BeefTalk: Good Biosecurity a Must for Beef Operations
Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
The current discussion in cattle circles about bovine tuberculosis certainly brings up mixed emotions. Producers always are concerned when situations are discovered that impact individual herds of cattle.
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The Reality of Water Management & Raising Cattle
Facts About Beef
Ranchers like Gary and Sue Price of 77 Ranch in Blooming Grove, Texas work to optimize water quality through conversion of cropland to wetland. The conversion minimizes sediment loading, erosion and other water quality issues.
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Temperatures, Humidity a Worrisome Combination for Heat Stress in Cattle
The Stock Exchange
Cattle producers would do well to remember a certain well-proven cliché: “If it’s too hot for you then it’s too hot for your livestock.”
Dr. Dave Sparks, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension veterinarian and food animal quality and health specialist, said while proficient livestock.
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Swing for the Fences
Kasey Brown
Angus Journal
Humans know that there are adverse health effects to smoking, alcohol, poor diet, driving faster than the speed limit and texting while driving. When they are done independently, though, the effects are far more gradual, explains Terry Swecker, association department head and professor at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine–Virginia Tech.
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Consumers concerned about safe, quality beef more than sustainability
Virginia Farm Bureau
A recent study found that consumers make beef purchases based more on price, safety and quality than on sustainability.
“Consumer demand for beef is one of the most important and widely discussed, yet poorly understood, concepts affecting the beef and cattle industry,” the report noted. “It is imperative that the beef industry recognizes what drives consumer demand.”
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Governor pledges support for Tama beef plant reopening
John Speer
Tama News-Herald
"It was one of the most successful legislative sessions we’ve ever had," Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared in opening a Tama County Town Hall meeting at King Tower Cafe Tuesday afternoon, June 25. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds were joined by State Representative Dean Fisher (R-Garwin) in hosting about 40 area residents.
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Observe cattle activity during breeding season
Frank Wardynski
Michigan State University
Observing cattle activity during breeding season can improve breeding performance. Cows and bulls experiencing undesirable conditions during breeding season can result in reduced pregnancy rates.
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Feedyard Data Show Trend Toward More Documentation
Nevil Speer
BEEF
Feedyard returns have been exceedingly challenging the past several years, but analysis by Professional Cattle Consultants (PCC) provides some insight into the increasing importance of initial genetic strategies and management to net return.
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Russia buying U.S. cattle at rapid pace
SEAN ELLIS
Capital Press
Russia is gobbling up live cattle from U.S. producers at a rapid rate and paying top dollar in many cases.
"There is amazing opportunity over there," Marty Earnheart, meats and livestock marketing manager for the Montana Department of Agriculture, told Idaho Cattle Association members June 27 during their annual summer roundup.
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Cattle producers should pay attention to fly control
AgriLife Today
External parasites can be costly for cattle producers and getting a handle on problems early can lead to more prosperous and better performing cows.
Dr. Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, College Station told producers at the Independent Cattlemen’s Association meeting in Bastrop examples of external parasites are bloodsucking flies, which include the horn fly, stable fly, horse fly and deer fly.
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Study Shows Cattle Are Increasingly Resistant to BRD Antibiotics
Beef Today
A survey of records of bovine respiratory disease cases at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory showed that drug resistance in one of the primary pathogens that cause BRD, Mannheimia haemolytica, increased over a three-year period.
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Provide plenty of clean, safe water.
Rick Rasby
Angus Beef Bulletin Extra
Drought makes you think of how important and precious water is. A primary challenge when managing cows on pasture in times of drought is water, especially if the water source is from a dugout. As the amount of water in the dugout decreases during dry conditions, components in the water concentrate.
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Russian knapweed has value as cattle feed
Beef Cattle News
An invasive species that has traditionally been considered worthless in Western pastures is actually a useful protein source for cattle if dried and baled, experts say.
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The Beef State
Jaclyn Wilson
Jac’d Up
I have to chuckle whenever I cross the state line into Nebraska. I’m a big supporter of “Nebraska-The Good Life,” but considering cattle outnumber trees almost 10 to 1 here on the ranch, “Home of Arbor Day” is a little misrepresentative of this area.
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Summer Brings Insects And Anemia-Inducing Disease To Cattle
Farms.com
Controlling insects and using good sanitation of veterinary equipment can help prevent spread of anaplasmosis, a sometimes-fatal cattle disease that attacks red blood cells.
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Grazing Management Pays Net Profit, Even On Small Farms
Terri Queck-Matzie
Beef Producer
Pasture in poor condition can support cattle and sometimes make a profit but that doesn’t mean better pasture isn’t better.
"The environmental effects of pasture improvement are huge," says Madalene M. Ransom, an economist with NRCS, "but people don’t always realize the economic benefits."
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Calf Marketing Tools Help Smooth Volatility
Larry Stalcup
BEEF
It happened in April and May, and probably again since press time for this issue of BEEF — a market sitting pretty at a lofty level, before near limit-down moves in futures wiped the smile off a rancher’s face.
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The line between pets and livestock
Examiner.com
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.
In a recent article in DVM Magazine titled, Why small animal veterinarians should care about farm animals Barry Kipperman, DVM, DACVIM lays out a convincing argument that society and especially veterinarians are missing the boat on animal welfare by drawing a magical line between ‘pets’ and ‘livestock’.
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Registration open for 2013 Cattle Industry Summer Conference
Farm and Ranch News
If cattlemen and women want a seat at the table and involvement in shaping the future of the beef industry, then Denver, Colo., is the place to be Aug. 7-10, for the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.
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Bradley 3 Ranch named 2013 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year
Drovers
Bradley 3 Ranch, Memphis, Texas, was recently named the 2013 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Seedstock Producer of the Year during the 45th annual BIF Research Symposium and Meeting in Oklahoma City. This award is one of the most prestigious and historical awards presented annually in the beef industry.
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