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AgCenter school teaches artificial insemination

AgCenter school teaches artificial insemination Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu(11/13/2019) ALEXANDRIA, La. — For cattle producers, artificial insemination (AI) is an affordable way to introduce desirable genetics to a herd and improve herd management, especially for smaller commercial and farm operations. “Better genetics increases profits by reducing production costs and producing better calves with improved trait selection, like fertility and productivity, with greater quality of product,” said LSU AgCenter beef cattle researcher Guillermo Scaglia. Scaglia and a team of AgCenter experts led a three-day artificial insemination school Nov. 6-8 at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center in Alexandria, where 15 cattle producers learned the science and techniques needed to successfully improve the quality of their herds. The class covered topics on anatomy, nutrition, reproductive management, body condition scoring and herd health while providing hands-on instruction in the care and handling of equipment, facilities and AI procedures with live cows. “The whole experience, all of the information they are giving us and the hands-on AI, is really helpful,” said Allen Bourgeois, a small herd operator from St. Martinville. “I can actually AI breed my own cattle and not depend on other people,” he said. The beef cattle industry contributed more than $465 million to the Louisiana economy in 2018, and another $77.5 million was generated by the state’s dairy industry, according to the LSU AgCenter Louisiana Summary of Agriculture and Natural Resources. More than 11,000 cattle and dairy producers operate in the state. The intensive three-day course examined many issues that producers should consider before beginning an artificial insemination program. “Cattle producers need to plan for end goals,” Scaglia said, adding that selecting for one specific genetic trait will affect other traits, so a balanced approach is recommended. A well-planned AI program can help producers reduce costs by requiring fewer bulls, yielding females who can deliver more calves in their lifetime and be bred earlier in their lives, improving weaning weights of calves, or introducing improved carcass traits in steers, Scaglia said. By concentrating the calving season to ensure calves will be born fairly close together, producers can improve herd management and help the females recover more easily for the next breeding season, he said. Small-herd owners aiming to improve genetics will see a benefit on the first progeny, he said, although it will take two or more generations to see most of the herd positively affected. “I’m in the position now where I kept heifers from my bull, and I can’t rebreed to that bull, so I need to continue that line with outside bulls without having to buy the bull,” said Avoyelles Parish producer Sherwood Poret. Tim Fontenot, a Louisiana Master Cattleman from St. Landry Parish, said the hands-on experience was the most valuable aspect of the program for his commercial beef operation. “Until you get out here and do it, it is totally different and a challenge,” he said. “The only way you are going to do it is practice.” For Jesse and Misty Thibodeaux, the class helped them learn how to improve the commercial dairy cows that their two oldest daughters show as part of the 4-H program in Jefferson Davis Parish. The biology has definitely been helpful, and the hands-on instruction made this class worthwhile, they said, adding that the program was a “golden” opportunity for them. DeSoto Parish cattle producer Michael Rister said he is looking for some good carcass and weaning traits to potentially market straight to larger beef programs in the future. “The hands-on anatomy is the biggest part of it, and that’s the part you can’t learn on YouTube,” Rister said. The next AgCenter artificial insemination class is planned in spring 2020 and will be held at the LSU AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station in Homer. For registration information, contact AgCenter extension agents Jason Holmes at jholmes@agcenter.lsu.edu or 318-368-9935, or Lee Faulk at afaulk@agcenter.lsu.edu or 318-927-2578. Scaglia can be contacted at gscaglia@agcenter.lsu.edu or LSU AgCenter names soil fertility, agronomy specialist
Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu


(11/15/2019) WINNSBORO, La. — Rasel Parvej recently joined the LSU AgCenter Northeast Region faculty as assistant professor serving as a soil fertility and agronomy specialist. Parvej will have statewide responsibilities in row crop soil fertility.

After receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Parvej earned a doctorate in soil fertility and nutrient management from the University of Arkansas in 2015. He completed post-doctoral work in soil fertility and agronomic management from Virginia Tech in 2018 before beginning work on a postdoc in cropping system management at Iowa State University.

With research experience in cropping systems that include soybean, rice, corn, cotton and cover crops, Parvej plans to work with producers to improve soil fertility through better nutrient management. His primary focus is in corn, soybean, cotton and grain sorghum crops. His experience working in multiple soils laboratories across the country will allow him to have a better understanding of soil fertility research need and approaches to practical solutions.

A native of Bangladesh, Parvej grew up learning about agriculture from his grandfather and has a passion for working with people to share information from his research experience that builds on producer needs. While only slightly larger than Louisiana in land mass, Bangladesh has a population of about 160 million people compared to 4.65 million residents in Louisiana, yet the country produces the majority of its own food needs.

The southern U.S. has more soil fertility issues that need to be addressed compared to northern states, Parvej said, adding that the organic matter in some southern soils is comparatively low, running from 0.5% to 1.5%. These levels will greatly affect recommendations of major and minor nutrients for Louisiana crops.

“I am looking forward to focusing on developing fertilizer recommendations and improving nutrient management in production systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable based on the producer’s farming operation, soil types and yield expectations,” Parvej said. Much of his research and demonstration work will be done on cooperating producers’ farms.

An avid sports fan, Parvej enjoys soccer, cricket, tennis and badminton, but has developed an appreciation for American football and baseball.

Joining the LSU Tiger family seems only appropriate, he said, since the Bengal tiger is native to Bangladesh and has the distinction of being the country’s national animal and national cricket team logo called Tiger Team.

Parvej plans to make his home in the Monroe area with his wife, Jesmine Afroz, and daughter, Fetama Parvej.

Parvej will have offices at the LSU AgCenter Scott Research and Extension Center, Macon Ridge Research Station and the Northeast Research Station in St. Joseph. He also has an appointment in the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences on the LSU campus.

Parvej can be contacted at mrparvej@agcenter.lsu.edu or 318-435-2157.337-276-5527.