CATTLE
Many reconditioning programs exist to
achieve the necessary gain in herd bulls, but
improperly conditioned herd bulls tend to
“melt” once breeding season begins.
forages and concentrates is Purina Mills’
Accuration Cattle Limiters. Depending on
the average daily gain goal, in the Accuration
Cattle Limiter program, concentrates are only
consumed at a rate of 0.5% to 1.5% of body
weight. With this limited consumption of
Accuration Cattle Limiters, forages are still
an integral part of the nutrition, resulting
in a rumen micro flora that is prepared for
the total forage diet that the animal will
be offered during breeding season. Finally,
economically, the Purina Accuration Cattle
Limiter program offers producers the
opportunity to utilize the ranch’s cheapest
source of nutrition — the forage.
If forage is in limited supply on your
operation, there are other options. The
Purina Accuration Forage Extenders are a
complete feed that contain Purina’s Intake
Modifying Technology. These products are a
mixture of concentrates (grains and proteins),
cottonseed hulls and Purina’s Intake
Modifiers. Much like a conventional feeding
program, these rations are the sole source of
nutrition for the herd bull battery; however,
unlike conventional feeding systems, the bulls
do not melt when turned out to breed the cow
herd. The modified eating behavior of the
bulls is what allows this to be accomplished.
On Purina’s Intake Modifying programs, bulls
will visit the feeders six to eight times per day
to consume their nutritional requirements
for the day. This behavior results in bulls
consuming much smaller amounts of feed
per visit. These smaller meals allow for a
SUPPLY
more constant rumen pH and a more efficient
utilization of the nutrients. Due to the
inclusion of cottonseed hulls as the roughage
component, Accuration Forage Extenders
allow for the proliferation of forage digesting
microorganisms in the rumen, so when the
bulls get turned out for breeding, the rumen
microorganisms do not have to repopulate
and the bulls are able to maintain their
condition.
The bottom line is condition of the herd
bull battery prior to breeding season is of
the utmost importance to ensure optimal
reproductive performance of the bulls and
the cow herd. Evaluation of herd bull body
condition needs to occur at minimum 60 days
prior to turn-out. United Ag and Purina offer
two functional reconditioning programs for
herd bulls that can be catered to your ranch’s
individual needs. Please contact one of our
Beef Experts to assist you in designing the
proper reconditioning program for your herd
bull battery.
United Ag Beef Cattle Specialists
Bunge Halla
(979) 758-4535
[email protected]
Michelle Frankum
(979) 240-5194
[email protected]
Michael Grahmann
(361) 772-0188
[email protected]
Important deadline nears
for tax exemption numbers
A
gricultural and timber registration numbers
(ag/timber numbers) must be renewed every
four years, regardless of when the number
was first issued. The current numbers expire
December 31, 2015. There will be three ways
to renew: online, by telephone or by mail. Complete
information on how to renew is on the website. You
should receive a renewal letter to the mailing address on
file. The letter will have your ag/timber number along
with a WebFile number. The WebFile number is used to
access your account if you choose to renew online. Your
number must be renewed so you can continue to claim
an exemption on your qualifying agricultural and timber purchases after December 31, 2015.
find more information at
comptroller.texas.gov
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