A Time of Opportunity for Beef Producers

A Time of Opportunity for Beef Producers

Victoria G. Myers

Progressive Farmer

This is a season cattle producers will be telling their grandchildren about one day. It’s an open window to what could be historic profit margins and a time to grow back a beef industry that’s had more shrink than muscle in recent years.

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Strong cattle prices open door to best practices

Strong cattle prices open door to best practices

Nixa Express

Spring and summer weather may be unpredictable but everything else associated with beef cattle production looks optimistic for 2014, said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “I hear beef producers talk about tight margins involved in practices like vaccinating, deworming, implanting, supplement feeding, fly control and a few others,” Cole said.

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How to work with your veterinarian

How to work with your veterinarian

Guy Ellis, DVM

Bovine Veterinarian

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We’ve all heard this ad nauseam, but it is especially true of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Once we are behind the eight ball, “a pound of cure” often isn’t enough. That is why working with your veterinarian is so important.

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For Beef Producers, Pride May Be The Deadliest Sin Of All

For Beef Producers, Pride May Be The Deadliest Sin Of All

R.P. “Doc” Cooke

Beef Producer

It might be pride that keeps us breeding the biggest calf and buying the newest truck. The English cleric Charles Colton once wrote, "There is a paradox in pride: it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so." That profound statement gives pause for us to consider the delicate balancing act of our actions, both personally and professionally.

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Green Pastures, Genetics, and Environment

Green Pastures, Genetics, and Environment

Dr. jared Decker

A Steak in Genomics

10% of the variation in fertility is due to additive genetics, which excludes gene-by-environment effects. Keep in mind that in EPD calculations, animals are compared to their contemporary groups which are all managed in the same environment.

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Harvesting Quality Forage Under Wet Conditions

Harvesting Quality Forage Under Wet Conditions

Ethan Giebel

Hay and Forage Grower

“Harvesting at a lower percentage DM is done out of necessity and is ideal considering the situation we face over the summer months,” says Bob. “Everyone loses when you aren’t willing to adapt to the situation.”

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BOAH Seeks Input on Changes to Livestock Laws

BOAH Seeks Input on Changes to Livestock Laws

Gary Truitt

Hoosier AG Today

Indiana’s laws that designate what types of identification and documentation are needed for livestock will soon be changing. Hoosier livestock producers and others have the opportunity to give their input on the proposed changes in a virtual public hearing, hosted by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

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Getting the Most out of Oat Pasture

Getting the Most out of Oat Pasture

Bruce Anderson

University of Nebraska

Oat pastures have increased in popularity in recent years as one way to reduce problems from drought. Oat pastures can be long lasting and productive, but also disappointing sometimes. While we don’t know all we need to know, here are a few grazing recommendations that will help you succeed.

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Expansion in the beef industry is alive and well

Expansion in the beef industry is alive and well

Dennis SMith

Agri-View

March slaughter data released recently provided some key information for the cattle market moving forward. With the March data, we now have slaughter information for the first quarter of this year. The information confirmed, for the first time, that widespread expansion has started in the beef industry.

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Cattle ranchers desperate for rain as red meat prices go up

Cattle ranchers desperate for rain as red meat prices go up

Karen Grace

KENS 5

Chuck Real, a Bexar County rancher said that his grass is usually a foot high this time of year, but that’s not the case this spring. He said without good rainfall since last September, his cows’ food supply is dwindling and he may have to sell.

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