September 2, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 8

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Agriculture Wednesday, September 2, 2020 “7 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 The three stages of parturition in calves By Glenn Selk, Oklahoma this time the “progesterone creased mucous discharge. the USDA experiment sta- hour for heifers and 30 min- research has shown that im- State University Emeritus block” is no longer present Stage 2 tion at Miles City, Montana utes for cows, In heifers, not proper manual removal can Extension animal scientist and the uterine muscles are The second stage of par- (Doornbos, et al. 1984), only is the pelvic opening be detrimental to uterine As we move closer to the becoming more sensitive to turition is defined as the de- would indicate that stage 2 smaller, but also the soft tis- health and future concep- first of September and the all factors that increase the livery of the newborn. It be- is much shorter being ap- sue has never been expand- tion rates. Administration fall calving season begins, rate and strength of contrac- gins with the entrance of the proximately 1 hour for heif- ed. Older cows have had understanding what to ex- tions. membranes and fetus into ers and 30 minutes for adult deliveries in previous years of antibiotics usually will pect during the normal de- At the beginning, the the pelvic canal and ends cows. In these studies, as- and birth should go quite guard against infection and livery can help to determine contractile forces primarily with the completed birth of sistance was given if stage rapidly unless there is some the placenta will slough out when a cow needs assistance influence the relaxation of the calf, So the second stage 2 progressed more than 2 abnormality such as a very in four to seven days. Con- due to a problem that oc- the cervix but uterine mus- is the one in which we really hours after the appearance of large calf, backwards calf, tact your veterinarian for curs during calving. Animal cular activity is still rather are interested. This is where water bag at the vulva. The leg back or twins. the proper management of scientists and veterinarians quiet. Cattle managers with all the action is. Clinically, interesting thing about the Stage3 a retained placenta. Before agree that there are three im- a keen eye may notice the and from a practical aspect data was that heifers calving The third stage of par- portant stages of any cow’s relaxation of the pelvic liga- we would define the begin- unassisted did so in an aver- turition is the shedding of the spring calving season delivery of the baby calf. ments creating a “sunken” ning of stage 2 as the ap- age time of about 55 minutes the placenta or fetal mem- begins, download and read Stage 1 appearance near the tailhead. pearance of membranes or after the initiation of stage 2 branes. In cattle this nor- Calving Time Management The first stage of parturi- Stage | signs are often quite water bag at the vulva. The and adult cows did so within mally occurs in less than for Beef Cows and Heifers tion is dilation of the cervix. subtle, but there may be traditional texts, fact sheets, about 22 minutes of the ini- 8-12 hours. The membranes (Oklahoma State University The normal cervix is tightly some behavioral differences magazines, and other pub- tiation of stage 2. are considered retained if E-1006). closed right up until the cer- such as isolation or discom- lications that we read may Those that took longer after 12 hours they have For more information con- vical plug is completely dis- fort. At the end of stage one, state that stage 2 in cattle needed assistance. These not been shed. Years ago it tact Greg Hartman Beck- solved. In stage 1, cervical there may be some notice- lasts from 2 to 4 hours. and other data would indi- was considered necessary dilation begins some 4 to able behavioral changes However, data from cate that normal stage 2 of to remove the membranes ham/Washita County Ex- 24 hours before the comple- such as elevation of the tail, Oklahoma State University parturition should be rede- by manually “unbuttoning” tension at 580-928-2139 or tion of parturition. During switching of the tail and in- (Putnam, et al. 1985) and fined as approximately 1 the attachments. However, 580-832-3356. More mental health resources needed for farmers By Colleen Harrison, Al- dropping prices. erally beneficial for crop COVID-19 added its own there have been some minor ers know the services that bert Lea Tribune, Minne- “That’s becoming a big yields. set of problems to the mix changes due to the helpline were available and the dif- sota struggle financially,” McDe- Another potential stressor for farmers. While affecting being manned by a different Mental health has become vitt said. ferent resources at their dis- for farmers has been the market prices, at one point contractor, it is still avail- more of a focus nationwide, He said the drop in pric- average age of farmers in multiple meat packing plants able and still there to help posal. and the agricultural industry es or lull in other aspects Minnesota. McDevitt said shut down, causing a back- those in need in the agricul- McDevitt said many of has focused on mental health forces farmers to sometimes its generally on the older log for farmers with animals ture industry, and has grown those meetings maxed out services over the past decade start using their financial side, so more farmers are that needed to go to slaugh- considerably in recent years as well. reserves or to borrow more either struggling with age ter. their attendance limits, as due to increased usage. Matt McDevitt is an ag from lenders. When things limitations or are under the Some farmers had to The confidential helpline everyone from _ bankers, finance supervisor with the start to worsen even more stress of transitioning their nurses and pastors to social Minnesota Department of slaughter their own animals can be reached by phone at financially, then lenders start operations over to either a and essentially throw them 833-600-2670, by texting Agriculture. While he works workers and doctors stopped to put liens on property or younger generation in their out, or were docked in prices FARMSTRESS to 898211 a lot with farmers on loans in to find out how they could and other financial matters, other assets in the farmer’s family or a new operator all when their livestock was or by emailing farmstress@ he said mental health comes possession. together. able to be processed because state.mn.us and is available assist the farming commu- with that territory as well. McDevitt said weather “Most farmers, that’s what the animals were too large, 24/7. nity. With prices and commodi- was an issue last year, and they love to do,” McDevitt according to farmers advo- The growing need for While the industry has ties - their products going that it has still had some lin- said. “They want to do it un- cate Wayne Pike. He said mental health services in ru- never been an easy one, for too small a price - being gering effects on this year’s til the day they die.” the dairy market was signifi- ral and agriculture commu- an issue for farmers, added markets as well, even with In addition to the routine McDevitt said it has become cantly affected by schools nities has led farm advocates stress has come along with 2020's weather being gen- potential stressors of the job, being closed, as they’re a around the state of Min- more complicated over the major consumer of milk. nesota to recognize more years. Farms have grown OU launches new AI Institute He said that depression and other mental health is- and more when their clients need to be put in touch with in size exponentially, with much more space, equip- sues being talked about more those services, McDevitt for weather research in general has helped farm- said. Advocates are meant ment and materials for farm- ers to manage, along with ers be more open to seeking to make sure farmers know By Dale Denwalt, The Al already plays a role in learning on the radar data help. When they do, he be- their rights, help them with competition from corporate Oklahoman weather prediction, helping with a really high confi- lieves it helps them to realize mediation if it comes up and farms. The University of Okla- crunch huge datasets. The dence and really good skill, they’re not alone, and the is- help them work through fi- “Farmers by nature tend homa will lead a new arti- human element is still im- to forecast tornadoes 30 to sues they’re struggling with nancial or any other issues to be very tough and want ficial intelligence institute portant, too, said McGov- 60 minutes out,” McGovern are difficult to many others that come up while working funded by the National Sci- ern. to handle everything on their said. in the industry. in the industry. Meetings and ence Foundation, with the “We don’t want to replace Deep learning is an AI The Minnesota Farm & listening sessions were held own. It can get very over- goal of developing more the humans, by the way. We process that allows a com- Rural Helpline has been in different parts of the state whelming,” he said. “People trustworthy AI for weather want to become a tool that puter to detect patterns around for at least 10 to 12 before the pandemic to let are there to help and want to research, will help the humans im- farmers and other ag work- help.” similar to the way a human years, McDevitt said. While The NSF will invest $20 prove their forecasts, and brain works. million in this new initia~ help keep them from being Another goal for the AI tive, part of a larger pro- overloaded by the tremen- Institute is to launch a first- gram to establish other AI dous amounts of data that’s available to them.” of-its-kind AI certificate for institutes nationwide that will also focus on machine The funds will go toward community colleges. The learning, student-AI teams, paying graduate students, certificate will be available molecular science, work- through Del Mar College post-doctorate staff and fac- force development, food ulty salaries over five years. through its partner universi- and agriculture. McGovern said OU will ty, Texas A&M University- At OU, the AI Institute work with partners in New Corpus Christi. for Research on Trustwor- York, Colorado, Washing- “Establishment of this thy AI in Weather, Climate ton, North Carolina, Texas new NSF AI Institute at OU and Coastal Oceanography and private companies like is a historic milestone in en- is a long time in the making, NVIDIA, Disaster Tech, vironmental science,” said said program lead Amy Mc- Google and IBM. retired Navy Rear Adm. Govern, professor of com- Along with studying how Tim Gallaudet, deputy ad- puter science at the School AI can improve coastal ministrator at the National of Meteorology. She’s been oceanography weather pre- Oceanic and Atmospheric working in the field for 16 diction and winter weather Administration. “Our part- years, and said OU has re- forecasting, there will be nership with this Institute cently started hiring to bol- a focus on improving how ster its programs. soon meteorologists can will accelerate that progress “What’s happened is that predict severe storms that to dramatically improve our a number of us, including include hail and tornadoes. performance and efficiency me, have been demonstrat- Eventually, forecasters in every one of our mis- ing that AI can really im- could be able to predict tor- sion areas, including severe prove weather forecasting,” nadoes earlier than the typi- weather prediction, fish- »801 Gary Blvd © Clinton 310 N» Washington * Weatherford she said. “And so people are cal 15 minutes and reduce eries management, ocean 303 N2 Madison ® Elk City starting to see it. They’re false alarms. mapping and exploration, starting to see how AI helps “We've got results show- and natural resource con- across a variety of fields.” ing that vou can use deep servation.”