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Beef, Forage Field Days Focus On Cattle ID Methods, Soil Drainage, More

V. TODD MILLER

ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA

The waning days of summer brought researchers and producers together in central and northeast Louisiana with the focus on improving multiple aspects of the cattle business at the LSU AgCenter’s annual beef and forage field days.

Taking place near Alexandria on Sept. 10 and in Mangham on Sept. 17, AgCenter researchers were on hand to speak to the science behind a variety of topics, such as soil care, cattle identification, pest management, disease threats and others.

At the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, agriculture and natural resources agent Brittany Zaunbrecher addressed the importance of soil health when it comes to grazing cattle, emphasizing the need for nutrients in raising a healthy herd.

“If you want to be a good cow farmer, you better be a good grass farmer,” she said. “One of the things we really want in healthy soil is aggregate stability.”

The term refers to how well the soil holds together, helping protect against water and wind erosion. Zaunbrecher said that approximately 5% of quality forage-growing soil should be composed of organic matter for good aggregate stability. She demonstrated the slake test, which is a method of determining organic matter that measures how well soil holds together when it gets wet.

Taking two pieces of soil, Zaunbrecher dropped each into vials of water to let them soak for a few minutes. The soil that was more compacted with less organic matter fell apart more quickly than the example with the proper ratio.

“With compacted soil, there’s no air. If there’s no air, there’s no air for water to flow through,” she said. “That can affect forage growth, because there’s no space for roots to grow.”

Soil demonstrations continued with Zaunbrecher turning things over to Donna Gentry, a livestock agent in the AgCenter Southeast Region, and James Hendrix, an agent and agronomist in the Northeast Region. Hendrix ran a demonstration showing how water reacts when poured over compacted soil versus well-tilled soil. The water didn’t penetrate the compacted soil but flowed freely through the tilled soil with far less muddy residue present in the drainage receptacle.

One of the most valuable management tools available to cattle producers is proper identification, which allows them to make informed decisions based on accurate records. AgCenter Rapides Parish agent Tyler Barlow and Dean Lee research associate Jeff Gurie emphasized that no matter what type of identification a producer might use, they are all crucial.

Barlow surveyed the attendees, asking about the types of systems they used. Some used electronic tagging; others used hot branding. Barlow said that with the latter, it is important to brand cattle when the iron is ashy as opposed glowing hot to help prevent potential infections. Then, he and Gurie demonstrated a variation that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze-brand cattle, which is considered less stressful to the animals.

“There is no right or wrong way to have ID, as long as you have something,” Barlow said. “I think the best way is to incorporate two or more, depending on your needs.”

A topic that has been top of mind for cattle producers as of late has been the reemergence of the New World screwworm. AgCenter agent and state livestock specialist Ashley Edwards, along with entomologist James Villegas, provided updates on the New World screwworm and other pests.

“While there are no recent updates on the New World screwworm, producers should stay vigilant,” Edwards said. “Just keep your eyes on your herd, especially when you start calving.”

The northeast Louisiana field day covered a variety of topics, including a presentation of emerging cattle disease threats by AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Christine Navarre. She emphasized biosecurity to help keep harmful diseases out of herds and prevent potential spreads.

“Outbreaks can lead to treatment costs, production losses and potential market restrictions,” she said. “Strong biosecurity helps maintain consumer confidence and ensures compliance with industry standards.”

Navarre encouraged cattle producers to download a copy of the AgCenter’s Biosecurity Plan Template as a resource for more information.

The field day was led by agronomist Jose Pereira Neto and Union Parish animal science agent Tripp Morgan. Morgan emphasized the importance of the relationships forged between AgCenter agents and producers during gatherings like those held in Mangham and Alexandria.

“The foundation of the success of our programming is a close relationship with our producers. Our connection with the real-world challenges they are facing and providing solutions to meet their needs is critical for the sustainability of the beef cattle industry in the state of Louisiana,” Morgan said. “These gatherings help producers prepare for potential insect threats to livestock production, lower feed costs and improve animal performance and soil health by implementing summer annuals and proper soil management techniques. We work to provide insight to a cattle market that has experienced some turbulence throughout the summer.”