Ag News & Notes - Aug. 20
Cattlemen’s Field Day
Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 26, from 9 a.m. until noon. The Cattlemen’s Association is having its first field day, which will be held at the Beef and Dairy Barn at the Warren County Fairgrounds.
We will have a trade show with several local vendors and educational sessions featuring Pasture Weed Control with Maddie Wheeler from Corteva; New World Screwworm and TAEP Update with Dr. Jill Johnson and Jacob Tipton; and concluding with a presentation from the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association.
The Board of Directors and I have been blown away by the turnout at the first two meetings and hope this will be even better attended. As always, please let us know if we can answer any questions.
Master Beef Class Planned – Check those certificates! If yours is dated January 1, 2023, or later, it is time to renew.
This year, we are incorporating our field day along with two other sessions on September 29 and October 1. Both sessions will be held in the Early Voting Room at the Warren County Administrative Building, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Speakers for these two sessions include Mr. Jared Franklin, discussing reproduction, and Dr. Andrew Griffith, who will provide a market update and discuss what role the recent processing facility closure will have in our markets.
The cost for the class is $125.00 and includes everything.
To register, please come by the Extension Office or register using the QR code.
PREPARATION FOR BREEDING SEASON NEXT YEAR BEGINS TODAY
Dr. Kyle McLean, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science
The bull is a critical factor in the success of a cow-calf operation. A single bull is responsible for upwards of 30 calves per estrous cycle. Fluctuations in nutritional planes before, during, and after the breeding season can have negative implications on semen quality, inhibiting reproductive efficiency (Harrison et al., 2021).
While it is vitally important to closely manage bulls prior to, during, and immediately following the breeding season to maximize bull health and reproductive efficiency, weight loss is a known issue during the breeding season due to increased activity. A mature bull can lose anywhere from 45.5 to 90.9 kg during a given breeding season (Walker et al., 2009).
The use of a defined breeding season, while highly recommended, means that bulls are not actively breeding for 240 to 300 days a year. During this latent time, bulls can easily gain excess weight if sufficient nutrient-rich feeds are available.
Bulls losing significant weight during the breeding season must also return to a positive plane of nutrition thereafter to regain weight before the subsequent breeding season (Barth, 2013). It is important to regulate supplementation at this point to prevent overfeeding leading up to the breeding season and to avoid the negative effects that over-conditioning can have on reproductive efficiency and bull performance (Skinner, 1981; Harrison et al., 2021).
If body weight gain following the breeding season is not closely regulated, a cycle of fluctuations in body weight and body condition scores can be initiated, particularly if bulls are observed and fed daily but also not very frequently. This cycling will result in physiological stress and increased feed costs from supplementation compared to a consistent management approach.
For producers utilizing a dual-season system, maintaining bull effectiveness is even more critical for maximizing operation productivity.
Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
The University of Tennessee does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in the provision of educational programs and services or employment opportunities and benefits. This policy extends both to employment by and admission to the University.
Real. Life. Solutions.
Contact: Heath Nokes, UT-TSU Extension Warren County, (931) 473-8484, hnokes@utk.edu
