Pl2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 18,1984
Beef feeders told to
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
STOUCHSBURG - “Reduced
meat supplies and a strong
economy indicate a good year for
beef,” according to Lou Moore,
Penn State extension economist.
Speaking on the effect of the new
dairy bill, Moore added: “the
culling rate from the dairy
program will not make a drastic
effect on the beef market.”
Moore and Les Burdette, Penn
State animal scientist, addressed
dairymen raising slaughter
animals, commercial beef
producers, and part-time beef
feeders last week. The annual beef
feeders meeting for southeast
Pennsylvania was held at Rissers
Restaurant, Stouchsburg.
Throughout the day the two
specialists stressed knowing the
market and using the latest
technology.
Regarding the new dairy bill,
Moore told farmers that “what
really happens in agriculture
depends more on the general
economy.” When there are many
individuals making their own
decisions, he continued, “alter
nating periods of feast or famine
must be expected.” Moore went on
to cite several reasons for ex
pecting 1984 to be a better year.
They included changing consumer
attitudes, the election year and an
economic recovery.
Calling the new dairy bill a
“short-run, stop-gap solution to
buy some time for the CCC and
Congress,” Moore said, “the
biggest thing that will help will be
the continual drop in the support
price which will cut prices to
where people will start consuming
more.”
Summarizing it’s effects on the
beef industry, Moore repeated that
the beef prices will be “fairly
good.” Because of the past high
feed prices, a reduced calf crop,
and fewer cattle on feed, there are
reduced meat suppliles. To keep
prices where a producer needs
them, “produce less than the
market wants,” Moore told the
farmers.
Burdette continually told beef
feeders to “know your market.”
“Time is money,” he stated, “slow
gains add to overhead costs.”
“How we feed a calf in its early
stages does make a difference in
its total performance to market,”
Burdette continued. High quality
hay and an adequate calf starter
should be used.
Burdette also suggested the
following guidelines to use when
buying calves to be fed for market.
1. Buy with a dry naval. This
indicates that the calf received
colostrum.
2. Buy in batches and isolate.
3. Give a therapeutic dose of
antibiotics for protection.
4. Vaccinate against Pl 3, IBR,
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Dennis Manbeck, left, director of the Berks County Cattlemens
Association; are Mike Firestine, secretary, encourage participatioi
in their organization.
also use a 4-way clostridial vac
cine.
5. Use implants.
“If you’re feeding cattle and not
taking advantage of what’s
available, you’re competing with
somebody that is taking advantage
of the latest technology,” Burdette
stated. Burdette stressed using
implants. Implants have been
proven to increase growth hor
mones reducing the finishing time.
With the new dairy bill, more
Holstems will be raised for
slaughter. Burdette’ discussed
raising of dairy beef. Stating that
Holsteins are less efficient con
verters of feed to beef, Burdette
advised marketing them by 15
months of age. Holsteins have a
thinner hide and energy is lost
quicker.
Burdette listed several items
that producers feeding dairy beef
should be aware of.
1. There are higher feed
requirements. Holsteins are easier
to feed in the summer than in the
winter.
2. The price spread is greater.
3. There is usually a lower
margin between feed cost and
selling price.
4. Learn about the grades and
market requirements.
5. Feed high grain rations for at
least 100 days.
6. Market by 15 months of age.
7. Use all available technology.
He warned feeders, “feed ef
ficiency and rate of gam drops as
we get to these higher weights that
are popular.” “Every time you try
to top the market, you fed your
cattle too long,” he stated.
“The average cattle'feeder tends
to overfeed roughage,” Burdette
continued. He discussed feeding
management and alternative
feeds. He also stated that moldy
feeds are not avoided as much in
feedlot cattle as they should be.
Producers should be careful when
using any off-quality feeds.
Rations should be balanced con
sidering nutrient balance verses
least cost, according to Burdette.
“The combination of implants
and feed additives in saving feed is
really the way to go,” he con
cluded.
Clyde Myers, Berks County
extension agent, discussed live
animal and carcass grades and
also marketing freezer beef. Beef
feeders were encouraged to budget
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know market & use technology
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Commercial exhibits attract farmers attending beef feeders program
and compute costs to make the
correct market choice.
Dennis Manbeck, program
director of the Berks County
Cattlemans Association and Mike
Firestine, secretary of the
association encouraged beef
producers to become involved in
their organization. The association
helped to sponsor this meeting and
promotes beef throughout the
year.
“The more we educate the
people, the better off we are,”
Firestine told producers. Anyone
interested in joining the
association can send $15.00 (in
cludes membership m both the
Berks County Association and the
Pennsylvania Association) to
Donald Schaeffer, RDI, Box 94,
Bernville, Pa. 19506. Make checks
payable to the Berks County
Cattlemans Association. Include
your phone number and type of
farm or business.
Md. sheep wool festival
WEST FRIENDSHIP, Md. -
Sheep breeders, wool growers,
craftspeople, artists, 4-H and FFA
members, young and old alike are
preparing for the 11th Annual
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
to be held May 5 and 6 at the
Howard County Fairgrounds, West
Friendship, Md.
This festival is sponsored by the
Maryland Sheep Breeders
Association. The primary thrust of
the festival is to bring attention to
the sheep and wool industry.
Wishing to broaden the scope of
this agriculturally oriented
festival, new categories have been
added. There is the Auction of
Breeding Stock, the Shepherd’s
Lead Class, the Lamb Cook-off, the
Fine Arts Competition, and the
poster contest for young artists.
A full schedule is planned for
festival visitors to enjoy on
Saturday and Sunday. There will
be the Natural Colored and White
Wool Sheep Shows, Market Lamb
Show and Sale, Fleece Show and
Sale, Sheep Judging Contest for 4-
H and FFA members, Sheep to
Shawl Contest, Lamb Carcass
Contest, Fashion Show, sheep
shearing, spinning, weaving, wool
dyeing, Fine Art and Photo Con
tests, Skein and Garment Com
petition, the Sheep Breeds Display,
etc. A festival highlight is the
choosing of the 1984 Maryland
and Wool Queen.
Beautiful white and natural
colored wool sheep and more than
30 breeds i epresented in the Sheep
Breeds Display Barn will provide
Featured speakers who stressed knowing the market and
using latest technology in beef production are Les Burdette, left,
and Lou Moore, of Penn State.
to be held May 5-6
the viewer a rare opportunity. The
finest “black sheep” east of the
Mississippi will be shown Sunday
in the Natural Colored Wool Sheep
Show. The National Natural
Colored Sheep Association will
hold their Eastern Regional
Meeting in conjunction with the
festival and members will show
their prize animals alongside
sheep shown by breeders from
Maryland and nearby states. On
Saturday morning the White Wool
Sheep will be shown and Saturday
afternoon the Romney Sheep
Breeders Association will host the
Romney Sheep Show. Following
these shows, many of these fine
animals will be offered for sale
through our Breed Sheep Auction.
Prospective buyers will have the
opportunity to bid on high quality
Wayne sheep group to meet
HONESDALE - The annual
dinner meeting of the Wayne
County Sheep and Wool Growers
will be held on Thursday, Feb 23 at
7.45 pm in the Pleasant Valley
Orange, Hi 191, Honesdale A
roast lamb dinner, featuring
locally produced lamb, will be
served
Speakers for the annual atfan
will be Mr and Mrs Bruce Bresee,
from Bradford County Biuce and
Jane Bresee have made several
trips to Scotland, and with llu use
ol slides, tney will discuss sheep
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and fancy animals nevei before
made available at auction.
More than a hundred craft
speople will be on hand to
demonstrate and sell their wares.
Delicious dishes made with lamb
will be available at the various
food booths. And Rick Harbaugh
from the American Sheep
Producers Council will demon
strate how to cut and cook a leg of
lamb to serve seven meals. ‘
Country and blue grass music,
folk dancing and other en
tertainment will be presented
throughout the festival.
There is no admission charge
For information, entry forms, or
festival catalog, contact Mary E.
F. Streaker, Chairman, Maryland
Sheep and Wool Festival, P. 0. Box
135, West Friendship, Maryland
21794 (3011823-4037 or 442-2409.
production in Scotland They have
a sheep flock of their own in
Bradford County
Other items on the program will
include recognition of 4-H mem
bers, and reports of the local wool
pool as well as district and stale
activities
Reservations can be made b>
calling the Wayne County Lv
lension Office, Courthouse,
Honesdale at 717-253-5970 ext 114
All interested persons are welcome
iu attend