In this newsletter you will find timely information on the New Agri Agent, Bangs Route for fall, Veterinary Feed Directive and Calibrating Drills

Clark County Beef/Forage News - August 2016
Thank you for subscribing to the Clark County Beef/Forage Newsletter. In these emails we hope to give you timely information on managing your livestock in our area of the state.

Introducing Myself

Hi I'm Amy Simpson. I would like to take a few lines to introduce myself, although I have met many of you through the years.  For 12 years I have served in Clark County as the County Extension Agent-4-H/Agriculture.  I have now assumed the new role as County Extension Agent-Interim Staff Chair, and my primary concentration will be to serve as your Agriculture Agent.
 
I grew up on a row crop farm in eastern Jefferson County, and I graduated from Star City High School.  I received my B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and my M.S. in Reproductive Physiology from Mississippi State University.  My husband, Jonathan, is a forester/timber buyer for Brazeale Lumber Company in Sparkman, and we have two children: Gracie, who is in 7th grade, and Jon Ross, who is in 3rd grade.
 
I am excited to serve as your County Ag Agent and Staff Chair, and I look forward to meeting and working with you in the future.  Please do not hesitate to call me at 870-246-2281, email me  or come see me at our office on 6th Street in Arkadelphia, if I can help you in any way.

Bangs Vaccination Fall Date

We plan to vaccinate heifers this fall on the 7th of October. Vaccination of heifer calves (4-12 months old) against Brucellosis is recommended and is available to you through the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission and USDA-APHISVS.  

We will be sending Bangs Cards out the middle of September and we need them returned to the office by September 23rd. The main vaccination date will be Friday, October 7th.  You may go ahead and call the office to schedule or wait until you receive the card in the mail.  
 
Remember, you will need proper restraint facilities which includes a chute and head gate. Also indicate on the card your facility location and how many head you will have to vaccinate. 

Four States Cattle Conference


This year's Four States Cattle Conference will be December 13th   in Texarkana at the Four States Cattle Conference. Stay tuned for more information and registration in the future.  



Calibrate Drills in September

Planting winter annuals and perennials should be done in September and October.  If you plan to use a drill to plant winter forages, then you will want to calibrate the drill to ensure proper seeding rate. 
 
First, check the drill components to make sure they are working properly, especially the seed tubes that could be clogged with old seed or spider webs.
 
To calibrate a drill, you will need:
  • 3-4 buckets to catch seed
  • Tarp or sheet of plastic
  • Cup or container to weigh seed
  • Gram or ounce scale
  • Calculator
  • Stopwatch
 
Steps:
  1. Raise drill off ground (block it for safety)
  2. Measure circumference of drive wheel and determine drill width.
  3. Calculate the number of rounds of the drive wheel needed for 1/100 acre using this equation:
                  43,560 sq ft per acre  = number rounds of drive wheel for 1/100 acre
 Drill width x drive wheel circumference x 100
  1. Place tarp or plastic under drill to catch any spilled seed.
  2. Add a small amount of seed to the seed box, and turn the drive wheel until seed until seed is dropping from each tube.
  3. Pull the ends of the seed tubes from the row openers, and put the ends in buckets to catch seed.  Three to four buckets are usually sufficient to catch seed from all drill tubes.
  4. Mark a reference point on the drive wheel with tape or chalk, and turn the wheel the number of rounds previously calculated with  the equation in step 3.
  5. Collect the seed in buckets while turning the drive wheel.
  6. When the drive wheel has been turned the proper number of turns, combine the seed from each bucket and weigh the seed.
  7. Use the following equations to determine seeding rate of the setting used:
    1. If the seed weight is in ounces:seed weight (oz) x 100  = lb/acre  16 oz per lb
  If the seed weight is in grams:    seed weight (g) x 100  = lb/acre   454.4 g per lb
 
Also, it is very important that you check seedling depth. Planting seed too deeply is the cause of many planting failures each year.  Small-seeded forages such as clovers, bermudagrass and ryegrass should be planted about ΒΌ inch or less.  After calibrating, plant test strips to determine the depth oat which seed is being planted, and adjust the drill as needed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
 

Ergot Poisoning, Dallisgrass Staggers

 Dr.  John Jennings, Extension Professor - Forages, shares this information with us.

The summer of 2016 will go down as one of the wettest in recorded history for Clark County, and all that rain has been a boon for Dallisgrass. But with that bounty comes a higher danger that grazing cattle can be poisoned by a fungus that's common to that type of grass. The ergot fungus, Claviceps paspali, infects the flowers of Dallisgrass and the growing fungus replaces the seed. The fungus only affects seedheads - the other parts of the plant are nontoxic. Ergot poisoning occurs to a limited extent each year in Arkansas, but is more prevalent following summer rainy periods. Dallisgrass is very common in the southern half of Arkansas and grows in low moist soils.

Forage quality and palatability are very good for most grazing livestock. However, ergot infection is a cause for concern and requires attention under certain circumstances. The most common scenario of ergot poisoning occurs when cattle not previously exposed to Dallisgrass are turned into a pasture when the grass is at full seedhead.

Cattle have the habit of selectively grazing seedheads, which leads to a very high dosage of ergot alkaloids. Even on farms where cattle are previously exposed to Dallisgrass, poisoning can occur when animals are hungry and are turned into a field full of seedheads. Symptoms are much less common in herds exposed to Dallisgrass in mixed grass pastures.

Ergot poisoning affects the cattle's nervous system.  In the very early stages of the disease, the only sign seen may be trembling of various muscles after exercise. As the disease progresses, muscle tremors worsen so that the animal becomes uncoordinated and may show continuous shaking of the limbs and nodding of the head.  When forced to move, the severely affected animal may stagger, walk sideways, and display a 'goose-stepping' gait. This late stage gave rise to the name "Dallisgrass Staggers."  Some animals may be found down and unable to stand. Diarrhea may be noted in some affected animals. Death can occur in severe cases, especially to cattle unused to Dallisgrass.

There is no cure for ergot poisoning, but removing cows from infected pastures when symptoms are first noticed usually results in uneventful recovery in three to five days. Clipping seedheads to prevent animals from grazing them helps prevent the problem from occurring. Ergot toxicity from Dallisgrass hay is very uncommon since the total intake of hay forage dilutes any ergot contained in the hay.

Amy Simpson | Clark County Extension Service | 870-246-2281 | clark@uaex.edu| http://uaex.edu/clark
STAY CONNECTED: