Field Day Features Cattle Management, Weed Control

MANGHAM, La. - Press Release Cattle producers drove as far as 100 miles to get the latest research-based information that included pharmaceutical best management practices, buying and retaining replacement heifers and pasture weed control at the second annual northeast Louisiana beef and forage field day at the Goldmine Plantation.

LSU AgCenter agent Keith Collins from Richland Parish, who helped coordinate the event, said the county agents job is to get the information to the people who need it, and the field day is a great way to do that.

Goldmine Plantation is just a great place to have a beef cattle field day, Collins said. Ive worked with them for a long time, so they let us do things that give producers practical, hands-on experience.

The attendees heard about factors influencing calving difficulties from Rayville veterinarian Lyle Bennett.

The breed of the bull and the breed of the cow are two of the top issues involved, he said. Calving time is another issue he discussed, maintaining that late fall is the best time to calve in Louisiana.

LSU AgCenter forage specialist Wink Alison opened the program with a talk on the impact of ryegrass planting methods on production.

Tillage can have the most impact, Alison said. You can plant ryegrass from straight onto a pasture through having a totally prepared seedbed. For early season production, the prepared seedbed is better.

Alison also discussed the importance of a heavier seeding rate early in the fall for better early production.

LSU AgCenter beef specialist Karl Harborth discussed the importance of proper bull selection to improve herds.

Weve found through research that it is typically best to breed a non-Brahman bull on Brahman cows, Harborth said. This normally gives the best chance for calving ease and lower birth weights.

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Field Day Features Cattle Management, Weed Control