Broadcaster Press 9 December 20, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Cold Stress Affect the Energy Needs of Cattle? BROOKINGS, S.D. - Most beef producers understand that when the weather gets colder their cattle need more energy for maintenance. So at what temperature do cattle actually begin experiencing cold stress and then how much more energy do they need? The answer takes a couple of factors into consideration, explained Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate. "The actual temperature and wind speed interact to determine the effective temperature," Rusche said. He referenced Table 1 which shows the dramatic effect wind speed has on the effective temperature the cattle experience. "Based on what we know about wind's impact on effective temperature - goes to show that any kind of available protection, whether natural or man-made, can be very valuable in reducing wind chill and the negative effects of cold environments," he said. When do cattle begin to feel cold stress? The point of cold stress or lower critical temperature, depends in large part on the amount of insulation provided by the hair coat. Referencing Table 2, Rusche showed that insulation value changes depending on the thickness of the haircoat and whether it is dry or wet. "As a general rule, for every degree that the effective temperature is below the lower critical temperature, the cattle's energy needs increase by 1 percent," Rusche said. For instance, if the effective temperature is 17 degrees Fahrenheit, the energy needs of a cow with a dry winter coat are about 15 percent higher than they would be under more moderate conditions. That energy requirement jumps up to about 40 percent higher under those conditions if the hair coat is completely wet or matted down with mud. "It's important to remember that cattle can adapt to short term weather changes relatively well without a significant impact on performance," Rusche said. He explained that cattle can deal with a few cold, miserable days without suffering long-term effects. However, ignoring the energy costs of long-term cold stress greatly increases the risk of poor performance later. Muddy conditions in a feedlot are especially detrimental to performance. "Any steps that can reduce cold stress, such as providing wind protection or bedding will reduce maintenance requirements and maintain performance," he said. For additional information on the use of bedding in a feedlot, visit iGrow.org and search for the article titled, Bedding During Winter Months Pays Off. Feed in-take Although beef cows fed high-roughage diets often respond to cold stress by increasing voluntary feed intake, the same is not necessarily true for feedlot cattle being fed high-concentrate diets. "Especially if cattle must contend with poor lot conditions due to mud, ice, or snow," Rusche said. There are some management considerations to keep in mind regarding changes in feed intake in response to cold stress: Make sure that water is available. Feed intake will be reduced if water availability is restricted for any reason such as frozen water lines or slippery footing near waterers. If the feed availability is limited either by snow cover or access to hay feeders, the cattle may not have the opportunity to eat as much as their appetite would dictate. Be careful providing larger amounts of high concentrate feeds. Rapid diet changes could cause significant digestive upsets. - See more at: http://igrow.org/news/cold-stress-affect-the-energyneeds-of-cattle/#sthash.8sSMFoAK.dpuf Managing Cattle through an Arctic Blast BROOKINGS, S.D. - Extremely cold temperatures are gripping the cattle feeding areas of the Northern Plains. Although cattle producers can't alter the weather, there are management steps that can be taken to help maintain cattle health and performance, explained Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate. Rusche outlines research which shows that by managing bedding, pens and feed intake, producers can help their cattle through the extreme weather. Bedding "Providing bedding is the most useful tool to improve cattle comfort, especially in outside yards," Rusche said. Bedding helps cattle preserve body heat and reduce the impact of cold stress on maintenance energy requirements. Visit iGrow to read "Bedding During Winter Months Pays Off," to gain insights into how using bedding can affect cattle performance during the winter. When extreme cold weather is expected, feeders should start bedding sooner rather than later, said Rusche, quoting Dr. Erik Loe, Consulting Beef Cattle Nutritionist with Midwest PMS, LLC. "His experience suggests that waiting until cattle are exhausted before providing bedding results in calves simply "resting up" on the bed pack and rather than continuing to eat their ration," Rusche said. He explained that this could result in diminished performance and increase the risk of digestive upset when cattle resume eating. In extreme cold conditions, the priority pens for bedding should be the lightest calves (less than 750 pounds) and cattle that are within 45 days of being shipped. Research shows that bedding the almost finished cattle helps avoid negative impacts on carcass quality and can also reduce the chances for injury or mobility problems late in the feeding period caused by cold or icy conditions. Managing Feed Intake Keeping feed intake consistent is a challenge during extreme weather conditions. "Some days keeping machinery running to simply get the cattle fed on time is a major accomplishment. Inconsistencies in feed intake lead to poorer conversions and in extreme cases, acidosis," Rusche said. By adding additional roughage to a finishing diet - for example, feeding 12-13 percent instead of 10 percent roughage, for instance) - could reduce the impacts of any inconsistencies in feed consumption. Backgrounding cattle are usually fed to achieve a certain ADG (average daily gain) target. "Extended periods of cold conditions can cause cattle to fall short, especially if the cold temperatures last for an extended period of time," Rusche said. "Increasing the energy content by another 2 to 4 Mcal NEg (megacalories of net energy for gain) or increasing the amount fed by an additional 0.2 percent of body weight might be required to meet production targets." Pen Maintenance Lot conditions, particularly ice, can affect feed consumption. "Slick areas on the feed bunk apron and around waterers can reduce the willingness of calves to come to eat or drink, not to mention the increased risk of injury," Rusche said. Mud can also become an issue. "Keep in mind that today's snow can easily become tomorrow's mud. Muddy conditions in the feedlot can be one of the biggest issues in getting cattle to perform during the winter and early spring," Rusche said. Anecdotal evidence suggests that muddy yards can result in as much as 100 pounds difference in final weight between cattle of similar genetic type that were fed similar rations. Removing snow and scraping outside pens can be incredibly difficult to accomplish, especially during extreme weather conditions. However, anything that can be done to remove snow and improve lot conditions now will pay off in later as the lot surface starts to thaw. Safeguarding the Food We Eat BROOKINGS, S.D. - One out of every six Americans will become sick from food-related illness in the course of a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "They're not talking about feeling queasy after a big holiday meal, or heartburn from a convenience store burrito. That statistic refers to illnesses caused by foodborne germs such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria," said Russ Daly, Professor, SDSU Extension Veterinarian and State Public Health Veterinarian. Daly explained that pathogens can enter food at various points in the production of food - from the initial animal or plant source, through processing, to cooking and serving. "The people involved in making our food take product safety very seriously. Because many raw products can harbor some illness-related germs, they go to great lengths to make sure their processing equipment is not a potential source of contamination. Large companies spend significant resources to monitor their processes to ensure safe food products," Daly explained. "But small food processors have the same commitment to safety and quality, yet may not have the resources for their own laboratory and testing schemes." To help protect South Dakotans from food borne illnesses, the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab (ADRDL) at SDSU has a specific lab dedicated to food safety testing for smaller, family businesses like the local locker plant. "It's a very natural fit," said Daly. He explained that the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab serves as the testing agency for South Dakota's state meat inspection program. "Most foodborne germs are very similar to those the lab routinely diagnoses in cases of animal disease. The lab already has the people, equipment, and most importantly, the knowledge to rapidly and accurately detect these germs in food," Daly said. On any given day, the food safety lab receives sausage, lunch meat, beef sticks and similar products from businesses across the state for foodborne pathogen testing. To ensure their sanitation processes are working, in addition to meat, the lab also tests samples taken from tables, meat saws and knives. "What's more, this level of expertise is recognized by two other states (North Dakota and Vermont) who also use SDSU's food safety lab for their inspection programs rather than those in their own state," Daly said. Ensuring a Safe Future Planning is currently underway for an update to SDSU's Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab, with the goal of ensuring the facility can continue to serve South Dakotans today and well into the future. To learn more about this renovation and SDSU's Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab, visit their website. Here’s My Card Advert ise You r Card H ere! 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