With U.S. government shut, private data providers step in
Tom Polansek
Reuters
When the U.S. Department of Agriculture went dark this week due to the partial government shutdown, phones lit up at commodities firm Urner Barry.
The USDA typically provides quotes on beef, pork and chicken prices, but 156-year-old New Jersey-based Urner Barry quickly became the go-to source for livestock traders searching for market quotes.
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Reproductive Efficiency Essential for Beef Herds
Lee Jones, DVM, MS
Cattle Today
Reproductive efficiency is essential for beef herd success and profitability. Basically, it is the measure of the productivity of the cow herd considering pregnancy rate, birth rate, weaning weight and weaning rate.
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Alabama cattleman does a budget-friendly makeover on his working facility
Becky Mills
Angus Journal
In 2003, Regional Extension Agent Jonathan Gladney looked at Michael Anderson’s cattle working facility and knew something had to change.
“It wasn’t working for the animals or the animal handler,” he recalls. “It wasn’t safe.” …
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Reduce scours outbreaks through proper management
Drovers
Nothing causes as much loss to a cattleman as calf scours. Not only does scours decrease performance, but also profitability. Yet, cattlemen can reduce the occurrence through sound management practices.
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Consider pregnancy checking cattle early
Farm and Ranch Guide
Beef cattle producers can realize significant savings by identifying and culling nonpregnant females prior to winter feeding, says Carl Dahlen, North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist.
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Heifers don’t have to be pigs at the feed bunk
Heifer Pro
Heifers being prepared for breeding don’t have to eat like pigs, stuffing themselves at all-you-can-eat feed bunks with unlimited refills, according to scientists at a Montana State University experiment station.
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Funding Stalemate Has Meat Industry Impact
Beef Producer
The American Meat Institute Thursday released a quick look at what services are discontinued and what services have been retained during the government "shutdown" that has resulted from Congress’ inability to pass a federal spending bill.
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MSU Steer-A-Year program returns
Great Falls Tribune
Montana State University resumed its Steer-A-Year program after a one-year hiatus.
Montana ranchers who want to donate a steer to benefit students in MSU’s College of Agriculture should contact Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Rachel Endecott. Steers will be accepted Oct. 14-18. They will be housed and fed to finish at the Bozeman Agriculture Research and Teaching Farm west of Bozeman.
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Research Team Works On Genetic Test For BRD Susceptibility
Heather Smith Thomas
BEEF
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), also known as pneumonia or shipping fever, is the most costly disease in the U.S. cattle industry, particularly for the feedlot sector. More than 1 million animals are lost each year to BRD, at an estimated price tag of more than $1 billion.
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Industry Assurances Over Drug Safety Found to Be Misleading?
Huffington Post
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.
Yet another industry assurance about the safety of the controversial practices used in intensive livestock production has been exposed as a falsehood.
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Managing for the marketing of fall-born calves
Rusty Evans
The Leaf Chronicle
Most folks in the beef cattle industry are currently focused on marketing spring-born calves and what those calves are worth. While recognizing the importance of fall marketing, Griffith reminds producers that now is the time to focus on management practices that can increase calf value when fall-born calves go to market next spring or summer.
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The Beef Blog 