The Citizen, 1994-05-25, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25,1994.
Brussels Livestock report
Second cut cattle sell lower
Sales at Brussels Livestock for
the week ending May 20 were: fed
cattle, 770; cows, 261; veal calves,
92; sheep and goats, 30 and
stockers, 928.
The market at Brussels Livestock
saw the top quality cattle selling
steady with the second cut $1 - $2
lower. Cows sold steady.
There were 536 steers on offer
selling from $95 to $98 to the high
of $114.25. Seven steers consigned
by Wayne O'Brien, Centralia,
averaging 1598 lbs. sold for an
average of $95.03 with sales to
$114.25. Seven steers consigned by
Ervin C. Bauman, Kenilworth,
averaging 1462 lbs. sold for an
average of $107 with sales to
$111.50. Fifty-four steers consign
ed by Mac Willits, Wingham,
averaging 1369 lbs. sold for an
average of $100.66 with sales to
$109.50.
Fifty-six steers consigned by
Dennis Calhoun, Chesley,
averaging 1318 lbs. sold for an
average of $99.09 with sales to
$108. Thirteen steers consigned by
Beetonia Farms Ltd., Beeton,
averaging 1389 lbs. sold for an
average of $97.59 with sales to
$106.25. Nine steers consigned by
Kent Glassford, Grand Valley,
averaging 1310 lbs. sold for an
average of $98.85 with sales to
$105.
Twenty-one steers consigned by
Cunningham Farms, Lucan,
averaging 1459 lbs. sold for an
average of $96.33 with sales to
$104.75. Thirteen steers consigned
Alfalfa degrees days critical
By Gwen McBride
Livestock Technology, OMAFRA
How do you decide when to
harvest your forages? Most use
some combination of calendar date,
appearance of blooms and
monitoring of neighbours’ activity!
Unfortunately, some years, none of
these will be a good indicator of
optimal forage quality. This year
with its delayed, cool wet spring is
a good example.
What is optimal quality? For
dairy cattle, optimal quality for hay
and haylage follows the 20-30-40
rule, that is 20 per cent protein, 30
per cent acid detergent fibre, 40 per
cent neutral detergent fibre. Hay
and haylage of superior quality,
higher in protein and lower in fibre,
can be produced but results in
"wasted nutrients" for the dairy
cow - more protein than her system
can make use of and less fibre than
is healthy for her rumen. This type
of forage can be a prime factor
leading to reproductive, off-feed
and twisted stomach problems.
Conversely, forages of poorer
than "optimal" quality result in
more expense as the deficit in
forage energy and protein needs to
be made up by extra grain and1
supplement in the ration.
For years, researchers have been
looking for a simple, inexpensive
way to predict when optimal forage
quality is reached so that producers
can better time their harvest. A
system developed in New York and
by Kevin Shea, Seaforth, averaging
1383 lbs. sold for an average of
$97.28 with sales to $104.25.
Eighteen steers consigned by
Johnston Farms, Bluevale,
averaging 1297 lbs. sold for an
average of $96 with sales to
$102.75.
Twenty-one steers consigned by
Alton O'Neil, Lucan, averaging
1560 lbs. sold for an average of
$96.54 with sales to $102.75. Ten
steers consigned by Kada Farms,
Bluevale, averaging 1325 lbs. sold
for an average of $96.08 with sales
to $101.
There were 212 heifers on offer
selling from $95 to $98 to the high
of $105.75. Two heifers consigned
by Murray Johnston, Bluevale,
averaging 1185 lbs. sold for an
average of $98.05 with sales to
$104.25. Fourteen heifers
consigned by Mux Lea Farms,
Woodstock, averaging 1176 lbs.
sold for an average of $99.77 with
sales to $104. Four heifers
consigned by Aaron Fischer,
Ay ton, averaging 1155 lbs. sold for
an average of $97.69 with sales to
$103.
Two heifers consigned by Paul
Aidwinkle, Varna, averaging 1195
lbs. sold for an average of $100.42
with sales to $102.50. Sixteen
heifers consigned by Berberick
Bros., Mildmay, averaging 1167
lbs. sold for an average of $95.52
with sales to $101.75. Seven
heifers consigned by Jim Nichols,
Mitchell, averaging 1170 lbs. sold
examined last year here in Ontario
looks promising - it's called
Growing Degree Days or GDD.
The GDD system keeps track of
daily minimum and maximum
temperatures after alfalfa dormancy
has been broken. One GDD unit is
accumulated for each degree that
the mean daily temperature
(minimum + maximum)/2) exceeds
40°F. In June 1993, roughly 23°F
GDD units were accumulated daily.
Trials run across Ontario in 1993
consistently found optimal forage
quality for first cut alfalfa and
alfalfa-grass mixed fields to be
reached when 600 - 650°F GDD
had been accumulated. Cutting
should be planned so that this
optimal point is reached in the
middle of the harvest period. In the
Elora region in 1993, this occurred
on June 7. Plant appearance
however was very deceiving as the
alfalfa plants were still tightly in
bud. In some years, particularly
when the spring is cool and cloudy,
first flowering is delayed and is not
well related to optimal forage
quality.
This year may be even worse. By
mid-May the accumulated GDDs
were two, even three, weeks behind
1993 values. Unless we receive a
lengthy stretch of hot sunny
weather, optimal time for first cut
forage harvest will be delayed into
mid-June.
The GDD system can be another
tool to help you decide when to
take your first forage cut. Timing
for an average of $93.36 with sales
to $100. Six heifers consigned by
Gary Mikel, Mitchell, averaging
1102 lbs. sold for an average of
$90.64 with sales to $99.
There were 261 cows on offer
selling from $66 to $75 to the high
of $78. Three cows consigned by
Brian Reid, Ripley, averaging 1410
lbs. sold for an average of $70.25
with sales to $78. One cow
consigned by Charlie McDonald,
Gadshill, weighing 1140 lbs. sold
for $78. Three cows consigned by
Ron Fowler, Kenilworth, averaging
1030 lbs. sold for an average of
$70.59 with sales to $77.
There were 92 veal on offer
selling from $75 to $90 to the high
of $104.50. Two veal consigned by
Doug Ward, Monkton, averaging
640 lbs. sold for an average of
$102.18 with sales to $104.50. Two
veal consigned by Larry Rock,
Monkton, averaging 600 lbs. sold
for an average of $101.74 with
sales to $102. Three veal consigned
by Robert Martin, Mount Forest,
averaging 640 lbs. sold for an
average of $87.80 with sales to
$101.50.
Stockers: steers, 400 - 499 lbs.,
sold $120 to $150.50; 500 - 599
lbs., $112 to $148; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$97 to $134; 700 - 799 lbs., $99.50
to $122; and 800 lbs. and over,
$93.50 to $116.50.
Heifers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $113
to $135.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $106 to
$125; 600 - 699 lbs., $99.50 to
$123.50; and 700 lbs. and over, $99
to $114.
of second and third cuts should be
based upon the calendar date and
the critical fall rest period for your
area. If you want to make use of the
GDD system this year, contact your
closest OMAFRA office. Programs
are in place through each office to
m’onitor regional GDD
accumulation on a daily basis and
to publicize them for area
producers.
F arm
Junior Farmers plan
reunion for August
1994 marks 50 years of "Self
Help and Community Betterment"
across Ontario for the Junior
Farmers' Association of Ontario
(JFAO). An anniversary committee
has been working hard to organize
a reunion on Sunday, Aug. 14, at
the Ontario Agricultural Museum
in Milton.
A full day of special events is
planned with lots of family-
oriented activities. The gates open
at 10 a.m. and satellite areas will
feature square dancing, games for
children, sing songs, historical
displays, camper and trip winner
reunions. A barbecue lunch will be
served at 12 noon. Tickets, which
include the cost of admission to the
Museum and lunch, are $12 for
adults, $6 for children aged six and
under, and preschoolers are free.
.......
TUESDAYS 9 a.m. Finished
Cattle & Cows |
THURSDAYS 9:00 a.m. Dropped Calves |
Veals followed
by Goats
Sheep & Lambs
FRIDAYS .10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle
1:00 p.m. Pigs
BRUSSELS 887-6461
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
UPCOMING SALE
ALmETAL
There are related activities
planned for the rest of the weekend.
The Halton Jr. Farmers have
organized a Welcome Dance on
Friday at the Milton Fairground^.
Saturday events include a "Senior
Farmers" three-pitch tournament
for junior farmer alumni over the
age of 30 (entries still welcome!),
Provincial Summer Games
competitions for present junior
fanners, and a dance in the evening
open to all at the Tonelli Arena.
Travel ambassadors will be
gathering at the Mohawk Inn for
dinner before the dance on
Saturday.
For information about these
events or tickets call Robyn
Garlough at the JFAO office at
519-767-3269.
• silo unloaders
• mixers
• conveyors
Campgrounds update
vacancies regularly
Continued from page 10
French by calling 1-800-268-3736,
Monday to Saturday between
9 a.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday's
and holidays between 10 a.m. and
5 p.m.
Reservations for specific parks
must be made by calling the park
directly.
The reports are updated every
Friday from now until June 24 and
daily from June 25 to Sept. 2. The
report highlights all Provincial
Parks south, east and west of a line
from Georgian Bay to Sudbury to
the Ottawa River.
Joe for free estimates"
HURON FEEDING
SYSTEMS °
Brussels 887-6289