Baxter Black, DVM: TWO KINDS OF DAIRYMEN

Baxter Black, DVM:  TWO KINDS OF DAIRYMEN

The Hindu dairymen, represented by the Hare Krishna (HK) in the United States, have much in common with dairymen from California, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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Fertility potential: the bull + the cow + the inseminator + the environment.

Fertility potential: the bull + the cow + the inseminator + the environment.

Mel DeJarnette, Senior Reproductive Specialist, Select Sires

The success of any artificial insemination program is dependent on numerous factors. Success starts with a bull that is healthy, disease-free, and produces ample quantities of high quality semen. However, equally important is the fertility potential of the female, competency of the inseminator, and quality of the environment. Each of these components must be maintained at high standards as maximum reproductive efficiency will be a function of the weakest link.

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Use of Natural Service Sires with Synchronized Estrus

Use of Natural Service Sires with Synchronized Estrus

Sandy Johnson and Peter Chenoweth, K-State Research and Extension, Colby, KS; *Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga NSW

Typically producers that synchronize estrus do so to facilitate an AI program. However there are some instances where application of an AI program is not feasible but advantages from synchronization of estrus are still desirable.

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Understanding shrink and its effect on income

Understanding shrink and its effect on income

Southern Livestock Standard

There are many factors that are responsible for shrink of cattle during the marketing process. Many producers do not understand that shrink is a weak link in marketing cattle. Cattle producers spend a great deal of time and energy to make their cattle gain weight and weigh as much as possible. Then, when they pen, process and transport their cattle for market, the cattle lose weight. Feedlots and order buyers understand shrink and diligently strive to minimize its effect.

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Superior Livestock Auction under new ownership

Superior Livestock Auction under new ownership

Drovers.com

Superior Livestock is now owned by SLAI, LLC which is a wholly owned entity of Farm Credit West, ACA. Farm Credit West, according to a company release, is a strong supporter of the livestock industry and is proud to be the new owner of Superior Livestock—the largest livestock auction company in the U.S. and # 1 in the livestock marketing industry.

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Steve Cornett: Boots, Beef and Buying American

Steve Cornett:  Boots, Beef and Buying American

Beef Today

That picture is my buckaroo boots. I bought them because they had the highest top of any boots on the boot shelf at the local West Texas Western Wear. Well, that and they’ve got those pretty red tops.

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Animal Welfare Groups Want To Change Your Production Practices

Animal Welfare Groups Want To Change Your Production Practices

The Farm Gate

A year ago Proposition 2 in California was approved by voters and spelled the end to the California egg industry because it caused the abolition of common production practices. Voters in other states have spoken out, and in some caused significant changes in the way livestock are raised.

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Research Paper Looks at Upswing in Quality Grades

Research Paper Looks at Upswing in Quality Grades

Cattle Today

Three years ago, a 30-year decline in beef quality grades was apparent, with only half of fed cattle grading USDA Choice. The Choice/Select spread hit record highs in 2006, but today the picture is much different. July figures show 60.1 percent of the harvest mix graded Choice the first half of this year, but why?

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Ranchers fight animal activists

Ranchers fight animal activists

Advocates for Agriculture

Tom Field doesn’t mind if consumers think a little differently, so long as they’re eating beef.

In the midst of a fragmented consumer market, Field, the producer education executive director of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, presented marketing measures the beef industry needs to take during the Washington Cattlemen’s Association annual convention in Pasco, Wash.

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4 reasons why grass-fed beef is better

4 reasons why grass-fed beef is better

DAN SHAPLEY

The Seattle Post Intelligencer

Anyone who’s seen Food Inc. or felt startled at the prospect of E. coli finding its way into your hamburger should care about the origins of your beef.

Beef, as we most often raise it today, is a high-impact food — about as high-impact as you can get. Food is one of the leading contributors to global warming, primarily because of livestock — the fossil fuels used to fertilize grain crops and make pesticides, the deforestation to make way for grazing or feedlots and everyone’s favorite: cow belches.

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Not just cows and corn

Not just cows and corn

Heather Mullinix

Crossville Chronicle

Agriculture is more than cattle and corn. The opportunities range from careers in tourism, land management and agricultural engineering to education, landscaping, research and operating a family farm.

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Beef Industry Needs More Feed Efficiency Data

Beef Industry Needs More Feed Efficiency Data

Cattle Today

Feed accounts for 65 percent to 80 percent of total beef-production costs. With grain prices at their highest levels ever, finding a way to lower those costs is important to cattle producers. Feed-management practices go only so far, however. A more promising tool for cattle producers is genetic selection for improved feed efficiency.

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A world without roast beef

A world without roast beef

Guarduian.co.UK

Sir Paul McCartney arrived in Brussels yesterday to recruit support for his "meat-free Mondays" campaign. The argument seems so easy: cut down meat consumption and the planet will be saved.

But even if a world without roast beef was one in which we all wanted to live (please count me out), we need to think a little harder about what will really work to arrest global warming.

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Vaccination Timing

Vaccination Timing

Dan Goehl, DVM

Beef Today

Personally. I am a believer in modified live vaccines. On the cow side some of these are approved for use in pregnant females, but this should not be used as a crutch to vaccinate in an untimely manner. My preferred program would be a modified live vaccine (containing IBR, BVD 1, BVD 2, PI -3, BRSV) 2 to 4 weeks prior to bull turn out.

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Weaning Later Might Pay Off in the Long Run

Weaning Later Might Pay Off in the Long Run

Thebeefsite.com

Research is beginning to show that leaving calves with their mothers longer pays off, said Rob Kallenbach.

"One thing we’ve noticed is when the calves are weaned in April, we’re weaning and selling the calf right in front of the high-level forage production in spring," Mr Kallenbach said. "We’re looking at ways for farmers to simply capture some of this value and not hurt the cows so they can rebreed well for the next year."

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