Factors That Affect Breeding Ability in Bulls

Factors That Affect Breeding Ability in Bulls

Heather Smith Thomas

Hereford World

There are many factors that play a role in fertility and breeding ability in bulls, including semen quality, soundness, desire to breed cows, etc. Most producers make sure that every bull passes a breeding soundness examination (sometimes referred to as a BSE) before putting him out with cows.

Full Story

BeefTalk: It Pays to Read the Tag

BeefTalk: It Pays to Read the Tag

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Early discussions of animal breeding and selection always grouped producers into three types, which were the breeder, multiplier and commercial producer.

Full Story

Chipotle Unnecessarily Tears Down Agriculture to Build a Brand

Chipotle Unnecessarily Tears Down Agriculture to Build a Brand

Ted Sheely

The Truth about Trade and Technology

In the boardrooms of Madison Avenue, they call it “values branding”: a marketing strategy in which a company tries to instill a feeling of righteousness in the customers who buy its products. But what kind of values would inspire a corporation to wage a smear campaign against America’s farmers?

Full Story

Small cattle feeders hold an advantage

Small cattle feeders hold an advantage

Iowa Farmer Today

Five years ago, Duane and Jodi Steenhoek decided they wanted a little more control over the calves they sold. So, with that thought in mind, they put up a hoop building on their Lucas County farm. Instead of selling calves at the sale barn, the couple started feeding their cattle.

Full Story

Ranching as a business – not a lifestyle

Ranching as a business – not a lifestyle

Laura Mushrush

Drovers

It’s often said that ranching is a lifestyle, but it’s much more than that. Without a business mindset ranch owners can struggle to turn a profit. This includes prioritizing resources on cattle operations and evaluating their interactions will help with business decisions.

Full Story

Taking DNA samples

Taking DNA samples

Bovine Veterinarian

Dr. Kevin DeHaan, technical services director, Igenity, offers tips about collecting DNA samples to ensure the best possible results.

Full Story

Lack of Oxygen Complicates Calves’ First Breaths

Lack of Oxygen Complicates Calves’ First Breaths

Beef Producer

Cow-calf producers typically spend plenty of time preparing for the arrival of new calves: carefully selected genetics for ease of birthing, plenty of herd checks and a heat lamp or two. But once the calf hits the ground, the next step is to ensure it is breathing properly.

Full Story

Harvest quality grass and preserve it well

Harvest quality grass and preserve it well

Nick Paulson

Hay and Forage Grower

To make good grass silage, producers must first harvest high-quality forage, use the right type and amount of inoculant, and pack and cover the product tightly and properly.

Full Story

Why The Godfather Of Natural Beef Cut Ties With Niman Ranch

Why The Godfather Of Natural Beef Cut Ties With Niman Ranch

Hayley Peterson

Business Insider

Bill Niman spent more than three decades building Niman Ranch into one of the most beloved natural meat suppliers in the nation from just 200 acres of land and six calves.

Full Story

How big meat recalls hurt small cattle ranches

How big meat recalls hurt small cattle ranches

 Nathanael Johnson

Grist

Whenever there’s a giant meat recall, the first and often only reaction is disgust. It’s entirely justified self-interest: People want to be sure that their ground chuck hasn’t ever shared a vat with pathogens. But these recalls also have an effect on the other end of the food chain, which we rarely consider.

Full Story

Goals Establish Bull Buying Criteria

Goals Establish Bull Buying Criteria

Clifford Mitchell

Cattle Today

Tough decisions are part of the deal for those who call themselves cattlemen. A lot of conclusions are focused on the bottom line. Cutting expenses or increasing revenue to create profit.

Full Story

Biosecurity: Tips on Bringing Home a New Bull

Biosecurity: Tips on Bringing Home a New Bull

Heather Smith Thomas

Hereford World

Maintaining optimum herd health depends on many things — including a good nutrition program, vaccination and minimizing the possibilities for new diseases to enter the herd. One of the most common ways that new diseases come into a herd is with new animals.

Full Story

Bargain-Basement Stockers Turn a Profit

Bargain-Basement Stockers Turn a Profit

DTN

Mark Bray has one of the toughest jobs in the cattle business. He makes a living buying 370- to 440-pound highly stressed calves from sale barns and turning them into valuable feeder cattle. It’s a job that starts the minute the calves step off the trailer at Ridgecrest Farm in Stokes County, N.C.

Full Story

Quick Spring Forage Crops

Quick Spring Forage Crops

John Jennings

University of Arkansas

Spring oats (not winter oats) may provide a fairly quick spring forage crop. Other forage management options to improve spring pastures include improved grazing, fertility management, weed control, and deferred grazing to allow other winter-damaged fields to recover. Spring oats are an option where no winter annuals were planted in fall.

Full Story

What’s on the Consumer’s Mind?

What’s on the Consumer’s Mind?

Katie Allen

Angus Beef Bulletin Extra

When it comes to buying livestock products, consumers value freshness and safety most, according to a recent K-State study.

Full Story

Future Uncertain For California Cattle Feeders

Future Uncertain For California Cattle Feeders

Burt Rutherford

BEEF

The future is uncertain not just for Imperial Valley cattle feeders, but for the entire economy of the borderland area of Southern California now that National Beef will go ahead with plans to close its Brawley, CA, beef packing plant.

Full Story

Corn-Soybean Silage May Cut Feed Costs

Corn-Soybean Silage May Cut Feed Costs

Neil Tietz

Hay and Forage Grower

Combining vining soybeans (inset photo) with MasterGraze corn will make silage high in energy and protein, South Dakota researchers predict.

Full Story

A Cold Dry Spell Doesn’t Hurt Much

A Cold Dry Spell Doesn’t Hurt Much

Beef Producer

For more than 40 years I have listened to veterinarians and producers from the upper Midwest describe the long, frigid winters of the North Country.

Full Story

Spring breeding: Preparing bulls for the big dance

Spring breeding: Preparing bulls for the big dance

Laura Mushrush

Drovers

As calving season ramps up across the country, it’s time to start planning ahead for spring breeding.

Full Story

Iowa Beef Center Asks Feedlot Operators for Feedback

Iowa Beef Center Asks Feedlot Operators for Feedback

Iowa Beef Center

Iowa feedlot operators may soon be receiving a survey in the mail from Iowa Beef Center. As part of its ongoing commitment to providing accurate and timely information to the state’s beef industry, IBC is now asking the feedlot segment for opinions on a variety of topics, according to director Dan Loy.

Full Story