Tag Archives: Joe Paschal
Mineral imbalances need to be considered in cattle deaths
Texas A&M AgriLife offers expertise, assistance in livestock mineral toxicity, testing By Susan Himes susan.himes@ag.tamu.edu Ranchers need to keep in mind that the wrong quantities of minerals can be dangerous or even deadly to cattle, said experts from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. When it comes to cattle and minerals, what works for a rancher 700 miles away may actually work better for you than what works for a neighbor 7 miles down the road; it all depends on what is in your soil, supplements, feed, forage and… Read More →
Agriculture is on the front lines of COVID-19
Although it is not seen in the nightly news, agriculture is quietly going about the business of feeding all of us in the middle of this pandemic even as we social distance and shelter in place. Farmers are still tending their crops, dairies are still milking cows, ranchers are still feeding cattle and calving their cows, broiler and egg houses still producing chicken and eggs, and swine operations still farrowing and raising pigs. Food processors, both plant and animal, are still operating and we are all producing the… Read More →
Rx Required
By Susan Himes Food and Drug administration Is continuing the phasing in of a law that requires a prescription for any antibiotic use in animals raised for human consumption. No longer will producers who need injectable antibiotics for their cattle be able to just grab them at their local feed store or order them online. Producers should be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is continuing the phasing in of a law that requires a prescription for any antibiotic us in animals raised for human consumption,… Read More →
New FDA antibiotic law creates client-vet relationship
By: Roland Rodriguez The U.S. Food and Drug Administration now is moving forward with a law to bring all antibiotics used on animals grown for human food consumption under veterinary oversight. What this means is that producers will only be able to get antibiotics for their animals by prescription only. The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and animal drugs and the food supply, among other things. The Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine is requiring… Read More →
Fever ticks found in northern Jim Wells County
By: Roland Rodriguez JIM WELLS COUNTY — The Texas Animal Health Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, have established a County Fever Tick-Control Purpose Quarantine Area in northern Jim Wells County in order to eliminate the pest and prevent the spread of fever ticks. The TAHC first set up a quarantine in Jim Wells county in November of 2017. More than 13,000 acres now are under quarantine. Earlier this month the ticks were discovered when a cattle buyer had the animals voluntarily… Read More →
Today’s youth train to become tomorrow’s beef cattle producers
COLLEGE STATION — The youth track for the 2019 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, held recently in College Station, gave real-world experience, hours of education and a beef quality assurance certification to 30 youth interested in expanding their beef cattle knowledge. “One goal for our youth track is to allow students to have a hands-on experience with the beef industry,” said Victoria Heller, youth track co-facilitator and Texas Beef Council industry outreach manager, Austin. “This allows them to discover aspects of our industry they may not be familiar… Read More →
Lab-grown ‘meat’ far from real deal
By Joe C. Paschal There has been much concern among livestock producers about research and commercial laboratories growing muscle fibers and their plans to market them as meat, specifically “clean” meat, in direct competition with the safe, wholesome, true meat we raise. Meat is defined as “the flesh of an animal,” especially a mammal, used as food. Promotion by livestock producers in the U.S. and the world and the growth in the world’s economy and population is projected to increase the demand for meat 73% by 2050. Livestock… Read More →
African Swine Fever outbreak could devastate US swine herd
By Joe Paschal African Swine Fever (ASF as it is commonly referred to) has been in the news recently as a result of an outbreak in China. It is a major health threat to swine production in many countries, but fortunately it is not in the United States. ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that causes death in domestic and wild pigs of all ages. Symptoms include high fever, decreased appetite and weakness, red, blotchy skin or skin lesions; diarrhea and vomiting; and coughing and difficulty in… Read More →
Texas has the largest cow herds in the US
By Rolan Rodriguez Now beef cattle numbers in the state are the largest in the country for the first time in years. Unfortunately for those who love steak and hamburgers, the expanding herd size hasn’t translated into dropping the retail prices. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist Dr. Joe Paschal says Texas has the largest cow herd in the U.S., including cattle, calves, and dairy cattle. He estimates the total at about 94 million head. “Right now, based on the number of heifers that are entering the feed… Read More →
Bull selection includes muscle potential
By Dr. Joe Paschal, j-paschal@tamu.edu, 361-265-9203 The mesquite is beginning to leaf out and that has always been a sure sign of one thing – spring. Spring in South Texas and the Gulf Coast is when most of our herds calve and when many of us buy replacement bulls (actually I bought mine in December but hang with me here). Most of us still sell our calves at weaning so besides a sound footed, fertile, and easy calving bull, well-muscled bulls are always in high demand. In the… Read More →