Pregnant Cow Nutrition: Effect on Replacement Heifer Progeny

Pregnant Cow Nutrition: Effect on Replacement Heifer Progeny

Robin Salverson

iGrow

The term “fetal programming” is used to describe a relatively new concept in the livestock industry indicating that the nutrient status of gestating cows may have various long-term implications on offspring.

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Beef Industry Will Face Challenges in 2014

Beef Industry Will Face Challenges in 2014

Stephen B. Blezinger, Ph.D., PAS

Cattle Today

The first issue of the New Year always lends itself to speculation, forecasting and maybe even a little crystal ball rubbing to determine what’s in store for the beef industry (any industry for that matter). Most producers are most concerned about the markets for the cattle themselves but also for input markets such as feed, fuel and fertilizer – generally the three greatest variable input costs.

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Buyers Pay More for Fresh, Local Beef

Buyers Pay More for Fresh, Local BeefBuyers Pay More for Fresh, Local Beef

Deborah Huso

Progressive Farmer

Terry Sager’s family has been farming in Virginia since the 1780s. It’s a legacy this Shenandoah Valley beef producer would like to see continue. "Farming is a lifestyle as well as a business," he said. "Most farmers are asset rich and cash poor. The challenge is for our offspring to be able to afford to farm while we, ourselves, are still earning income from the farm."

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Hypothermia & Newborn Calves

Hypothermia & Newborn Calves

Tracey Renelt

iGrow

Whether you are a dairy producer who calves year round, a beef producer who may calve early, or if you have a calf that is born under less-than-desirable conditions, hypothermia is something that we need to be concerned about, especially this time of year. The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in 2007 found that the average mortality of pre-weaned calves on farms during 2006 was 7.8%

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Farmers fighting cold weather to keep livestock safe

Farmers fighting cold weather to keep livestock safe

Justin Andrews

KWWL

The frigid temperatures across eastern Iowa have farmers like Bill Ellison spending extra time caring for their livestock. He says getting his animals fresh water is not easy, because creeks and pipes are frozen. Ellison is a farmer at Pavelka’s Point pork, lamb and beef farm near Mount Vernon, and caring for his livestock in the cold is a challenge.

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US considers reopening to Brazilian fresh beef

US considers reopening to Brazilian fresh beef

Carina Perkins

Global Meat News

The US could soon open up to fresh beef imports from 14 Brazilian states which are recognized as free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

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There’s a Cow in My Marshmallow?!

There’s a Cow in My Marshmallow?!

Factsaboutbeef

Did you know that there are hundreds of uses for cattle by-products? It’s true – cattle provide us with some of the most essential items in our day-to-day lives. By-products are used in all types of mechanical and chemical items to aid in our daily activities.

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Use A Sharper Pencil To Save Money On Feedstuffs

Use A Sharper Pencil To Save Money On Feedstuffs

Loretta Sorensen

BEEF

Persistent problems from drought have made feedstuffs more important and that volatility makes it doubly important to push the pencil. Since there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to identifying your best possible feed sources, you’ll need to analyze all the options in your location.

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Farmers Act to Protect Livestock From Cold

Farmers Act to Protect Livestock From Cold

Debra Davis

ALFA Farmer News

"It’s calving season for us, and we normally check the cows every day and feed hay every other day," said Nestor, whose family has about 150 cows and a small herd of show-quality Boer goats. "But in this kind of weather, we’re checking cows more often. We’ve had so much rain that the ground is wet or frozen.

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Georgia cattlemen extend grazing with turnips, kale and other greens

Georgia cattlemen extend grazing with turnips, kale and other greens

Merritt Melancon

Southeast Farm Press

Georgia cattle farmers are adding kale, turnips and other greens to their pastures to help reduce the amount of hay they have to feed their cows over the winter. Greens — known as brassicas — stay hardy throughout the fall and early winter and reemerge in early spring. This provides cattle a nutrient-dense forage source after their traditional forage, bermudagrass, has turned an unappetizingly brown.

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Let cows do the harvesting

Let cows do the harvesting

Tom Steever

Brownfield Network

Record high fed cattle prices and corn half of what it was months ago make it seem like making money in the cattle business is a cinch, but Ag Business Specialist Wesley Tucker says that’s not the case. Tucker, who’s with the Missouri Extension Service, preaches that high input costs can still stand in the way of profit.

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