Ag Basics: the Spouse Survival Kit

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Ag Basics the Spouse Survival Kit

• Bethany Johnston
• Central Sandhills Area Extension

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Ag Survival Kit

• Includes
• More TIME
• More MONEY
• More MAN POWER
• More KNOW HOW

Ag Survival Kit
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Beef NutritionThe Basics

• Ruminants 4 stomachs
• Bugs in rumen
• Produce and supplement cattle diets
• Cellulose energy

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Microbes in Rumen
Microbe pictures on http//commtechlab.msu.edu/si
tes/dlc-me/zoo/zacmain.html
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What makes a fat cow fatand a skinny cow skinny?

• Age
• Weight
• Stage (Pregnant, Milking, Dry)
• Environment
• Genetics
• Balanced Diet
• Exercise

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Sickness in Calves
Picture from www.catsandcows.com/cattle/calves/ca
lves.htm
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Look Again

• Ears
• Eyes
• Nose
• Head
• Poop
• Behavior
• Bumps

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Bloat

• Rumen swells on left side
• Fine feed particle and readily digestible
  nutrients
• Microbes in rumen at full production
• Produce gas and foam

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Bloat Signs

• What to look for
• Swelling on left side
• Stop eating
• Restless
• Grind teeth
• Stagger or Lie Down

Picture from http//www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/fe
eding-residues/bloat.htm
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Bloat Prevention

• Course feed particles
• Alfalfa-legumes ? BLOAT
• Feed hay before grazing lush legumes
• Anti-bloat blocks

Picture from http//stephenville.tamu.edu/butler
/foragesoftexas/species/images/alfalfa.jpg
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Bloat Treatment

• Call your vet!
• Antibloat agents
• Rumen puncture operation
• Last resort
• Needle or knife
• Gases explode
• Scoop out foam

Picture from agnews.tamu.edu/.../stories/ANSC/Mar
1605a.htm
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Calving

• Springing
• Bag fills with milk
• Restlessness
• Seeks solitude

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Wrong Position
Wrong Position
Correct Position

• Water breaks
• Feet out
• Toes down
• Two feet
• No nose, no tail

Picture from www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/dairy/13629.html

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Calving

• Hip lock
• Cow strains too long
• Exhaustion

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After Calving

• No sack over calfs nose
• Cow licks calf
• Calf up to suck
• Afterbirth
• Prolapsed

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Any Easy Questions?