RE:  BBA  1.1 Session

The first session of the Bosque Beef Academy is in the books!  We had great attendance, the fajitas were excellent and the sessions stirred up some great questions.  It was evident that the producers in attendance have a great passion for raising cattle.  Sharing knowledge and information to be better at what we do shows great stewardship of the land and animals that are part of our lives.  Remember that the next session will be hosted by Buck and Sidney Thomason at Indian Hills Ranch on November 28th.  We will discuss cattle genetics and proper winter supplementation.  Let us know in advance the number attending in your group.   Following is a short summary of the information that was discussed. 

MARKETING

Mr. Wayne Carroll exhibited two pens of weaned calves.  Calves in the first group had several problems:  not  castrated, poor muscling, fine bone structure, no vaccinations and thin body condition.  Their value was $15.00 - $20.00 per hundred less than a #1 stocker calf.  The second group had been weaned for 30 days and had none of the problems exhibited by the first group.  Several producers expressed the need for a local sale to market calves that were weaned and had “added value”.

HERD HEALTH

Dr. Mark Jackson did an excellent job in discussing herd health with our group.  He said that basic herd health begins with a good mineral program and solid overall nutrition.   He emphasized the need for each beef producer to establish a vaccination plan for their operation.  It should include a program for cows, calves and weaned calves.  Basic recommendations include 7 way or 8 way Blackleg, Vira Shield w/Lepto, and De-worming for cows and calves.  Dr. Jackson had a great explanation on the importance of the booster shot 3 weeks later after the initial injection.  The weaning protocol could be a little different depending on the length of time and destination of the calves.  Producers should always discuss their goals with their veterinarian to establish a comprehensive plan.

WEANING

Mr. Steve Conrad challenged the group to identify why they are in the cattle business…...calf producer selling by weight, replacement heifer specialist, registered cattle breeder selling bulls/heifers, specialty meat market or just an enjoyable hobbyist.  Regardless of which identity, a good weaning program is an absolute must!  Producers should consider the following before weaning: Why am I Weaning?  Availability of Facilities, Equipment and Labor?  What is my Health Plan?  What Nutrition Program will be Used?

Conrad said that Purina offers two well known, established calf weaning products.  Accuration Starter should be used when a producers desires the maximum gain on the cattle.  It contains IM Technology that allows for the use of higher energy that enables cattle to gain the most weight during the 21-day weaning period.  PreCon Starter is also available for a fast start and works great for “bought cattle”.  Calves eat PreCon better than any starter on the market and thus builds rumen microbes faster than any other product. 

News Headlines……

We hope that you can attend the next Bosque Beef Academy seminar on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Buck and Sidney Thomason’s ranch. Let us know you are coming by simply calling the store.

Truckload Mineral Deal…….for shipment from November 6-22, 2017. Turn in your order by November 8.

Our Fall/Winter MLS tub sale will be December 1-2, 2017. Huge discounts for two days only!