Tractor owners ested in this practical and educational jn gevjer through should service call the at sion office appointments tractor USU Extenx 275 for Cost is only $ 000 per MANAGEMENT: LANDSCAPE The second in the four part series will be received in the Extension conferFebruary 16 Thursday 1995 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm This program will deal with Weed Management and will cover such topence room ics as weed identification weed control options such as meremoval and mulches and chanical factors to consider when using herbicides This program also provides for asking questions of the experts WE CAN DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE MORE THAN For more information call Clyde Hurst your Utah State University ext 275 tension agent at Ex- TO Gunninson High School's 3000 production of "The Foreigner HOMES IN CENTRAL Ule Deliver For Vou! presi- proposed the increasing has and will continue est rates there Thanks to the Central Utah Backcountry Horsemen this program water is offered free to the publ ic saddle clubs Club members those soon own- than 995 UTAH! JOIN THE has been extended one GROWING NUMBER more night! Come enjoy this one last OE ADVERTISERS WHO USE ONE OF CENTRAL UTAH'S performance Wed Feb 15 at 7:00 pm at GVHS auditorium! The price ratio will probably increase this year because milk prices will drop earlier in the year than feed prices he said the Beyond milk consumption demand for other dairy products is is up a little Butter in particular the first trend for NEWSPAPERS! UPCOMING Commercial continues stocks BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR ONLY $1000 PER WEEK! CALL LOR! FOR DETAILS! 528-311- 1 i at re- been have but the same cannot be said for government stocks which are as low as they have been in a long time “ Government surplus of dairy stable products basically ceased to exist by the end of 1994” Godfrey said “This means there is more volatility now in the market because government stocks are down” nothing more than a symbolic political gesture designed to appease the big labor unions that are still angry over the White House endorsement of the North AmericanFreeTrade Agreement ’ But the Clinton Administration that Main Street still hasn’t forgiven the president for trying to force employers to buy health insurance for all their employees should not forget “Official witnessed already has Washington: the grassroots power of owners who pulled to- gether to defeat the president’s health are care mandate And entrepreneurs determined to squash this proposal too According to the National Federation of Independent Business the largest advocacy group for small business 70 percent of its members oppose increasing the minimum nation’s wage ownWhy? Because ers know that the hike would be a scheme that regressive would put a dent in their hiring work This is in hours and productivity large part because employers survive on cash flow and have very narrow profit margins When the federal gov forces them to raise wages owners have few options: either pass price hikes on to consumers cut wages or eliminate jobs Once owner again it’s the not Uncle Sam who bears the finan- ernment business of a government mandate this increase will punUltimately ish the very indiv iduals the Clinton claims it wants to help administration earners who will now be priced out of the labor market The workers with the least skills cial brunt and the least experience will be the ones who lose their jobs proponents of the increase w ill atworkers tempt to cast minimum-wag- e as single women and children who are living below the poverty level This is false More than stereotype workers minimum-wag- e workers e half of are single 25 who under age never been married and who In fact less than have no dependents 2 percent of all employees age 30 and over work for minimum wage have The White House should have gotsent in ten the message entrepreneurs November when they voted out antiand told small business politicians them to get government out of their daily lives But the president’s proposal to increase the minimum wage clearly flies in the face if that message With an economy still growing and levels imemployment at e wage hike makes posing a the federal no sense Once again is attempting gov- to force a policy on smail business But entrepreneurs know from experience that what might work in Boise ernment Idaho might not work in Peoria or in New York City And that’s why raising the minimum wage is the wrong issue at the wTong time With a healthy economy and the free enterprise system demonstrating that it can excel in improving the lives of all Americans ment should concentrate the governnot on a mini- mum wage but a maximum w age which maximizes the wages of all Americans by creating more jobs on Main Street Utah cattle numbers up Utah cattle and January calf inventory as of 890000 head 1995 totaled according to the Utah Agricultural Statistics Service This was 3 percent higher than last year’s level and 5 percent higher than the January 1993 level Beef cows at 345000 head were at the same level as previous year Milk cows at 85000 Sheriff Sale be sold at sheriffs sale at the front 6teps of the Sanpete County Courthouse 160 North Main Street Manti State of Utah on the 2nd day of March 1995 at 10:00 o'clock am on said that certain real property located in Sanpete County State of Utah which real property is more particularly described as follows: The South 12 of the Southeast Quarter of Section 29 Township 20 South To East SLB&M Range Also all of the real property rights of Neals and the Trustee pursuant to that certain unrecorded real estate agreement between Keith Amtoff and Clarel Amtoff as sellers and Bernon F Neal and Janice E Neal as buyers dated April 1 1986 Together with any and all water and water rights ditches and ditch rights laterals and lateral rights conduits and conduit rights reservoir and reservoir rights all grazing leases permits and licenses used with the propand priverty rents issues profits income tenements hereditaments ileges appurtenant to associated with or used on the above described real property and an pumping plants used in connection therewith Dated this 27th day of January 1995 at Manti State of Utah 1995 Published in the Gunnison Valley News February 121522 the head were up 1994 Beef 6 percent from January replacement heifers were estimated at 70000 head the same as the previous year but milk replacement heifers at 46000 head were up 2 percent Other 59000 totaled 1 time in strong for holding many years The products however tail level he said heifers not intended MOST CREATIVE JOIN OUR 7 Page By Jack Faris to have some impact ont he industiy deals 1 Small business hoped for reduction of regulations with ration balance which other interested on milk bearing Extension coming an increasingly larger part of ster population Also covered in the part will be “Horses Tn Recre- - ation” have some negative he prices Godfrey said Because of last summer’s huge com crop feed prices for concentrates will be favorable for dairy producers The ing production was up 156 percent during that same period With Idaho's it is going to booming production Extension service plans clinics seminars for area 'ag1 businesses individuals Central Utah Backcountry Horsemen in cooperation with Utah State Uni-- 1 ' versity Extension will be presenting feed” but it’s not going to move us over the brink in any sense” Godfrey said ers to hold on to the cows and milk them out he said There is also some evidence that produc20 more feed to move a cow up one score in body tion some dairy farmers are able to adjust body condition before calving as the nursing cow stretch production efficiency of cows needs all she can eat to maintain herself and feed her calf Changes in feed As a result they are keeping them should be made over a period of time so as not to cause quick change in fetal longer than normal Godfrey said size resulting in calving difficulty BST came on the market in FebruThe level of feed needs to be increased gradually after calving to meet the in ary Since then milk production needs of the growing calf That 00 pound moderate condition cow now needs United States has increased To the the equivalent of 32 pounds of alfalfa hay Again feed should be calibrated what extent this can be attributed to to the body condition score allowing about 15 more for each score under generally condition 5 February production continues climb in 1995 Milk no sign News Valiev for replacement an increase of 23 head percent from last year The January 1995 inventory level of steers weighpounds or more was 130000 13 percent higher than a year ing 500 head earlier Bull inventory was 2 1000 head the same as last year’s level Calves weighing less than 500 pounds on hand as totaled 134000 head January down percent from the previous year The average value per head for of Utah cattle pared and calves was $655 with $690 last year $5830 com- The total million 2 inventory value was percent below the previous year all cattle and calves as Nationally of January 1995 totaled 1033 mil- lion head 2 percent above the rev ised 1994 and 1010 million on January 4 percent above the years ago 992 million two |