Herd

management is an important but sometimes overlooked aspect of beef cow-calf operations. A high reproductive rate in the herd increases the number of calves and can also increase weights at market. A tight breeding season can lower labor costs and the overall cost of production by increasing feed and other efficiencies. The most limiting factor of reproductive rates in Kentucky is heat stress. Some 95 percent of beef operations in the state calve in the spring and still have endophyte-infected fescue in their pastures.

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Fletcher, approved $7,181,351 in agricultural diversification projects Friday, including projects in Lincoln and Garrard counties, at the Franklin County Extension Service in Frankfort. Lincoln County received $25,000 for the Cattle Genetic Improvement program that improves high quality herd genetics through the purchase of bulls, bull semen or bull leases. Lincoln also got $30,000 and Garrard County got $69,615 for Cattle Handling Facilities programs.

The Boyle County Extension Service and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture will be sponsoring the Thistle Spraying Program again this year. The date for the program will be Monday, April 25. It will be on a first come first serve basis with the first seven landowners calling the extension office at (859) 236-4484 to be placed on the list. A sprayer will be furnished and enough 2-4D chemical to spray 10 acres (5 gallons) and producers will be able to spray an additional 10 acres if they furnish their own chemical.

Where beef is produced, cold temperatures, wind and high snowfall can combine to produce environmental conditions that make adequate care of the beef herd impossible. In these conditions and despite the best effort, producers will often have difficulty carrying out typical management practices and providing adequate nutrition to cows. The end result is that nutrition during gestation may not have been optimal, environmental conditions at calving may be poor, and cows are very stressed.

Garrard discusses CSEPP budget LANCASTER - Garrard County Fiscal Court met Thursday for its second budget workshop this week and focused solely on the CSEPP projections for the next fiscal year. The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program is entirely funded by a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $100,000. Dwayne Nave, Garrard County Emergency Management Agency director, was on hand to discuss upcoming needs and changes, and wanted the public to know that he fully intends to somehow work in funding for new storm sirens.

HARRODSBURG - Driving past Anderson Circle Farm and its striking show barn on U.S. 127 gives no inkling to changes that are going on there, but changes are under way. Maybe one change will be most evident on March 22 when the purebred Angus herd will be sold at auction. What is happening is the development of farm management tools and practices and the ability to both track each animal on the farm while at the same time developing animals whose size, marbling, and tenderness can be predicted along with its genetic history.

HUSTONVILLE - In more than 70 years in the cattle business, J.L. Hoskins has seen plenty of blue ribbons, several Black Revolutions and even a Queen. In fact, Hoskins' award-winning Angus bulls and heifers, with names like Queen Ruth, have earned acclaim in cattle shows around the country. With Hoskins now nearing retirement, his farm has been passed to the third generation of cattlemen in the family, its lengthy record of existence and success being recognized this year by the American Angus Association.

All problems in beef cattle are not due to minerals, but it's still important to improve forage quality and to insure cows receive adequate energy and protein to match their nutritional demands during pregnancy, nursing, rebreeding and weaning periods. Monitor mineral consumption. The very best mineral formula will not work if cattle don't consume it. Mineral consumption varies during the year, but average consumption should be near the level for which the mineral was designed.