February Newsletter - Burke County

Calving Intervention

With calving season ongoing, cattle producers should observe their herds regularly to be ready to assist, cows or heifers that have trouble. Two-year-olds and 1st calf heifers should especially be monitored, as they often need some assistance.

Producers should intervene if water sac is visible with no progression for 90 minutes. At that time, you should bring the animal up to a suitable facility, whether a chute or stall, and determine if the calf is mal-positioned.Calves coming backwards, having one leg or the head back are definitely going to need immediate help. Calves that are positioned properly should be given more time, after which they may only need a few pulls on the puller to emerge, or rotation in the birth canal should they become hip-locked. If you don’t feel comfortable assisting these badly positioned births, call your vet or someone you know who is capable of assisting.

Remember, assisting early has been proven to return cows to estrus, and pregnancy sooner, than those assisted later.

Once the animal does deliver the calf, and you have assisted, make sure that she and the calf do bond, and be prepared to give colostrum to the calf if it does not nurse quickly. If colostrum needs to be given, give at least 2 liters by esophageal feeder, as it is super important to the calf’s early immunity.

De-Ice With Caution

It's time for icey weather here in western North Carolina and it's time to think about the kinds of products we will be using to get rid of ice on driveways and sidewalks. Ice is very hazardous and is much harder to deal with than snow. It is important to have products available when sleet and freezing rain are predicted but at the same time the homeowner needs to be aware of the potential for damage to valuable trees and ornamentals around the home.

There are five major ingredients that are found in most commercial ice melt products. Some are much more damaging than others and the homeowner should be prepared to read the label on the product before purchasing a product that can cause costly damage to the landscape. Most products contain at least one of the following: calcium chloride, sodium chloride (salt), potassium chloride, urea (fertilizer) and calcium magnesium acetate.

Calcium chloride is a very common ingredient in ice-melting products and is usually not damaging to plants. Sodium chloride and potassium chloride on the other hand are very lethal when they come in to contact with plant roots or leaves. Sometimes damage does not show up until spring. Urea, found in fertilizer is often used as an ice-melting product. It works pretty well and when used in moderate amounts it does no harm to plants. Fertilizer, however, is not recommended for use as a de-icer. Water runoff dumps excessive amounts of this product in to rivers and lakes, causing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in our water supplies. Calcium magnesium acetate is made from limestone and is not harmful to plant material. Its one drawback is that it is not effective below 20 degrees.

Choose your product carefully when shopping for a de-icing product. Follow the label directions and use common sense when applying. Remember that de-icers work much more effectively when applied before icing starts. They can also be used in smaller amounts when mixed with sand, kitty litter or wood ashes. Try to stay away from areas with plants and also install plantings well away from paved areas. Over use of these products can also cause damage to cement sidewalks and driveways so always use them in moderation.

Understanding Fertilizer Applications

Nitrogen is the most frequently applied nutrient in non-legume cropping systems. It must be added each year, with multiple applications of nitrogen needed in some cropping systems. For example, in hay systems, nitrogen fertilizer can be added after each harvest during the growing system. Multiple applications of nitrogen may be needed when soil conditions favor nitrogen loss, such as prolonged saturation of fields with water.

Potassium fertilizer is generally needed each year in continuous hay and silage cropping systems. Plants take up potassium in larger amounts than needed, called luxury consumption, and these amounts do not necessarily result in higher yields. Thus, when hay or silage crops are harvested, large amounts of potassium are removed, and soil test potassium levels will normally be low. So, it is best to add each year only the amount needed for reaching yield potential.

Other essential nutrients can reach very high levels in soils, and may not need to be added every year. Most micronutrients are usually present in adequate amounts. Again, a soil test can be used to determine what and how much soils are in need of.

Nitrogen should be applied near crop establishment, as a side dress application, or both. Phosphorous and potassium may be applied in the fall or spring if soil pH is acceptable, and soils are not sandy or subject to severe erosion or flooding.