EXTENSION REPORT

Tools For Improving Our Cattle Herds

There are a number of tools available for cattlemen to use to improve their cattle herds. Extension offers several of these to cattlemen at little to no cost. There are a couple of these that are extremely valuable to cattlemen, yet we seldom take advantage of them. Soil analysis, hay analysis, and the Red-Wing cow calf record keeping system are three of the tools that Extension offers to the cattlemen that can help cattlemen and farm managers be more efficient, profitable, and viable.

Soil analysis is done by taking representative samples from fields or paddocks and sending them to the soil analysis lab at Auburn University. The lab then runs a series of tests that determines pH and nutrient levels in the soil. Why is this important? PH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The range for pH is 0 – 14 with a pH of 7 being neutral. Most of the soils in our area range from a pH of 4 to a pH of 7. The pH of the soil is important because most grasses, forbs, and legumes thrive in a pH range from 5.5 to 6.5. Conversely, most weeds thrive in lower pH ranges. Therefore, by manipulating the pH of our soil to the optimum range for grasses, forbs, and legumes we both improve our forage (the plants are able to use available nutrients and grow at an optimum rate) and minimize our weeds. Soil analysis will also give recommendations for the addition of nutrients to make our forages grow at an optimum level. Recommendations will include nitrogen (n), phosphorous (p), and potassium (k) in amounts specific for the soil that has been sampled and the forage to be grown. This allows fertilization programs to be tailored to give your forage exactly what it needs without oversupplying or undersupplying certain nutrients. This can be beneficial not only in producing optimum forage growth, but is also environmentally friendly and better on your pocketbook.

Hay sampling is another service that can be used to the cattlemen’s advantage. Feeding programs can be tailored to meet the needs of cattle based upon whether the cattle are open, pregnant or lactating (you need a defined calving season to do this – but that is another topic). Hay sampling allows us to know the quality of the hay that we are feeding, and therefore what we need to use to supplement it (good quality hay will often times meet the nutrient requirements of open and pregnant cows).

Record keeping is becoming more and more important in the livestock industry. The public is asking for more and more documentation on source verification, age verification, and quality assurance. This can be used to the advantage of progressive producers because of premiums available for these source and age verified animals. Record keeping is also an important management tool for the cattle herd. It is just about impossible to know which way you need to go with your herd if you don’t know where you are at. Cattle records are like a road map. They can help you get to where you want to go (point B) only if you know where you are at (point A).The Red-Wing record keeping system is a cow-calf record keeping system that is made available to us through BCIA. The Red-wing system uses sophisticated software to calculate adjusted weaning weights, frame scores, herd indexes, etc. from data that you turn into your regional extension agent. This program allows producers to have advanced software to calculate and keep these valuable records without having to purchase the software.

If you are interested in any of these programs, please give me a call or an e-mail and I will be glad to assist you.     

Alabama in Motion (AIM)

            "Reduce your risk of heart disease. Lower your stress level. Control blood pressure. Lose weight. Add years to your life. Those are some of the benefits you can enjoy just by adding a brisk walk to your daily routine. And there's no better time to get into the habit than now, with AIM!"

            Physical activity has been shown to help reduce the risk for chronic disease. AIM was developed as an eight-week program to address change in behavior of attitude and action toward walking and physical activity. The program is a fun and risk-free way to burn fat, lower blood pressure, lose weight, ward off heart disease, strengthen your bones and muscle, prevent certain cancers, boost your mood and add years to your life.

            AIM will begin March 4 and will last eight weeks. "AIM will motivate you to start and stick with a physical activity routine. If you are already physically active, the friendly competition in the program is a fun way to contribute your regular activity to a team effort."

            How does AIM work?

            In each county, teams of eight friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers and/or  school classrooms compete to see which team can log the most miles and be the first to reach 850 miles. That's the equivalent of walking across Alabama-from Houston County to Lauderdale County and from Baldwin County to DeKalb County.

            Team members can walk as a group or individually. Each team member keeps a log of his or her miles and reports the total each week.

            To participate, get an eight-member team together, name the team, choose a team captain, and complete the registration form. Registration forms may be obtained by contacting the Baldwin County Extension Office at 943-5611/928-0860 ext. 2222 or

937-7176.

            Join us for an AIM kickoff walk on Friday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the Loxley Park.

            For more information about AIM, contact Susan Wingard at the Baldwin County Extension Office.

Email address: kellewi@aces.edu
Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.