Hurricane Harvey contaminates livestock water supplies

Writer: Roland Rodriguez, rrodriguez@kristv.com According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas farmers and ranchers have lost more than 1 million cattle that were in the disaster area affected by Hurricane Harvey.  As the recovery efforts continue, livestock owners should be aware of salt poisoning and water salinity concerns. “After the storm we began testing water where we felt the water could have high   salinity. After we determined there could be problems associated with the water on ranches between Aransas Pass and Rockport after Harvey, we began calling cattle producers… Read More →

Improper mosquito control on livestock can do more harm than good, expert warns

Young calves, such as these pictured in Aransas County, are often the first to fall victim to mosquitoes. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service picture by Dr. Joe Paschal)

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contacts: Dr. Sonja Swiger, 254-968-4144, Slswiger@ag.tamu.edu Dr. Joe Paschal, 361-265-9203, j-paschal@tamu.edu STEPHENVILLE — In an effort to save their livestock from the torment caused by the plague of mosquitoes in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, some producers are making the mistake of misusing chemicals to control the pests, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. “The results can be potentially disastrous,” said Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension livestock entomologist at Stephenville. “Misuse of potent chemicals can quickly become an example of ‘the cure is worse… Read More →

AgriLife sets annual ram test start for Sept. 11

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Reid Redden, 325-653-4576, reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu SAN ANGELO – Sept. 11 will mark the start of the 2017-2018 annual Ram Performance Test conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife. The testing calendar will start with the Sept. 11 delivery of the Rambouillet rams to the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, north of San Angelo on U.S. Highway 87. Dr. Reid Redden, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state sheep and goat specialist at San Angelo, said the test has been a key tool in helping breeders identify and… Read More →

AgriLife Extension experts offer advice on livestock safety, care after Harvey

Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu Dr. Jason Cleere, 979-845-6931, jjcleere@tamu.edu Dr. Joe Paschal, 361-265-9203, joe.paschal@ag.tamu.edu Dr. Jason Banta, 903-834-6191, jpbanta@ag.tamu.edu COLLEGE STATION – Livestock in the wake of Hurricane Harvey are still at risk for lack of feed, injury or disease, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists. “Water is the first priority with livestock, so producers should try and find a safe drinking water source and make sure their animals have an adequate supply,” said Dr. Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station. “Some animals may not eat wet… Read More →

Considerations for Your Pre-Breeding Vaccination Plan

By Associate Professor & Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Specialist Thomas B. Hairgrove, DVM, PhD., DABVP To begin, I do not believe it is appropriate to recommend “cookie cutter” vaccination programs. Your vaccine program must be developed with your risks and expectations in mind. Vaccines are tools that go into your herd health tool chest. What are your risks for disease introduction? Do your neighbors have cattle and, if so, what type of cattle? A neighbor engaged in a stocker operation that grazes high-risk cattle could well expose your… Read More →

Reproduction And Mineral Nutrition

By Associate Professor & Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Jason Banta, PhD., PAS Is mineral nutrition the magic bullet for reproductive success in your beef operation? The number of mineral products for sale may give the impression that the answer is yes. However, in reality, mineral nutrition is just a part of a good nutrition and management plan. First, protein and energy requirements must be met. A good mineral program can’t make up for a lack of protein and energy and low body condition scores in… Read More →

Animal breeding and genetics students speak with Polish beef producers in Radzicz, Poland

Bailey Engle, Kaitlyn Sarlo Dávila and Kathy Sciencki

Three animal science doctoral students, under the direction of Drs. Clare Gill and Andy Herring, made presentations in Radzicz, Poland on July 25, 2017 at the Karmowski Ranch. Bailey Engle of Big Timber, Mont., Kaitlyn Sarlo Dávila of Fort Myers, Fla., and Kathy Sciencki of Cape Girardeau, Mo., were invited to speak by Jacek Karmowski and his son, Łukasz. The Karmowski’s manage one of Poland’s largest beef cattle herds, consisting of approximately 400 Limousin cattle. The Karmowski herd has been extremely influential within the country, as the ranch… Read More →

Meat judging team wins international contest

The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team was privileged to be the only judging team from the United States invited to compete in the 2017 Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia on July 3-9, 2017. The students representing Texas A&M University were Dax Dittrich, Luke Fox, Jenna Hunt, Kelsey Landrum and Maggie Madden, accompanied by Dr. Leslie Frenzel, meat judging coordinator, and Micki Gooch, assistant meat judging coach. Of the fourteen universities competing, ten were from Australia and… Read More →

Dr. Gary Williams named ASAS fellow

Dr. Gary L. Williams is a recipient of the 2017 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Fellow Award —Research Category. The Fellow Award was presented to seven individuals during the ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting & Trade Show held in Baltimore, Maryland, July 8-12. Dr. Williams is a Regents Fellow, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow, and Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research-Beeville and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University-College Station. Dr. Williams is nationally and internationally recognized for his research with beef cattle, including the neuroendocrinology and physiology of suckling-mediated anovulation, the role… Read More →

Forage quality key grazing consideration after March wildfires

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Ted McCollum, 806-677-5600, Ted.McCollum@ag.tamu.edu AMARILLO – Area ranchers headed into the winter months after March’s wildfires need to keep three things in mind – precipitation, grazing history and forage quality, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist. Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, said these three management factors will help producers determine their herd’s grazing and nutritional program. Fire is not something that is necessarily unfriendly, McCollum said, but can be when it is at the wrong… Read More →