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[ January/February 2006 ]

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Baby It's Cold Outside!
By Dr. Lana Kaiser

It is a perfect sunny January day and your first calf heifer has just given birth. The bouncing calf gets up in minutes and begins to nurse. The calf is obtaining high quality colostrum because you have an excellent vaccination and nutrition program. The dam licks the calf off, passes her placenta and begins to eat. Life on the ranch couldn’t get any better! Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work this way.

Why do calves die? Most studies estimate the average mortality from birth to weaning is about 10 percent. Interestingly, more than half of calves die within the first 24 hours after birth and three-quarters die within the first three days. Clearly the first three days after birth are a critical time and demand producer vigilance to avoid preventable death of calves.

In a USDA study, producers reported about one-third of calf deaths were related to calving problems, but interestingly, almost one-quarter of calf deaths were related to weather problems. Digestive (13 percent), respiratory (11 percent) and unknown causes (15 percent) were the other major causes of death. Thirty percent of cow deaths were related to weather and calving difficulties.

So what does this tell us? Calving difficulties and weather can be big problems for both the calf and the cow. The single most important cause of calving difficulties (dystocia) is a mismatch between the size of the calf and the pelvic size of the dam. Consequently, to decrease the risk of dystocia, it is suggested that EPDs be used to identify low birth weight bulls and that adequate pelvic size for replacement heifers be determined by pelvic measurements. While this is useful information for next year, it won’t help you much with today’s pregnant cows!

It goes without saying heifers are more likely to have problems calving. While almost 98 percent of cows calve unassisted, only 80 percent of heifers calve unassisted. These calves requiring assistance at birth are more likely to require added attention to survive.
 
Although it seems pretty straightforward, all these factors interact and any problem with any one of these factors can be the straw that breaks the camels back. Calves affected by dystocia or other maternal health problems adapt poorly to life outside the uterus and succumb to environmental problems more easily. Early and aggressive intervention and supportive care can prevent calf losses. Calves should be warmed, dried, sheltered and provided high quality colostrum. Supplemental feeding may be required. Maternal bonding and attention should be encouraged and the pair should be penned together until it is clear that all is well.

So what can you do to maximize the chances calves will survive?

COLOSTRUM
Colostrum is the first milk the cow produces. It is rich in antibodies, protein and other nutrients. Good colostrum is thicker and a darker color than milk. Calves depend on antibodies in colostrum for their initial immunity. The intestines of the calf are designed to allow big molecules (antibodies) to pass through and into the blood stream for the first 24 hours after birth. After that time, the passageways are closed and antibodies are not absorbed. Thus, it is incredibly important to make sure the calf gets colostrum in the first day of life. Ideally, the calf gets up, nurses and ingests the colostrum. Colostrum not only provides antibodies, but also energy, nutrition, glucose and warmth. Calves who do not receive adequate colostrum are at increased risk for other problems including infectious diseases.

There are other factors that decrease the absorption of colostrum, including cold weather and poor maternal nutrition. Calves having survived a difficult birth have poorer absorption of colostrum than calves born without difficulty. Even if a calf receives the right amount of colostrum at the right time, a calf surviving a difficult birth is at risk for other problems.

WARM AND DRY
When calves are born they are dumped rather abruptly from a warm, temperature controlled environment into whatever Mother Nature has created at the time. Ten degrees with a 40 mph wind is quite a shock for a wet calf with no body fat! In addition to the environmental shock, calves do not have the ability to regulate their temperature like adult cows do, so it is up to us to help them maintain their body temperature. Keeping them warm means they are more likely to be up and moving around and more likely to nurse, which provides not only a warm liquid, but also energy, so they can stay warm. There are several options for warming your calf: calf coats; warming boxes; calf hutches with deep straw; or taking the calf to the house. Getting the calf warm and dry goes a long way towards improving their chances of survival.

Let’s say you go out one morning and find a new calf lying flat in the snow. The calf doesn’t look like it is breathing, in fact, it looks frozen, so what do you do? Remember the old adage “it ain’t dead until it’s warm and dead.”

Basically, at real cold temperatures, the body slows down so much the calf may look dead, but really isn’t. Don’t dump it in the dead pile, warm it up. How? Well, that depends a bit on your set-up and whether it is acceptable to put a calf in your bathtub! A garbage can filled with warm water will also work. Warm water is better than heated air. The water should be warm (not hot) and you can gently massage the calf. Of course keep its head above water level. Once you get the calf warmed up and find it is alive remember it needs to be dry, stay warm and get enough to eat.

At Kaiser Cattle, every calf born in the winter gets a polar fleece coat. Although some consider it a bovine fashion statement, a warm calf can use the energy they obtain from colostrum or milk to grow, develop, enhance immunity and fight infection instead of using that energy to stay warm. There are many calf coats on the market or you can even make them. Polar fleece has the advantage of keeping the calf warm even if it isn’t entirely dry. Calf coats are good in cold weather and in a covered area, but a calf in a polar fleece coat in the rain is a soggy mess!

NUTRITION - FOOD AND DRINK, VITAMINS, MINERALS AND MEDICINE
Just like the quality of the colostrum is the result of the nutritional status of the dam, so is the quality of the milk. Cows in poor condition, without adequate energy, vitamins and minerals cannot be expected to provide quality colostrum and milk for their calves.

Calves need adequate nutrition to maintain body temperature and normal body functions, develop their immunities, grow and thrive. The calf must receive enough calories to support normal “maintenance” functions and enough calories to grow. Anything increasing the energy expenditure will increase caloric requirements. Common things that increase energy expenditure in calves include cold weather and walking through mud or deep snow. (Think of humans who work out at the gym – they burn enough calories working out that they can eat more cake! Calves who “work out” in the cold and mud need more food!) If the calf is cold or dragging itself through deep mud, it needs more calories to grow and thrive. Also, the colder it gets, the more calories the calf needs, so the more it needs to eat. A calf not receiving adequate nutrition is at increased risk for infection. Incredibly, starvation is not an uncommon cause of death in dairy calves kept in hutches in cold weather. If the amount of milk replacer is not increased to compensate for the decreased temperature, calves will not grow or even worse, they can die.

In selenium deficient areas, calves should receive selenium soon after birth. Some veterinarians also recommend an injection of vitamins A, D and E at birth. Talk to your veterinarian about selenium and vitamin supplementation. Most veterinarians recommend dipping the naval in iodine. This not only decreases the risk of naval ill, but also helps to dry up the cord. If you use oral scour prevention, make sure you follow label instructions.

If you are feeding or supplementing the calf, remember caloric requirements go up as the temperature goes down. Mix the milk replacer or electrolytes as directed – adding too much or too little water can wreak havoc on a calves’ ability to keep things under control.

What's the bottom line? If your cows are in good condition, you have a good mineral and vaccination program and you have appropriate shelter - most calves will do just fine. Calves that are cold, wet or who have survived a difficult calving are at greater risk for problems and may require a little extra TLC.


COLOSTRUM
* Provides antibodies (immunity) for the calf
* Cow colostrum is generally better quality that heifers
* Good quality colostrum requires
    • adequate cow nutrition
    • adequate mineral intake
    • adequate cow body condition
    • adequate vaccinations (to stimulate the antibodies)
    • Colostrum from the dam is generally best
* Colostrum from high milking cows can be frozen for later use
* Because of Johne’s disease (and other pathogens) be cautious using colostrum from dairy cows
    • If you don’t have any colostrum, colostrum supplements are a better choice than milk replacers in the
       first 24 hours after birth

THINGS TO HAVE & SKILLS TO ACQUIRE BEFORE THE CALVES ARRIVE
* Colostrum supplement
* Milk replacer
* Calf coat or other way to warm a calf
* Esophageal feeder (get the one with the bag and the shut off valve – not the milk bottle with the short hard tube; that is a great way to drown a calf!)
* Calf electrolyte solutions
* Vitamins A,D,E and selenium (if recommended)
* Learn how to tube a calf!
* Depending on where you are, how close the nearest vet is and how good your skills are you may want to learn how to give IV (intravenous) or subQ (subcutaneous) fluids to your calves.

Reflections Reflections - there is an array of definitions and terms for the word. Depending on one’s thinking, depends on how one references to reflections. When I hear the word, the first thing that pops into my head is the Supremes song! And now, I’ll have that song in my head for the better part of a week. For the most part, reflections are being able to look to your past, to think about the times a head or behind you – reflect on the times. It could also be your reflection in the mirror. Like I said, there

by Kyla Nesheim editor/director of communications

The New Year is a great time to reflect back on times, on times that were good and even some not so good. We learn from our mistakes; reflect on those and find ways to overcome them for the future. Reflect on the times that make us smile and to love the business we are all involved in. We as Maine-Anjou enthusiasts need to reflect on the past and truly see how far this breed has come. We also need to reflect on the future. Keep looking ahead, be open to new and progressing changes to keep the breed improving and growing. Reflect on the good times and the even the better times to come with this tremendous breed of cattle.

As I reflect back on my time at the association, I see many great Maine-Anjou breeders, promoters, junior members, exhibitors and all the people involved, and I am proud to be involved with such a great breed. I enjoy talking and getting to be involved with these talented cattlemen and women. They continue to improve the breed for future generations. It’s the people who have taken this breed to new heights, the cattle come second nature.

Let’s all reflect on the breed's past, when the breed first came to the states. The breed has come a long way since those early days. We are proud to have a majority of the early breeders and promoters of Maine-Anjou cattle who strived to bring the breed to the U.S. still with us today. They continue to breed and raise some of the best in the breed. Thank you!

Times have changed for Maine-Anjou cattle. From fullblood to purebred to MaineTainer genetics, the quality continues to remain true. Like any other breed, change is inevitable. Where will the breed lie in 10 or even 50 years down the road? What breeders will continue with the breed through time and more change? Time can only tell. There’s a lot in store for this popular breed.

Some may reflect back on times when the breed just started in the United States, others may reflect on just last year and how their show string did at the majors and still a lot will be reflecting on the future. I hope 2006 finds many of you reflecting on the good times of the past and the great times that lie ahead.


What’s In Store for 2006?

By now, we have all settled into 2006 and are underway for another year of Maine-Anjou activities. Keep an open mind for the New Year and gather ways to improve this growing and popular breed. Remember to pay your annual membership dues to keep you membership status and to keep receiving the Voice. If there is anything you would like to see changed, added or new ideas for the Voice, please let B.J. or myself know. We would love to hear from you.

The first big Maine-Anjou event of 2006 is the National Western Stock Show, or as we call it, the Denver National. Maine-Anjou happenings in Denver are thriving. Hopefully many of you were able to pick up this issue in Denver. The Maine breed is certainly keeping things hot and busy during the NWSS. With the pen shows, two sales, the Gold Standard and the junior and open shows, the Maine-Anjou breed keeps you busy during your staty in the Mile High city.

A very popular event during the NWSS is the pen-of-three bull and heifer shows. Last year marked the first year for the heifer division, both high percentage and MaineTainer divisions. All heifers entered into the pen show then sell in the Cattleman’s Choice Sale. These heifers topped the carts and brought outstanding prices in the sale.

The Cattleman’s Choice Sale in Denver is the sale of sales. Outstanding Maine-Anjou and MaineTainer bulls and females are offered. This is always a standing room only venue. People flock to this sale to get in on the chance to own top of the line Maine-Anjou genetics. Another sale that is the definition of “hot” in Denver is the Class Act National Maine-Anjou Sale on the hill. The best of the best in Maine-Anjou genetics are offered in this event.

I hope many of you will be able to join us for our National Maine-Anjou Show held in conjunction with the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Jan. 27-29. Friday will start out the national events with the committee meetings and the annual membership meeting. Saturday will be the AMAA Board of Director’s Meeting, the Cowtown Classic Sale and the Texas Maine-Anjou Futurity Show. The National Maine-Anjou Show will be on Sunday followed by the Fullblood show.

This year the association will be offering a summer internship. I hope we find many talented college students applying for the position. It will be a great opportunity to broaden your skills and see what goes on with the running of a junior national and helping with the production of the Voice. Please see the announcements page in this issue for further information.

I am looking forward to watching the breed grow and flourish in yet another year. The commercial acceptability of the cattle is growing. Dave Steen, commercial marketing director, has pushed the breed to new heights within the commercial world. With the national feeding trial, he has shown that Maine-Anjou cattle are capable of broadening the commercial acceptability of the cattle. The numbers are outstanding. We are excited to see what 2006 brings forth in the commercial part of the breed. The national feeding trail is underway and I’m sure the numbers will continue to improve.

Please let B.J. or myself know if there is anything you would like to see in the Voice. This is your marketing tool for the breed. We are always up for suggestions on what you would like to see done. I strongly encourage all of you out there promoting the breed to advertise with us. Like I said, this is the biggest marketing tool to reach fellow Maine-Anjou breeders, showers and promoters. Get your name out there.

Wishing everyone the best for 2006!

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BOARD NOMINEES
 

REGION I Rick Carlson - Plattsburg, Mo. Wife, Rosemary; daughter, Rachael

Rick Carlson was raised on a livestock and grain farm in central Illinois. He is currently involved in a purebred Shorthorn and Maine-Anjou breeding operation where he has bred a national champion Shorthorn heifer and a reserve national champion Shorthorn heifer.

Throughout his lifetime he has served some prestigious terms. He was on the Blackhawk East and University of Illinois Livestock Judging Teams. He has served as the vice president of international business for Farmland Foods of Kansas City, Mo. There he developed marketing strategies to position Farmland beef and pork products worldwide. He also managed foreign offices in Mexico City, Geneva, Tokyo and Moscow. He has also served as the senior vice president of operations for PM Beef Group, Kansas City, Mo., where he was responsible for all fresh beef operations, sales, marketing, plant production and cattle feeding.

Rick is currently the president of Summit Food Group where he is involved in cattle feeding, marketing niche beef products domestically, and exporting beef, pork, chicken and turkey products worldwide.

Rick chose the Maine-Anjou breed because of their commercial acceptance. He believes the cattle are one of the few breeds that fit all segments of the beef business making excellent mothers, having excellent rate of gain, feedlot efficiency and cutability. He also enjoys their disposition which affects cutability and feedlot efficiency; their diversity of color - black or red - fits various environments, regions and conditions; and the people and families involved in the breed. They are dedicated to improving the breed, not only in the show ring, but in the commercial business as well.

"I believe in maintaining a strong junior program, focusing on a strong commercial base by using genetic markers to determine value and continued commercial acceptance and a strong association creating value for its membership through creative programs," says Rick.

REGION I John Dickerson - Martinsville, Ind. Wife, Diana; son, Casey; daughter, Courtney

John Dickerson was raised near both sets of his grandparents and raised livestock with each. John raised his college funds by working daily with his grandparents as well as his parents. His two grandfathers rank as the most influential people in John's life and he feels privileged to be named after both of them.

In the fall of 1992, John met Miles and Kim DeJong at the recommendation of a work associate of Diana's. The first exposure to a working Maine-Anjou operation convinced him the breed would exceed his families needs for a team hobby and business. "My work in the animal health industry requires a lot of travel, and if we are going to raise cattle, they have to have predictable temperament, positive reproductive and mothering abilities and show ring potential. Maine-Anjou cattle have fit the bill!" says John.

John will never forget the first time he heard this bit of sarcasm, "beauty is only skin deep...but goes all the way to the bone." He feels this statement may be humorous, but it applies to the industry. John feels Maine-Anjou show cattle have a powerful presence in any exhibition across the United States. Breed influenced steers are standard today. "I believe a next positive step is to take this success and transfer it further to the "center of the plate." As a member of the Maine-Anjou board, I will work to gain our breed identification to consumers as we deserve more recognition than "black hided" cattle," says John.

REGION II Larry Rademacher - Loup City, Mo. Wife, Karen; sons, Scott, Wayne and David

After growing up on his family farm where he was involved with raising both beef and dairy cattle, Larry Rademacher started his own commercial cow calf herd in 1964. He started dealing with the Maine-Anjou breed in 1986. At present Larry owns over 300 cows and bulls registered with the American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA), with another 150 being registered this year.

Larry strongly believes Maine-Anjou cattle work for both the commercial man and in the show ring. They have good dispositions, tremendous thickness and lots of hair. For the commercial cattleman, they are outstanding feeding cattle delivering a carcass that works on the grid system, a good rate of gain, feed efficiency and excellent maternal traits.

"The future of the breed is ours for the taking," Larry says, "I believe the time is here right now. The expansion of herds is on. Our breed has to offer as much or more than any other breed. Each and everyone of us has to go out and sell our fair share."

Larry Rademacher & Sons have been awarded with both the Seedstock Producer of the Year and Breeder of the Year awards. They have also been among the top five in the Cornerstone Dam program, both breeder and owner, for the past eight years. They have been involved in the AMAA National Steer Feeding Trial every year it has been held and have come out with outstanding results.

The Rademachers will hold their 10th consecutive production sale in 2006.

REGION III Matt Elliott - Chester, Okla.

Matt Elliott grew up on a cow/calf operation and continues to operate a herd with his parents, Glen and Judy. He attended Connors State College for two years on a livestock judging scholarship. He then received his BS in Agronomy from Panhandle State and a Masters in Ag Education from Oklahoma State University. He currently works for the NRCS in Taloga, Okla.

Matt has been very involved with the breed from a young age. He served on the national junior board for three years. For fourteen years, he has showed cattle and participated in the contests at the national junior show, also helping others along the way. He has had the high gaining and selling bulls at both Panhandle and Connors state bull tests.

The main reason Matt chose the Maine-Anjou breed was for their temperament, predictability in the genetics and their maternal characteristics.

He believes the future of the breed lies in its junior population as well as its marketability to all aspects of the cattle industry. "With the ability to gain and grade we can not only market our cattle to the feedlot producers, but also to the commercial producer," says Matt. "Our breed appeals to the club calf man because of the thickness and design of the Maine cattle as well as their docile disposition. We need to continue to address the positive benefits we have to offer our juniors and keep the junior program going because they are the future of our breed.

Matt says it would be a privilege and honor to serve on the Maine-Anjou board.

REGION III Bill Thorne - Dalhart, Texas Wife, Nina; son, Billy and wife Susan; daughter Kelly Bateman and husband John; granddaughters, Katie and Jordan

Bill Thorne graduated from the University of Missouri where he was on the livestock judging team. Throughout his life, he has held some prestigious positions in the cattle industry. He was a cattle buyer for Wilson Packing Company for seven years; he then moved on the the beef department manager at Wilson Packing Company. Bill spent 13 years as the manager of XIT Feedyard, where they fed 40,000 plus head of cattle. He has now been self-employed for 18 years order buying, grazing stocker cattle, feeding cattle, raising show steers and raising Maine-Anjou cattle.

Bill likes the Maine-Anjou breed because they are superior in their muscle pattern, bone and disposition. "They have the ability to produce a high quality lean carcass very efficiently," says Bill. "They also cross well with other breeds to produce quality show steers."

"The future for this breed is good if we continue to promote and produce lean, high quality carcasses," explains Bill. "The cattle need to be solid colored, efficient gainers and have acceptable birth weights. If we can accomplish these goals, the commercial cattlemen will be more and more interested in our cattle."

AT-LARGE Don McLain Wife, Viki; daughter Shannon and husband Jason Farmer; granddaughter Payton; daughter Katie; grandson Kaleb

Don McLain grew up on a 400 acre cow commercial ranch south of Denver and began raising club calves in the mid 1970's. He then moved to Gill, Colo., in 1985 and started crossing cattle with Maine-Anjou genetics. "We were so pleased that we are presently developing into a Maine program," says Don. "We liked the results in the 1980's when we started crossing our club calf operation with Maines. We felt that Maine-Anjou cattle had the best economic traits and the look we were desiring."

Don feels there has been more positive changes made in the Maine breeders and association in the last 10 years than any other breed. "Since my involvement began, I see more contracts with commercial cattleman and new seedstock producers everyday," explains Don.

In the past three years, He has seen what the goals of the association and the breeders have done and can only imagine what the next three years will bring.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Wendland Farms and 4T Ranch top B&B Cattle Company's Test 1
Barrett Farms and Brandon Maine-Anjou Farms top Test 2

Test 1 and 2 are complete and the results are in. Test 1 consisted of bulls that were born Nov. 1, 2003 through April 31, 2004. Daniel and Danny Wendland of Wendland Farms, Taft, Texas, and Buster Terrell of 4T Ranch, Menard, Texas, took top spots in the senior and junior Maine-Anjou Test 1 group of bulls, respectively. Wendland Farms high indexing senior bull was sired by DMCC Limited Edition 4F. He completed the test with an average daily gain (ADG) of 4.88 lbs.; a 1,281 lb. 420-day adjusted yearling weight (YW); a 13.8 square inch 420-day adjusted ribeye are (REA); and an overall index of 112.3. Wendland Farms also owned the second through fourth place senior Maine-Anjou bulls with an overall index range of 109.3 to 105.5. FJH Timeline 500J sired Wendland's second and fourth place bulls. There were thirteen bulls entered in the senior Maine-Anjou Test.

Sir Jazz sired Mr. Terrell's high indexing junior bull. He completed the test with an ADG of 4.05; a 1,018 lb. 365-day adjusted YW; a 10.1 square inch 365-day adjusted REA; and an overall index of 108.6. Jerry Gibson and Jerry Mara of J&J Farms, Parker, Texas, placed second with an overall index of 108.5. FJH Primetime 48H sired this calf. J&J Farms also took third and fourth place with an overall index of 108.3 and 106.0 respectively. There were thirteen bulls entered in the junior Maine-Anjou test.

In Test 2, which consisted of bulls born April 1, 2004 through July 31, 2004, William Barrett of Barrett Farms, Tatum, Texas, and Cleveland Brandon of Brandon Maine-Anjou Farms, Wills Point, Texas, own the first place bulls in the senior and junior groups respectively. WLBJ Chairman, a FJH Executive 31C son sired Barrett Farm's high indexing senior bull. He finished the test with a 4.08 ADG; a 1,099 lb. 420-day adjusted YW; a 12.0 square inch 420-day adjusted REA; and an overall index of 125.0. Mr. Barrett also owns the second place bull sired by WLBF Ain't Skeered.

Mr. Brandon's high indexing junior bull was sired by JJN Mr. 933L, a NBH Polled Energizer son. He finished the test with a 3.33 ADG; a 1,003 lb. 365-day adjusted YW; a 12.0 square inch 365-day adjusted REA; and an overall index of 112.0. Barrett Farms also raised the second place junior bull sired by WLBF Ain't Skeered.

B&B Cattle Company is owned and operated by Brad & Jana Barrett and is located in Normangee, Texas. You may check B&B Cattle Company out on line at www.bbcattleco.com or e-mail them at: bbcattleco@valornet.com.