Fall 2014 picked them any better myself.” He enrolled them in the BCIA program and started buying heifers at the Genetic Connection sale to get the best genetics available. To enhance his genetics program, Colvin has all his cattle artificially inseminated (AI). Herd bulls with the best EPDs are used for cleanup. These are purchased at events such as Sunshine Farms bull sales. He now uses a seven-day Co-Synch + CIDR regimen for breeding so that the majority of the pregnancies are AI. In the fall after the calves are born, they are weighed individually on a set of on-farm scales. Not only does Colvin take advice from Extension on the management of his cattle operation but also on his forage program. He attends Extension programs in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. He goes to any meeting he feels will be beneficial to his operation. He believes in using scientific information that has been tested. Colvin says, “A smart man learns from his mistakes; a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” He also reads Extension publications and other articles to learn the newest and most innovative technology available. Colvin believes that the best way to reach genetic potential is through premium forages. He does not supplement his cow herd with purchased feed. The cows get their nutrition through good-quality forage and hay that is grown on the farm. He is a firm believer that you must begin with soil testing and use the recommended amounts of fertilizer and lime. His forage program consists of ryegrass, planted in September; Tifton 85 that is cut for hay; Texhoma MaxQII and Kentucky 31 fescue, grazed from November to April; and bahiagrass and crabgrass, grazed in summer. In mid to late August, Colvin readies his land to plant on September 1. This is based on the forage manual and many conversations with Dr. Don Ball, former Extension specialist. He waits to see when it is going to rain to plant ryegrass and clover. Thirty days after the ryegrass and clover come up, he lets his fall calves creep-graze the forage. He says his September calves normally weigh 100 pounds more than his October calves due to creep-grazing the ryegrass. A S t a t e w i d e N e w s l e t t e r f o r A l a b a m i a n s A l a b a m a C o o p e r a t i v e E x t e n s i o n S y s t e m Reaching Genetic Potential Through Premium Forages Brenda Glover , Regional Extension Agent After being away from the family farm for thirty years, Hubert Colvin of Stewart in Hale County decided he wanted to return and start farming again. When he was growing up, the farm was in the commercial Hereford cattle business. In 1970, the family began a registered Red Angus herd, which they had until 1980. Before Colvin returned to farming, he started doing research. He attended Extension meetings to get the best information to help him make sound business decisions. He met Dr. Lisa Kriese-Anderson, Extension specialist and associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University. He told her he was thinking about starting a Gelbvieh herd. Kriese-Anderson suggested instead that he consider SimAngus, because they were the hottest breed on the market at the time. After doing more research he decided SimAngus was the way to go. Colvin called his regional Extension agent, Johnny Gladney, to help him find some cows. It so happened that a local marketing agent had called Gladney looking for a home for 19 cows. Colvin purchased the cows sight unseen and started his herd. He said, “I couldn’t have
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picked them any better myself.” He enrolled them in the BCIA program and started buying heifers at the Genetic Connection sale to get the best genetics available.
To enhance his genetics program, Colvin has all his cattle artificially inseminated (AI). Herd bulls with the best EPDs are used for cleanup. These are purchased at events such as Sunshine Farms bull sales. He now uses a seven-day Co-Synch + CIDR regimen for breeding so that the majority of the pregnancies are AI. In the fall after the calves are born, they are weighed individually on a set of on-farm scales.
Not only does Colvin take advice from Extension on the management of his cattle operation but also on his forage program. He attends Extension programs in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. He goes to any meeting he feels will be beneficial to his operation. He believes in using scientific information that has been tested. Colvin says, “A smart man learns from his mistakes; a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” He also reads Extension publications and other articles to learn the newest and most innovative technology available.
Colvin believes that the best way to reach genetic potential is through premium forages. He does not supplement his cow herd with purchased feed. The cows get their nutrition through good-quality forage and hay that is grown on the farm. He is a firm believer that you must begin with soil testing and use the recommended amounts of fertilizer and lime. His forage program consists of ryegrass, planted in September; Tifton 85 that is cut for hay; Texhoma MaxQII and Kentucky 31 fescue, grazed from November to April; and bahiagrass and crabgrass, grazed in summer.
In mid to late August, Colvin readies his land to plant on September 1. This is based on the forage manual and many conversations with Dr. Don Ball, former Extension specialist. He waits to see when it is going to rain to plant ryegrass and clover. Thirty days after the ryegrass and clover come up, he lets his fall calves creep-graze the forage. He says his September calves normally weigh 100 pounds more than his October calves due to creep-grazing the ryegrass.
A S t a t e w i d e N e w s l e t t e r f o r A l a b a m i a n s
a l a b a m a C o o p e r a t i v e E x t e n s i o n S y s t e m
Reaching Genetic Potential Through Premium ForagesBrenda Glover, Regional Extension Agent
After being away from the family farm for thirty years, Hubert Colvin of Stewart in Hale County decided he wanted to return and start farming again. When he was growing up, the farm was in the commercial Hereford cattle business. In 1970, the family began a registered Red Angus herd, which they had until 1980.
Before Colvin returned to farming, he started doing research. He attended Extension meetings to get the best information to help him make sound business decisions. He met Dr. Lisa Kriese-Anderson, Extension specialist and associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University. He told her he was thinking about starting a Gelbvieh herd. Kriese-Anderson suggested instead that he consider SimAngus, because they were the hottest breed on the market at the time. After doing more research he decided SimAngus was the way to go.
Colvin called his regional Extension agent, Johnny Gladney, to help him find some cows. It so happened that a local marketing agent had called Gladney looking for a home for 19 cows. Colvin purchased the cows sight unseen and started his herd. He said, “I couldn’t have
large-framed feeder calves with a muscle score of one. He previ-ously sold calves individually through local sale barns. Thanks to a relationship with his veterinarian and industry representa-tives, he developed a health program that weans calves in forty-five to sixty days. The program is sought after by feeder cattle buyers. He built and modified facilities to house and wean cattle as well as accommodate a set of certified scales. The scales are used to reduce shrinkage and increase pay weight.
The largest cost in cow/calf production is stored feeds. Two years ago Means began to address this situation in his operation. Lower-quality, lower-yielding bahiagrass was replaced with higher-quality, higher-yielding grasses. He added a variety of fescue Texhoma MaxQII that was cultivated in an area of Oklahoma that has less average rainfall than west central Alabama. Bahiagrass grazing season is April to early October. The Texhoma fescue provides grazing from November to April through stockpiling. Texhoma also can persist in droughts better than other varieties. As a result, Means decreased his stored feeds by increasing his potential to graze cattle without supplement from six months to year-round.
This year, in the same rotation, Means planted Sumrall bermudagrass, which is known to grow well in Black Belt prairie-type soil. Bermudagrass grows in the same time frame as bahiagrass yet out-yields it and is of much higher quality if managed correctly. This translates to a higher stocking rate and capacity to wean heavier calves on the same land. The amount of hay and supplemental feed required is also reduced. This lowers the cost to maintain the correct body condition score on the cattle. Correct body condition is a must to achieve a high conception rate within a calving season. Means increased the acres of productive forage in his pasture as well as increased the quantity and quality of forage. This equates to more pounds of product being sold per acre of land.
Extension provides science-based information to land owners to increase their revenues and decrease costs. We offer cattle and forage producers methods to reduce stress and increase comfort in their animals. We also provide instruction in nutrient management to keep soils healthy and water clean. Extension thanks Donald Means for his efforts in making his part of Greene County a clean, safe, and profitable beef cattle enterprise.
Frank McEwen: Shelby County 4-H Member, Auburn Animal Science Graduate, and EntrepreneurJack Tatum, Regional Extension Agent
Farming is a funny business. It is dependent on prices, acreage, marketing, and rainfall. More than that, it is dependent on the people who farm. Some people can’t wait to leave the farm; others want to stay. Still others leave for a time but ultimately return to the family farm. Such is the case of Frank McEwen.
2 Livestock Links Fall 2014
The mature cows are rotationally grazed on the Texhoma MaxQII and Kentucky 31 fescues. Colvin took some of the land that had Kentucky 31 fescue and planted the MaxQII. He planted it where he knew fescue would grow well. The first year after planting he did not graze it and did not plant any clover in it. He now has a strong stand of MaxQII with crimson clover.
Cows are grazed on the MaxQII as long as it is not muddy. They turn to the Kentucky 31 when it is wet. He rotates pastures daily. He believes the more you are around your cattle, the more docile they are and problems can be detected sooner. If supplementation is needed, he feeds Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay grown on the farm. The hay is tested for nutrient value so he knows exactly what is needed. This year’s hay had an RFQ value of 131, which is very high. In summer, the cows graze bahiagrass and crabgrass. Colvin said he planted the crabgrass as “a leap of faith” after reading different publications.
Colvin believes that if you have a good forage program, the rest will follow. He says, “The name of the game is constant improvement.”
ACES: A Strong ResourceJonathan Gladney, Regional Extension Agent
Donald Means is a cattleman and forage producer in Greene County. He served as a county commissioner and commission chairman. He was employed with the Greene-Sumter Enterprise Community to bring economic development to those counties. He has worked with ACES and understands the value of reliable and timely information. Means has participated in educational events associated with the Master Cattlemen training program, grass master’s program, Alabama Grazing Clinic, and feedlot tours throughout Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas, and calls to his Regional Animal Science and Forage Agent. He has contributed to educational programs on topics that include process verifi-cation program, electronic identification, beef quality assurance, feeder cattle marketing, futures trading, and weed control.
Means has put his expertise to use in a number of innovative ways. He developed a program through his feeder cattle marketing agent whereby he sells uniform truckload lots of
Cattle Demonstration with the Gulf Coast Research and Extension CenterJosh Elmore, PAS, Regional Extension Agent
Effective replacement heifer development is an important segment of an efficient cow-calf production system. The replacement heifer represents the future profitability and genetic improvement of the herd. It is very important, therefore, that heifers conceive early in the first breeding season. Researchers have concluded that heifers that conceive early are reproductively more efficient and have greater lifetime production potential. The use of estrus synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) can increase the number of heifers that calve early in the calving season, reduce dystocia, enable you to use superior sires, and increase calf weaning weights.
Estrus synchronization and AI remain the most important and widely applicable reproductive biotechnologies available for cattle (Seidel, 1995). Hormone treatment of heifers and cows for the purpose of grouping estrous cycles has been available for years. Beef producers have been slow to adopt this management practice primarily because of the labor required for AI. Extensive economic analysis of AI, however, shows it increases net revenue in most situations.
Development of convenient and economical fixed-time AI (FTAI) programs that result in high fertility should generate increased adoption of this important management practice. With FTAI, ovulation of the cattle is controlled, which eliminates the need for estrus detection. It also allows all of the heifers to be inseminated on a single day. Pregnancy rates are variable, running between 45 and 65 percent, with an average of 53 percent.
With this in mind, the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center (GCREC) located in Fairhope, Ala., embraced the use of reproductive technologies for heifer development in their herd. For the past three years, Malcomb Pegues, director of GCREC, has worked with Dr. Soren Rodning, Extension veterinarian, and Josh Elmore, regional Extension agent, to demonstrate the use of estrus synchronization and FTAI in their heifers.
“Overall I am very pleased with the program,” Pegues said. “It is impressive to see the cattle develop and to know we are improving the genetics of the herd.”
Regarding the labor involved, Pegues said, “It takes a little extra effort on the front end, but it is worth it in the end. The ability to schedule everything helps during a busy time of year.”
Approximately a month before starting the protocol, heifers are reproductive-tract scored and pelvic-area measured to assure reproductive soundness. The seven-day Co-Synch + CIDR regimen is used for the demonstration, not only because it is effective but because it allows for advanced planning. The combination of hormones synchronizes the heat cycles of females tightly, allowing them to be bred at the same time and eliminating the need to check heat.
McEwen became involved in 4-H at a young age. He started showing dairy heifers in 1958 when he was in the third grade. In 1962 he became a charter member of the Shelby County Horse Club. He was the first state winner of the 4-H Horse Project in 1967 and went to Chicago to the National 4-H Convention.
Following high school McEwen enrolled at Auburn University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal and dairy science. He went on to study agricultural economics for a year.
In 1978 McEwen bought a feed mill that was out of operation. He built it into the Coosa Valley Milling Company. Still in operation, the company sells feed, seed, hardware, and horse supplies. They also make custom feed for horses, chickens, and cattle.
McEwen became interested in gristmills after his dad told him about a man he met in Sevierville, Tenn. He had a feed store and gristmill where he made cornmeal for local restau-rants. In 2002, McEwen bought a gristmill and, on his wife’s advice, searched the country for a farmer who grew organic corn. He eventually found one in Illinois and ordered his first batch.
McEwen started selling organic grits out of his store. A restaurant in Birmingham—Highlands Bar and Grill—was one of his first customers. Then the Birmingham News food section did an article on his organic grits and—bingo!—the phone started ringing. Now, in addition to the organic grits, he sells cornmeal and polenta products. His products are in grocery stores and restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and New York.
Not one to rest, McEwen sponsored an educational night for horse owners with Auburn University veterinarians that practice in Shelby County. More than 100 people attended.
McEwen has two sons, Frank Jr. and Luke. (Frank Jr. started at Auburn this year, where he plans to major in international business with a minor in sustainability.) McEwen has taught his boys about agriculture. Together they raise more than 1,500 hens whose organic pasture-raised eggs go to local restaurants. McEwen has customers from as far away as Mississippi who come to the store to buy his all-natural chicken feed.
About two years ago, McEwen started selling grass-fed/grain-finished beef from the family farm in his feed store. Frank got most of his information on how to do this from the Auburn University meat science department. His demand for beef is growing greatly.
Approximately two to three months ago, McEwen came to the Shelby County Extension office for advice. He wanted to breed some of his cattle to a Wagyu bull. Wagyu cattle are known for their meat tenderness. Ricky Colquitt, Shelby County coordinator, told him to breed his cows artificially. McEwen now has five cows bred to a Wagyu bull. He believes he can make his beef business successful.
For more information about McEwen’s operations, go to his website at mcewenandsons.com, or call him at 204-669-6605. By the way, he and a friend now have fifteen beehives, and you can buy the honey in the store!
Fall 2014 Livestock Links 3
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Bull selection has focused on calving ease, growth, and moderate milk. The bulls used are selected for EPDs and high accuracy. “Using proven sires allows us to be more assured of what the animals will do,” Pegues stated. “Since we sell a few pens of heifers at the Herdbuilder Replacement Female Sale, using these higher-accuracy bulls allows our customers to be confident in their purchases.”
The GCREC demonstration was designed to show producers how easily they can implement an effective estrus synchroni-zation and FTAI program on their farms. According to Pegues,
