Catawba Valley Cattlemen’s Association      

(Talk & learn on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month)

This month’s meeting is on Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., March 9, 2021. Short Business Meeting, Short Educational program at 7 p.m. On 4 Common Weeds and Their Control in Fescue

Meeting Agenda 

5:30 p.m. (You may check into the meeting from 5:30 to 6:35 p.m. to iron out communication issues on Zoom.)
6:35 p.m. – Business Meeting: Brandon Bowman, President, and Dr. Amanda Whitener, Treasurer.
7 p.m.  – Educational Program: Controlling 4 Common  Weeds in Existing Fescue Pastures.
Speakers: Mr. Tom Dyson, Lincoln County Director;  Q&A: Dr. Ramon Leon Gonzalez or
7:30 p.m. – Meeting adjourned. Glenn Detweiler, Livestock & Forage Agent

                                                           Announcements                                                  Drive-Thru ONLY– SPRING BBQ        

Serving 5–7 p.m.  Just would like to encourage everyone to SELL those TICKETS! You may pick up More Tickets at Southern States, Conover. You may include 2021 dues ($10) when mailing in BBQ tickets. Make sure you note who you are paying dues for. Amanda will also be at the fairgrounds Saturday during the BBQ if you would like to pay in person.

Ø  We will continue with Zoom and conference call meetings until the governor, county, and extension admin changes the number of people we can have in a meeting. I can have 25 people in our meeting room to view the program on the big screen. Please call in if you are planning to come to the Agr Resource Center for the meeting. I will be happy to open up the meeting room but If no one calls I will not be opening up the building. Get the vaccination if you have a chance, if not, encourage all your help to get the vaccine. Please note Covid directions.

Ø  If you have a smartphone and want to download the Zoom app, it is possible the extension office could help you with that on weekdays 8 a.m.–noon. If not, we could point you in the right direction to get help.

Ø  We are taking an order for minerals. Price this time is:  $16.92/bag. Make your check out to Bartlett Milling Company. Checks will be mailed or carried into our office and Mrs. Natalie Cline will mail all checks at one time to the supplier. Address: Cooperative Extension Service, P.O. Box 389 Newton, NC 28658. Natalie plans to mail by March 15.

Ø  Planning to participate with selling of calves by the truck load? Call Dennis Lutz (828.2172985) to get details.

Zoom Meeting – by phone (Conference call) and/or computer(zoom). I will start our meeting at 6:00 so you can experiment and come on and talk to me. or call by cell 405-219-1902 and we can figure something out for you to connect. In general, if you have a flip phone, this is a “conference call”, if you have an iPhone, you can join our conference call or you can download the “zoom meeting App” and be able to talk, listen, as well as, see the presenter’s slides. If you have a computer at home that is hooked up to the internet you can download the Zoom program and connect to our meeting and be able to listen and see the slides. Your computer needs to have a microphone and a camera for you to talk and be seen. Laptops and tablets will have these built into their hardware. The cattlemen meeting id and passcode  for March is:                  Meeting ID: 988 8588 8056       Pass Code: 176552
To connect using the flip phone, you must call a number that has an area code in Atlanta or in Philadelphia. The robot will ask you to enter the meeting id and press # at the end. Then the robot will ask you for a passcode and you must type that number in and press #, when you do, you should be able to hear people talking and you can also talk to them after the moderator unmutes your phone. That usually is about 30 seconds. Flip Phone #’s: Atlanta: 1-470-381-2552    or Phil.= 1-267-831-0333. (you will need free service to these cities to not be charged long distance. To connect with an iPhone App you will go into the Zoom App “icon” and type in the meeting id and then type in the password when it ask. To connect using the computer, type in the url address: Zoom   Then click. It will give you a number of choices. click on the box that says “Join” or “Join the Meeting”. Type in the meeting id and then type in the password when it asks. Trouble? –Call 405.219.1902.

Covid Vaccination Shots are available for you: 

        For appointments go to:         Your Spot Your Shot NC           or call 1-888-675-4567

Group 2   If you are 65 or over—or assisting someone who is— to take your shot against COVID-19:

1.You will likely need an appointment to get vaccinated. You may have to wait to schedule your appointment to get your vaccine. 2.A variety of providers can help you get your shot. Because supplies are very limited right now, most doctors cannot provide vaccinations in their offices.

Find your local COVID-19 vaccine provider. Visit Your Spot Your Shot NC. Click on the blue writing “Local Vaccination Center”. Type in your zip code and you will find a list of places to call and get an appointment for the shot. Vaccine supplies are very limited, so you may have to plan 3 and 4 weeks ahead to get the shot.
You can also call the COVID-19 Line 1-888-675-4567. It’s a free call.

Group 3 -(Catawba & Lincoln County are  lining up shots for Group3)        which include:

1)Workers manufacturing products needed for food and agricultural supply chains
2)Workers in stores that sell groceries and medicine

3)Meat packing workers

4)Food processing workers

5)Farm workers

6)Migrant farm/fishery workers

7)Food distribution and supply chain workers

8)Restaurant workers

9)Veterinarians       10)veterinarian staff               11)veterinarian students

The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to everyone for free, whether or not you have health insurance. You will need two shots (using Pfizer or Modena) to build up your immunity just like we need for our cattle. You will get a printed card and email to remind you to come back 3 to 4 weeks later for your second dose. Your personal information is private and strictly confidential.

SPRING‐CALVING HERD
Prepare for breeding season
 Line up AI services and/or purchase replacement bulls at least 45 days
prior to the start of the breeding season.
 Choose a breed and use EPDs, visual observation, and DNA marker analysis
(if available) to select the bull that best fits your program’s production and
marketing goals.
 Have a veterinarian perform breeding soundness evaluations on bulls.
 If you are going to use artificial insemination and/or estrus
synchronization, make plans now and order needed supplies and semen.
 Make final selection of heifer replacements based on weight and
genetic merit.
 Spring or “turn‐out” working is usually scheduled for late April or May.
Consult your veterinarian about vaccines and health products your herd
needs (see April for suggestions).
 Continue providing magnesium in the mineral mix until daytime
temperatures are consistently above 60 F.
 Identify calf with an ear tag, tattoo or both while it is young and easy to
handle.
 Record dam ID and birth date. Commercial male calves should also be
castrated and implanted according to product recommendations.
Castrating and dehorning are less stressful when performed on young
animals. Registered calves should be weighed during the first 24 hours.
 Begin breeding replacement heifers for “head‐start” calving. Mate to
known easy‐calving bulls.
 Record the identification number of the last calf born on the appropriate
calendar date to serve as a record for the PVP Program.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR ALL CATTLE
 Repair fences, equipment and handling facilities.
 Plan new working facilities, if needed.
FALL‐CALVING HERD
Preweaning period
 Consult your veterinarian about a preweaning working of the herd, which
may include:
 Vaccinating calves for:
 IBR‐PI3‐BVD‐BRSV
 Hemophilus somnus
 Clostridial diseases (blackleg)
 Deworming calves
 Calves intended for feeders should be re‐implanted.
 Consider the economics of creep‐feeding calves with grain or high‐quality
forage.
 Marketing: Make an economic analysis of all marketing options for calves,
including selling at auction barn, video, and private treaty. Another option
is retained ownership, either by backgrounding or sending the calf to the
feedlot.
FORAGES
 Soil test your hay fields and pastures. Apply phosphate, potash, and lime
according to soil test recommendation to the species and management.
 Complete renovations by March 15.
 Smooth and reseed hay feeding areas and heavy traffic areas.
 Control competition from grasses with young clover plants by grazing or
mowing as needed.
 Prepare for spring seeding of alfalfa.
 If growth permits, begin grazing.
 Plan and implement grazing system and rotation.