Weaning the Calf Crop

Weaning the Calf Crop

Darrell L. Rankins, Jr.

Auburn University

  The first order of business in the weaning process is to have an adequate weaning pen.  This pen should be STOUT and capable of holding the calf crop.  Remember, these calves are going to try to get back to mama and any out-of-the-ordinary night noise is liable to spook them.  It requires a good fence to stop 60 calves on the move from something that spooked them in the middle of the night.  For calves that are trained to electric fences, fronting the existing fence with a couple of strands of electric wire can be effective.

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Beware of prussic acid poisoning

Beware of prussic acid poisoning

Geni Wren

Bovine Veterinarian Magazine

Many areas of the country that experience drought this summer are now being relieved with some rain, which can bring its own special issues with regrowth of lush grass.

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Rising Pasture Rents Make Gaining on Grass More Expensive

Rising Pasture Rents Make Gaining on Grass More Expensive

Victoria G. Myers

Progressive Farmer

As summer begins to wind down, there are already concerns over pasture conditions and availability going into next season. Depending on the area, some pastures are burnt up; while others are turning into profit machines as hay is bought up by cattlemen in regions hard hit by drought, hoping to hold on to their herds. Where will all of this leave pasture values and rents for next season?

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The Dangerous Psychology of Factory Farming

The Dangerous Psychology of Factory Farming

James McWilliams

The Atlantic

Editor’s note: Stories of this ilk are included in the blog to inform those in our industry how agriculture is being presented to and perceived by the public.

I know a factory farmer named Bill. His Texas ranch raises upwards of 4,000 head of cattle in a way that typifies industrial animal agriculture. Cows are numbered, not named. Animals don’t eat food, they convert feed.

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Amtrak train kills 24 rare Salers cattle near Klamath Falls

Amtrak train kills 24 rare Salers cattle near Klamath Falls

Tom Hallman, Jr.

Oregon Live

The crime scene was horrific — 24 dead — and the sheriff’s commander called out last Saturday to lead the investigation said that during his 18 years in the business he’s never seen such carnage.

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Steve Cornett: Buried Fences

Steve Cornett:  Buried Fences

Beef Today

As we contemplate the potential impact of this historic drought in the Southwest, it might be well to recall what earlier droughts were like. Our place is in Hall County, Texas, one of the sites that provided some of the Farm Security Administration’s iconic photos of the Dust Bowl era.

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Opportunity for beginning ranchers

Opportunity for beginning ranchers

Ken Olson

Tri State Livestock News

The age of agriculture producers in the U.S. has steadily increased over the last several decades. At present, the average age of farm and ranch operators in the U.S. is over 57. Turnover of farming and ranching enterprises to the next generation is becoming more and more critical to ensure the future viability of agriculture production.

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Why this year you may not want to find open cows at calving

Why this year you may not want to find open cows at calving

Amy Radunz, UW Beef Extension Specialist

Wisconsin Beef Information Center

The number one reason beef cattle farmers cull cows is a failure to calve, but farmers may not want to wait until the spring to find this out especially this year.

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Beef Manure Management With Dirt Lots

Beef Manure Management With Dirt Lots

Charles D. Fulhage and Donald L. Pfost, Agricultural Engineering Extension, Troy Chockley, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Universtiy of Missouri

Many of Missouri’s cattle producers background their calves for later sale or feedlot finishing, either in their own lots or at a custom feedlot. Major problems with feedlots in Missouri are due to high rainfall, which produces high volumes of runoff that can pollute streams, and muddy dirt lots, which reduce performance.

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Range management strategies to cope with the current drought

Range management strategies to cope with the current drought

Blair Fannin

AgriLife Today

A gripping drought has many Texas pastures used for cattle production becoming less and less populated with forage. To deter permanent damage to the rangeland, it’s better to take action now rather than later, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist.

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