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Will Great Nutrition Guarantee Trophy Bucks?

Monday, September 12th, 2016

Will Great Nutrition Guarantee Trophy Bucks?

If only it were that simple! Great nutrition will give your deer the opportunity to maximize their genetic potential for antler growth, but it is just one (albeit an important one) of many factors that affect deer antler growth. Even assuming that you are providing the best nutrition possible, other things, some within your control and some not, will affect production of trophy racks.

Factors in deer antler growth

General health greatly influences a variety of factors that affect deer antler growth, such as feed intake and hormone production. If your deer are laboring under a parasite load (internal or external), clinical or sub-clinical disease challenges, or have been injured, antler growth will be negatively affected no matter how nutritious the feed because nutrition will be siphoned off to deal with these other issues. Good management must go hand-in-hand with nutrition to get optimum results.

Deer habitat and antler growth

Environmental conditions are also a factor. Climate can affect how much time a deer spends eating, moving around, resting, etc., and how much energy it expends just staying warm or cooling down. Stressors such as traffic or roaming dogs can upset deer, raising blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol and negatively impacting feeding behavior and nutrient usage. Even something like an improper feeder design can affect how much a deer will eat.

Hydration maximizes feed intake in deer

Water availability is critical. Research has shown that in many species of ruminants, if water intake is reduced even minimally, food intake drops also. Water must be fresh, clean, available, and away from stressors that might inhibit a deer’s water intake. Maximizing water intake will help maximize feed intake.

The genetic footprint

Genetics, of course, are very important. If a buck is genetically programmed to be average, then the best feed in the world will make him only average. Keep in mind, however, that a lesser feed will allow him to be only less than average. However, a buck genetically programmed to have a superior rack will not achieve that growth without optimal nutritional support. If you want your bucks to achieve their genetic potential, then you must feed them accordingly.

Population density relative to antler growth

Finally, there are population factors that can affect deer antler growth, primarily population density (how many animals are in a given space) and dominance relationships between bucks. Even mild crowding is a stressor that affects hormone levels, impacts feeding behavior, and leads to increased energy expenditure and even injuries due to increased movement and numbers of altercations. Bucks must be managed with their social hierarchy in mind if injuries are to be minimized and desired breeding strategies achieved.

All in all, while nutrition is extremely important, and great trophy racks will not be achieved without optimal nutrition, management and genetics are also critical to achieving superior antler growth.

Before you head to the deer lease, stop by J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas and pick up Purina Antlermax feed and deer blocks. We’ve got everything you need for a successful hunting season.

Source: Purina Animal Nutrition

Posted in News & Updates, Wildlife, Deer | Comments Off on Will Great Nutrition Guarantee Trophy Bucks?

All Seasons 600 lb Stand & Fill Feeder

Wednesday, September 7th, 2016

Stand & Fill Feeder

It’s time to get your deer feeders ready! Looking for a stand and fill feeder? The All Seasons 600 lb Stand & Fill Feeder is now available at J&N Feed and Seed. The 600 lb Stand & Fill Feeder maintains the quality and durability of our traditional 600 lb broadcast, while offering you a much safer way to fill your feeder, from the ground, without ladders! As always, All Seasons feeders are made right here in Texas.

All Seasons Wildlife Feeders are built to hold up to the harshest environments Mother Nature has to offer. Their exclusive designs are made to deliver feed to target animals, while reducing waste on the ground.

Feeder Features:

Perforated feed tray to keep feed fresh and dry
Can feed up to 6 times a day
Dispenses 12 lbs of feed in 10 seconds
Skids for easy relocation
Hinged door for easy access to control unit
Low-profile design to allow easy filling from the ground
Feeder stands approximately 6 ft. tall
Fits between the wheel wells of a pickup truck for easy transportation

Feeder Includes:

ASF timer with motor speed control
12v solar
12v battery
Heavy duty cage to protect your feeder components from abuse of large animals and varmints

Posted in News & Updates, Wildlife, Deer | Comments Off on All Seasons 600 lb Stand & Fill Feeder

Get Ready for An Outstanding Dove Season

Monday, August 22nd, 2016

Last year Texas dove season was good, but the forecast for the upcoming dove season is outstanding. In fact, dove populations are so healthy, the season has been extended to 90 days for the first time in 80 years. This makes it the longest dove season in the country – another reason why the hunting is best in Texas.

Opening day is September 1 in the North and Central Zones, September 23 in the South Zone and the daily bag limit is 15. Check your Outdoor Annual for more details. It’s also a good idea to refer to the dove identifier so you’ll know which birds to avoid. Be sure to have a Migratory Game Bird endorsement and HIP certification if you plan to hunt dove.

If you need a new spot to hunt, check out Walk-in Hunts, the Public Hunting Program that gives you access to over 1 million acres across the state, including areas for dove hunting. Wherever you go on opening day, good hunting!

https://youtu.be/2yq_KGIJcrU

Published courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife

Posted in News & Updates, News from Max, Wildlife, Deer | Comments Off on Get Ready for An Outstanding Dove Season

Big & J BB2 Long Range Attractant

Monday, August 15th, 2016

If you want to shoot a big buck, you need to get them onto your property. Lure ’em on with Big & J BB2 Long Range Attractant. In this era of food plots and property management, deer will choose to go to the setup that’s best. BB2 is your secret weapon. Big & J Long Range Attractant, BB2 Granular, features a powerful and intense get-noticed aroma that draws deer from far and wide. This natural long-range aroma is the by-product of the proprietary refining process. No artificial ingredients or flavors are added. It’s so long range that even humans can smell it from a relatively long distance.

The intense, natural aroma is created through a proprietary refining process
Exceptionally high TDN (total digestible nutrition) level
Protein-based formula promotes antler growth
Keeps deer on your property during the season and all year long

Pick up Big & J BB2 Long Range Attractants and all your hunting supplies at J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas.

Posted in News & Updates, Wildlife, Deer | Comments Off on Big & J BB2 Long Range Attractant

Getting the Best Horse Feed Nutrition & Value for Your Money

Monday, August 8th, 2016

It seems as though diesel, groceries, fertilizer, grain and hay are all on the price escalator going up, up, up. There are a number of reasons for this run in prices, including pressure on crops from ethanol production, poor climate conditions in some areas and the declining value of the dollar. Of course none of these reasons lessen the impact on our pocketbooks, and horse owners are feeling the financial strain. This has caused many horse owners to become more focused on getting the most value for their dollar when it comes to feeding their horses.

Horse feed value
Finding the best-value horse feed means looking past price per bag and calculating the actual cost per day to feed. Divide the price per bag by 50 lbs. to determine price per pound. Then, multiply the price per pound by the pounds fed per day. Horse owners are often surprised to find the feed that is cheaper by the bag may be more expensive per day, because it must be fed at a larger amount per day or requires added expensive supplements to meet nutrient requirements.

For example, compare oats that cost approximately $14 per bag to Purina® Strategy® Professional Formula GX horse feed that costs approximately $17 per bag.¹ If a horse eats 6 pounds of oats per day to maintain good condition, that same horse would only need 4.8 pounds of Strategy® horse feed to support the same body condition, because Strategy® Professional Formula GX horse feed contains 25 to 30 percent more calories per pound than oats. Oats priced at $14 per bag, $0.28/lb., fed at 6 pounds per day calculates to $1.68 per day to feed. Strategy® Professional Formula GX horse feed, priced at $17 per bag, $0.34/lb., fed at 4.8 pounds per day costs $1.63 per day to feed.¹

Not only does Strategy® Professional Formula GX horse feed cost less per day to feed, the horse feed nutrition also contains the proper balance of protein, vitamins and minerals the horse needs, whereas oats must be supplemented to provide all the nutritional needs of the horse. If you feed a daily protein, vitamin and mineral supplement, you want to figure the cost and add that to your grain cost. Basic supplements will usually add $0.50 to $1.00 per day more to the cost of feeding your horse.

Hay value
In many areas of the country, hay prices have gone up faster than grain prices. Forage quality and weight per bale both factor into finding the best value for hay. Quality is impacted by variety of forage, the maturity of the plant at time of harvest and the conditions at harvest. The assumption that alfalfa is better quality than grass and therefore justifies a higher price isn’t always the case. Moderate-quality alfalfa, 16 percent or less protein, actually may be a lower feed value than good-quality grass, 11 percent or more protein. The moderate-quality alfalfa is usually very mature and lower in digestibility, whereas the higher-quality grass hay is more digestible and palatable to the horse.

Most people are not very accurate when estimating amounts of hay and grain being fed. For example, a 3-pound coffee can holds 3 pounds of coffee, but it will hold 4 pounds of Purina® Strategy® Professional Formula GX horse feed. The weight of oats can vary quite a bit depending on the quality of the oats, ranging from 2.5 to 4.25 pounds per 3-pound coffee can. Hay weight can vary quite a bit as well so, when possible, hay should be purchased by the ton instead of by the bale. Hay that costs $10 per bale and weighs 65 pounds per bale is a better value than hay that costs $8 per bale but weighs only 45 pounds per bale.

If you are feeding 20 pounds of hay per day, the hay that costs $10 per bale calculates out to $3.08 per day, while 20 pounds from the $8 bale of hay ends up costing $3.54 per day. Also, two flakes from the heavier bale will often weigh more than two flakes from the lighter bale, so your actual feeding rates may vary as well. Weighing a few representative flakes from hay when you first buy it can help keep your feeding rates more consistent and your hay costs more under control.

The cost of owning horses has certainly gone up over the last few years, and there doesn’t appear to be a change in that trend in the forecast. However, using a scale and a calculator to do a little figuring can reveal possible ways to save money without compromising the health and well being of your horses.

Karen E. Davison, Ph.D. – Equine Nutritionist and Sales Support Manager, Purina

Posted in Horse, News & Updates | Comments Off on Getting the Best Horse Feed Nutrition & Value for Your Money

West Nile Equine Vaccines

Monday, August 1st, 2016

Protect your horses from West Nile Disease with West Nile Equine Vaccines available J&N Feed and Seed. We carry single dose syringes of EquiNile West Nile Virus Vaccine and Prestige V + WNV(West Nile) 7 way vaccine. Both vaccines are for healthy horses 6 months or older.

EquiNile West Nile Virus Vaccine is for the vaccination of healthy horses as an aid in reduction of disease, encephalitis, and viremia caused by West Nile Virus. EquiNile WNV is adjuvanted with Havlogen. Give 1 ml IM to horses 6 months of age and older, repeat with a single dose in 3 – 4 weeks. Annual revaccination with a single dose is recommended. Killed vaccine.

Prestige V + WNV(West Nile) available in single dose with syringe + needle, it is the industry’s first 7-way Vaccine plus WNV(WestNile) Vaccine with Havlogen Adjuvant. A killed virus low-volume vaccine that protects healthy horses against Equine Encephalomyelitis Eastern and Western, equine Herpesviruses(Rhino) EHV-1 and EHV-4, and Equine Influenza virus subtypes A1, A2 including KY93, KY02, and Tetanus Toxoid Plus West Nile – All in one shot!

For horse owners, it is important to be educated on the risks of West Nile to your animals. Prevention and awareness are the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your animals from this disease.

Symptoms of West Nile Virus infection:

Elevated temperature
Listlessness, apathy, drowsiness
Weakness, partial or full paralysis
Poor feeding, weight loss
Circling, aggressiveness, abnormal sensitivity to light

J&N Feed and Seed carries EquiNile and Prestige V + WNV West Nile Virus Vaccine for horses. We also carry Mosquito Dunks, Ultrashield and Centura to combat mosquitoes. Pick up these products at our store if you have concerns about West Nile in your barn!

Posted in Horse, News & Updates | Comments Off on West Nile Equine Vaccines

Benefits of Supplemental Deer Feeding

Monday, July 25th, 2016

The hot summer months in Texas wreak havoc on white-tailed deer and supplemental deer feeding may be necessary. As natural food sources are low, they will be looking for supplemental feed sources wherever they can be found. This is antler growth season and deer need high quality nutrition in order for maximum antler growth.

There are a number of good reasons for supplemental deer feeding at this time of year:

Increased antler growth for bucks
Better milk production for lactating does – translates to better muscle and skeletal growth for their fawns.

We recommend feeding Antlermax, 20%-protein pelleted ration designed to enhance the deer’s natural forage diet. Formulated with patented AntlerMax® Technology.

Improves antler size and mass and improves body condition.
Optimum reproductive performance and strong healthy fawns.
Proprietary AntlerMax® Mineral – optimal antler growth, density and strength.
Highly palatable – strong proprietary flavor attracts deer and elk.
To be fed free-choice with adequate forage or quality hay.

Tags: Deer
Posted in News & Updates, Wildlife, Deer | Comments Off on Benefits of Supplemental Deer Feeding

Deep Drip Watering Stakes

Sunday, July 24th, 2016

Properly watering trees and gardens will make all the difference when it comes to the health and stability of plants. Using Deep Drip Stakes, which waters the plant directly at the roots, helps ensure deep roots and plants that are full of life! J&N Feed and Seed now stocks Deep Drip Watering Stakes.

Deep Drip Water Stakes are designed to help you maintain healthy, beautiful trees and plants by watering them directly at the roots, while conserving up to 50% of your outdoor water usage and protecting the environment.

Wondering what size to use? Deep Drip is available in four convenient sizes!

8″ – For flowers, fruits, vegetables, and small plants.

14″- Perfect for plants with shallow roots including: potted plants, shrubs, vines and small
trees.

24″ – Works well on all medium to large tree varieties including fruit trees and palms.

36″- For large established trees and palms.

Posted in Garden, News & Updates | Comments Off on Deep Drip Watering Stakes

Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock

Wednesday, July 20th, 2016

introducing new chickens to your flock

Whether you’re starting with a group of new chicks or you’re looking to add a few new hens to an existing flock, proper planning, care and management can help the transition in introducing new chickens to your flock to be most successful.

Mikelle Roeder, Ph.D., a flock nutrition expert for Purina Animal Nutrition, says it’s especially important to understand the commitment of raising new birds.

“Springtime and new birds are often thought of together: both represent new beginnings and excitement, but we can’t forget that raising chicks is a long-term commitment,” Roeder says.

“Be sure to have a long-term plan and a place for them to live before your new birds arrive,” she adds. “Preparing for new arrivals can help prevent the spread of disease and keep the peace in your existing flock’s pecking order.”

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Manage new birds separately.

As soon as new birds arrive, keep them separate from the rest of the flock. This allows you to monitor the birds closely and prevent any possible illness from spreading to either group.

“New birds have often traveled a fair amount and been near other birds – and your existing flock may have built immunity to germs in your area,” Roeder says. “Keep new birds in a separate room or coop for 30 days and monitor them to make sure they are free of disease and to acclimate them to your backyard.”

During this period, work with the existing flock first and wash your hands between groups to prevent any cross-contamination.

A similar quarantine plan is recommended for new chicks, as older hens can transmit disease to chicks and pullets. For chicks, though, the separation should last for 18 weeks to help the birds reach mature size and transition onto a layer feed before meeting other members of the flock.

“Start new chicks away from the flock, in a brooder,” Roeder says. “This allows you to provide the chicks supplemental heat and teach them to drink and eat a high-energy complete feed. Once they are ready to enter a coop, continue to raise them separately until they reach the same size as the mature birds to minimize potential physical injuries once the two groups of birds are introduced.”

Introduce birds in groups.

After the quarantine period, gradually familiarize new birds to the existing flock. Introducing groups of birds similar in size and traits into a familiar setting can help provide a smooth transition. Be sure there is plenty of space to prevent overcrowding.

“One way to help both groups acclimate to each other is to place the two groups in side-by-side runs,” Roeder says. “Placing the two groups next to one another for one week can help the birds form bonds before being housed together. It can also alert you to potential personality clashes that may be difficult to resolve. Another strategy is to let the new group free-range first and then introduce the existing flock to place the focus on new surroundings rather than new flock members.”

In either case, add additional feeders and waterers to the run to prevent the new birds from being deterred from eating and drinking. During the introduction period, the new pecking order will begin to be established. In most flocks, one bird is dominant in the group and the remaining birds will fall into an accepted order below the dominant bird. Occasionally two strong-willed birds may consistently fight in an attempt to gain the position of dominant bird. In this case, the owner may need to find a new home for one of them in order to maintain peace in the flock.

“The pecking order is a very stable structure in the group until a bird is removed or new birds are added,” Roeder says. “At that point, the order must be re-established. Add new birds in a group with similar-sized hens and plenty of available feed, space and water to help ease the transition.”

Monitor for success.

After new birds are added to the group, monitor the flock for success or fallouts.

“Watch the group closely after the introduction,” Roeder says. “Birds that are happy, healthy and content will continue their routines without changes in personality or feed consumption. Consistency is especially important during transitions, so be sure to continue providing high-quality complete feed, shelter and fresh water at all times.”

Mikelle Roeder, Ph.D. – Multi-Species Nutritionist – Purina Mills

Posted in Chicks, News & Updates | Comments Off on Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock

10 Daily Tips For Show Cattle

Thursday, July 14th, 2016

Raising Show Cattle is a lot like sports. When you want to be successful at sports, you don’t just show up for games and expect to win. You attend team practices, you practice at home and you follow the game plan outlined by the coach. The same concept applies to showing cattle. You prepare for the ‘game’ through daily animal care, grooming and seeking guidance from the pros or a ‘coach.’ You follow that game plan right up until show day.

Bob May, Purina^® Honor^® Show Chow^® Ambassador from Mineral Point, Wis., uses an intense and individualized game plan for each of his cattle.

“Success in the showring starts with the cattle’s conformation, but is achieved with consistent hard work and daily care to get the cattle where they need to be at the show,” says May.

The calf may be the star athlete, but even the best athletes don’t perform well without proper daily training, management and a supportive team behind them.

May suggests the following daily care tips to help take your show project to the next level:

1. Involve a veterinarian. Before an animal arrives at your farm, have a plan in place through your veterinarian for health and vaccination protocols. Ask the prior owner for a full health history on the animal, so you can have all of the animal’s health information at hand.

2. Earn the animal’s trust. A show calf needs to trust you, and trust comes in the form of working with the animal on a daily basis. It may be a long, slow process, but it’s one that’s essential to form a partnership with your project animal.

3. Have a consistent feeding routine. May suggests feeding individually at the same time each day. Cattle crave consistency, and when they are fed inconsistently they might also eat inconsistently. May also emphasizes that calves may eat better when they eat in a group setting. To make this possible, he will place individual calves in different runs nose-to-nose and feed them at the same time to mimic feeding in a group.

4. Monitor feed intake. Monitor what your animal is consuming at each feeding, and clean out old feed immediately. May has seen cases where new feed is simply dumped on top of old feed.

“You can quickly lose track of how much feed your calf is actually consuming,” explains May. “You think they are getting 15 pounds at night, and they are actually getting 18 because someone didn’t clean out the old feed from the morning.”

5. Ensure water availability and quality. Animals should have access to clean, cool water at all times. This basic animal care tip is sometimes overlooked, according to May.

“We clean our water tanks frequently,” May says. “Clean, cool water will keep cattle drinking and eating in those hot summer months when consumption usually drops off.”

6. Keep pens and cooler rooms clean. May mentions a good rule of thumb is if it smells or looks wet or dirty – clean it. A clean pen or cooler room will make grooming and daily care of the animal easier for both the animal and the exhibitor.

“If you don’t want to be in those pens or cooler rooms because of the smell, then the animal doesn’t want to be either,” he explains. “Cooler rooms do not equate to hair growth. Cleanliness is most important for hair growth.”

7. Learn the hair cycles. Hair grows in 90-day cycles, and this knowledge can help you determine what stage an animal’s hair will be in (or you want to be in) as you arrive at your show date. For example, for a show in August, May’s goal is to have all the old hair removed by the middle of May.

May doesn’t shear off any of his calves, but recognizes this is a standard practice for some breeds. Instead, he relies on a shedding comb to bust through and remove old hair. The shedding comb works best when hair is dirty and dusty, not wet or caked with manure.

8. Practice, practice, practice. May has his own children show their animals in competition at least twice before heading to their target show. This allows the animals and exhibitors to shake their ‘first-time jitters.’

“Specifically at the county fair level, it may be the first and only time both the kids and the cattle have seen the showring,” he explains. “And usually, that is not a good experience for the exhibitor or the animal.”

9. Find a hoof trimmer you can trust. May encourages all exhibitors to seek an expert in hoof care and recommends networking with other show enthusiasts to find a good trimmer in your area. Unlike clipping and fitting, there is little room for practice on hooves.

“Find a good hoof trimmer that will do a little trimming on the top, but does most of the work underneath the hoof,” he says. “A bad hoof trimming can result in disaster.”

10. Stick to the game plan. Have a management plan. Identify important dates before the show, and execute your plan daily.

“If you don’t focus on the management, other exhibitors will,” explains May. “And quite simply, if you don’t focus – those that do will beat you. They will be better prepared.”

Source: Bob May, Purina Animal Nutrition

Posted in Cattle, News & Updates, Show Chow | Comments Off on 10 Daily Tips For Show Cattle

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