The Newsletter
From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
February 5, 2010
In this Issue:
Oklahoma Cow-Calf and Stocker Numbers Change Over Time
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
Simple Record-keeping Can Pay Dividends
Doug McKinney, Oklahoma State University Beef Value Enhancement Specialist
Reminder of Upcoming On-line Seminar
Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Cattle Reproduction Specialist
Oklahoma Cow-Calf and Stocker Numbers Change Over Time
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
As expected, USDA’s annual Cattle report showed that the U.S. beef industry continues to get smaller. The inventory of all cattle and calves was 93.7 million head, down 1 percent from last year; down 29 percent from the all-time high in 1975 and the smallest inventory since 1961. The beef cow herd was 31.4 million head, also down one percent from a year ago and the smallest since 1964. The total U.S. calf crop in 2009 was 31.8 million head, down one percent from last year and the smallest since 1950.
In Oklahoma, however, the beef cattle industry has continued to grow over the past two decades. The January 1, 2010 Oklahoma beef cow herd was 2.073 million head, up 1.7 percent from last year. In 1988, Oklahoma beef cow numbers reached a 25 year low of 1.8 million head. The Oklahoma beef cow herd has increased by 15 percent since then, with year over year increases 13 of the last 23 years. Oklahoma beef cow numbers are currently at the highest level since 1984 and Oklahoma ranks second among states in beef cow numbers.
The estimated supply of feeder cattle outside of feedlots in Oklahoma on January 1 was 2.37 million head, down slightly from 2.39 million head last year. The 10 year average of the last decade is 2.32 million head of feeder cattle in Oklahoma on January 1. Oklahoma continues to receive a higher share of stocker cattle despite the fact that total feeder supplies in the U.S. are at record low levels.
One measure of stocker cattle production by state is to compare the estimated feeder supply to the calf crop of the previous year. The 2010 ratio of feeder supply to calf crop in Oklahoma was 1.25 indicating that the state is a significant net importer of stocker cattle. In fact, Oklahoma had the highest stocker ratio of any state this year. Other states are significant net exporters of stocker cattle including, for example, Montana, which had the lowest stocker ratio of any state at 0.42. The large stocker ratio for Oklahoma illustrates, in part, the importance of the winter grazing that occurs in the Southern Plains. The USDA reported an estimated 1.92 million head of cattle grazing small grain pasture in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, up 16 percent from one year ago.
Oklahoma’s total cattle inventory on January 1, 2010 was 5.45 million head, the highest level since 1996 and growing despite the fact that total U.S. numbers continue to decline. The cow-calf and stocker sectors, along with cattle feeding, continue to be a very important component of Oklahoma agriculture and are generally growing relative to other states.
Simple Record-keeping Can Pay Dividends
Doug McKinney, Oklahoma State University Beef Value Enhancement Specialist
As spring calving gets underway, it is important for beef producers to record and keep records of their calf crop. With the tight profit margin in the cow-calf segment, producers are aggressively looking at ways to add value to their calf crop and increase net profits. Record keeping is an essential element in all successful commercial cattle operations. There are many record keeping options for producers to take advantage of, such as high tech computer software programs, industry red books, spiral notebooks, or simple index cards. The record keeping system that producers use is not as important as the fact that good records are intact.
Most formal value-added marketing programs do require, at the least, documentation of date of birth of the first calf and last calf born in the marketing group. This is especially true for “age and source” cattle for the export markets. Other records of importance for value-added programs are BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) requirements, bull turnout date(s), vaccinations with product and lot number, antibiotics with product and lot number, and management practices with date of implementation. By keeping good production records, it makes the transition into value-added programs smooth and easy.
Reminder of Upcoming On-line Seminar
Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Cattle Reproduction Specialist
Next Thursday, February 11, 2010, is the scheduled date for the “Webinar: Managing Genetic Defects in Beef Cattle”. To listen and watch the live presentation at 12 noon, follow these instructions:
Webinar Connection Instructions:
At the meeting time, simply click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser to enter the meeting:
http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/beefcattle/
When you go to that URL you will find yourself at a login page. Simply enter your name under the "Enter as a Guest" heading. Click on "Enter Room." The instructions that detail how to join the integrated phone audio conference will be on the screen when you join the meeting.
Anytime before the meeting you can visit the following URL to confirm your ability to connect to the Connect server:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/testconnect/
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