Tuesday June 13 Ag News

Cow-Calf Management Field Day Set for June 17

Area beef producers will want to make plans to attend a Cow-calf Management Field Day that is scheduled for Saturday, June 17. According to Nebraska Extension Educator in Cuming County, Larry Howard, this Field Day will be hosted by producers in Cuming and Dodge counties.

The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Dave Franzluebbers farm south of Dodge, Ne (509 Co Rd 2, Dodge, NE) where we will tour their Cow/Calf Confinement Barn.  The second stop will be at the Tom Ruskamp farm north of Dodge (441 B Road, Dodge NE) where we will also tour their Cow/Calf Confinement Barn.  The third stop will be the Bob Anderson farm just west of Aloys (621 5th Rd, Dodge, NE).  At this stop we will tour the operation and learn about their rotational grazing program, see conservation practices implemented through the Conservation Stewardship Program and do a Pasture Walk.  The final stop will be at Native Acres, LLC just north of Aloys (789 7th Road, West Point, NE) where we will see the Aronia Berry Shrubs and visit about the Winery that is in progress of being developed.

Nebraska Extension Specialists, Bruce Anderson, Forage and Rick Stowell, Animal Environmental Engineer are the invited guest to this Field Day.

The plans are for everyone to drive their own vehicles, so plan your own carpooling in advance.

This event is sponsored by the Cuming County Cow/Calf Association, Nebraska Extension in Cuming County and the USDA NRCS office in Cuming County.

This Field Day is free and there will be a light meal to follow the tour so a RSVP is appreciated for meal planning.  For more information or to pre-register contact Larry Howard at the Nebraska Extension office in Cuming County at 402-372-6006 or Tom Ruskamp, Cuming County Cow/Calf President at 402-380-2347.



Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period in Cuming County Now Open

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Sarah Beck in Cuming County today announced the nomination period for local FSA county committee candidates began on June 15, 2017. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Cuming County FSA office by close of business on Aug. 1, 2017.

“County committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level,” said Beck. “It is also important that committees are comprised of members who fairly represent the diverse demographics of production agriculture for their community. I encourage all producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers, to participate in the nomination and election process.”

To be eligible to serve on the FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency-administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated.

This year, nominations and elections will be held in Local Administrative Area 3, which includes Wisner, Bismarck, Elkhorn, Lincoln, and Monterey Townships.

The Cuming County FSA Office will host an informational meeting on the COC election process at 10:30 a.m., June 16th and July 14th at the West Point USDA Service Center.

Producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations representing minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and more information about FSA county committee elections are available online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues. County committees consist of three to 11 members.

FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters this fall.

“Nominating potential county committee members, voting for candidates and serving on the committees are truly services to your community and the agriculture industry,” said Beck. “County committee members make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally to best serve local needs and interests.”

For more information about county committees, please contact the Cuming County FSA office at (402) 372-2451 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.



PASTURE WEED CONTROL IN SUMMER
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Early to mid-June is a popular time to spray pasture weeds and woody plants.  But, is it smart thing to do?

               Why do you spray weeds in pasture?  Is it to kill plants that are poor forage – or is it just force of habit and to make the pasture look nicer?

               Now I've got to admit, I often suggest using herbicides in pastures.  Herbicides like Plateau in warm-season pastures or 2,4-D, Grazon, or ForeFront in any grass pasture are most popular.  But the more experience I get with grazing and pasture management, the less spraying I do.  In fact, anytime a pasture is sprayed, it suggests that the grazing management has not been as effective as it could be or that the owner wants a quick fix.

               Okay, so what am I talking about?  Well, several things really.  First, for pasture to be profitable, it must have high management input but controlled dollar input.  And spraying costs money.  Money we might save with better management.  Second, livestock eat many plants we call weeds.  And when they do, these plants no longer are weeds.  In fact, many weeds can be good feed if grazed while young and tender.  Third, unpalatable weeds usually become established in pastures after grass is weakened by severe grazing, and they thrive when grazing management fails to encourage vigorous grass regrowth.  And finally, unless pasture and livestock are managed to benefit both plants and animals, the weeds will be back despite your spraying.

               So why spray pastures?  If you graze properly but you wish to speed up the process of replacing uneaten weeds with vigorous grass, that's a very good reason.  Otherwise, spraying may be simply cosmetic and a waste of money.



Dodge County Family Livestock Judging Contest
Karna Dam, Extension Educator, Dodge County

Dodge County 4-H held their annual Family Livestock Judging Contest on Thursday, June 8th at the Masonic Home for Children in Fremont, Nebraska.  Fifty-three individuals from four counties participated in the contest.

Livestock evaluation is an important part of being a livestock producer.  Learning what to look for in animal selection to help improve livestock operations is the educational value that youth and adults take home from this event.  Hunter Schroeder from West Point served as the official judge for the evening.  Hunter is currently a student at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where he participates on the Meats Judging Team and will be a part of the Livestock Judging Team in the spring of 2018.  Hunter has been evaluating livestock since he was a young 4-H member himself and has participated in many contests locally, statewide and even on the national level.

The judging contest included evaluating breeding gilts, market steers, breeding heifers and production market lambs.  Questions are also asked on classes to help participants learn to look for specific details during the class and be able to recall that information.

Individuals were recognized for their efforts in each age division.  Clover Kids are youth who are between the ages of 5 – 7.  They included; Jonathan Karnopp (Cuming County), John Ondracek and Joseph Ondracek (Saunders County) and Luke Belina (Colfax County)

In the Junior Division (age 8 – 11) Landon Hasenkamp from Cuming County received first place, followed by Lane Belina (Colfax County), Brooke Wiese (Dodge County), Ava Karnopp (Cuming County) and Tony Ondracek (Saunders County)

Sixteen intermediates (age 12 – 14) took part with Cuming County taking home the top four spots with Addisyn Albers placing first, Logan Burman; second, Cameryn Bellar; third and Evie Schlickbernd; fourth.  Levi Belina from Colfax County was fifth with Maddie Aufenkamp and Hunter Wiese from Dodge County rounding out the top seven.  Others in the intermediate division included: Austen Fedorchik (Dodge), Kaleb Hasenkamp, Andrew Borgelt, Anna Karnopp and Levi Schiller all of Cuming County, Miles Hannan (Saunders), Kianaleis Bristol and Andrew Vontz of Dodge County.

Cuming County also had the top three evaluators in the senior division (age 15 – 18) with Payton Schiller, Megan Schroeder and Elizabeth Karnopp taking those positons.  Dodge County filled the rest of the senior positions with Evan Tabren, Summer Phillips, David Carr, Taylor Adams, Bailey Rothanzl, Elissa Smith, Allyssa Dean, Alandra Avalos, Aiden King, Tyler Bedly, Mikayla Dehder, Ethan Hann, Rebekah Simons, Max Wallman, Luke Lihman and Dimitri Monteith.

The adult division is for anyone 19 and older.  This year nine adults participated with Dave Karnopp of Cuming County receiving first place and Jim Ondracek of Saunders County in second.  Following them were; Kristy Belina (Colfax), Jean Schlickbernd (Cuming) Mindy Wiese (Dodge), Matt Hannan (Saunders), Tammie Ondracek (Saunders), Craid Belina (Colfax) and Marvin Wiese (Dodge).

Pooling the top three scores from each family established the “Family Score” to determine the top family of the night.  The Dave Karnopp Family from Cuming County received this honor.



Ricketts, Ibach will join Greater Omaha Packing to Load Beef Destined for China

On Wednesday, Governor Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach and Henry Davis from Greater Omaha Packing Company will join together to load the first shipment of Greater Omaha Packing Company beef destined for China.  The Governor, Director Ibach and Mr. Davis will deliver brief remarks and then load the beef. 



USDA Releases Requirements for Beef Exported to China

Written specifications for US beef exported to China is a big step forward, according to Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO Matt Deppe.

“We’ve been hearing for some time that China would re-open to US exports, but until recently, the details were unclear,” says Deppe. “The requirements released by the US Department of Agriculture on Monday give the industry a much better understanding of the nature of the beef products that will be accepted.”

The requirements are more stringent than most other international destinations for US beef. The beef must be from cattle:
-less than 30 months of age
-born, raised in the US, Mexico or Canada
-slaughtered in the US
-free of growth promotants, feed additives and other chemical compounds including ractopamine

These requirements may initially challenge some producers and processors, but various voluntary process-verified programs exist that would meet the specifications.

“There can be more costs associated with these programs, but there may also be more profit,” says Deppe. “Regardless, the programs are voluntary and it will be up to individual producers to decide whether participation in a process-verified program works for them.”

International trade has been a priority for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, which represents 10,000 members in the state of Iowa on legislative and policy issues such as this.

“Beef exports have the potential to dramatically increase Iowa cattle producers’ bottom lines. Most of the products exported, like tongue, hides and offal, are not valued to US consumers, and would become waste products without international markets,” says Deppe. US beef has not been allowed in China since 2003.

ICA has encouraged governmental leaders to expand beef trade through policy agreements, and is appreciative of the emphasis the White House has placed on agricultural trade with China. ICA President, Mike Cline and Deppe will travel to China in July with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to further expand the market for US beef there.

Other key importers of US beef include Japan, Mexico, South Korea and others. ICA’s regional meetings this month feature a “Tour of the World” taste-testing event, where participants can sample traditional beef dishes from international destinations and learn about the beef products enjoyed there.



NORTHEY ENCOURAGES FARMERS TO UPDATE INFORMATION ON IOWA HAY AND STRAW DIRECTORY

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowa hay and straw producers to register or update their listing on the Iowa Hay and Straw Directory.  The directory lists Iowa producers with hay and straw for sale, as well as organizations and businesses associated with promoting and marketing quality hay and straw.

“The directory has been a great tool for both buyers and sellers and we hope farmers will take the time to review and update their information so that it remains a valuable resource,” Northey said.  “This directory can serve as a critical link for those producing hay and those looking to buy, so we encourage Iowans to take advantage of this free directory.”

The listing is available to interested buyers throughout the nation, however only sellers from within Iowa can be included on the list.

Names are gathered throughout the year with added emphasis now that hay harvest has started. Sections within the Hay and Straw Directory include “Forage for Sale,” “Forage Auctions,” “Hay Associations,” “Forage Dealers,” “Hay Grinders” and “Custom Balers.”

Farmers interested in listing should visit the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov.  An application form can be found by going to the “Bureaus” link and then selecting “Agricultural Diversification and Market Development.”  Then click on “Hay & Straw Directory” on the right side of the page under “Directories.”

For those without internet access, please call the Hay/Straw Hotline at 800-383-5079.  The Department will fax or send a printed copy of the application to be filled out.

The Department is also supporting the Iowa Crop Improvement Association’s “Iowa Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage and Mulch Certification Program.”  Through this program Iowa forage and mulch producers can take advantage of many emerging market opportunities for “Certified Weed Free” products.  For more specific information on this program producers should contact the Iowa Crop Improvement Association at 515-294-6921.  More information can also be found by visiting http://www.iowacrop.org/Weed_Free.htm.



Strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot threat looms with delayed soybean planting

Heavy spring rainfall throughout the South and Midwest delayed planting and created the perfect environment for diseases like frogeye leaf spot to thrive. As growers plan their fungicide inputs for 2017, Syngenta urges them to consider the increasing incidence of strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot and take necessary steps to protect their yields by slowing its spread.

Strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot has grown into a consistent yield reducer in soybeans. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot has now been confirmed in 11 states across the South, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic and could cause greater damage during crucial early development growth stages in later-planted soybeans.

Ohio State University Extension research shows later-planted soybeans have a higher chance of being infected by frogeye leaf spot earlier in the season and could experience yield losses of 5 bushels per acre (bu/A) if infected before R3. Additionally, the extension service recommends using fungicides that have efficacy against strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot wherever these strains have been present.

“Unlike other soybean diseases, susceptible and strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot can be well-controlled by fungicides with multiple modes of action,” said Eric Tedford, Syngenta technical fungicide lead. He further explained, “Fields with a history of frogeye leaf spot should be monitored carefully and treated with Quadris Top® SBX fungicide at the onset of the disease to help knock it out early and maximize yield potential.”

Quadris Top SBX boosts soybean yields 6 to 8 bu/A over untreated soybeans and 4 to 8 bu/A compared to competitive fungicides. In addition to increased disease control, one of its active ingredients, azoxystrobin, helps shield plants from stressors such as high temperatures and periods of too much or too little water. It also increases periods of photosynthesis for greater plant growth, pod development and higher yield potential.



Dairy Farmers Discuss Policy Priorities During Capitol Hill Visits

Meetings Focus on Industry Issues Including Farm Bill, Food Labeling, Trade & Immigration

Dairy farmers from across the country visited Capitol Hill today as part of the National Milk Producers Federation’s annual young farmer fly-in to Washington, where in more than 200 meetings they asked lawmakers for action on a handful of issues important to the dairy sector.

More than 70 farmers from 21 states visited their House and Senate members Tuesday as part of their role as national leaders in the 2017 NMPF Young Cooperator (YC) program. The dairy producers discussed the challenges they currently face, and highlighted four priority policy issues that need Congress’ attention:
-    The need to make significant improvements to the structure of USDA’s dairy Margin Protection Program, which currently is not providing an adequate economic safety net for farmers;
-    The DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would require the U.S Food and Drug Administration to enforce existing food standards specifying that dairy terms such as “milk,” “cheese,” “yogurt” and “ice cream” should only be used by foods made from real milk;
-    The importance of a balanced approach to trade policy, especially as the 24-year-old NAFTA agreement is renegotiated by the United States, Canada and Mexico;
-    The need to reform immigration laws in a manner that helps preserve the existing agricultural workforce and allows for the future flow of dairy farm workers.

“We are excited to share the first-person perspective of America’s dairy sector at a time when elected officials in Washington really need to hear our voice about the topics that matter most to farmers,” said Melissa Griffin, a dairy farmer from Buckland, Mass., and chairwoman of the 2017 YC Advisory Council.

Griffin’s husband Adam, who co-chairs the council, added that “we were able to make our points about issues specific to dairy, such as the need for a viable farm safety net and the importance of integrity in federal food labeling laws.  We also showed how high-profile national issues such as trade and immigration affect our family farm in New England.”

Randy Mooney, chairman of NMPF and a dairy farmer from Rogersville, Mo., said that the YC Program “provides our community with a powerful grassroots presence.  We need their engagement in Washington because there are so many issues competing for the attention of Congress.  Thanks to our younger leaders stepping forward, we have a much better opportunity to reach our legislative goals.”

The NMPF Young Cooperators will join NMPF’s Board of Directors on Wednesday for their June board meeting.



DFA Unveils New Headquarters Building

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a national farmer-owned dairy cooperative, recently celebrated the opening of its new headquarters building in Kansas City, Kan., with an open house for the Cooperative’s board members, local officials and others represntatives involved with the  design and development. The three-story, 110,000-square-foot building, which was designed by HOK, is located at 1405 N. 98th St. and honors the Cooperative’s dairy farmer members.

“This building is a testament to our family farmers and the sustainable practices they employ on their dairies each and every day,” said Rick Smith, president and CEO, Dairy Farmers of America. “We intentionally designed it to use more natural materials like reclaimed woods, concretes and metals – so there’s a welcoming feel, while still being very modern and fully equipped for how the world works today. It’s not a typical corporate office space, but it absolutely functions like one.”

Throughout the building, there are a number of other unique design touches and furnishings that pay homage to life on the farm and the production of milk, including the use of upholsteries like plaid and cow hide for various seating areas. Artistic feature walls showcase aspects of DFA’s business from a barn board and milk bottle caps to steel pipes representing the Cooperative’s numerous milk processing plants. Finally, as visitors enter the building’s lobby, they are greeted by a 25-foot Milk Pour sculpture to represent and remind employees and visitors about what’s at the core of DFA – producing nutritious and delicious milk and dairy products.

Focus on Sustainability
Qualifying as Silver LEED-certified, the building includes a number of sustainable design practices, including panels of glass framing the building’s exterior, which not only brings in an abundance of natural light into the office environment, but also helps reduce energy use. Another sustainable building feature is the use of under floor air throughout the space. This allows A/C vents to deliver cool air from the floor up, which is far more efficient than blowing cool air down.

Other sustainable elements in the building include:
·         100 percent LED lighting, with automatic energy-saving mode
·         Composting trash and recycling throughout the building
·         Two electric car charging stations
·         Several reserved fuel efficiency parking spots

A Modern, Flexible Work Space and Best-In-Class Amenities for Employees    
DFA’s new headquarters building also was designed with employees in mind, including first-class amenities and an open, modern and flexible work environment to help encourage teamwork and collaboration.

Meeting spaces and work stations can be easily changed to support growth. Most can be reconfigured so that walls and offices can literally be put up or torn down to accommodate a team’s needs. Individual work stations include adjustable desks that allow employees to sit or stand as well as ergonomic chairs and dual monitors. The building also features a variety of unique meeting spaces and nooks – providing employees a variety of places to get together and meet throughout the office, without utilizing a formal conference room.

“We think this new headquarters will play a key role in helping us attract and also retain high-quality talent, which will help ensure DFA’s continued growth and success,” says Monica Massey, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff from DFA. “Our goal is to be an employer of choice in Kansas City and this building and all its amenities reflects that commitment to focus on employee satisfaction.”

One of the amenities offered at DFA’s new headquarters is a full-service café managed by Elite Cuisine, which serves healthy options for both breakfast and lunch. The café provides indoor and outdoor seating for employees and includes refrigerated grab-and-go items, a fully stocked salad bar as well as a variety of freshly-prepared hot food stations serving daily specials such as pecan-crusted tilapia, turkey pesto panini and Korean shrimp rice bowls.

Additional building amenities include:
·         State-of-the-art fitness center featuring free weights, cardio equipment, group classes and an on-site trainer, along with full-service locker rooms
·         Outdoor courtyard as well as four outdoor meeting spaces and terraces
·         Multipurpose room that can accommodate all of DFA’s employees
·         Regulation bocce ball, basketball court and walking trail surrounding the building
·         Visitor business center
·         And, of course, a 24/7 milk bar serving three varieties of ice cold milk

Celebrating DFA’s New Headquarters Opening
During an open house reception that included tours of the new headquarters building, Rick Smith talked about the move and how the building exudes agriculture and dairy farming. DFA Chairman Randy Mooney discussed how the new building reflects farmers and will also help DFA attract and retain the best employees. Additional speakers at the reception were Monica Massey, senior vice president and chief of staff at Dairy Farmers of America; Commissioner Harold Johnson from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chad Bontrager from the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Other companies involved in DFA’s new headquarters project include Van Trust Real Estate LLC, Area Real Estate Advisors, JE Dunn Construction and Dimensional Innovations. 



ASA Presents All NEW Recognition Awards Program for 2018

As part of a re-envisioned Recognition Awards Program, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has an exciting new line-up of award categories for 2018. The three new awards provide expanded opportunities to recognize state association volunteerism, more current top leadership achievements and those who have made long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry. The Recognition Awards categories are:
-    ASA Outstanding State Volunteer Award-Recognizes the dedication and contributions of volunteers in any area of the state association operation.
-    ASA Distinguished Leadership Award –Distinguished and visionary leadership of ASA or a state soybean association is recognized with this award to either a soybean grower-leader or association staff leader with a least five-years of leadership service.
-    ASA Pinnacle Award-An industry-wide recognition of those individuals who have demonstrated the highest level of contribution and long-term leadership within the soybean family and industry.

For more information about each of the award categories see the 2018 ASA Recognition Awards flyer.

All nomination forms must be submitted online. The deadline for submission is Oct. 16, 2017 at midnight. For more information and to view the nomination forms, click here. Anyone may complete and submit a nomination form. No self-nominations will be accepted.

Recipients will receive their awards at the ASA Awards Banquet on Feb. 28, 2018 in Anaheim, Calif. at Commodity Classic. Winners will be notified in advance and provided with financial assistance to attend.

Note: The 2018 Commodity Classic is from Tuesday, Feb. 27 to Thursday, March 1, 2018. The ASA Banquet will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 28.



New poll shows motorcyclists appreciate having a choice in fuel at the pump

Growth Energy released a new survey showing that motorcyclists in the United States are extremely confident in selecting the fuel that meets their needs at the pump, and satisfied with the performance of their fuel, including regular unleaded blends of 10 percent ethanol (E10). Conducted by Quadrant Strategies, the random poll of 500 motorcyclists revealed that nine in 10 respondents considered it important to have options at the pump that include ethanol blends.

“A baseless refrain from biofuels critics is that the mere availability of higher ethanol blends will confuse motorcyclists and cause misfuelling issues,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “However, these critics don’t give nearly enough credit to 21st century consumers and American motorcyclists. The poll results are clear — motorcyclists value having choices at the pump, are more than capable of selecting the fuel that works for them, and are satisfied with the performance of the fuel they choose including E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol.”

The poll showed that 96 percent of survey participants found it easy to figure out the type of gasoline to put in their engine, 98 percent were satisfied with the gasoline they used, and 90 percent thought it was important to have a choice at the pump.

“The vast majority —­­­­­­­ Ninety-seven percent — of the fuel sold in the United States today contains 10 percent ethanol,” noted Skor. “Ethanol is a high-performance fuel that boosts octane and displaces toxic chemicals in gasoline while also saving consumers money. More and more drivers are reaching for even higher ethanol blends (above 10 percent) every day to meet their price and performance needs. Clearly, motorcyclists appreciate having a choice at the pump as well, and are confident in selecting the right fuel for their next ride.”



Reproductive Vaccinations Act as Insurance Against Disease

Reproductive loss in U.S. beef herds costs cattle producers approximately $500 million per year.1 While research has shown that a modified-live vaccination program can be effective in helping prevent abortions caused by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and persistent infection caused by bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) viruses Types 1 and 2, maintaining a strictly modified-live vaccination program that fits the working schedule can be challenging for veterinarians and producers alike.

“Vaccination is like an insurance policy,” said Daniel Scruggs, DVM, managing veterinarian with Zoetis. “It costs the producer from $450 to perhaps over $600 a year, depending on who you talk to and what numbers they use, to keep a cow and to keep her in condition to breed. Vaccines are an insurance policy against losing that pregnancy and giving that cow the best chance of carrying the pregnancy to term so that you can realize the benefit of your investment.”

A groundbreaking study from Auburn University sheds new light on the BVD and IBR protection afforded by CATTLEMASTER GOLD FP® 5 when given to pregnant heifers that were vaccinated with BOVI-SHIELD GOLD FP® 5 prior to breeding.2 Scruggs notes that the choice of CATTLEMASTER GOLD FP 5 is important in this study because it is a unique combination vaccine that is safe to give to pregnant cows regardless of their prior vaccine history. It is the only killed BVD vaccine with a fetal protection label claim and contains a proprietary temperature-sensitive modified-live IBR fraction that is labeled to protect against IBR abortions.

The nearly three-year study evaluated the efficacy of a vaccination program where heifers were all vaccinated with two doses of a modified-live reproductive vaccine (BOVI-SHIELD GOLD FP 5) prior to breeding. At pregnancy check, the vaccinated heifers were split into two groups — one continued to get BOVI-SHIELD GOLD FP 5 and a second group was given CATTLEMASTER GOLD FP 5. The study also maintained a seronegative control group, which received no vaccinations throughout the study.

All the heifers were calved out and rebred for their second pregnancy. The animals confirmed pregnant with a second calf were challenged with BVD through exposure to persistently infected animals 11 months after their last vaccination. At the end of the BVD exposure, each group received their respective annual booster dose of reproductive vaccine. Ninety-two days after vaccination, the groups received an exposure to IBR intravenously when the cows were approximately four months pregnant.

Study results in the control group revealed the severity of the challenge model with 14 of 15 cows either aborting BVD-positive calves or delivering a BVD persistently infected calf. Researchers observed significant (p < 0.0001) protection against both virulent BVD and IBR exposure in the vaccinated groups with both vaccine groups providing similarly high levels of protection.2

“The takeaway from this study is that we’ve got a lot of flexibility now in how we handle reproductive vaccination programs in cow herds,” Dr. Scruggs said. “If people are satisfied with the BOVI-SHIELD GOLD FP pregnant cow vaccination program, there’s no reason to change. But if for whatever reason they need to alter, we have a good option with CATTLEMASTER GOLD FP with no loss in vaccine efficacy for either IBR or BVD.”

“This is a remarkable study that gives veterinarians hard data they can use for vaccine decisions when addressing their clients’ reproductive vaccine needs,” concluded Dr. Scruggs.