Page 36 - MWC 2-2-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P36
Don’t Let the Performance of Your Cattle Get Stuck in the Mud

By Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension

Muddy pen conditions kind of stress does mud have
can decrease animal per- on cattle?
formance by increasing The combination of mud
the energy demands of and manure accumulation
the animal and cause a presents a list of potential
reduction in hide cleanli- problems for cattle producers.
ness of the animal. Extra energy is required by
Tis the season! No, not the animals to walk through
that season, mud season. For mud, whether to the feed
many cattle producers across bunk, water tank, or bedding
the United States the spring pack. This extra energy de-
and fall months often bring mand can impact cattle be-
about the dread of muddy havior and their willingness
pens or lots. This is especially to move throughout different
true in parts of the U.S. that areas of the pen.
receive greater levels of pre- Increased mud and ma-
cipitation in the form of rain nure affect animal clean-
and/or snowmelt. In addition, liness and the insulative
animal stocking density, soil properties of their hair coat,
type, and ground drainage which then require addition- operations are dirty udders a three year period by Mor-
also influence the severity of al energy to stay warm. For that could spread disease rison and others, that was
mud challenges. Many of us fed cattle being raised for and compromise the health published in a 1970 Cali-
can relate to the struggles beef, this presents potential of young nursing calves and fornia Agriculture Bulletin,
of walking through the mud food safety concerns from car- cause calf losses. reported a reduced average
and trying not to lose our cass contamination from the Some research has been daily gain (ADG) and feed
rubber boots to the suction- hide during slaughter and conducted using artificial- efficiency by cattle in muddy
ing force that challenges us reduced dressing percentag- ly made mud to determine pens compared with concrete
with each step. What about es with increased mud/tag the impact of mud on cattle pens that were cleaned week-
the cows and calves? What scores. Concerns for cow/calf growth and feedlot perfor- ly. During one of the years,
mance. Data collected over shelters were offered and in

50th ANNUAL
PRODUCTION SALE
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
1:00 p.m. CST
At the ranch located eight
miles north and one mile west of
Guide Rock, Nebraska

• 40 Powerful Beef Business 2yr Old Bulls

• 33 Heifers , 2 years old bred for spring calves

• Animals instinctively open our aps
• Our aps will not freeze like ball closures do
• We have less water contamination from animal wastes
• Ten Models - For a few animals or for the largest feedyards

He Sells • S&S Leader 2J

Ron and Nancy Schutte View Our Online Sale Catalog At:
Zeitlow Distributing - McPherson, KS • 800-364-1605 • Boonville, MO • 800-530-5158 1417 Road 2100, www.schutteandsons.net
SoMo Agri Supply - Springfield, MO • 800-725-1880 Guide Rock, NE 68942
Central Missouri Feed & Supply - 2707 W Rt F • Clark, MO • 573-881-1798 Phone: (402) 756-3462
threebarl@hotmail.com
OR SEE AN MFA DEALER Cell Phone: (402) 746-4378 This sale will be broadcast live on the internet
www.dvauction.com
WWW.PRIDEOFTHEFARM.COM 800-553-1791 E-mail: rnschutte@gtmc.net Real time bidding & proxy bidding available