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We had 6.45 inches of rain in February, and .7 came on Friday afternoon. The spring has been so cold that the wild flowers are just starting to bloom. The yellow goldfields, a little daisy are starting to color, and you can spot the white shooting stars in sheltered areas. The almond orchards are in bloom, and our early peach tree is pink with blossoms. About 85 beef cattle ranchers attended the Reproductive Herd Health workshop sponsored by Tehama and Shasta coun- ties' cattlemen's associa- tions, University of Cali- fornia Cooperative Exten- sion, Shasta Farm and Equipment, Hawes Farm and Ranch, Northern Cali- fornia Farm Credit, Pfizer Animal Health, Cotton- wood Veterinary Clinic and Shasta Livestock Auc- tion Yard. The theme of the meet- ing for cow calf producers was to have a product to sell annually, and the cow must get pregnant, stay pregnant, and the calf has to stay alive long enough to sell. Hopefully a high percentage of cows will conceive, gestate and calve. To do this requires some level of skill, knowl- edge and luck. Dr. Les Anderson, Beef Cattle Specialist, Universi- ty of Kentucky spoke on the Reproductive Physiol- ogy of a cow, getting her bred, and how important the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are in the fertility of a cow. Dr Bill Gray, Cotton- wood Veterinary Clinic and Dr. John Maas, Uni- versity of California, Davis, Extension Veteri- narian mentioned how stress will cause a cow to abort. Shipping produces cortical levels that are too high to keep a cow bred. That is why you don‚t move cattle for a week after being bred artificially, because they will abort. Dr. Maas said most pregnant cattle will need some type of supplementa- tion in California. The most common nutrients needed are protein, seleni- um, copper and iodine. Pregnant cows need about two pounds of crude pro- tein per day the last three months of pregnancy. That is the equivalent to 20 pounds of grass hay or 10 pounds of very good quali- ty alfalfa hay per day. Sup- plement only the amount of protein that is not sup- plied by the pasture or range. For dry range you will need to supplement 1/3 to 2/3 of the amount. If the cows are on green pas- ture you won't need any additional protein. The protein is needed for the cow's reproductive needs as well as to make adequate amounts of high quality colostrums which keeps the calf healthy. The use of molasses- based protein supplements is a popular option — make sure your cattle are getting the protein they need, not just molasses. Selenium or copper deficiency in preg- nant cows can result in abortions, neonatal death, or infertility. Both veterinarians urged that you vaccinate your cows to prevent r e p r o d u c t i v e losses. The min- imum considera- tions for the cows in terms of vaccinations are the viral agents that can cause r e p r o d u c t i v e losses (abor- tions, infertility) or illness that can lead to death: BVD (Bovine Virus Diarrhea), IBR ( I n f e c t i o u s Bovine Rhino- tracheitis), PI3 (Parainfluenza 3), and BRSV (Bovine Respirato- ry Syncytial Virus. Leptospirosis is a com- mon problem in much of California and cows should be vaccinated with multivalent Leptospira vaccines. According to surveys done in California and seven other states, Leptospira harjo-bovis is present in 50 percent of beef herds and vaccination against this agent would be helpful. In addition to these vac- cines that protect against infertility, embryonic loss- es, and abortions the cows should be protected against Clostridial diseases (Blackleg, Redwater, etc) using an 8-way vaccine. They also recommended vaccinating against anaplasmosis and vibrio (Campylobacter fetus fetus). Bulls are the other side of the equation. All bulls should have a thorough breeding soundness evalu- ation prior to the breeding season. This should include a visual assess- ment to detect any lame- ness due to problems with their feet and legs. The reproductive tract should be examined by a qualified veterinarian. Internal sex organs (pros- trate, seminal vesicles, and bulbo-urethral glands) and scrotum should be palpat- ed. A semen sample should be collected — usu- ally by electro ejaculation — and examined under the micro- scope for ade- quate concentra- tion, motility, and morphology (normal and abnormal sper- matozoa). Additionally, check all bulls for Trichomono- sis (Trich) prior to the breeding season and at the same time the breeding s o u n d n e s s exams are done. The bulls should be vacci- nated and de-wormed in the manner as the cow herd as they are suscepti- ble to the same diseases and problems. The primary problem in newborn calves is calf scours. An effective pre- ventive measure for this condition is to vaccinate the cows during the last three months of pregnancy with a Rota/Corona/K99 vaccine. Also, calve the cows in as clean an area as possible. Calves should be vacci- nated at least one time prior to weaning to protect against the respiratory virus pathogens (BVD, IBR, PI3, and BRSV). Cat- tle that are deficient in selenium or copper do not have a normal immune response to vaccines, so be sure the calves are also supplemented in an appro- priate manner. Anderson FFA mem- bers served a delicious tri tip dinner to the group. Jean Barton can be reached at jbarton@theskybeam.co m. 4A – Daily News – Saturday, March 6, 2010 12600 Hwy 99E, Red Bluff Located 5 Miles from I-5 • 530-527-6483 Hrs: 9am-6pm Monday-Saturday Expires 3-9-10 Oven Ready MEATLOAF $ 2 69 lb. Boneless Skinless CHICKEN BREAST $ 1 99 lb. Boneless NEW YORK STEAK $ 7 99 lb. 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Redding 242-9100 Anderson 365-9100 Red Bluff 528-9100 AMERICAN SELF-STORAGE ★ ★ ★ 64 Mulberry Ave., Red Bluff • 527-1755 $ $ $ $ 2 5 2 5 2 5 p e r m o n t h p e r m o n t h 1 ST THREE MONTHS 8x10 units only Special rates on all unit sizes • Fully Fenced • Onsite Manager • Well Lit Property $ $ COUPON website: www.americanselfstorage.biz • RV & Vehicle parking now available Agriculture farm&ranch Reproductive herd health Courtesy photo Three Farm Advisors spoke during a recent Reproductive Herd Health workshop. Larry Forero, Shasta County, left, gave the results of an irrigated pasture aeration trial, and Dan Drake, Siskiyou County, spoke on measuring the production and reproduction of the cowherd. Josh Davy, Tehama County, gave a research update on dryland hay and range fertilizer trials. Jean Barton Corning rancher Van Doorn joins Angus Association Charles E Van Doorn, Corning, California, is a new member of the American Angus Association, accord- ing to Bryce Schumann, CEO of the national breed reg- istry organization in Saint Joseph, Mo. The association, with nearly 31,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef cattle registry asso- ciation in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on more than 16 million registered Angus. Nurseries struggle with lagging economy PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — These days, David Niklas' flowers and vegetable seedlings have fewer places to go, as the housing bubble burst and the state and national economies flatlined. Just three years after reaching a record high of almost $1 billion in sales, Oregon's nursery industry has plummeted into an historic slump. Nurseries are laying off employees, cutting costs and foregoing new buildings and equipment. A few, like Niklas' Clackamas Greenhouses, have gone bankrupt. Across the country, the nursery and landscaping trades are also facing tough times. Officials expect the industry to slowly recover — but they also expect the belt-tightening will remain, with fewer purchases, less expansion and fewer employees.