Extension Service Site Publications

• (2024) Identification: Characteristics of Grasses It is important to identify what grasses are growing in your pasture whether they be forages you want to grow or weeds you want to control. Check out the University of California IPM website for information on how to ID grasses. They also have a section on broadleaf plants.
  
• (2024) Ergot poisoning in cattle Along with many other problems that livestock producers have to deal with as a result of the ever changing climate, ergotism can routinely be a concern. Ergot is a fungus that grows on the seed head of cereal grains and grasses. Environmental conditions (cool wet spring followed by hot early summer temperatures) are ideal for the ergot fungus to grow. Delayed harvesting of grass hay because of rain also means that late cut hay may also be at risk of ergotism. Historically rye was commonly affected by the ergot fungus but wheat, barley, oats, brome, fescue, bluegrass, Timothy and other grasses can also be infected. All animals are susceptible to ergot but cattle are often most affected.
• (2024) Smut disease control Several different types of smut (plant fungi) can be present in hay fields. Smut can infect several forage and turf grasses, wheat, barley, oats, weeds, and other types of plants. The Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbook lists several types of smut along with preventive measures and control strategies. Smut is not known to be toxic to livestock. Light infestations will cause some refusal of forage, especially in horses. Heavily infested hay or pasture is not palatable and may even irritate the lungs.
• (2024) Do I Have Ergot or Smut Disease in My Field? It is important to distinguish smut, not particularly toxic, from another fungus called ergot, which has black sclerotium and is toxic to livestock. The University of Missouri has a nice article, Do I Have Ergot or Smut Disease in My Field?
• (2024) Livestock disease traceability programs Livestock diseases are best dealt with at the preventive stage. This collection includes links to proactive programs for several livestock species and specific diseases that are available to help with tracing diseases and preventing their spread, as well as continuity of business during an outbreak.
• (2024) Nutritional value of pasture forages changes through the growing season Assess the nutritional value of forages in pasture and hayground.
• (2023) Critical Control Points for Ranch Profitability This presentation examines several different management practices that have the high potential to impact the profitability of livestock and forage operations. There is a built in self-evaluation process so you can see which practices you may need to spend more time addressing. Some of the slides have presentation notes you may find by hovering over the small note box in the upper left corner of the slide.
• (2019) Mineral Requirements of Sheep and Goats This document lists the mineral requirements of sheep. Two subgroups of minerals, macro and micro, are listed. Maximum tolerable amounts of the microminerals are included. Use these requirements along with the Mineral Assessment worksheets to balance rations.
• (2022) How to manage the production and use of hay in a drought Drought conditions have drastically reduced hay yields in the last year or two. With dry conditions forecast to continue, livestock producers need to rethink strategies for conserving forage.
• (2022) How to stimulate early pasture growth and cut livestock feed cost In parts of Oregon, pasture forage for grazing livestock is lacking early in the growing season. That forces livestock producers to rely on costly harvested forages for supplemental feed. There is another option. Research has shown that applying nitrogen early in the pasture growing season can accelerate growth and provide needed forage. A formula, called the T-Sum 200, can help livestock producers know when to apply the early season nitrogen.
• (2021) How to give your livestock the nutrients they need The practice of matching the nutrient content of feeds with the nutrient requirements of your livestock is very important, especially if you are using feeds that you are not familiar with. Balancing rations can help keep feed costs in check with production levels because you'll know what to expect from your cattle when using feeds with known costs and nutrient content.
• (2021) Tracking weeds is first step in controlling them When winter approaches, it’s time to check your weed control plans. Noxious weeds are best controlled if you track them carefully. Weed mapping and weed calendaring are two activities important to tracking weeds so that you can properly control them. Here are a few tips to get you started.
• (2021) How to meet the mineral needs of livestock in mixed pastures Minerals are critically important for the health and well-being of livestock. Cattle, sheep and goats are frequently pastured together, but sheep can be harmed by copper, which cattle and goats need. Options to get animals the minerals need include using specialized feeding stands that keep sheep out while allowing access by cattle and goats, hand feeding and mineral injections.
• (2021) When drought is in the forecast, start planning for livestock feed needs When drought is in the forecast for Oregon and other states, it's time for cattle operations to start making plans to ensure they have enough feed for their herds. In times of drought, the availability of pasture and hay for sale is substantially less. Purchasing feed early in the season and considering alternative feeds are two options. Other considerations include reducing herd numbers, early weaning of calves and careful pasture management.
• (2021) Beef Quality Assurance program ensures quality meat and improves profits BQA certification is implemented by Oregon State University Extension Service, which promotes BQA-approved best management practices.
• (2021) Examples of swine and carcass grades (slides) This presentation shows examples of slaughter swine and carcasses to go along with the official USDA descriptions from their websites on Slaughter Swine and Carcass Grades.
• (2021) Hay Feeding Value and Protein Supplementation - David Bohnert and Shelby Filley
• (2020) Economic value of sheep footrot vaccination Vaccinating your flock against footrot can yield benefits due to increased lamb weight gain. Learn how to assess the financial benefit of footrot control.
• (2020) Biological control of weeds Biological control agents—insects, fungi or grazing animals—can help you control weeds on your property. It's important to choose the right biocontrol agent for the target weed. Learn the basics of biocontrol and find helpful resources in this article.
• (2020) How to measure pasture productivity and capacity The monthly grazing capacity of a pasture can be stated as animal unit months, AUM for short. It is calculated by estimating the amount of forage an animal eats each day — 2.5% to 3% of its body weight — times 30 days.
• (2020) Oregon Pork Producers This is the website of the Oregon Pork Producers. Their mission statement is "The Oregon Pork Producers strives to serve all producers regardless of size or production practices, by promoting producer and consumer education, research, animal well-being, marketing, and environmental responsibility."
  
• (2020) Take home beef This is a brochure from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture: "Not all of the cow makes it to the table. On average, a 1,000 pound steer will only weigh approximately 61% of it’s live weight once it makes it to the rail."
• (2020) Feeder Cattle Grades, Carcass Grades, & Meat Palatability Overview of feeder cattle and carcass grades. The presentation previously used with the USDA Carcass Beef Grades and Standards.
• (2020) USDA Carcass Beef Grades and Standards The amount of beef from a carcass is termed "yield" and is the pounds of closely trimmed retail cuts you get. Of course you want to get a large percentage of meat from your animal. This website contains the legal definitions that can help you understand what goes into this measurement.
• (2020) Small scale meat farming: growing, finishing, processing This collection contains publications and information on selecting, purchasing, and preparing a meat animal for home slaughter. It includes resources for beef, goat meat, lamb, pork, poultry, and rabbit.
• (2020) Temple Grandin Website Information on animal handling, transportation, humane slaughter and more.
• (2020) Algae Blooms in ponds, rivers, and lakes Oregon Health Authority website has information on Blue-Green Algae, including Current Cyanobacteria Advisories. They note, "Don't go into water that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red. A good rule of thumb for you and your pet is: When in Doubt, Stay Out!"
• (2020) How to identify forage plants in your pasture or hayfield Knowing exactly what's growing in a pasture or a hayfield is one of the first steps in proper management. Take advantage of resources online or through an Extension office to get help identifying forage plants.
• (2020) Science information for the kids (and you) Here is a link to scientific information on animals from the American Society of Animal Sciences (ASAS), the predominant organization for professionals in the animal industry. This collection of programs has been reviewed by and is being promoted by ASAS. It is a solid source of information on animal production. Please enjoy this collection knowing scientists closely related to animal production recommend it.
• (2020) Good livestock management starts with good records You can't manage what you don't measure is an old adage that rings true with livestock. Good record keeping provides a way to measure progress and is at the foundation of good livestock management.
• (2020) Dealing with pesky flies on cattle Fly control is of major importance to cattle producers. This article can help you make decisions about which products would fit your program, how to avoid causing insecticide resistance in flies, and ways to clean up your barn area to help control them. Fly control is aimed at the two most important pests: face flies and horn flies.
• (2011) Reproductive management of the cowherd The main goal of cow-calf operations is to produce one calf per cow per year. But it takes sound reproductive management of the cowherd, using proven methods, to accomplish that goal.
• (2019) Improving calf performance by extending the grazing season with warm-season grasses and brassica forages This research project set out to determine whether grazing cow-calf pairs on warm season grasses and brassica pastures would extend the grazing season and positively affect calf weaning weights and other characteristics.
• (2011) Basic nutrient requirements of beef cattle Cattle require certain nutrients in specific amounts in order to grow, thrive and reproduce. Learn about the nutrients, the terms used in feeding, and the nutrient requirements by animal type and productivity level.
• (2019) OSU Beef Nutrition Workbook A comprehensive workbook covering many aspects of beef cattle nutrition. Includes worksheets for users to apply the concepts to their own operations. Chapter titles are:
  1. Animal Nutrient Requirements
  2. Forage Value
  3. Evaluating Feeds
  4. Minerals and Vitamins
  5. Ration Balancing
  6. Supplements and Supplementation Strategies
  7. Body Condition
  8. Heifer Nutrition and Development
• (2019) Strategies for managing pastures during dry conditions Cool-season perennial and annual forages often struggle during the heat of summer. Fortunately, there are some strategies to consider — including planting drought-tolerant forages, warm-season grasses and annual legumes.
• (2019) Forages - hay and pasture collection This collection has information on soil testing and fertilizing, renovation, forage management, hay, irrigation, feeding values, forage types, forage anti-quality factors, leasing pastures and more.
• (2019) Beef Cattle Collection A list of topics and resources for beef cattle producers
• (2019) Benefits of belonging to an agriculture organization For farmers and ranchers, belonging to agricultural and ranching associations promotes common interests and fosters connections that are extremely important to the business or pleasure of farming and ranching.
• (2019) Services - Producer Organizations Here are some handy links to organizations important to raising livestock and forages and their products.
• (2019) Purchasing hay for the coming year Make sure you have enough good-quality hay stored for your livestock. Check the nutrition levels of your hay to match the nutritional needs of your animals.
• (2012) Greener pastures: Improving forage production The potential of a pasture can only be realized when the conditions of growing forage are optimized. Learn how to find the current and potential forage yield of a pasture — and if improvements are worth the investment.
• (2011) Reseeding pastures requires careful preparation Reseeding a pasture or hay ground requires more than just spreading seed on the ground. There's a sequence to the process, from testing the soil to addressing weeds, deciding on forages and considering livestock use.
• (2019) Nutrient Management for Pastures: Western Oregon and Western Washington Describes nutrient management practices for pastures to produce forage as a main feed source for western Oregon and Washington livestock.
• (2018) How much should my animals graze?
• (2015) Grass tetany: Fast-growing grass can mean problems Mature cattle grazing in pastures with rapidly growing grass are sometimes afflicted with a disease called grass tetany. The cause is a lack of magnesium in the grass. Here's what to look for and how to treat it.
• (2009) Understanding sheep reproduction helps ranch productivity Understanding reproduction in sheep promotes highly productive flocks and the wise use of resources. An important point to understand is that the number of lambs produced depends on the seasonal timing of breeding.
• (2012) Avoiding poisonous plants in pasture and hay Poisonous plants in pastures and hay pose a hazard to livestock. Learn how to identify toxic plants and what steps you can take to prevent livestock from consuming them.
• (2018) Cattle reproduction for next year starts now For cattle producers, a successful calving season is the culmination of year-round effort. It all starts with nutrition for the cows and heifers to ensure they are in the best shape possible for calving. Bull selection matters too. Once calves are born, the process starts all over again and it is critically important to ensure that the interval to a cow's next calf is no more than 365 days. It all adds up to a lot of work, but the bottom line depends on it.
• (2018) Advantages to cows and their calves: creep-feeding vs. early weaning Creep-feeding and early weaning are two options for managing cows and calves. Each practice has a specific purpose, but these strategies can be misapplied.
• (2010) Get ready for calving season Cattle managers can decrease the amount of calving difficulty through bull selection, nutrition and exercise. Don’t wait until calving begins, follow this checklist and set up the supplies and support you will need.
• (2011) Tansy ragwort Tansy ragwort, an invasive weed that can harm certain types of livestock, is making a comeback in western Oregon. Find out how to control it and protect your animals.
• (2018) How to determine pasture rental rates You can determine rental rates for pasturing cattle and sheep by using the average cost in an area and then factoring in variables such as animal size, pasture quality, work done by each party and lease length.
• (2004) Feeding for rebreeding Good nutrition is vital for cows and heifers to successfully reproduce. This article reviews their nutritional requirements and the nutrient content of common feeds.
• (2011) Reducing the stress of weaning beef calves Weaning is stressful for cows, calves and humans too. Here's a look at how livestock producers can reduce the stress of weaning through preparation, timing, proper methods and post-weaning management.
• (2005) How to test hay for nutrient content This article explains the different ways of testing hay for livestock consumption. It includes information about analyses, labs and lab methods too.
• (2022) Foxtail control in pastures and hayground Foxtail is a problematic grass in pastures and hayground, and infestations need immediate attention. Small infestations of foxtail should be spot treated, while larger infestations require whole pasture renovation. This informational paper describes proper foxtail management and control in a forage setting.
• (2018) Matching hay quality to animal nutrient requirements Because feeding costs can account for over 50% of the cost of livestock production, knowing your hay quality and animal requirements can have a significant impact on profitability. As you harvest hay in the spring, you may wonder about the quality of your product. This article addresses the topic of nutrient content of grass/legume hay and the nutrient requirements of livestock that may be consuming it. Some suggestions on how the livestock manger can utilize the hay effectively and efficiently are offered.
• (2004) Beef Cattle Nutrition Workbook A comprehensive workbook covering many aspects of beef cattle nutrition: animal nutrient requirements, forage value, evaluating feeds, minerals and vitamins, ration balancing, supplements, body condition, and heifer nutrition. Includes worksheets for users to apply the concepts to their own operations. Designed to be used in conjunction with OSU Extension Service Winter Nutrition Programs for beef producers.
• (2020) Understanding your forage test results Livestock producers use forage analysis as a management tool to improve livestock nutrition. Learn about the information commonly found in most laboratory forage reports: feed, protein, carbohydrates, fat, energy, ash, minerals, pH, nitrates, RFV and RFQ.
• (2014) Is mistletoe toxic to livestock?