CALF_News_June_July_2021

30 CALF News • June | July 2021 • www.calfnews.net In addition to their private herd business, Kellen and Katie custom graze outside cattle during winter months. The ample availability of crop residue and cover crops in the heavily farmed area provides an additional source of income and winter work. The Whole Family Each of the extended Jorgensen family has a role to play in the diversified operation. Kellen emphasizes that his biggest friend and asset is his wife. Katie is instrumental in the breed- ing program and the person who runs the feed wagon, being solely in charge of nutrition. Kellen laughs when he describes himself as the “gate opener” for Katie. Her unending workload during calving is noted. Kellen’s dad, Kelvin, works closely with his daughter-in-law – the two are “peas and carrots” with regard to cow work. He is the financial and bookkeeping rock in the family, having been a banker for nearly 45 years. He admits that, early on, their suc- cession plan was run“by the seat of our pants,” but now involves more legalities as the younger couple accumulates equity. Marsha, Kellen’s mom, is a nurse who’s also at the hub of family activity. She is available as a runner to procure parts during equipment breakdowns and supplies needed items on chaotic days. Kellen has a sister and brother-in-law, Klaire and Derek Jagels, who live nearby. They provide extra help moving cattle, at harvest, AI and other critical days. Indispensable Allies In addition to family, Jorgensen emphasizes that others who are an irreplaceable asset to anyone in agriculture, namely: A good banker by your side – Fred Bruning of Bruning Bank. A good attorney – Boyd Strope of O’Neill. A good accountant – Larry Cox of Henderson. A good veterinarian – Steve Gemar, DVM, of Sutton. Good landlords for providing stable opportunity. In the Future The future for Kellen and Katie focuses on running their business to the best of their abilities, maximizing the most earning potential per acre and per cow unit. Final Thoughts Jorgensen admits he likes raising row crops better than cattle, but realizes the excellent balance of farming and beef production. “Diversity has been my biggest friend since coming home from college,” he says. “Farming, seed corn production, custom farm labor, haying and custom grazing cattle in the winter has helped Katie and me survive.” The young Jorgensens are blessed to have family, neighbors and professional support helping them pursue a big dream. Their stability and work ethic will be a big payback to their community as they succeed in a difficult and challenging career. We need more like them.  YOUNG STOCKMAN Continued from page 29 CHUTESIDE MANNER Continued from page 19 or intermittent. Edema may develop under the jaw even as cows will remain alert and eat normally. There is no treatment for Johne’s disease, and suspect cows may be tested serologically. Quick culling is the best method to minimize contamination of the farm. Vaccination is not rec- ommended; the injection site will become granular and swol- len and will cause false positive tests. Control of the disease, within-herd, takes at least five years. Research is ongoing regarding the possible connection between Johne’s disease and Crohn’s disease in humans. M. bovis in Feedlot Cattle M. bovis was first isolated in the U.S. from the milk of a mastitic cow in 1961. Russ Daly, professor, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension veterinarian, in an October 2020 SDSU Extension article, wrote about the difficulties in treating Myco- plasma pneumonia, the most prevalent M. bovis- related disease in feedlot cattle. He reiterated the bacteria’s ability to become well estab- lished deep within body tissues. There are several drugs approved for the treatment of M. bovis, but once symptoms appear, “results can be variable and often disappointing. It is difficult for the antibiotic to reach a high enough concentra- tion for a long enough period of time to adequately affect the bacteria. Calves must be treated early with high enough levels of product.” Therefore, metaphylaxis (treating a whole group) is recom- mended for high-risk calves arriving at a feedyard with an approved antibiotic. Daly also describes M. bovis vaccines as ineffective or even harmful; most infections are already established before a calf enters the feedyard. Some studies even indicate an M. bovis pneumonia to be more severe in a vaccinated calf vs. unvac- cinated. It is, however, always useful to vaccinate for bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) to help reduce incidence of respiratory disease in general. Many Mycobacterial Infections A great variety of dreadful diseases are dispersed to a limit- less number of species through Mycoplasma bacteria. Cattle diseases include pneumonia, arthritis, mastitis, Johne’s disease and tuberculosis. It causes late-term abortions and can be car- ried about by seemingly healthy cattle. Dogs may develop pulmonary infections and swine can grow lesions on their lymph nodes. Fish, amphibians and other cold-blooded animals, as well as primates, can suffer from Mycoplasma . Cats, rats, armadillos, badgers and many kinds of deer are also reservoirs for the bacteria. These examples are only a proverbial drop in the bucket of one of the most proficient and adaptable bacteria on earth. It is always smartest to stay vigilant against a worthy oppo- nent. 