BeefTalk: Do the Math – Income Minus Cost Equals Net Return
Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
For those who do math, what is $713 minus $537? The answer is $176. Good numbers, especially for the cow-calf producer because the $713 indicates the amount of cash that cows have been able to generate after adjusting for replacements. The $537 indicates the recent costs to keep a cow for the year.
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Survey shows average calving season lasts about 80 days
Barbara Duckworth
The Western Producer
A calf management survey from last year found common threads among beef producers but also considerable variation among herds.
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High quality feed at a good price: Oats and Turnips for fall grazing
Mary Drewnoski
University of Nebraska
Consider planting oats and turnips in early maturing corn silage fields for fall/winter grazing. Be sure to make a commitment to plant as early as possible. In terms of corn silage fields, this means planting in the first fields that you harvest and targeting a planting date of early to mid-August.
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Preparing for the show – stepping your way into success with confidence
Julie Thelen
Michigan State University
Having confidence with your animal project will help you at the fair and in the show ring. Follow this news article series to prepare for your successful show ring experience.
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Selenium Research
Heather Smith Thomas
Angus Beef Bulletin Extra
“The plants growing in these pastures don’t require selenium, but they do require sulfur,” says Shelby Filley. “They can be fooled with this product (Selcote Ultra®), taking it in as if it were sulfur.”
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Adding value to cull cows
Dr. Greg Lardy
Tri State Livestock News
Cull cows represent a significant source of income for beef cattle producers. In fact, cull animals account for about 15 to 20 percent of the gross income in a beef cattle operation. Cull cow slaughter is down significantly this spring as producers across the country react to increased cattle prices and begin to plan for expansion, especially in areas not adversely affected by drought.
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Considerations for creep feeding beef calves
Eric Mousel
Minnesota Farm Guide
The kinds of creep feeds available vary from grain-based feeds that primarily supplement energy, to limit-fed high protein feeds, to “green creeps” which are high quality pastures grown for the sole purpose of grazing by nursing calves.
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“Cows were born to roam and graze…”
Julie Harker
Brownfield Network
A Georgia farmer awarded for his sustainable livestock production practices says his definition of good animal welfare is different from “acceptable” animal welfare in conventional production. Will Harris of White Oak Pastures tells Brownfield that – to him – good animal welfare means to create an environment in which animals can express instinctive behaviors.
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The South Dakota blizzard was devastating — but faith and a strong sense of community survived.
Sara Gugelmeyer
Hereford World
It was a perfect storm for killing. And kill it did. It killed cattle, horses, buffalo and untold numbers of native wildlife. And, “Atlas,” as the South Dakota blizzard of 2013 was named, dang near killed the spirit of many cattlemen. But not quite.
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Good Advice for a Better Sale
The Cattleman
Ellen H. Brisendine
On Saturday mornings at the intersection of Hwy. 75 and 79 in Buffalo, just east of IH-45, you’ll find a line of trucks and trailers pulling into the Buffalo Livestock Marketing, LLC, parking lot.
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