P2—incartf Fanwiin, Saterthy, Deew*er 24,1M3 Feedlot profit potential outlined at seminar KALAMAZOO, Mi. - Feedlot owners and managers from texas and Colorado were informed of the benefits of feeding MGA in feedlot heifer rations at a recent seminar sponsored by TUCO, Division of The Upjohn Company. Speakers on the agricultural economy, managing pregnant heifers and TUCO products enlightened the audience on ways that can help them maintain a profit in today’s economy. According to Dennis Steadman, agricultural economist for Chase Econometrics, cattle prices and numbers tend to follow an ap proximate 10-year cycle. “When cattle are relatively high compared to corn, producers start EC HE E 3 LIVESTOCK LATEST Bacterial inoculant reduces piglet LINCOLN. NB The addition of a bacterial inoculant to baby pig diets reduced death loss 53 per cent, according to a University of Nebraska researcher. Professor of Veterinary Science Norman Underdahl reported his tests of a live bacterial feed sup plement for the control of baby pig diarrhea at the recent IMS 24th Annual George A. Young Con ference and the 23rd Annual Nebraska SPF Conference. The joint meetings were in Lincoln. To populate specific-pathogen free (SPF) hog farms, the Nebraska researchers took pigs by Caesarean section and raised the pigs in isolation units. Death losses among 412 pigs in 48 litters fed Cemelle 68 strain of Streptococcus faecium were compared with losses in 361 pigs in the previous 48 litters not fed the live bacterial culture. Cemelle 68 is available as Feed-Mate 68 from Anchor Laboratories. “The 48 litters fed Cemelle 68 had a total mortality of 8.5 percent compared to 18 percent for the other 48 litters,” Underdahl says. “This is a 53-percent reduction in mortality.” Underdahl added the bacterial inoculant to the diet of the SPF pigs after two years of study of the bacteria in gnotobiotic (bacteria free) pigs. Use of gnotobiotic pigs removed the influence of other microorganisms and provided the researchers more control. In these trials, Underdahl and his co-workers orally challenged groups of pigs with three strains of pathogenic E. coli. One group was inoculated with Cemelle 66; lit termates were not. “The results of these ex periments clearly indicate that colonization of the Cemelle 68 strain of S. faecium in the in testinal tract could prevent the severe diarrhea or death ex perienced in those pigs fed E. coli only.” The researchers concluded that Cemelle 68 colonization of the intestines immediately after birth could be beneficial in controlling E. coli scours. Pigs should be orally dosed once daily for a week after birth. To control E. coli scours on weaning, the resear- to expand their herds. Over expansion eventually results, reducing profits," Steadman explained. “Subsequently, cat tlemen decrease herd sizes until, once again, consumers demand more beef. This strengthens prices and the cycle starts again.” The cyclic nature of the cattle market means cattlemen and feedlot operators are especially profit conscious. According to Dr. Billy Clay, technical services veterinarian for The Upjohn Company, one way to boost profitability is to feed MGA, a compound which suppresses heat in heifers. This eliminates the problems associated with standing heat, such as riding in the pens and losses 53 percent chers recommended adding the bacteria to creep feed and con Sheep producers outl DENVER, Co. A little over a year ago, sheep industry leaders met to organize a plan a strategic plan for the American Sheep Producers Council. At the ASPC Annual Meeting in October, directors and delegates from across the country provided input in lamb and wool workshops organized by region. The Wool Advisory Committee then met Nov. 28 and 29, and the Lamb Advisory Committee met Dec. 1 and 2. These committees identified specific projects for 1984 based on the strategic plan and the input received at the workshops. Following is a summary of the decisions the committees made: Developing new markets for American wool is the ASPC Wool Advisory Committee’s top priority this year. After xeviewmg the Council’s campaign to promote American wool, the group revised the program to allow more in volvement by blended product manufacturers. And they stressed new product development, par ticularly of a wool/cotton blend fabric. Since many wool buyers have asked when and where wool is available, the committee is planning a directory of regional wool supplies. This directory will include a description of each potential injuries. MGA also im proves performance through improved feed utilization, resulting in increased daily gains. “The MGA heifer is a more profitable animal,” Dr. Clay told the seminar audience. “Results of studies conducted by TUCO in dicated that heifers fed MGA at the prescribed rate (0.25-0.5 mg per day per heifer in the feed), exhibited a 10 percent im provement in rate of gain, and an improved feed conversion figure of 6.5 percent over heifers not fed MGA.” Dr. Clay also discussed some potential problems of feeding pregnant heifers. Decreased feed efficiency, potential calving dif- tinued in the diet until pigs are adjusted to the nursery. region, its shearing season, sheep breeds, wool grades and quan tities, and marketing agencies (those companies that act as handling agents for producers). The directory will be distributed to all potential American wool buyers. The Committee reviewed progress on the Yocum-McColl branding paint tests and decided to publish a sheep identification pamphlet describing alternative identification methods. The publication will explain the ad vantages and disadvantages of each method and restrictions on their use. Among other, the pamphlet will be distributed to state and area sheep council executive secretaries, the Farm Bureau, state extension depart ments, producer pools and co-ops. And it will be an insert m the February issue of the National Wool Grower magazine. The Wool Advisory Committee also called for more coordination between various wool projects being conducted by USDA, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and others. To get this coordination, the Committee is planning a future meeting and inviting representatives from the involved organizations to discuss the projects. The 1984 goals set by the Lamb ficulties and lower market value are among the problems associated with pregnant heifers, he maintained. Tests conducted at a Colorado feedlot operation have shown that it costs as much as $35 more to feed a pregnant heifer for 100 days than it does to feed an open heifer for the same period. In addition, veterinary charges, labor costs and discounts at slaughter are often invovled. Feedlots can avoid these problems by using Lutalyse, a product containing a natural prostaglandin, to abort pregnant heifers, explained Dr. Clay. Given as a 5 cc injection in the muscle, Lutalyse will cause most heifers less than 100 days pregnant to abort within 35 days, with the majority aborting in the first 14 Progress made in reducing tat content of meat CHICAGO, 11. Changes in lean/fat ratios which American livestock producers have ac complished in red meat animals over the past few decades are reported in an article in a recent issue of Food and Nutrition News, published by the National Live Stock and Meat Board. Written by Robert G. Kauffman, Ph.D., professor at the University of Wisconsin, and Burdette C. Breidenstein, Ph.D., director of research and nutrition information with the National Live Stock and Meat Board, Chicago, the article shows how rapidly the red meat industry has responded to con sumer demands for leaner products. It recapitulates the history of cattle and hog produc tion and management in this country as far bade as the 1800 s. The article explains the em phasis on leaner pork and beef that began in the 19605, when it became evident to pork producers “that plant-source oils could be produced, extracted • and made acceptable for human con sumption more economically than through use of the animal as a 1984 national activities ne Advisory Committee are "moderating erratic price swings and adding stability to the lamb market.” To achieve these, the Committee will focus on several levels .of the lamb marketing chain. At the producer and feeder level, the Committee wants to identify marketing alternatives and inform producers of the pros and cons of each. These include early and delayed marketing schedules, direct marketing, retained ownership through the wholesale level and packing plant ownership DE FOREST, Wi. - Dr. Larry V. Cundiff, research leader at the USDA Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Neb., is winner of the J.R. Prentice Memorial Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics. The award, donated annually by American Breeders Service, was presented by Dr. Robert. E. days. “If the heifers are injected with Lutaiyse on arrival at the feedlot, they can be started on MGA seven days later,” Clay said. “By this time the abortion process will already be started and MGA will not interfere with the Lutaiyse activity.” In conclusion, the speakers emphasized the economic significance feeding can make to the cattleman’s profits. “As long as the cattle market is controlled by a large number of people in a free society, price fluctuations will be a fact of life," Steadman said. “Finding a way to remain profitable when the low end of the cycle hits can determine your survival in the cattle business.” manufacturing vehicle” for oils. The problems encountered m reducing the fat content of red meat in cattle, hog and sheep production are examined in the article. Although the difficulties have been enormous, the authors state, the accomplishments of the industry speak for themselves. Using edible lean weight per carcass as a criterion, fed cattle produced about 75 pounds more meat per animal in 1900 than in 1950. Improved muscling and reduced fat of hogs increased lean meat production per animal about 16.5 pounds in the same period. lids is an increase in edible weight of 27 percent in beef and nearly 23 percent in pork. At the same time, lamb and mutton carcasses produced in the U.S. have shown an increase in edible portion of 33 percent per head. Single copies of the issue of Food and Nutrition News containing the article are available to persons sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Red Meat Revolution, c/o National live Stock and Meat Board, 444 N. Michigan, Chicago, IL 60611. by producers. At the processing level, the group emphasized the need for continuing programs that (a| spread out lamb features and (bl encourage year-round promotion activity. They also stressed the need for development of new products and markets that spread out distribution. Both the Wool and Lamb Ad visory Committees will meet again during the National Wool Growers Association Annual Meeting in January. Wins J. R. Prentice Memorial Award Walton, president of that firm, at the 75th meeting of the American Society of Animal Science. In presenting this award, Walton cited Dr. Cundiff’s contribution to accepted breeding procedures in beef cattle and for leading the team conducting the Cattle Germ Plasm Evaluation Program.
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