A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20, 1999
(Continued from Page A2O)
largely because of the failure of
industry intended exports (because
of economic failures of intended
trading nations), and the conse
quent dumping of the surplus on
the domestic market.
In other business, Stoltzfus dis
cussed some of the more common
environmental and nutrient man
agement concerns among feeder
cattle operations.
He reminded the audience of the
state Nutrient Management Act
and the threshold of livestock den
sity for being required to file with
the state for approval a nitrogen
balanced nutrient management
plan.
Stoltzfus also reminded the
audience of some of the other laws
that can apply with regard to the
uncontrolled flow or direct flow of
nutrient-laden runoff into a
waterway.
Id brief, he said that those with
earthen or concreted, uncovered
feed lots, especially those adjacent
to a stream, or with a direct dis
charge into a stream, grass water
way or ditch, that are affected by
stormwater mixing and washing
away manure, are at risk of being
discovered and penalized.
Those practices are illegal,
regardless of whether the specific
farm stocking rate mandates the
creation and maintenance of a
state-approved nutrient manage
ment plan.
Cattle Feeder
Survey Results
Dr. Comerford took time during
the morning to discuss the early
results of a survey of cattle feeders
in southeast Pennsylvania with
regard to the use of veterinarians
and formal feeder cattle health
programs.
The survey was done to better
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understand the existing relation
ships between cattle feeders and
veterinarians.
He said the survey was done
with a two-fold objective: to be
able to describe the cattle feeding
industry in southeastern Pennsyl
vania; and determine the attitudes
of those who feed cattle for
market.
According to Comerford, the
survey resulted in at least one
surprise the number of people
feeding calves. Comerford said it
was much more than expected.
The rest of the survey results
seemed to better quantify some of
the assumed practices.
Comerford reviewed the results
of the survey, question by ques
tion, noting some statistical out
liers, such as one survey result that
indicated an operation has been
feeding 23,000 cattle per year,
when the average is about 2,500
per operation.
One question asked what per
cent of the feeder cattle being fat
tened receive vaccinations and/or
treatment for parasites.
According to the information,
only 8.6 percent of those surveyed
indicated a full program. “About
20 percent of the cattle fed in Pen
nsylvania have no health manage
ment,’* Comerford said.
The mortality (death losses) rate
is reportedly low, according to the
survey results, with an average of
1.17 percent per year. Survey
results also indicated an average
expense of $1,132.66 per year for
medications.
The survey results also showed
that most cattle feeders choose to
treat their animals without over
sight of a veterinarian. According
to Comerford, respondents indi
cated that 90.7 percent of the
health treatments were performed
by themselves, while 9.3 percent
of the time a veterinarian was used.
Comerford said the 9.3 percent
use of a veterinarian is assumed to
mostly reflect the practice of call
ing for a veterinarian when it
becomes obvious the animal is
going to die otherwise.
Respondents indicated that
most arc vety pleased with the
quality of veterinaiy service avail
able to them.
On a scale of 1 to 10, from worst
to best, respondent scores aver
aged 7.76.
Further, 87.8 percent indicated
they felt their veterinarian had suf
ficient interest in beef cattle, and
BS.S percent indicated they felt
their veterinarian had the expertise
needed for feeder cattle.
With regard to developing a
working relationship between a
feeder cattle manager and a veter
inarian to develop and maintain a
health program. Dr. Thomson dis
cussed some of the practices being
adopted in lowa.
An informal survey of the audi
ence, however, revealed that few
follow a regular health program in
consultation with a veterinarian as
part of their regular business.
While Thomson discussed the
types of programs and alliances
that are becoming industry stan
dards in lowa, which he said has
about five cows per person, they
didn’t necessarily seem to apply to
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local practices.
However, Thomson reported
that a form of integration has been
occuring in the lowa feeder cattle
industry, with proper identifica
tion emphasized; the use of a team
approach to help produce a profit
able product that meets consumer
and industry needs; and the use of
“strategic alliances” and retained
ownership of the animals becom
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He said that he has watched
some farmers walk away from
using veterinarians, but public
health issues and other evolving
issues mandate that producers
involve more consultants or work
more directly with market forces in
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(Continued next week.)
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order to produce what the market
demands.
According to Thomson, all that
integration and team work will not
only require working more with
veterinarians, but will also require
a lot of information, information
sharing, and information
management.
The feeder cattle industry is an
“adversarial industry," according
to Thomson. “We rob Peter to pay
Paul. Some of the conflicts are my
breed versus your breed; producer
versus retailer, industry needs ver
sus consumer wants."
He said the beef industry, while
not totally vertically integrated, is
going to have to consolidate
information.
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