The Rural Voice, 1999-03, Page 14PlastiTech
Silage Wrap for
Round Bales:
SILOPLAST
• Superior Cling - Tow rap
hales tightly
• Excellent puncture,
abrasion and tear resistance
for outdoor storage
• 20" and 30" widths
• SPECIAL U.Y. stabilizer
to protect from degradation
caused by sunlight
• White - to prevent heat
accumulation and reduction
of nutritional value
For Technical Information
please call:
1-800-667-6279
Or visit our web site
http://www.plastitech.com
RENT IT
SKIDSTEER LOADERS
Various models - equipment
options include:
• backhoe
• hydraulic breaker
• sweeper
• 12" & 24 " posthole digger
• boom attachment to fit skidsteer
Hourly or Dally Rates
Full line of construction equipment
for sale or rent
Dealer for
STIHL
Saws
SAUGEEN RENTALS
Durham 369-3082
A.C. SCHENK RENTALS
Mt. Forest 323-3591
10 THE RURAL VOICE
Scrap Book
Cutting feed waste puts $$$ in your pocket
Even when feed is in good
supply and relatively inexpensive,
cattle producers wouldn't toss it to
the wind, trample it underfoot, let
the nutrients weather away or
otherwise waste it. Or would they?
"Research shows that up to 40
per cern of feed is wasted in some
feeding systems," says John
Dhuyveuer, livestock specialist at
North Dakota State University's
Norther Central Research Extension
Centre near Minot.
"Cutting back on that waste is
simply putting more dollars in your
pocket," he says.
The same studies that
documented the losses of one half or
more of feed, also showed that some
feeding systems can limit losses to
two or three per cent. Dhuyvetter
says losses of two or three per cent
are probably common,
"Feed waste isn't always
apparent and it's usually more than
you'd think," he says. "It's an area
where many producers can tighten
up their management."
Feed waste depends on several
factors: the type and quality of feed,
how often it's fed, the equipment
used to feed, the weather and the
surface of ground where the feed is
distributed.
In general, cattle tend to waste
less when fed good quality feed.
They concentrate on eating, eat their
fill and leave the bunk or feed
wagon. When fed poor quality feed,
they produce a lot of waste by
rummaging for the best tidbits.
To limit waste in poor quality
feed, feed cattle each day. Hungry
cattle do a better job of cleaning up
what's offered, Dhuyvetter says. If
enough feed is provided to last for
several days, use good barriers and
racks to minimize the amount of
sorting and rummaging.
For coarse feeds, he says, grind
and mix them in a way that encour-
ages cattle to eat all the ration.
Feeding on mud or snow allows
cattle to trample feed and makes it
difficult for them to clean up all
that's offered. Bunks, wagons,
concrete or solidly frozen ground
allow cattle to clean up feed that's
dumped or spilled.
"For good quality forage, a five
per cent loss is a good goal,"
Dhuyveuer says.
— Source: North Dakota State
University
Hay, hay — one small solution to E. coli
Scientists have found one simple piece of the solution to the worrisome
problem of E. coli bacterial contamination of beef during slaughter — feed the
cattle hay before they're :lipped.
A Cornell University study, released last fall, showed feeding hay instead of
grain reduced the number of bacteria in the cattle. James Russell, a United States
Department of Agriculture microbiologist, and a team at Cornell, said grain
feeding creates acid conditions in the digestive tracts of cattle.
"Most bacteria are killed by the acid of stomach juice, but E. coli from grain -
fed cattle are resistant to strong acids," Russell said.
"Our studies indicate that cattle could be given hay for a brief period
immediately before slaughter to significantly reduce the risk of food -borne E.
coli infection," said his report in the journal Science.
Russell's team found that bacteria taken from the guts of grain -fed cattle
resisted an acid wash that resembled human stomach acid, while bacteria from
cattle given hay, were killed.
While the Cornell cattle studied did not produce the potentially fatal 0157
strain of E. Coli, Russell believes all strains of bacteria will respond favourably
to the hay diet.
E. coli grown in a slightly acidic environment become acid resistant. When
people eat food or drink water infected with the bacteria, the bacteria can survive
acid in the stomach, making it to the intestines, causing diarrhea, kidney failure
and other problems.
— Source: Reuters News Agency and Western Producer
1