Thankful For More Than Cattle MidAmerica Farm Publications


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Farmer Grower


(ISSN 1040-1423) is published weekly by MidAmerica Farm Publications, Inc., 19 N. Main, Perryville, MO 63775. Periodical postage is paid at Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.


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DR. ANDREW P.


ing, which means many readers will already be gear- ing up for Christmas and other holiday gatherings. However, it is always appro- priate to give thanks for the blessings and gifts in our lives as well as looking for the good things in even the worst situations. As our na- tion continues to work through coronavirus, the ef- fects of the pandemic, social unrest, and a contentious election season, we as live- stock producers and farmers have much to be thankful for. The first thing we can be


T


thankful for is the fact that we were the first group of people to practice social dis- tancing. Farmers and ranch- ers have been practicing social distancing for a couple hundred years in this coun-


GRIFFITH KNOXVILLE, TENN.


his article will be reach- ing most mailboxes shortly after Thanksgiv-


try. We stay on our farms and work the land with lim- ited contact to other people in many instances. It is im- possible to social distance in every aspect of life, but at least most of us have some acreage where we can get out and not have to worry about coming into contact with a large group of people. Social distancing is not just for a pandemic, but it may also be an advantage during the time of social unrest and an election season that proved this country is a house di- vided as it relates to politics. There is no doubt many of


the circumstances the past year have been difficult, dis- heartening, and simply sad for many people. However, these circumstances offered opportunities that would not have been available other- wise. From a personal stand- point,


coronavirus has


provided me the opportunity to spend more time with my family as well as on the farm, all of which I am thankful for. Anyone who knows me in


the slightest knows I have a passion for production agri- culture including cattle and crops. This is very evident in that I enjoy the work associ- ated with agriculture, and 95 percent of my conversations come back to cattle and crops. This little fact may wear my wife out, because


she has to listen to me talk about farming even in my sleep. My daughter does not care about my talking. She just wants to go check on the cows. However, I still have a captive audience in my son, because he still has less than a five-word vocabulary that does not include “no” or “stop” and I can still walk faster than he can run. Thus, I am thankful for my family, the farm, and the opportuni- ties the farm offers with the family. Many readers are probably


beginning to wonder if I am ever going to get to a point in this article. The answer is yes, and here it is. Cattle market prices have left a sour taste in the mouths of most cattle producers this year. There have been some small win- dows were there was a glim- mer of hope as prices of certain classes of cattle im- proved, but it was often short lived. One has to be thankful for these small windows of op- portunity. One also has to be thankful for the times when cattle prices can be consid- ered fair to good. It often takes tough times for people to recognize how good the other times are. Thus, be thankful for the times that are not tough, because they are actually good. Secondly, be thankful for the tough times, because they build character. The second point of this ar-


ticle is to those who are skep- tics of what was just read. There are sure to be some who will say that cattle prices have been poor since the record prices of 2014, 2015, and much of 2016. If that is the case, then I might suggest to that person that they reevaluate the business they are in. If prices have been poor for four consecutive years in a person’s opinion then that person should take a serious look at their busi- ness model and determine if they should remain in the business. There is no reason to put in labor and manage- ment to an operation that is not returning any value. Ad- ditionally, quitting a business that is not profitable does not tarnish one’s reputation. Continuing in a losing propo- sition is what tarnishes a rep- utation and drains the bank account. It is always right and good


to be thankful. There is never a bad time to be thankful for the blessings and gifts in one’s life. Actually, being thankful will increase the joy in a person’s life and provide that much more reason to continue pressing forward to improve oneself and those around them.


∆ DR. ANDREW P. GRIFFITH:


Assistant Professor, Depart- ment of Agricultural and Re- source Economics, University of Tennessee


MU Spreadsheet Tracks, Evaluates Colostrum Management COLUMBIA, MO.


developed a spreadsheet to track


U


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MidAmerica Farmer Grower P.O. Box 323


Perryville, MO 63775 and


niversity of Missouri Extension dairy veteri- narian Scott Poock has


evaluate


colostrum management data in dairy calves. The spreadsheet comes in


response to the latest Na- tional Animal Health Moni- toring System (NAHMS) survey by Jason Lombard’s calf specialist group, which recently published a paper on the subject in the Journal of Dairy Science. The re- searchers favor a more com- plete evaluation system for calf passive immunity than the current pass-fail test. In creating the spread-


sheet, Poock received input from Lombard and Sandra Godden, professor of veteri- nary medicine at the Univer- sity of Minnesota. Evaluation of the colostrum manage- ment data can help produc- ers reduce calf mortality and


disease, Poock said. The spreadsheet is the lat-


est accomplishment of the MU


Foremost Dairy


colostrum management sys- tem, which exceeds Dairy Calf and Heifer Association’s Gold Standards, he said. A newborn calf’s first meal


is critical to reducing disease and death. The colostrum protects the calf by passive transfer


of immunity


through immunoglobulin G (IgG) when it is at its highest point. The IgG protects the calf


until its own immune system strengthens. It also provides vital nutrients to get calves off to a healthy start and re- duce first-year mortality. This benefit extends into the productive life of the animal as well. Getting colostrum into the


calves shortly after birth re- duces levels of pneumonia, scours and death. Calves that do not receive high-


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are requested and encouraged. Please include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Letters should be sent to: Editor, MidAmerica Farmer Grower, P.O. Box 323, Perryville, MO 63775; faxed to 573-547-5663 or e-mailed to editor@mafg.net. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.


4• MidAmerica Farmer Grower www.mafg.net / November 20, 2020


quality colostrum right after birth often show poor growth and have higher cull rates. Poock’s spreadsheet docu-


ments data to benchmark the passive transfer success on a farm. This year, MU production


of the colostrum within six hours of birth, with another feeding in 12 hours. The new research from the


NAHMS survey raises the bar for maternal IgG levels. Previously, 5.2 to 5.5 grams per deciliter of total protein


In creating the spreadsheet, Poock re- ceived input from Lombard and Sandra


Godden, professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota.


medicine students under Poock’s direction evaluated colostrum management at Foremost Dairy and several other farms. Poock’s stu- dents test fresh and frozen colostrum from the calf’s dam, or mother. Research shows that calves receive the most IgG when fed 1 gallon (for an average Holstein calf)


was considered “good” but now may be “fair,” and 6.2 g/dl or higher may be the new “excellent” category.


Thus, the latest NAHMS


survey on calf passive immu- nity recommends a more complete evaluation using higher standards than the current pass-fail system. ∆


ARTICLE REPRINTS For reprints of an article, copies of past issues or to obtain permission to reproduce material from MidAmerica Farmer Grower, call 573-547-2244 or email publisher@mafg.net


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