D2O-Lancaster Farming Saturday, December 8,1990
Livestock Notes 1
Profitability Traits
in Feedlot Steers
A recent report from the University of Missouri identifies
several animal and economic variables that influence profi
tability for feedlot steers. The trial used data accumulated
over five years in a feedlot program.
Animal data included average daily gain, starting weight,
frame size, final weight, feed conversion quality grade,
internal carcass fat, dressing percentage and total feed
intake. Economic data includes initial steer value, feed cost
per head, and lot cost per head. Veterinary, marketing, and
fixed costs were assumed to be the same for all animals.
Variables that correlated well with profit (total carcass
value minus all costs) were not usually associated with the
animal. The highest correlations with profits were initial
(-.47) and quality grade (.40). Those with lower relation
ships were feed conversions (-.25) and starting weight
(-.23). It is also important to note that frame size was nega
tively associated with profitability; that is, as frame size
increased, profits went down. In fact, this relationship was
almost the same as that between average daily gain and
profits.
Feedlot programs will often tell you the key to success in
feeding cattle is to buy them as cheaply as you can and feed
them until they grade Choice. This study certainly confirms
that statement.
Effects of Restricted
Nutrition in Mid-Gestation
An Ohio State study shows there will be no difference in
reproductive performance after calving of heifers that had a
restricted diet during mid-gestation. Crossbred heifers were
divided into two groups with one group receiving sufficient
feed to gain I'A lbs. per day from 56 days after breeding
through gestation, and the other group restricted to .2 lbs. of
gain from day 56 to day 188 gestation. This would be rough
ly the same as heavy reductions in feed intake during mid
winter for spring-calving heifers.
There was no difference in birth weight, calving ease
score, or conception rate between the two groups. This in
itself would indicate there would be no problem with this
kind of feed restriction in mid-winter, but other factors must
be considered. For instance, the restricted group weighed
about 270 lbs. less at calving, and they gained about 88 lbs.
more to weaning. Also, this weight gain in the heifers was at
the expense of calf weaning weight with the calves from
restricted group weighing almost 60 lbs. less.
There appear to be a couple of factors at work here. The
increasing plane of nutrition of the restricted group after 188
days of gestation would help to explain why there was no
difference in reproductive rate between the groups. This
result has been shown before with beef cattle. However,
with a young heifer that is still growing, that increase in feed
appears to be partitioned into growth, rather than into milk
production and calf growth. The trade-off of lower winter
feed bills may not be justified.
Manage Control for
Sows
Winter will soon be here, and with it the annual mange
outbreak in many sow herds around the state. For producers
with a treatment program, the outbreak won’t be very bad
and might not occur at all*. For those who don’t treat their
sows, the situation will probably be a lot worse.
Mange is caused by a mite that burrows under the skin,
causing itching and rcsUcssncss in the pig. Sows should be
treated before entering the farrowing house to eliminate the
risk of infecting baby pigs.
What docs mange cost m lost performance? Studies have
shown that pigs from mange-infested herds weigh about a
pound less at weaning and lake 5-7 more days to reach mark
et weight. In addition, whole herd feed efficiency can drop
as much as 10 percent. The number of bom alive can also
drop by as much as .6 pigs per litter. Under field conditions
this adds up to an annual cost of nearly $BO per sow.
Let’s look at some compounds used to control mange:
Permectrin, Ecliban- No age restriction, 5 day withdraw
al, high pressure application required, 2 applications neces
sary (7-10 days apart), SlB-537 for 50 gal. (treats at least 100
Pigs).
Prolate- Pigs must be over 3 months of age, 1 day with
drawal, high pressure application required, 2 applications
necessary (7-10 days apart), $23 for 50 gal. (treats at least
100 pigs).
Taktic- No age restriction, 1 day withdrawal, partially sys
temic (absorbed through skin into the bloodstream), low
pressure application OK, 2 applications necessary (7-10
days apart), $33 for 50 gallons.
Ivomec- No age restriction, 18 days withdrawal, must be
injected under the skin, single application enough if no
further exposure, also controls internal parasites, $.BO per
100 lb. ($32 for 40 pigs).
Mange can be expensive of not controlled in the sow herd.
There are several compounds on the market that, when used
properly, do a good job of controlling mange. The best con
trol program includes treating the sows before farrowing and
treating the pigs sometime after weaning. If you maintain
that schedule and the mange problem in your facility is not
too bad, treatment of pigs over 100 pounds is usually not
Gestation Feeding Level
Doesn’t Affect Reproduction
Researchers at South Dakota State University fed cither 4
or 6 pounds of feeds to Large White x Landracc gills during
gestation. Gilts on the higher feeding level gained more
weight during gestation, but lost more weight during lacta
tion. Sows on the lower feeding level consumed 48 pounds
more feed during lactation. Feeding level had no effect on
number bom live, number weaned, litter weight at weaning
or days to return to estrus. Based on the conditions of this
study, there is no advantage for feeding gilts more than 4
pounds of feed during gestation.
Meat and Bone Meal
Processing Kills PRV
Researchers at lowa State University recently concluded
for the results of six experiments that the normal heating
process for meat and bone kills pseudorabies vims (PVR).
Experiment 1: Pigs were infected with PVR and killed
five days later. The carcasses were then subjected to the nor-
Composting Under
YORK (York Co.) Yard
waste composting is the subject of
two evening meetings being spon
sored by Penn State Cooperative
Extension of Franklin County on
December 12 and 13. The training
sessions will start at 7 p.m. and
end at 9 p.m. in the County Admi
nistration Building, 191 Franklin
Farms Lane, Chambersburg.
There is no fee to attend.
The first session, on December
12, will be oriented to homeow
ners, gardeners and those intend-
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ing to backyard compost for the
first time. The com'posting pro
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posting techniques and health con
siderations will be among the top
ics discussed. Included in the
program will be Clarence Har
baugh of Rouzerville, founder of
the Franklin County Organic Gar
den Club.
Large-scale composting of
yardwaste will be the subject of
the second session on December
13. This session will be oriented to
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mal rendering process. Immediately after the hog carcasses
were rendered, researched processed a group of uninfected
cattle carcasses through the same plant. After rendering,
samples from both the hog and cattle tissue tested negative
to PRV.
Experiment 2,3 & 4: Tissue samples taken during the
rendering procedure showed the virus was killed early in the
process. The 165°F temperatures apparently inactivated the
PRV in as little as 10 minutes.
Experiment 5: Researchers contaminated processed meat
and bone meal with PRV. Because of the dry nature of the
meat and bone meal product, the virus remained viable for
only four days.
Experiment 6: Twelve lots of the finished meat and bone
meal product were monitored over a three month period.
None tested positive to PRV.
The normal heating process quickly destroys the pseudo
rabies virus. Even when clean meat and bone meal is conta
minated with live virus, the dry nature of the product inacti
vates the virus within four days.
Study At Meeting
municipalities, gardening centers,
farmers and those intending to
compost large amounts of yard
waste. Yardwaste management
options, DER guidelines, site
operations, land applications and
marketing will be among the top
ics discussed. Joe Sieber, Franklin
County recycling coordinator, will
be at this session to discuss DER
grants for composting and the
County Municipal Waste Man
agement Plan.
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