In 1978, Dr. Schubert and associates conducted experiments to determine safe levels of Lead and Mercury (<i>he tested other toxic metals as well</i>) in our homes, water and food. He fed a group of 100 rats just enough lead that one animal died. This is an LD1 (Lethal Dose) of Lead. He did the same thing with Mercury.

The really “interesting” part came when he fed an LD1 of Lead and 1/20 of an LD1 of Mercury. Every one of the 100 rats died. 

A friend told me the other day that he looked forward to calving season less each year. Mainly it was his having to get up to check on the animals around the clock. This made me think about nature and wonder who gets up to make sure all of the elk and deer are able to have their offspring. In the rare case that one of these females has a problem, nature takes its course, and she does not have a chance to pass those “unsuitable” traits along to any further progeny.

With apologies to that old popular song, at last year’s NADA convention, Ken McDowell reported that he has not had one open heifer in his 30 years of managing the Rotakawa herd in New Zealand. Ken said the major factor in this remarkable achievement is almost certainly his practice of not breeding his heifers until they are in their second year, producing their first calf at three years of age.

That, of course, goes against the common practice in the American cattle industry of breeding at 14 to15 months of age. And I had to credit Ken with a revolutionary and worthwhile idea.

Like most cattleman, I am always trying to find more information on breeding and genetics. Therefore, a recent learned paper put out by the University of Kentucky Department of Agriculture caught my eye. It had a promising headline---“Selection and Management Practices to Increase Consistency in Beef Cattle”----and was written by two gentlemen who specialize in “animal science”. That should have been my warning; right there! By the time I was through reading the article I was thoroughly confused. Every technique they had discussed to “increase consistency” had been dismissed.