2019 feed and forage market conditions
by Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
USDA released a slew of delayed crop data last week which provide an update to feed and forage market conditions for livestock markets. The 2018 corn crop was pegged at 14.42 billion bushels, down 1.3 percent from the 2017 crop but still the third largest U.S. corn crop ever. A carryover of 1.74 million bushels is projected for the end of the crop year. The 2018/2019 average crop year farm price of corn is currently projected at $3.60/bushel, up from $3.36/bushel for the 2017/2018 crop year.
Soybean production for the 2018/2019 crop year is a record 4.54 billion bushels. Large soybean production, combined with severe soybean export disruption, leads to a huge projected soybean carryover of over 900 million bushels and a crop year average price of $8.60/bushel, down from $9.33/bushel for the 2017/2018 crop year. Overall, concentrate and protein feed supplies are expected to be large keeping ration costs moderate for livestock producers.
Hay production has been difficult to assess the past year, perhaps nowhere more so than in the southern plains. Waves of variable growing conditions in 2018, ranging from severe drought to excessive rainfall, made it hard to determine both quantity and quality of hay. Total U.S. hay production was down 3.4 percent compared to 2017. In Oklahoma, 2018 hay production was down 9.2 percent and in in the surrounding region, Texas was down 12.3 percent year over year; Arkansas was down 16.3 percent; Missouri was down 9.6 percent and Kansas was down 13.0 percent. For the five-state area, all hay production in 2018 was down 11.6 percent year over year.
U.S. hay stocks on Dec. 1 were down 6.4 percent year over year. In the southern plains, conditions are variable ranging from Oklahoma, 3.3 percent lower stocks compared to one year earlier and Kansas, down 4.4 percent year over year to Texas, down 29.7 percent; Arkansas, down 19.5 percent and Missouri, down 17.6 percent year over year. Overall, these five states had Dec. 1 hay stocks totals down 16.0 percent compared to one year ago.
There is little doubt that several winter storms since the Dec. 1 stocks were estimated has further chewed through available hay supplies. Around Oklahoma, anecdotal reports suggest that some producers are concerned about having adequate hay supplies for the winter and are finding, in many cases, that hay is in tight hands and, if available to purchase at all, is increasingly expensive.
USDA estimates that U.S. winter wheat planted acreage for the 2019 crop is down 3.8 percent with Oklahoma acreage down 4.5 percent to 4.2 million acres. Winter wheat provides important forage in Oklahoma. Oklahoma wheat harvested acreage has averaged 1.75 million acres less than planted acreage in the last decade mostly indicating wheat used for forage only. Additionally, a significant portion of harvested wheat acres are grazed during the winter as dual-purpose wheat. Some wheat is grown and harvested as a grain-only crop.
The four crops mentioned above are the largest users of agricultural land with corn (89.1 million acres); soybeans (89.2 million acres; hay (52.8 million acres) and wheat (47.8 million acres) accounting for 87.3 percent of the 319.6 million acres of U.S. crop production in 2018.
The four crops mentioned above are the largest users of agricultural land with corn (89.1 million acres); soybeans (89.2 million acres; hay (52.8 million acres) and wheat (47.8 million acres) accounting for 87.3 percent of the 319.6 million acres of U.S. crop production in 2018.
Helping the newborn calf breathe
by Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension animal scientist
Despite our best efforts at bull selection and heifer development, cows or heifers occasionally need assistance at calving time. Every baby calf has a certain degree of respiratory acidosis. Acidosis is the result of the deprivation of oxygen and the accumulation of carbon dioxide that results from the passage of the calf through the birth canal. The excess of carbon dioxide results in a build-up of lactic acid (therefore the acidosis.) In order to correct the lack of oxygen and the excess of carbon dioxide and its by-products, the healthy calf will pant vigorously shortly after birth. Some calves, however, may be sluggish and slow to begin this corrective process.
It is imperative that the newborn calf begins to breathe as soon as possible. To stimulate the initiation of the respiratory process, a few ideas may help. First, manually clear the mouth and nasal passages of fluids and mucus. Traditionally, compromised calves were held up by their hind legs to allow fluid to drain from the airways, but now many veterinarians and animal scientists don’t recommend this. Most of the fluid that drains from an upside-down calf is stomach fluid, important to health. Holding the calf by its hind legs also puts pressure on the diaphragm from abdominal organs, interfering with normal breathing. It’s better to use a suction bulb to clear the airways.
Hanging the calf over a fence also is NOT a recommended method for a sluggish newborn. The weight of the calf on the fence restricts the movement of the diaphragm muscle. The fence impairs the diaphragm’s ability to contract and move. This diaphragm activity is necessary to expand the lungs to draw in air and needed oxygen.
A better method is to briskly tickle the inside of the nostrils of the calf with a straw. This will usually cause the calf to have a reflex action such as a “snort” or cough. The reflex cough or “snort” expands the lungs and allows air to enter. Expect the calf to pant rapidly for a few minutes after breathing is initiated. Panting is the natural response that increases oxygen intake and carbon dioxide release and will allow the calf to reach normal blood gas concentrations. Click on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qws5FvuP0QU to watch a video of this technique.
Cow-Calf Corner is a newsletter by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Agency.