The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 26, 2012 A-11 Winter preparation essential for cattle herd management By Amanda Gee The arrival of cold weather across the eastern Corn Belt means cattle producers need to take extra care in managing their livestock. There are a number of techniques producers can employ to help animals maintain rate of gain and to protect cows as they approach the spring calving season. First, feeding high-forage diets or forages with supplements can help cattle deal with cold-induced energy loss, said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist. Because cattle are ruminants, digestion happens through a complex fermentation process that produces heat and energy. Beyond diet modifications, producers also should be aware of how animals react to winter weather elements. ���A cow can handle zero or below-zero temperatures. It���s the wet and windy conditions that can be tough,��� Lemenager said. Animals with wet hides often can���t create enough body heat to stay warm when it���s windy. Lemenager recommended that producers create windbreaks for their animals to eliminate the wind chill. For each 10-degree temperature drop in wind chill below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, the energy requirement of a cow goes up by 13 percent in animals with moderate body conditions and dry winter hair coats. If a cow is wet or thin, the energy requirement goes up by 30 percent for each 10-degree drop. ���For example, in a thin cow at zero degrees wind chill, the cow���s energy requirement has increased 90 percent,��� Lemenager said. ���She needs additional energy and protein, such as corn or distiller���s grains.��� But L emenager cautioned farmers not to overfeed protein to late-pregnancy cows because there���s an associated risk of increased calf birth weights and dystocia, or birthing difficulties. ���If we have a really cold winter, that will increase birth weights, anyway, because of the natural way a cow responds to cold,��� he said. ���They reduce blood flow to extremities and increase flow inside, where the calf is growing. If it���s cold and you���re increasing protein too much, that will collectively bring up birth weights and birthing problems.��� A nother management tip is to ensure that herds have easy access to water throughout winter months. ���If animals don���t drink water, they don���t eat,��� Lemenager said. ���Producers should frost-proof their water supplies, either by using tank heaters or chip- ping ice in ponds. We often forget about reviewing our water sources, but now���s a good time to double-check those tank heaters before we get into the blistering cold of winter.��� Producers who plan to allow animals to graze during the winter also should consider pasture management. Pastures need to retain a stubble height of at least 4 inches, unless they will be reseeded in the spring. ���If you���re in an area where wintering cows on pasture is feasible, create a sacrifice area for tromping so cows don���t tromp all your acreage and damage chances for regrowth next season,��� Lemenager said. ���Designating one area saves a whole pasture from being abused, and it���s much cheaper than having to re-do an entire pasture.��� In these sacrifice lots, Lemenager recommended that farmers disk or drill summer annuals or legumes that are suited to their areas next spring. This will allow an opportunity to make hay or provide additional grazing. For those pastures that need renovation, allowing cattle to graze the pasture to a two-inch stubble height will reduce the residue and allow for good seed-to-soil contact next spring and reduce the competition for new seedling to get established. Santa Baby holiday dance The Pike Central Dance Team performed its annual Santa Baby dance routine for the home basketball crowd Friday night in the PCHS Gym. The routine ends with a lot of high kicking. New year brings new sales When the holiday shopping rush ends, there are plenty of people who are ready to retire their credit cards for awhile and take a break from the checkout lines. Still, others look forward to the sales that start the new year, eager to get great deals on many different products and services. There are many deals to be had when January arrives. Smart shoppers may want to wait until the dawn of the new year to get great deals on a wide variety of products. ������ Furniture: New furniture designs are largely unveiled in February, so come the beginning of the new year homeowners and renters can score good prices on clearance inventory. Those looking to start out the new year with new designs can generally find good prices at the start of the year. ������ Last-minute travel: Although the cost of travel, especially trips to warm weather locales, can increase in January, last-minute or fastacting travel package combinations are often available at low prices this time of year. ������ Fitness gear: Many people make resolutions to get in shape; therefore, gyms, spas and manufacturers of fitness equipment may discount their prod- M Z netedition yeah, it��� that fast! s The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe See You Next Year! With best wishes to you and your kin, We���re so grateful for your dropping in And before another year gets into gear, We���d like to wish you Happy New Year! Ficklin Auto Supply, Inc. 12th & Main Streets, Petersburg ��� 354-6000 h ucts to take advantage of the trend toward getting in shape after a season of overindulgence. ������ Winter apparel: Many post-holiday sales focus on clearing out inventory of winter essentials, like coats, sweaters, hats and gloves. Now may be the time to update your winter wardrobe. ������ Ch r ist mas t reat s : Stores are looking to liquidate any items that have a Christmas or holiday motif. The products inside are likely still fresh, and does it really matter if those cookies came in a red-and-green tin? ������ Contractors: Many people renovate their homes in the fall right before the holidays. Therefore, contractors and other home renovators may be at a loss for work come January and may discount their services to generate new business. The new year presents new opportunities to save money on items that are deeply discounted or go on sale this time of the year. 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