Adaptations help producers survive drought conditions

Adaptations help producers survive drought conditions

Del Williams

Cattle Today

With drought conditions the worst since the 1930s, most farmers and ranchers are cutting back, tightening their belts, and looking at all possible ways to cut their costs.

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Liver Flukes

Liver Flukes

Bob Larson

Liver flukes are large flat worms that invade the liver of cattle. The USDA reports that about 5% of slaughtered cattle are infested, and their livers are condemned. Liver flukes cause economic loss through liver condemnation at slaughter, as well as decreased growth and reproductive efficiency.

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BeefTalk: Am I Short of Feed or Short of Cash?

BeefTalk: Am I Short of Feed or Short of Cash?

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Today, cattle producers market cows and bulls in much the same way they market the annual production of calves.

However, here is something to keep in mind: If a typical beef producer marketed all the cattle last week that normally would be sold off the operation, approximately 50 percent of the check would be from the value of steer calves, 30 percent from the value of heifer calves and 20 percent from the value of market cows and bulls.

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Still educating consumers about implants

Still educating consumers about implants

Julie Harker

Brownfield Network

Consumer concerns about growth-promoting hormones used in beef have been around a long time but a beef specialist tells Brownfield growth promotants continue to be safe. Dan Loy, with Iowa State University Extension, says there has been intense government scrutiny on new compounds developed since DES was banned from use in humans and livestock in 1979, after it was found to be a carcinogen.

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U.S. could face severe shortage of farmers in the next decade as older farmers begin to retire

U.S. could face severe shortage of farmers in the next decade as older farmers begin to retire

Jerett Rion

Universtiy of Missouri

In a recent survey published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), officials reported that more than one-third of U.S. farmers are 65 years old or older, and half of current farmers plan to retire in the next decade.

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Brangus to be Featured on the American Rancher Sep 19

Brangus to be Featured on the American Rancher Sep 19

Beef Tips

Brangus will be featured on the popular show The American Rancher on RFD-TV throughout next week. Geared toward and widely viewed by a true ranching audience of more than 100,000 weekly viewers, The American Rancher is a half-hour television series enjoying its eighth year of being included in the RFD-TV lineup.

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A new generation of producers taking the reins

A new generation of producers taking the reins

Duane Lenz

Beef Issues Quarterly

The recent focus for many in the cattle industry has been the drought and the resulting lack of grass, water and hay. Grain prices have gone through the roof which has damaged feeder and calf prices, although they remain historically high.

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Texas longhorns beef up Vermont farm

Texas longhorns beef up Vermont farm

Judy Simpson

WCAX

No, you are not seeing things. There are Texas longhorns, right here in Milton, Vermont.

"Got about 10 Texas longhorns five years ago out of Ohio and brought them up to Vermont," said Shaun Brooks of Vermont Longhorns. "I have been growing the herd ever since."

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Are cattle heading for a repeat of 2009?

Are cattle heading for a repeat of 2009?

Chris Lehner

AgriView

Cattle feeders may be their worst enemy. With the high cost of feeder cattle it appears that cattle producers are keeping cattle on feed longer and because of it, dressed weights are moving higher. Have the high prices of the past two years erased the memories of 2009?

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Ammoniation and adding hydrated lime can improve low-quality forages.

Ammoniation and adding hydrated lime can improve low-quality forages.

J.W. Schroeder

NDSU Extension Service

With tight hay supplies and escalating prices, producers are scrounging for every bit of possible forage they can find. Given the extended drought, good or medium-quality hay may not be available or has been sold to others buying existing supplies.

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National Beef Quality Audit – Phase 2 validates industry trends

National Beef Quality Audit – Phase 2 validates industry trends

B. Lynn Gordon

iGrow

The 2011 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) consisted of three research phases to determine the current status of the beef industry in regard to quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Dr. Jeff Savell, professor of Animal Science at Texas A&M University provided oversight to the second phase of this benchmark study. Phase 2 of the study focused on gathering data from packing plants nationwide to determine the characteristics of the beef supply entering the processing chain.

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Cutting Winter Hay-Feeding Costs

Cutting Winter Hay-Feeding Costs

Wes Ishmael

BEEF

This fall is shaping up to be a tough one for producers, particularly in terms of hay prices. Simple management practices can save you plenty.

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Consider all factors when marketing cull cows

Consider all factors when marketing cull cows

Andrew P. Griffith

Cattle Today

There are physical conditions that producers should evaluate and use in making culling decisions. These include cancer eye, lumpy jaw, lameness, bad teeth, poor udders, poor body condition and docility of cows.

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Corral the Quality Thieves

Corral the Quality Thieves

Angus Journal

Here’s a quick feedlot riddle: They’re tiny, relatively easy to control and can affect cattle health, performance and carcass quality in a serious way. What are they? Parasites.

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Georgia Cattle Leader, Ted Dyer, Passes

Georgia Cattle Leader, Ted Dyer, Passes

Times Free Press

Ted G. Dyer, 52, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. Ted latest position was with the Department of Animal and Dairy Science as Extension Animal Scientist in Calhoun after serving for over two decades as UGA Cooperative County Extension Agent/Coordinator in Dade and Floyd counties. Ted set an example of leadership and touched many lives through the Georgia 4H program. He developed many young people through county, district, state, and national levels.

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Plan Ahead for this Fall’s Calf Crop

Plan Ahead for this Fall’s Calf Crop

Becky Mills

Progressive Farmer

In his 50 years of practice, veterinarian Fred Ingle has seen just about everything. Still, there is one bovine delivery complication that stands out. "I reached in and felt two heads," recalls the Clermont, Ga., practitioner. Not twins, but two heads on one calf.

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Fewer Calves, Fewer Imports Means Tighter Feeder Cattle Supplies

Fewer Calves, Fewer Imports Means Tighter Feeder Cattle Supplies

Newswise

Drought conditions have had a significant effect on feeder cattle supplies, with feedlots expected to feel a noticeable pinch in the months ahead as they will be unable to maintain current inventories.

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Potatoes Possible Source of Cattle Feed

Potatoes Possible Source of Cattle Feed

North Dakota State University

Dry weather before and during the 2012 growing season led to poor forage yields and high hay and corn prices, so beef producers will be looking for other, lower-priced feed sources, says Carl Dahlen, North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist. Byproduct feeds such as distillers grain may be limited and higher priced as well because many producers have secured contracts for byproducts, leaving processing plants with little surplus for other producers.

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Beef: bigger and bigger

Beef: bigger and bigger                       

Angus.org

Cattle feeders don’t like $7 or $8 corn, but they know what to do at those higher prices. Most of them feed cattle longer to heavier weights and sort them to market on a grid.

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Cornstalk Residue An Opportunity For Corn And Beef Producers

Cornstalk Residue An Opportunity For Corn And Beef Producers

KCSR

This year’s drought has taken a significant toll on grazing land and hay supplies, two critical feed sources for Nebraska’s beef producers. As of Sept. 23rd, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said 98 percent of Nebraska’s pasture and rangeland is in poor to very poor condition.

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