February 9, 2016 • Page 4 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dining, Entertainment, and Celebrations! St. John’s Parish Annual Friday, Feb. 12 snow date: Feb. 19 Serving 5 - 9 p.m. at St. John’s Parish Center, Fordyce, NE Menu: Fried Pollack, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Baked Beans, Bun and Refreshments Adults: $10 Kids 6-12 yr: $5 Kids 5 and under: Free To Go orders start at 4:30 p.m. 402-357-2322 Cedar Catholic band students will be selling servings of homemade delicious desserts to raise money for band trip in 2016. Sponsored by FORDYCE COOP LUMBER & SUPPLY Fordyce, NE • 402-357-3568 Navigator Tours Let’s Go to Deadwood! April 20 - 22, 2016 $179 per person double, $239 per person single. Transportation, 2 nights lodging at the Mineral Palace In downtown Deadwood, Wine & Cheese Welcome Reception, Hot Breakfast Buffett, $20 in meal vouchers, $10 Slot play per day, and Slot Tournament entry Will pick up in Norfolk, Yankton, Tyndall, Mitchell Please call for reservations Navigator MotorCoaches • 1-800-634-8696 www.NavigatorBus.com Too many mouths to feed? Place an ad in the Missouri Valley Shopper today! 605-665-5884 319 Walnut • Yankton, SD Celebrate Sunday, February 14 Wine & Dine for 2 Cow’s Ability to Deliver Better Colostrum BROOKINGS, S.D. - Due to the large body of evidence clearly pointing to the benefits of colostrum for baby calves, much attention has been given to the calf side of the equation: ensuring a calf consumes an adequate amount of high-quality colostrum. “But what about the production side of colostrum - the cow’s side,” asked Julie Walker, Associate Professor & SDSU Extension Beef Specialist. “What interventions could be made within the cow herd to improve the quantity and quality, or concentration of immunoglobulins, of colostrum produced?” Late-gestation nutrition’s role on colostrum quality Walker said perhaps the most important cow-aspect of colostrum production is late-gestation nutrition. “Cows with body condition score of 5 or 6 at calving tend to produce more and higher-quality colostrum compared to thinner cows, with a score of 4 or less,” she explained. However, depriving cows nutritionally in late gestation will not consistently result in lower antibody concentration in their colostrum. “Nutritional deprivation, may however affect the quantity of colostrum the cow produces,” said Russ Daly, Professor, SDSU Extension Veterinarian, State Public Health Veterinarian. “Providing adequate levels of trace minerals also improves immunoglobulin concentration compared to cows on mineral-restricted diets.” On the other hand, Daly said there is some evidence that over-conditioned cows produce colostrum with lower immunoglobulin concentration. “The bottom line is maintaining cows in a moderate to good body condition score at calving, along with providing adequate levels of trace minerals, will give cows their best opportunity to produce plentiful, antibody-rich colostrum,” Daly said. Can cattle breed influence colostrum production? In general, Walker said differences among beef breeds don’t significantly influence colostrum immunoglobulin concentration. “However, it’s not a stretch to understand that some breeds - and individual animals - are better milk-producers than others,” she said. Walker explained that heavier-milking breeds and individuals produce more colostrum but of lower immunoglobulin concentrations. For beef breeds, these cows tend to produce a higher overall mass of antibodies available to the calf. In addition, cows of some breeds are more efficient at moving antibodies from their bloodstream into their colostrum; and cows that produce higher-fat milk produce higher-quality colostrum. “We are not near a point where we can select cows for better colostrum production, but producers should at least be aware of differences between individuals, even within a breed or herd,” Walker said. Parity of the mother influences both the volume and quality of colostrum. First-calf heifers produce colostrum in smaller volumes as well as lower immunoglobulin concentrations, explained Daly. “Studies in dairy breeds indicate that the antibody concentration of colostrum increases with each successive pregnancy until a cow’s third calving, after which it levels off,” he said. Daly added that vaccinating cows in late pregnancy has long been recognized as a method to improve colostrum quality. “Cow vaccination against scours pathogens may not increase the overall level of immunoglobulins in a cow’s bloodstream, and therefore the level in colostrum, but it will increase the concentration of immunoglobulins specific to those agents vaccinated for,” Daly said. “Cattle producers should work with their veterinarian to choose the optimal product and timing.” Does environment impact colostrum? Environmental conditions surrounding the cow in late gestation have not been well-studied for their effect on colostrum production. “Evidence exists, however, to suggest that heifers undergoing heat stress produce colostrum with lower immunoglobulin levels compared to heifers housed in cooler environments,” Walker said. Therefore, Walker said cattle producers may want to consider colostrum quality as yet another reason to prevent heat stress, particularly in fall-calving herds. Shrimp Scampi, Dinner Salad, Dessert and a Glass of White Wine (or) 16-oz. T-Bone Steak, Baked Potato, Dinner Salad and a Glass of Wine “It’s also widely accepted that the organisms to which a cow is exposed influence the antibody profile of colostrum,” she said. “Colostrum from cows brought in from different locations in late gestation may contain antibodies to different infectious organisms than are present in the cow’s new location.” Other factors to consider Other cow-related factors might not directly influence colostrum, but Daly said they definitely affect the calf’s ability to nurse promptly and adequately. “Poor udder conformation, for example, dropped teats, make it difficult for newborns to find the udder and nurse. Mastitis acutely affects colostrum production while the associated pain and discomfort may discourage the cow from allowing the calf to nurse.” Mothering ability has been shown to significantly affect immunoglobulin levels in calves after they consume colostrum. Finally, calving difficulty due to any reason may result in calves that are slower to stand and nurse, and more likely to suffer from acidosis, delaying immunoglobulin absorption. Walker and Daly both add that culling practices which focus on retaining females with well-constructed udders, good mothering abilities and calving ease will positively affect colostrum production, as well as many other parameters within the herd. “Prompt and appropriate intervention for cows in need of calving assistance will also indirectly help colostrum utilization within the herd,” Daly said. “It may not be possible to determine how well an individual cow will produce colostrum before she calves. But stacking the deck in her favor with appropriate nutrition and care will help ensure you’re giving her - and Call 665-5884 to her calf - the best chance possible,” Walker added. place your ad here. niGrow Interested in this spot? INTERESTED Call 665-5884 to Interested in this spot? www.miss www.miss www.miss Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. Interested in this spot? Calling All Cooks! Visit www.miss Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan will be publishing a cookbook in March. This cookbook will not only feature recipes from The Neighbor Lady Wynn Speece but also local, regional, state and national celebrities as well as our reader submitted recipes. A fun and informative cookbook you’ll want to be part of. Sizzling Couples Slot Tournament Registration at 6pm Tournament Start Time 7pm 100% Payback/$250 Added Purse $40 Entry Fee includes: (2) Entries, (2) $5 Blackjack Match Pays, Strawberries and Champagne YOU NEED IT TODAY? FAX IT 605-6 Missouri Valley Shopper Hotel Sweetheart Special During the month of February, purchase a Standard Room for $99 and receive: Hotel Room for 2, $20 Dinner Voucher, Breakfast for 2, $20 in Sweet Bonus Bucks $5 Match Plays & Bottle of Champagne www.fortrandallcasino.com 10 Miles West of Wagner, SD or 3 Miles East of Fort Randall Dam on Hwy 46 1-605-487-7871 or 1-800-362-6333 (Hotel Reservations only) Owned and operated by the Yankton Sioux Tribe Management reserves the right to alter, suspend or withdraw promotions and/or offers at any time. This cookbook will be distributed in the Wednesday, March 23rd Press & Dakotan. We would like to have your submissions by February 20th. We thank you in advance for your consideration in participating inInterested this cookbook. 216 W in this spot? Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. You may use the following methods to submit your recipes: Email: nicole.myers@yankton.net or mail to: INTERESTED IN THIS SPOT? PRESS&DAKOTAN Attn: Cookbook Y A N K T O N D A I LY CALL 665-5884 TO PLACE YOUR AD HERE. 319 Walnut Street Yankton, SD 57078 www.missourivalleyshopper.com WWW.MISSOURIVALLEYSHOPPER.COM