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June 4, 2015
Golden Valley News
Page 5
Cow size, success
What do you do with a group of 98
heifers in which 5 percent .have a
frame score of 1 and 2, 11 percent
have a frame score of 3, 21 percent
have a frame score of 4, 28 percent
have a frame score of 5, 27 percent
have a frame score of 6 and 8 percent
have a frame score of 7 and 8?
A coffee break would be a good
time to discuss the heifers and figure
out a good approach to managing
them. Actually, the heifers are from
the breeding herds at the Dickinson
Research Extension Center. The cen-
ter maintains two particular groups of
cattle.
The "range" group is small- to
medium-framed cattle, while the
"beef" group is medium- to large-
framed cattle. As a result, the center
has a good cross section of cattle that
represents virtually all the frame
scores available. Granted, cattle at the
extremes are fewer in number, but
just the same, they are there.
Recently, those familiar with the
center's cattle met over coffee to talk
about what would be a good project
for this set of cattle. The challenge,
which is well-known to many, is ob-
taining data that adequately evaluates
cattle, frame and the association of a
particular frame score with appropri-
ate inputs and outputs.
Coffee discussions tend to assume
an answer quickly, but the reality is
much more difficult and complicated.
Commentary within the beef industry
forecasts the future with thoughts
based on the current situation with
analysis of the past.
A case in point: With lower cattle
numbers, feedlot and harvest data
strongly suggest that cattle are being
held longer on feed and harvested at
heavier weights. To fit current de-
mands, that industry response is log-
ical.
The coffee discussion about ex-
cessive carcass weight slowly dimin-
ishes as discounts on excess carcass
weight fade. Granted, there still is a
discount, but the acceptable weights
have increased. The obvious discus-
sion that follows centers on whether
market cows also are increasing in
harvest weight.
Yes, they are, which makes sense
because increased growth genetics
are being selected within the breeding
herds to supply the more acceptable
larger carcasses. The efficiency of
cattle :in the feedlot is well-studied.
In simple term's, if a feedlot pro-
duder 'uiilerstandg the grfwth 'ciirv'
of the type of attle beirig fed, the
feedlot will feed those cattle to max-
imize lean growth and attain a desir-
able quality grade.
The larger-framed cattle have an
extended feeding time because a
feedlot can feed a ration that encour-
ages muscle growth and can defer ra-
tions that would be more prone to fat
in the beef business
Beef Talk
By Kris Ringwall
Beef Specialist
NDSU Extension
Service
growth. Larger- framed cattle histor-
ically have been leaner on the rail be-
cause carcass weight discounts have
discouraged pushing the cattle to a
later end point with a potentially
higher quality grade. Therefore, under
the current "short supply situation,
large-framed cattle-are more in de-
mand.
Frame size and breed type are two
key factors that guide the manage-
ment of cattle types within the feed
yard. I actually have read several ar-
ticles that infer that size will continue
to increase to meet demand.
That being said, back at the coffee
table, the topic of cow size and effi-
ciency was the topic of the day. Are
smaller-framed cows relevant today?
The discussion is long because the
missing pieces of the puzzle allow for
speculation.
The feedlot world well under-
stands cattle efficiency as feed effi-
ciency. Every bite of feed needs to
produce a saleable portion of beef.
The cow-calf industry does not have
that same level of understanding be-
cause the complexities are much
greater.
The old saying that the customer is
always right tends to drive the cow in-
dustry "to accept feedlot assumptions
because the feeder generally is the
customer for the cow-calf producer.
Therefore, the center's 98 heifers,
of which 5 percent have a frame score
of 1 and 2, 11 percent have a frame
score of 3, 21 percent have a frame
score of 4, 28 percent have a frame
score of 5, 27 have a percent frame
score of 6 and 8 percent have a frame
score of 7 and 8, offer the center a
tremendous opportunity to focus on
an efficiency study of the cow unit,
not just the calf.
As coffee ends, there is consider-
able interest in pondering the future of
the beef industry and how cow-calf
producers will be called upon to sup-
ply beef.
What criteria are measurable and
practical to collect on a set of heifers,
such as those at the center, to help the
cow-calf induy,n?ake ,in[0.rmed. @,
cisions on cow size and type? It's a
good question, and researchers, at
North Dakota State University are ex-
cited about finding the answers.
The impacts of frame size, effi-
ciency and longevity in a commercial
or any beef cow herd are key points
for long-term managerial and genetic
inputs. I'll keep you posted.
May you find all your ear tags.
An additional 800,000 acres
dedicated to conservation
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vii-
sack says that an additional 800,000
acres of highly environmentally sen-
sitive land may be enrolled in Con-
servation Reserve Program (CRP)
under certain wetland and wildlife
initiatives that provide multiple ben-
efits on the same land.
The U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture (USDA) will accept new offers
to participate in CRP under a general
signup to be held Dec. 1, 2015,
through Feb. 26, 2016. Eligible ex-
isting program participants with con-
tracts expiring Sept. 30, 2015, will be
granted an option for one-year exten-
sions. Farmers and ranchers inter-
ested in removing sensitive land from
agricultural production and planting
grasses or trees to reduce soil ero-
sion, improve water quality and re-
store wildlife habitat are encouraged
to enroll. Vilsack made the an-
nouncement during a speech deliv-
ered at the Ducks Unlimited National-
Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.
For more information about CRP,
visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation,
or contact your local USDA Farm
Service Agency office.
Summer hours for
health nurse set
Billings/Golden Valley County
public health nurse's summer office
hours from June 1 to Aug. 31, will
be at the Billings County Court-
house every Thursday and the sec-
ond and fourth Tuesdays from 9
a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m.;
and at the Fairfield Fire Hall on the
first Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2
p.m.
For the Golden Valley County
Beach office, the hours will be from
8 a.m. to noon, and 12:30 p.m. to 4
p.m. - Mondays through Fridays ex-
cept for Billings County days.
For more information, questions
and to schedule appointments please
call Gina Manhart, RN, PHN, at
(701) 623-4133 (Medora office) or
(701) 872-4533 (Beach office).
Manhart may at times, be out in the
community providing services or
not in the office,.Please leave a mes-
sage on the answering machine and
she will get back to you.
In appreciation ...
Naomi Dolyniuk, left, and Becky Weinreis listen to the live
music at the Golden Valley Manor in Beach recently at a tea
held to honor them and other volunteers. (Courtesy Photo)
MDU customers to receive
credits on upcoming bills
BISMARCK - Customers of
Montana Dakota Utilities (MDU)
will see a credit on their electric bills"
in June and July.
The credit is the result of an earn-
ings sharing agreement the Public
Service Commission negotiated with
MDU in a settlement agreegtent
reached in August 2014.
According to the agreement,
MDU is required to return 50 percent
of earnings that exceed the com-'
party's alloxvable return on invest-
ment. The company will refund a
total of $879.018 to.customers for
2014. The credits will be applied to
customers' bills in June and July.
It is estimated that the average
residential customer will see a credit
of approximately $2.14 on their bill
for each month, or a total of about
$4.28.
Farm show to be
The Dale and Martha Hawk Mu-
seum 26th annual Antique Farm
Show will be held'June 12-14,
2015. There will be parades all
three days at 4 p.m. along with
steam threshing, wood sawing,
working blacksmith shop and lum-
ber planing. This year's feature is
any Ford tractor 1965 and older. )
Friday, June 12, is Senior Day'
with activitie,p.nned for anyone
60 years and older. Friday evening,
theie will be a variety show. Satur-
day, June 13, at 11 a.m. Ryan Tay-
lor, cowboy poet, will be at the
Mylo Hall. Saturday evening at
7:30 will be a musical called "Life
in a Small Town." There will be
music all 'three days on stage next
to Martha's Kitchen. Sunday. June
14. is Flag Day. Wear red, white
and blue. There will be a flag fold-
ing program and flag etiquette.
Cake and lots of food will be
served. Martha's Kitchen is open
and Wolford Wildlife will have
food. There is an ice cream parlor,
pie social, a working donut ma-
chine, popcorn machine and lots of
crafts and flea markets.
Friday at 5:30 p.m. is a BBQ
supper.
IMPACT CHANGE
EXPERIENCE. LEARN. LEAD.
held in Towner County
Saturday at 5:30 p.m. is prime
rib night.
Sunday is fried chicken.
Admission for three days is $10.
Under 12 years of age is free. There
is camping, restrooms and showers.
Shuttle service is provided.
www.hawkmuseum.org
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IN NEWSPAPERS
Getting long in the tooth
Hello,
Hat Tips
By Dean Meyer
I know many of you aren't ranch
people. So I suppose you wonder
when you hear that someone is "'long
in the tooth". You can age a horse by Then old horse-
its teeth. At early years, you can age
by which are permanent teeth and men can get pretty
which are baby teeth. Once they have close to a horse's
all their permanent teeth you can get
pretty close by the cups inside their age by how long
teeth. When they are worn out the and the angle of the
horse is around nine and is" called a
"smooth mouth horse". Then old teeth.
horsemen can get pretty close to a
horse's age by how long and the angle be six or seven. And could rope calves
of the teeth. Hence, when you are get- by two feet and drag them to the fire
ring "a little long in the tooth", you with the best of them. His dad is a
are, like me, aging, roper of great renown and is a great
Now I suppose you wonder where dad and teacher.
in the heck is this going? I have no " This cowboy was riding a nice lit-
idea. tie gray horse that made sure the kid
But if you are alittle long in the never got in trouble and never
tooth, you remember the Art Linklet- spooked if tfiings Tent awry.
ter show, "Kids say the darndest After the branding, while having
things", dinner, one of nay neighbors, who is a
My present wife, Shirley, was in little long in the tooth, tried buying the
church with the grandkids a week or horse from this young roper.
so ago. You know how kids love to "How much do want br that gray
put your dollar or your contribution horse'?"
packet, in the basket as it is passed "Mister, you don't want nay gray
around. Slate, who is not quite two, horse."
took that to a new level. "'Why not?"
Shirley is planning a trip With our The kid looked him in the eye and
oldest grandkid, Gracy, who won a said, "Because he's too good a horse
trip to DC with a school project. So for you!"
Grandma figured she would need a The Dad looked a little embar-
little walking around money for cabs, rassed and says, "I taught him to rope,
meals, tips and such. So she cashed a but I'm going to have to work on his
check for a crippled calf that the people skills a little."
banker didn't know we had. And she Later. Dean
had a few hundred-dollar bills in her
purse. Which, for your information, I
didn't know she had. Or they would LONELY - NEEDS A FAMILY
have found their way to happy hour. FOR COMPANY!
Well, Shirley is knelt down in her Beach- Nicely updated inside and out.
pew and Slate is standing behind her. 2011 steel siding, windows, insulation,
He's a pretty smart kid and knows electric panel 2003, New furnace 2008,
Grandmas purse has snacks and stuff New water heater, washer/dryer 201 t,
in it. So he rummages through and New carpet 2010, ceiling fans,12 X 18
finds these hundred dollar bills in her deck, chain link fence, 10 X 12 wood
billfold! The people in the row behind shed with floor, Garbage disposal.
Grandma had their prayers answered Family room, non-conforming bedroom,
when, like manna from Heaven, Slate utility room, 1/2 bath in basement.
started passing out C notes! Shirley
said it was a little embarrassing when
she had to ask for them back. And had
to leg wrestle one elderly lady who
needed bingo money.
Another young boy I met was at a
branding last week. I guess he would
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of America
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