An “abortion” is the discharge of the fetus prior to the end of the normal gestation period, according to Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. Many abortions occur within the first 45 days of conception (called early embryonic death), and the embryos or fetuses are so small that they
Calf losses before birth a concern
Abortions can be a major concern for cattle producers
Protein key for pregnant cows
Keep your cows in their best shape with proper feed
Underfeeding protein to stock cows through their winter gestation has serious consequences, a North Dakota State University Extension livestock expert warns. “If insufficient protein and nitrogen are provided and degraded in the rumen, forage digestion will be reduced and the cow may not meet caloric needs and lose weight,” says John Dhuyvetter, Extension livestock systems
Challenging harvest means storage issues for soybeans
Cooling bins and holding until spring, then completing drying, appears the best strategy
A challenging soybean harvest is raising many storage and drying questions, according to Ken Hellevang, agricultural engineer with North Dakota State University Extension. Soybeans at 11 per cent moisture have similar storage characteristics as wheat or corn at about 13.5 per cent moisture, so 16 per cent moisture soybeans might be expected to store the
Soybeans may be viable cattle feed option
However, there are limits to how much mature cattle can handle
Cattle producers looking for feed sources this year may have a silver lining in recent trade spats. They should consider feeding hard-to-market North Dakota soybeans to beef cattle, North Dakota State University Extension livestock experts say. Soybeans can be used as a protein supplement for beef cattle, as long as the beans are a small
Fly bites a nuisance that can also lead to foot rot
Chemical controls and pasture rotation are options for control of stable flies
Fly problems are prevalent in some parts of North Dakota this year, North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists warn. Horn, face and stable flies all are irritating to cattle, but stable flies have been particularly bothersome. “They will bite and irritate the animals on the legs and belly, and control of these pests is
Water woes can hurt cattle
Dry conditions for the past many months could mean trouble in dugouts
Many producers are continuing to feel the effects of the 2017 drought, which are lingering into the 2018 grazing season. Numerous ponds and dugouts dried up as a result of the drought, and any water remaining in others may not be the best quality. “Water quality in ponds and dugouts still may be compromised by
Stay safe when working around grain
Using appropriate safety practices is vital as entrapment can happen very quickly
One of the greatest dangers on your farm is lurking quietly in your grain bins. “Make sure everyone, including family and employees, working around stored grain understands the hazards and proper safety procedures,” North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Ken Hellevang says. “Too many people ignore safety practices and suffer severe injury or
Feed the cow, feed the calf
Ensuring that cows receive adequate nutrition after calving is critical
The most crucial time for your cows to be fed right is right after calving. “The first 60 to 90 days post-calving is the most nutritionally demanding period in the production cycle of a cow and arguably one of the most important in achieving production goals,” says Janna Kincheloe, the North Dakota State University Extension
Avoid soybean loss during harvest, drying and storage
Shattered beans can badly affect the profitability of your crop
Harvest timing can have a huge impact on soybean shatter losses, according to North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Ken Hellevang. “Field losses, splits and cracked seed coats increase as moisture content decreases,” he says. “Shatter losses have been shown to increase significantly when seed moisture falls below 11 per cent or when
Herbicides may restrict crop use as livestock feed
Drought is causing some producers to eye grain crops as livestock fodder
Some producers are turning to small-grain crops as feed for their livestock because this year’s drought is causing a severe shortage of grass and hay. However, herbicides applied to those small-grain crops may make them unusable as livestock feed. “Most herbicides have grazing and feeding restrictions stated on the label that limit the use of
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