shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com July 12, 2016 • Page 11 Drylotting Cows a Drought Riverboat Days 2016: Getting Ready For Some Old-West Fun Management Strategy BROOKINGS, S.D. - During drought, when culling cows is not the most cost effective option, drylotting may be, explained Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist. “Drylotting allows ranchers to hold on to productive cows until it rains again and pasture conditions improve. Drylotting also facilitates early weaning, which saves additional feed,” he said. Rusche explained that when it comes to matching livestock inventories with available forage, culling does solve the problem of not enough forage, however it is at a cost to the longrun financial health of the ranch. “Replacing the culled cows almost always costs more money than their value as culls, especially if large numbers of cows are being shipped. All the fixed overhead costs, such as family living or labor expense, loan obligations or long-term lease expenses remain, only with fewer calves to sell,” he said. Suggested drylot diets Research data from a number of universities shows that cow-calf pairs do well on a wide variety of diets, either by limit feeding or by allowing unlimited access to feed. Table 1 provides examples of diets used by North Dakota State University and by the University of Nebraska. “These diets rely on relatively cheap sources of roughage combined with grain or by-product feeds,” Rusche said. Other considerations for feeding pairs in a drylot include: * Minimize hay waste with ad-lib feeding. * Manage bunks carefully to prevent acidosis or other digestive upsets when limit feeding. * Provide sufficient bunk space for both the cow and her calf, as much as 3 to 4 feet per pair. * Manage pens to reduce fly pressure and the incidence of mud. * Providing shade may be beneficial in reducing heat stress in the calves. * If newly purchased cattle are brought into the yard, keep pairs isolated to avoid respiratory disease. “The market for feedstuffs is a bright spot comparing this year with 2012,” Rusche said. “Feed grains and forages are considerably cheaper now than four years ago improving the feasibility of alternative strategies such as drylotting.” Ultimately, the right answer for one ranch may be quite different from another depending upon facilities, finances, and other considerations. niGrow By Katie Greene Riverboat Days Secretary I have been out and about in Yankton, delivering button buckets and posters and am surprised by how many people are excited about this year’s theme. I am not sure if it gives people a good excuse to dig out their plaid shirts and boots or if the lifestyle that cowboys represent of working hard, enjoying nature, and helping friends, family and strangers alike is exciting or is it is just a theme that we all can relate to here in the Midwest Region. Whatever the reason, I am so glad to hear positive comments and excitement about the festival that takes place the third full weekend in August. Our first parade of the year was once again at Czech Days. Despite the heat and humidity, Captain & Belle Randy & Joleen Smith did a wonderful job of representing Riverboat Days. It is always fun to hear the cheers and hoots the Captain and Belle receive from the crowd. Randy always has something positive to say or laugh about and Joleen is intelligent and organized — all qualities I love in people. A very special thank you goes out to Jake Hoffner, Dickie Lane and Pam Marchand. Sweating and waving is always so much more fun when you have great people around you! The Extreme Bull Riding Participating Businesses Are… Change What You Eat Change How You Feel Rita’s Prices Good July 12 - July 25 WILD WEDNESDAYS 10% OFF ALL ITEMS IN THE HEALTH MARKET Purse–o–Nalities (EXCEPT VITAMINS, SUPPLEMENTS AND FUEL SAVER ITEMS) 3 $ 15 Ct. BONUS PACK! 4 79 Bob’s Red Mill Chia Seeds 16 Oz. Pkg. 9 $ 99 ( Chia seeds help balance blood sugars. Are a great source of healthy Omega-3 oils. Help you feel more energy all day long. It’s also an Anti-oxidant! ) 29 (provides probiotics, helps immunity and digestion and is an excellent source of protein and calcium) Brunick FURNITURE & FLOORING Lesserevil Popped Popcorn NEW 2 $ (Organic, non gmo, no refined salt, no preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors and no hydrogenated oils.) Personal Nutrition Counseling • Weight Loss • Heart Disease • Diabetes • Gluten-free and other food intolerances • Other Nutrition concerns Charity Schantz Hy-Vee Health Market Manager J&H Cleaning Services 99 Come to Hy-Vee for individual nutrition counseling when you need a special diet or your physician recommends you make diet changes. Kenny Tomek Hy-Vee Dietitian Riverfront Event Center Lifeway Ke?r La Croix Sparkling Water $ event put on by the Yankton Rodeo Association will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this event are available at Hy-Vee and Larry’s Heating and Cooling. The Yankton Rodeo Association is a hard-working group and they always put on a great event! As in previous years, there will also be a candy toss, mutton busting and barrel racing! The AGA Nation BMX bike show will take place three times on Saturday, Aug. 20 in the parking lot near the main stage at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and finally at 3 p.m. This group is new to Riverboat Days. Bike shows have been a popular event at Riverboat Days, but we wanted to change things up a bit with this new group. They will showcase various athletes and their skills. As you watch these athletes perform jumps, flips and turns, we hope you will leave inspired to live life in a positive way and follow your own dreams whatever they may be. On behalf of our Board of Directors — Randy Oliver (Co-chair), John Kraft (Co-chair), Robert Byrkeland, Mike Byrkeland, Jake Hoffner, Nancy Teachout, Michele Termansen, Donna Madson, Milissa Wuebben, Dave Wright, Rick Stone, Mike Villanueva, and myself — we’d like to invite you to Riverboat Days 2016, Aug. 19-21 — “Riverboat Days: How the West is Fun!” YANKTON WORKS Want your REAL-TIME MESSAGE on the most visited media website in the Yankton area? Join our ‘Friends2Follow’ program! Contact your Yankton Media Representative today! 605-665-7811 Still searching for that dream job? Find it in the classifieds! 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