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ARM AND □ ANCH B u lle t in July 1963 Vol. 18, No. 7 FEED GRAIN REQUIREMENTS OF TEXAS LIVESTOCK The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station deficit status of each district, TDN require recently published estimates of feed grain ments for livestock were compared with TDN requirements for livestock and poultry pro available from feed grains. duced in different areas of the State. These Districts 1-N and 1-S showed a heavy and requirements were compared with the quanti increasing feed grain surplus position in all ties of feed grains available for animal con three census periods. Expansion of feeding sumption from the output in the various operations in recent years has been substantially regions. The areas used in the study are the greater in these districts than in others. Data Crop Reporting Districts indicate there is a suffi of the Texas Crop and cient surplus of feed grain E 3 SURPLUS ALL 3 YEARS L iv esto ck R ep o rtin g TDN production to sup Service (see accompany port a considerable fur ing map). Census data ther increase in livestock fo r 1949, 1954, and feeding. District 2 also 1959 were used for the yielded a surplus of feed district analyses. grains in 1949,1954, and 1959. However, the sur For the purposes of plus was relatively small the Texas A. & M. study, and could support only a the different classes of m o d erate expansion in livestock were converted livestock enterprises. to animal units. An ani Districts 4 and 8 pro mal unit is defined as the duced a surplus in two equivalent in feed con of the three census years sumption of one average — 1954 and 1959. Dis milk cow. Total Digest trict 8 ranked second and ible Nutrients (T D N ) District 4 was third in feed grain requirements were determined for the total animal units in livestock and poultry production among the each district. An area’s feed grain production Texas Crop Reporting Districts. Although corn which would be available for livestock feeding contributed substantially more to the TDN was the quantity of feed grain produced less available for feed in these areas than in other amounts needed for planting seed and human districts, a considerable increase in grain sor consumption. The feed grain production avail ghum output occurred in both regions. The sur able for livestock feeding was then converted plus status of these regions indicates some po to TDN. In order to determine the surplus or tential for increasing their livestock inventories. FEDERAL RESERVE DALLAS, BANK TEXAS OF DALLAS Districts 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 were deficit feed grain TDN producers in all three census years. District 3 ranked about midway among the districts in animal unit production but rated low in feed grain output. District 5 produced the largest number of animal units of all the areas but had a comparatively low level of feed grain outturn and probably will remain a deficit grain-producing area. District 6 was the lowest among the regions in both animal units and feed grain production, although a large num ber of sheep are raised in the area. District 7 — the major sheep-raising section of Texas — ranked fourth in both 1949 and 1954 and fifth in 1959 in total animal units produced but was low in feed grain output in all 3 years. Accord ing to the report, Districts 6 and 7 are unlikely to improve their deficit feed grain positions to any considerable extent. District 9 — which is devoted mainly to rice production — ranked low in both animal units and feed grain production. District 10 was a deficit area in both 1949 and 1959 but had a slight surplus in 1954. Even though grain output rose during the three census periods, livestock numbers in the area increased as well, moving from ninth place to seventh place among the Texas Crop Reporting Districts from 1949 to 1959. Grain sorghum was the leading grain, with corn a distant second. The pink bollworm causes reductions in cot ton value under both dryland and irrigated conditions, according to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. However, the crop can tolerate greater infestations under dry condi tions before losses occur than under high-mois ture situations. For example, during the dry seasons of 1955 and 1956, sizable losses did not occur until at least 50 percent of the cotton bolls were infested with an average of two or more larvae per boll. Under irrigated condi tions, a 40-percent boll infestation resulted in losses amounting to almost $100 per acre, re ports the experiment station. The dollar loss per acre from pink bollworm damage to cotton was caused by reductions in both yield and quality of lint and seed. Under dry conditions, most of the lint losses were at tributed to reductions in quality; under wet conditions, losses resulted from decreased yields. When wet weather prevailed, the dam aged bolls rotted so severely that the cotton was not harvested. Seed losses tended to mount as the severity of the insect infestation increased. New Cantaloupe for Texas Wescan, a new cantaloupe that is resistant to downy mildew and tolerant to powdery mil dew, has been developed for the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where conditions are Results of the Texas A. & M. study indicate highly conducive to these diseases. According areas of surplus and deficit feed grain produc to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, tion in terms of local needs for livestock. The the variety is also tolerant to sulfur treat research was not designed to determine whether ments that are applied to cantaloupes to con particular areas have an economic advantage trol severe cases of mildew. in raising livestock, but it does provide back Wescan produces excellent yields of coarsely ground data which would be useful for such netted, hard-rind, medium-size, oblong-ovalstudies, as well as for transportation and move shape fruits. The internal flesh is of medium ment pattern studies of feed grains. thickness, salmon-colored and very firm and has an excellent flavor. In State-Federal cooper ative trials during the past six spring seasons, Wescan was rated very highly for all of the The effects of various degrees of pink bollfollowing horticultural characteristics: vine worm infestation on yield and quality of cot vigor, mildew resistance, earliness, fruit ap ton were studied under both dryland and pearance, size, net, cracking, flesh color, irrigated conditions at College Station, Texas, thickness, firmness, dryness of seed cavity, and during 1955-59. The cotton was produced soluble solids. under large plastic cages in order to control pink bollworm infestations and to exclude The new cantaloupe matures in 85 to 90 other pests from the experiment. days from the date of seedling emergence. It Pink Bollworm Damage +o Cotton matures at least as early as the Imperial 45 and PMR 6 varieties. Ample supplies of Wescan seed are expected to be available to growers this fall. New Floor Prevents Cracked Turkey Eggs furrow slice is turned, the amount of soil pul verization, and the scouring or cleaning ability of the plow. Mr. O’Neal says that, generally, moldboards with gentle slopes will pull more easily and will pulverize the soil less than will moldboards with steeper slopes. Plowshares should be sharp but should not When a new cage floor devel be excessively hooked at the points. When a oped by U. S. Department of plowshare is being sharpened, its shape should Agriculture scientists is used in be kept as nearly like that of a new share as stead of a conventional floor, egg is possible, suggests the specialist. Farmers breakage in the turkey laying should not expect to work many acres with a cage is reduced from 10 percent dull share. to less than 1 percent. The re Colter rollers and colter bearings should be duction in the number of checked; they should be tightened if they are cracked eggs permits more loose or replaced if excessively worn. Bearings poults to be hatched per turkey hen. Cracked should be lubricated in order to reduce wear, eggs seldom hatch, because of bacterial con and frogs, or standards, and beams should be tamination and excessive moisture losses. checked to make sure that they are not sprung. The new turkey cage floor is constructed of It is impossible to make adjustments where flattened, plastic-coated wire. The wires are parts are worn or bolts are not tight. three-fourths of an inch apart and run length The wheels should be set at the tread width wise (the direction in which the eggs roll when desired before any other adjustments are begun. the floor is in place). Beneath the lengthwise The plow should be kept level while the share wires are supporting cross wires, which are is being set at the desired depth. The plow’s spaced about 4 inches apart. hitch should be adjusted vertically so that the The new turkey cage floor costs slightly rear of the plow’s landside is about a finger’s more than conventional floors. However, the width above the furrow bottom, says Mr. increase in the number of eggs hatched, espe O’Neal. He recommends that the farmer read cially when valuable breeding stock is in the operator’s manual and that he make sure volved, may more than offset this added con the plow is in good condition before starting struction cost. the plowing job. Well-Adjusted Moldboard More Economical Despite the many advances of modern agri culture, a good job of plowing is still important for the optimum production of many crops, points out Henry O’Neal, Agricultural Engi neer with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Many plant diseases and weeds can be controlled through correct plowing. Properly adjusted moldboard plows are more economical to operate and do a better job of plowing than do plows that are out of adjustment, according to the specialist. Most plows are designed to operate at a depth of about one-half of the plow bottom’s cutting width. The plow’s design determines how the Control of Galls on Ornamentals The formation of abnormal growths, or galls, on ornamental plants and shade trees is caused by many species of insects and mites, accord ing to a Texas A. & M. College publication entitled Texas Guide for Controlling Insects on Ornamental Plants. Mites, plant lice, midges, cynipids, and psyllids cause the galls by laying eggs in the tissues of leaves, stems, and twigs before the leaves are fully developed. The plants are stimulated by the laying and hatch ing of the eggs and form abnormal growths, inside of which the immature pests develop. The pests cannot be controlled at this point, since the insecticides cannot reach them inside the galls. Although most plants can tolerate a large been stunted by low levels of moisture follow number of galls without apparent damage, the ing fertilization, nitrate poisoning is more maintenance of good plant health helps to pre likely to occur. vent serious infestations. The Texas A. & M. Nontoxic forms of nitrates are reduced to publication recommends insecticides for the toxic nitrites in the animal’s system and enter control of galls but points out that the chemi the bloodstream, where they tie up the blood cals will only help to check the spread of the hemoglobin. As a result, the oxygen-carrying insects. The guide also contains recommenda capacity of the blood is reduced substantially tions for the control of lawn pests, foliage and the animal may suffocate, according to eating insects, sucking pests, and bark and Dr. Patterson. wood-boring insects. Signs of poisoning in the animals are a Insecticides can be obtained in the forms of bluish skin color, a staggering gait, rapid pulse, dusts, wettable powders, granules, and emulsi- evidence of abdominal pain, bloat, excessive fiable concentrates. They should be mixed salivation, and labored breathing. Quantities according to directions on the containers and of nitrate that are too small to kill an animal applied only as recommended. All insecticides may lower milk production or cause a cow to are poisonous and should be handled with care. abort. Copies of L-199, Texas Guide for Control Cattle may be poisoned by eating weeds ling Insects on Ornamental Plants, may be and forage crops that contain high levels of ni obtained from county agricultural agents or trates or preformed toxic quantities of nitrites. from the Agricultural Inform ation Office, Of the cereal grains, oat hay is the most likely College Station, Texas. to cause nitrate poisoning, and the young plants usually are more dangerous than the older ones. The chicken farmer of the past would not Among the inorganic sources of excess ni recognize the poultry producer of today, says trates are fertilizer bags or fertilizer spreaders C. B. Ryan of the Department of Poultry left where cattle have access to them, accord Science at Texas A. & M. College. The poultry ing to the veterinarian. Another means of poi industry has experienced a great change since soning is contaminated water draining from the days when raising chickens and gathering barnyards or bunker-type silos. Sometimes ani eggs was the extent of the poultryman’s job. mals obtain nitrites from two or more sources. Today’s poultry producer is often a college Animals with nitrate poisoning symptoms graduate, or he has at least received some scien should be removed from the suspected pas tific training in poultry science. In the future, tures, and a veterinarian should be consulted. more and more education will be necessary for the poultryman who is to compete successfully Soybeans are the fifth most important cash in the business. crop in this country and are the chief source of vegetable oil, according to the U. S. Depart ment of Agriculture. Poultry Management Skills Nitrate Poisoning — Dangerous to Cattle N itrate poisoning is a danger to all livestock, but it presents a particular problem when cattle are grazing plants recently fertilized with high levels of nitrates, points out Dr. C. M. Patterson, Veterinarian with the Texas Agricultural Ex tension Service. If growth of the plants has Although it is the cheapest item in milk pro duction, water often is a limiting factor be cause dairy cows do not get enough of the right kind, says A. M. Meekma, Dairy Special ist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. The average dairy cow in production will drink 12 to 15 gallons of water daily, but some very high-producing cows will con sume 35 gallons or more.
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