Beef Cattle and the Quest for Knowledge (Beef Production Medicine and Management)

I love to read;  everyone who has visited my blog knows that I truly believe that knowledge is power.

While on this quest for knowledge; last week I had a book dropped in my lap that I have not put down.

The title of this book is BEEF Production Medicine and Management; in section A; you can read about Anatomy, Biosecurity, Body condition Scoring, Nutrition, Normal ranges for temperature, heart and resporatory rates, showing junior livestock, prescription and non-prescription drug guidelines and the list goes on this is just section A.
Section B - Routine Observation and Procedures.
Section C - Vaccines and Parasite Control Products.
Section D - Tests and Diagnostics.
Section E - Flowcharts for Specific Symptoms.
Section F - Infectious Diseases, Problems and Treatment.

If you are in 4-H, FFA, or a cattle producer this is a book you should own. I have to return this one soon, but I have order my own and it will be here soon.

this book is a Animal Health Publications  you can order it on line or call 1-877-424-7838.

There is also manuals for;
Dogs and Cats
Horses
Sheep and Goats
Beef and Dairy

I think the next one that I will get will be the one for Horses. before I am done I hope to own all of them because my animal never seem to get sick on a week days.

Follow the links and check it out for yourself; KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Got to Love NinjaJen

I started thinking about how hard it must be to find an older post on my blog for those of you who visit my blog.
So I ask my mom how we could make it easier for you? My Mom is not a blog building expert but she knows someone who is NinjaJen is that person; so mom went to her blog and looked to see if she has a step by step posting for how to add a search window to my blog, and what do you know she did. Mom added it for me and I listed some of my passed blog titles for you just type part or all of the title in the search window and it will take you to that posting. The search window is on the left side of my blog.
I have a lot more postings you can type in key words and see what pops up.

I hope the search window makes it easier for you to find the information you are looking for. If you have a blog or would like to build one go to the bottom of my blog and there is a link to NinjaJen's blog that is where Mom got all the cool effects that are on my blog.
Thank You Jen and Mom.

Clipping Your Steers for Begainners

By No means am I a steer clipping expert; but when I started learning to clip and groom my steers I could not find a place to show me just the basics. So this year one of my goals was to learn to clip and fluff my steers for the show ring and I thought I might share what I learned with you.

This year I had three steers so when my Dad was showing me what he knew my Mom was taking pictures for me to share.

The most important thing you can do long before you start clipping is to wash and blow-dry your steer. Make sure that you comb and blow the hair forward.

Next you will what to apply a styling mousse for steers, and comb it in I use a rice brush to do this. This foam creates a thicker hair coat without matting the hair. Great for training the hair, show day grooming or clipping. Now let the mousse dry.

 Clipping the the head, I was told to clip the hair in the direction that the hair lays. Try to not to clip to short; When I did my first head I clipped it to short; if this happens don't worry just spray pink oil on and it won't look so bad. I found that you should clip the head at least six or seven days before the show ( just in case ).
Depending on the style you can leave the hair on the pole of you can remove it. I did both ways this year .
You may want to leave the hair on the pole until you are at the show to see what the style is at that time.

The Brisket is next; when clipping the brisket you clip  from the head and neck downward. try not to take off all the hair you what this to be clipped but look natural.

For the hoofs we clip the hair that lays on the hoof to clean them up a little. DO NOT Clip the hair on the legs.

Now that you have just the beginners basics  go to the watch and learn and watch the pro's clip and groom.

Red Angus do not have much hair in the summer so there is not much clipping to do; here is Munch he was my highest placing steer and graded prime plus.

this is  Pepper my Black Angus.

Remember you are trying to make your steers look the best that you can.

You will always what to follow the rules of the Show, Fair or Association that you are participating in.

The Show Stick

Now is the time for your steers to meet the show stick. The way that I do this is while I have them tied up and they are eating. I let them see the stick, and smell the stick. I rub their brisket first and them their belly and last I just touch their feet. Start slow and for a short time Just a few minutes; then let them finish eating. Later in the afternoon I go back out and lead them around and use the stick a little more and try to set them up, now just do this each time you work with your calves.

Your goal is to stay calm, keep your cool, and just keep working with your calves and before you know it the touching, leading and setting up will all come together. You are trying to form a bond, gain you steer trust and built your own confidence.

When this all happens you and your steer will become a team.

I know that everyone has there own way to do this. This is just what works for me.

Getting Ready for My 2010 4-H Market Beef Project

   This is the time of the year when I start to get ready for my new Steers. Before I can bring them home I must clean and repair the calf pens. When Cleaning my pens I remove all old poop clear down to the dirt; I like my steer to start the winter with a very clean pen.
   Last year was really cold and it snowed a lot. I was not quite ready for all that snow and had my hay stacked a long ways away from my calf pens. This year I have my hay right next to the pens to make it easier for me if it snows a lot this year. I also helped my Dad put tarps on all our hay to keep it dry so that we do not loose a lot of hay to mold.  I also helped my dad redo my calf pens and make them a little larger to give my steers more room this winter. 
   Next I check all the water hoses and place straw around our frost free water facet so if we have a lot of wind it won't freeze it up; this is just to be on the safe side.
   I have cleaned and repaired pens, good dry hay, I have winterized our frost free water facet and check all my hoses.

   I also make sure that I have a bloat kit on hand,  and set out mineral blocks.  
   Our horses are not a 4-H project; but I also helped  clean and ready them for winter. We stocked up on grain and gave them a mineral salt block.
   Well I think I am ready to go and pick my steers. I am sure my Dad will find something I forgot, just because that what Dad's do.
   I have already talked to the cattle producer that I get my steers from; Mr. Vos from the Clover Creek Ranch will call me when the calves are ready.
   Now the hard part; I wait for the call.

Valley Country Store 4-H and FFA Night.

Valley Country Store In Jerome;
Held a 4-H and FFA Night on April 9, 2009 everyone had free pizza and soft drinks before the meeting.
There were two guest speakers; the speakers covered the feeding, and care, healthy environment, safety and pen size for Sheep, Pigs and Steers.

The Speakers covered the six classes of nutrients in feeds:
Water is used to carry nutrients to the body.
Carbohydrates like sugars, starches, and cellulose provide the largest amount of energy.
Fats are concentrated energy.
Protein is used for making and repairing muscle.
Vitamins are needed in very small amounts to assist in many body functions.
Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are important for bone development. Other minerals help many of the body functions.

The speakers also talked about how important it is to keep the pens clean; they also talked about how Exercise should be done in the morning or evening in the summer to prevent overheating.

There was a lot of other stuff covered at this meeting; I had a great time learned a lot.

If you need help with care and feeding don’t be afraid to go in to the Jerome Country Store. The staff is very friendly. Trish and Debbie are real cool!

March 21, 2009 - Steer Weigh In

Today is the beginning of my 4-H Market Beef Project. This day started early we had to load my steers and take them to be weighted in and tagged. The week before weigh in I started giving my steers grain so that when weigh in was done my steers were ready to start the 149 days to the finished Market and the joy of showing my steers at the Fair.

Forest weighted - 745 pounds
Lt. Dan weighted - 765 pounds
Bubba weighted - 785 pounds

I have set there feeding schedule and I will talk, comb, practice and exercise them on a regular basis; this is the time for me and my steers to bond.
The weather here went from very cold to warn in just a few weeks, my steers are already loosing their winter coats soon they will be slick and shiny; their winter coats will come off even faster with daily brushing, combing, and bathing. I must tell you that having a steer project is not always just doing the fun stuff; you have to clean their pins, and watch to make sure that they stay healthy and if they get sick you will have to call the veterinarian.

Fair Time 2008

After months of hard work; it is finely fair time and the fun part starts. You get to see if all your hard work pay off.
You need to keep a few things in mind: When going into the show ring the judge is not only looking at your steer He or She is also watching you. This is also the time when prospective buyer are watching and looking. You will want to look good; make sure you cloths are clean and pressed, and your hair is neat and clean. You what to look like a winner, the all American boy or girl showing the next Grand Champion.

From Start to Finish - Spring 2008

When working with your 4-H steers its all about scheduling and presistance. You feed at the same time, and water at the same time everyday.

When you work with them you need to be cool and calm, if your excited your steers will feel it and they will be excited. You also need to talk to them, your steers need to hear and know your voice.
Talk about any thing, sing, say your ABC, or if you had a bad day tell them about it; they won't tell anyone.

When in the show ring your voice will be their comfort zone, I even smell the same I use lavender soap so that my steers know my smell.

Our First Meeting 2009

The meeting was called to order, pledges were said.

Old business - Hunter received his Clover Bud project awards.
New Business - All member renewed memberships, New Projects for 2009 were listed, and we talk about what we would like to do for Community Services project, and what we would like to learn this year.
All weight in Dates were given along with the dead line for each.
The meeting was adjourned and we all had a snack.

It was nice to see all my 4-H friends.

from start to finish 4-h market beef Project ( Red Angus ) 2008

To break a steer for Show takes a lot of time; you must be calm, and cool when working with them.
These are not pets, These Steers are raised as a of the 4-H market Beef Project. Along with showing them in the Show Ring. In the program you must keep health records, activity records, the 4-H member must do all the care, feeding and cleaning of the pen's themselves. This is a very demanding project.

from start to finish 4-h market beef Project ( Red Angus ) 2008

I am in 4-H; this is a picture of my steer project this is a baby steer he weights about 750 pounds. This is just one of many projects. This is Clover, I also has another steer Mikey, both steers are Red Angus.