tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89425497074076623262011-12-05T14:19:32.339-07:00This blog contains articles thoughts, ramblings and information of importance to those interested in Livestock Production In the Golden Plains Area of Eastern Colorado.Perrynoreply@blogger.comBlogger251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-65682456189231657822011-12-05T14:16:00.002-07:002011-12-05T14:19:32.348-07:00

Colorado State University Extension will host a Cow/Calf Producer’s Night on December 13th from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. The program will be held at the Events Center at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Akron.The program will cover rotating for pasture production, weed control in pastures, a cattle genetics update, third trimester cow nutrition, and a market update. There is a modest registration fee

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-50619614330217810702011-09-12T10:56:00.003-06:002011-09-12T11:02:43.339-06:00

I wrote an article almost a year ago titled “Are you an exporter?” (It is archived on the GPA Extension website at http://goldenplains.colostate.edu/agri/agri_docs/2010_exporter.shtml.) In that article I used the July 2010 import/export data from the Foreign Trade office of the US Census Bureau to look at the positive effect that ag commodities in the foods, feeds, and beverages sector have as US

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-67001295172870238722011-08-22T09:00:00.001-06:002011-08-22T09:01:20.861-06:00

Each year the Colorado Department of Agriculture develops and distributes the Colorado Hay Directory. This booklet contains contact information for hay producers, brokers, and related products and services. The 25th edition is now available from the CDA by calling (303) 239-4115. Producers may also access the directory electronically at www.coloradoagriculture.com/hay.

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-77650946981405380072011-08-18T14:57:00.001-06:002011-08-18T15:00:46.024-06:00

As you traveled through the Golden Plains Area earlier this summer, you may have noticed a yellow flowering crop in a few locations. A handful of producers, as well as some of our Extension team have been looking at irrigated winter canola as a potential crop for the area. Canola is considered a high value crop that requires less water than corn. So there is a hope that it might have potential

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-65403048763989475052011-08-18T10:22:00.000-06:002011-08-18T10:24:15.445-06:00

Those of you in the pork business know that Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a significant problem for swine production. The costs related to this are immense and a recent Iowa State University study has calculated the dollar value of PRRS related losses. Research Veterinarian Derald Holtkamp and Ag Economist Jim Kliebenstein surveyed both swine producers and veterinarians

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-37581919739373301892011-07-21T16:32:00.000-06:002011-07-21T16:33:16.136-06:00

I don’t know about you, but I have not enjoyed the recent 100 degree heat wave. Most likely, cattle in the area have not enjoyed it either. Cattle have a temperature comfort zone that ranges from zero to seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature rises above 75 degrees, cattle begin to experience levels of heat stress. They can generally cope with this heat stress until the temperature

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-8360679928804372352011-07-19T10:54:00.003-06:002011-07-19T11:24:07.970-06:00

About this time of year I begin getting calls regarding how to control algae growth in stock tanks. Algae growth is a fact of summer for livestock water tanks in Eastern Colorado. Before talking about controlling it, let’s talk about trying to limit some of the algae growth.There are some basic essentials that algae require to grow in a stock tank. The most obvious is water and we can’t do much

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-15158745563981842752011-07-19T10:50:00.004-06:002011-07-19T11:24:54.782-06:00

The past week the weather has been HOT, and the forecast is calling for some very warm temperatures for the next week. These hot days can make us uncomfortable but have you thought about how your cattle feel about it?Bos taurus cattle, the type generally used in Colorado beef production, do not tolerate heat and humidity as well as humans do. The young beef animal has a thermal comfort zone that

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-25196847598091977672011-03-22T14:11:00.002-06:002011-03-22T14:14:16.617-06:00

You know that spring is fast approaching when the farm & ranch stores and your local feed dealer start advertising that chicks are in. This morning alone, I have been in two stores that had a tank set up with heat lamps over it and a collection of the “few-day old” chirpers inside of the tank. When the baby chicks are that young it is difficult to look at them and know what they will be like as

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-5921068610717287252010-12-08T09:23:00.001-07:002010-12-08T15:35:01.767-07:00

The 2010 Tri State Cow Calf Symposium is coming soon to St. Francis, Kansas. We are looking forward to another excellent slate of important and timely topics being covered. The Symposium brochure and registration materials are available by clicking on the link below! http://goldenplains.colostate.edu/agri/agri_docs/2010_tri_state_symposium.pdf

Perrynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-10882327013398226152010-12-07T10:16:00.002-07:002010-12-07T10:17:18.695-07:00

We need your help! Please vote for our Pepsi Refresh Grant Project! Thank you!

Perrynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-12898267226032262982010-07-24T16:24:00.005-06:002010-07-24T16:57:41.219-06:00

Bos taurus cattle, the type generally used in Colorado beef production, do not tolerate heat and humidity as well as humans do. The young beef animal has a thermal comfort zone that ranges from 45 to 80˚F. When you look at the thermal comfort zone for mature cows and feedlot cattle you can expect it to range from 0 to 75˚F. Additionally, you must take into consideration the animal’s nutrition

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-73878416947187817092010-03-08T14:58:00.004-07:002010-03-08T16:52:10.571-07:00

Recently Carol Dowell was in our office helping Joy Akey (Golden Plains Area FCS Extension Agent) put together a wool spinning project for 4-H youth to do at a club meeting. Joy videotaped Carol's demonstration and as I have some new video editing software that I am trying to learn how to use, I edited the video and thought I would put on the blog to test my abilities. I hope you enjoy Carol's

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-52803407363030099922010-01-26T14:39:00.002-07:002010-01-26T14:52:54.017-07:00

A new year has once again arrived. Around the middle of each January I try to look at the ethnic holiday calendar for that year. As you already know, many holidays are celebrated with a traditional holiday feast. However, it is important to realize that a lot of cultures like to celebrate their holidays with lamb or goat meat as part of the feast. If you are a lamb or goat producer, you may be

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-81520202613055021072010-01-21T11:47:00.002-07:002010-01-21T11:51:02.096-07:00

Colorado State University Extension is currently advertising an Extension Range Specialist position. The application deadline is February 24, 2010. The job vacany announcement and application procedure can be found at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/coop/job1005.html .

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-37041174854248810732008-09-22T15:57:00.003-06:002008-09-22T16:18:43.314-06:00

In my job I spend a lot of time talking about beef cattle production and management. My training is actually in ruminant nutrition but I have always geared it and my career mostly towards beef cattle. However, there are several species of mammal that qualify as being a ruminant. One of the ones that has long since fascinated me is the elk. Here is a short video clip (~90 seconds) of a bull

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-91423972141964156762008-08-08T15:19:00.000-06:002008-08-08T15:21:26.418-06:00

As feed prices have risen, many livestock producers have turned to alternative means for providing feedstuffs for their livestock. One popular option has been to follow wheat harvest with a planting of sorghum. While a sorghum crop can be a valuable resource for feeding, it can also pose some hazards. When talking about toxins in a sorghum or sorghum cross plant, most commonly we are concerned

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-25076611859118874532008-03-25T12:37:00.001-06:002008-03-25T12:40:07.568-06:00

It is that time of year when ranchers are traveling the countryside trying to get the bull power that they will need for the upcoming breeding season. In scanning the bull catalogs and sitting through some sales over the past few weeks I have begun to ask myself a question. Are there more yearling bulls on the market these days? That has been a gradual trend for several years now and it only

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-71328962819645732272008-02-29T15:34:00.002-07:002008-02-29T15:37:54.318-07:00

Did you know?- The anatomical placement of a donkey's eyes enables it to see all four feet at all times.- Twelve or more cows are known as a "flink."- In its entire lifetime, the average worker bee produces 1/12th teaspoon of honey.- Cheddar cheese was developed in Cheddar Gorge, England.- The average ear of corn has approximately 800 kernels.- Wheat was first planted in the United States in 1777

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-90260278049985680222008-01-21T15:28:00.000-07:002008-01-21T15:33:26.700-07:00

It is a bit brisk outside today. Current windchill in Wray is -3*F with a forecast for -15* windchill tonight.Does your livesotck have some protection?Are you double checking water supplies to be certain that they are not freezing over?Are you providing plenty of feed to cover the extra maintenance requirements brought on by the cold weather?Have you double checked the ventilation fans in your

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-83115535282836113222008-01-18T15:48:00.000-07:002008-01-18T15:52:11.564-07:00

The cut of meat shown in the January 8th pop quiz has a USDA beef marbling score of slightly abundant. This means that it contains roughly 8.96% intramuscular fat and would be eligible to be marketed as a low prime steak.So congratulations if you guessed low prime!

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-11574603004515547672008-01-08T17:21:00.000-07:002008-01-08T17:25:59.477-07:00

The USDA has established quality grades which we use to classify cuts of meat. Based on that system, what quality grade should a USDA inspector assign to this cut?

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-24546470636350977082008-01-08T17:13:00.000-07:002008-01-08T17:20:43.915-07:00

Colorado State University Extension will be holding a calving workshop in Burlington at 10 am (Mountain Time) on Monday, January 14th. The program will be held at the Community Education Center, 340 S. 14th St (just to the north of Old Town).Dr. Robert Mortimer, DVM with the CSU Veterinary Medical Center, will be talking about calf delivery and managing dystocia problems; while Dr. Roger Ellis,

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-63243423921684218682007-12-17T15:34:00.000-07:002008-01-04T14:31:58.475-07:00

As temperatures fluctuate be on the look out for calves becoming sick. The changes in climate add stress to calves and can lower their immune function.

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8942549707407662326.post-71431096858384578472007-12-17T15:20:00.000-07:002007-12-17T15:23:49.189-07:00

More than 700 people attended the 20th Range Beef Cow Symposium, held in Loveland, CO last week. An excellant group of speakers were on hand to discuss subjects ranging from genetics to marketing and much in between. Once again, the bull pen sessions were a huge hit. Start making plans to attend RBCS XXI to be in Wyoming in 2009.

MJ Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400070337998324135noreply@blogger.com0