Brandon Sears
Register Columnist
Fri, May 16 2008
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“Entertaining, Educational and Informative — Just Great!” — Springfield, Ill., beef producer.
“I liked your practical methods which anyone can use … how they save time and money, too. Also, your message about how we cattlemen can help the (beef) industry was very important. One of the top programs I have ever been to.” — Abingdon, Virginia cattleman.
These are just two comments from participants who have attended seminars by Stockmanship & Stewardship clinicians Curt Pate and Todd McCartney. Everyone who handles livestock will benefit from this unique educational program.
The presentations are offered during the Customer Appreciation Event to be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Blue Grass South Livestock Market Stanford in Stanford.
Speakers will use cattle to illustrate proven stockmanship methods and techniques to benefit everyday livestock work. Renowned Montana horseman, rancher and stockmanship instructor Curt Pate will lead the cattle handling demonstrations. Joining Pate is a Texas ranch cowboy and Todd McCartney is a seasoned presenter on beef industry topics and RFD-TV host.
The event will be conducted indoors at the Blue Grass South Livestock Market Stanford facility and will include instruction for improved gathering, penning, chute work, loading and hauling. Much emphasis will be placed on ways to increase cattle performance by reducing handling stress. Discussions of Beef Industry Stewardship will also be included showing how cattlemen can actually shape consumer’s perception of beef. Other topics will include the economic, personal and industry benefits of the strategies presented.
“Those who join us for the Stewardship & Stockmanship program will learn how these stockmanship and stewardship principles can increase profits and actually boost the beef industry,” said Todd McCartney, program speaker and segment host for the new RFD-TV show “Cattlemen To Cattlemen.”
Blue Grass South Livestock Market Stanford is free and all livestock owners are invited to attend. The facility is located at 277 Cordier St., Stanford. For more information, call 1-606-365-0665.
Small grain silage
Silage is an excellent way to utilize small grain crops used in companion cropping programs or grown to supplement forage supplies. Harvesting cereals as silage also can salvage a crop that has been damaged by hail, frost or insects. Cereal silages should be harvested in the milk to soft dough stage to maximize the yield of energy per acre.
As cereal grains mature from the boot to the dough stage, the protein level drops while the energy value increases. Producers can maximize protein content by harvesting cereals in the boot stage. Little wilting is necessary when harvesting at the early dough stage. Approximate feeding values for commonly grown cereal crops are shown in the chart.
(SOURCE: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University In Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland News, Vol. 18, No. 2, Spring 2008)
Feeding values of small grain and corn silage
Crop Dry Matter Crude Fiber Crude Protein TDN
Barley 38.8 27.1 9.0 64.3
Wheat 39.4 27.9 9.6 63.8
Oats 40.2 31.2 9.8 60.7
Rye (wilted) 39.8 33.0 12.8 58.5
Corn 37.3 24.7 8.1 66.4
Meat goat meeting
The next meeting for the Madison County Meat Goat Association will be a Field Day at Berea College Farm on Saturday, May 17. Breakfast will be at 9 a.m. and presentations will start at 10 a.m.
Take Interstate 75 to Exit 77, turn toward Berea when you come off the ramp. Go straight through light and turn right at the three way stop. Turn right into the driveway just before the railroad tracks.
Visit www.madisongoats. getchagoat.com for association information.
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