Agriculture & Natural Resources
Beef Cattle: Summer Management
Cow/calf production in West Virginia allows for additional income to the farm enterprise. Price of cattle has been good during the last two years. Cattle numbers are down; therefore, the price should be above normal for the next couple of years.
A good summer management program includes the following:
- A good supply of quality forage to be grazed all summer.
- Rotational grazing enhances high quality forage and gives grass an opportunity to re-grow.
- Insect and parasite controls are essential for animal growth and health.
- Provide plenty of clean water.
- Supplement pastures with salt and minerals.
- Supplement feeds may be necessary when pastures run low or dry weather cuts back forage growth. Hay, silage, or grain is a good choice to make up the deficit.
Animal Identification System:
All farms that currently or may at a future date have livestock should make application for a premise ID number. Every state will have this system in place by late 2005.
Why do we need animal identification? A rational, cost-effective animal identification program will:
- enhance foreign animal disease surveillance, control, and eradication
- facilitate epidemiologic investigations
- improve biosecurity protection of the national livestock population
- distinguish animals vaccinated or tested under official US Department of Agriculture (USDA) disease-control or -eradication programs from unvaccinated and untested herd mates
- furnish official identification for animals in interstate or international commerce
- accurately identify blood and tissue specimens used for laboratory diagnostics
- track the health certification status of herds, States, and regions
- enable effective regionalization and risk assessment in support of international trade.
The premise number will be required before one can sell or buy livestock. Premise applications can be secured at most WVU Extension Offices, WVU Department of Agriculture and the last page of the market bulletin.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT CHUCK TALBOTT, WVU EXTENSION AGENT at 304-586-0217, or at Chuck.Talbott@mail.wvu.edu.
Agriculture in Putnam County encompasses commercial and home vegetable growers, agronomy crops, livestock, and lawns. West Virginia University Extension programming is woven around providing education information for residents to use in their farming or home environment.
