Applying new technologies to investigate ancestry in cattle

Applying new technologies to investigate ancestry in cattle

Jared E. Decker and Jeremy F. Taylor

A Steak in Genomics

Animal breeding can be viewed from the perspective of three basic categories: recording matings, predicting the outcome of matings, and planning future matings.  Thus, ancestry is a central and integral part of animal breeding, and breeders have had an inherent interest in ancestry since at least the time of Robert Bakewell (1725-1795).

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Time of Weaning and Cow Condition

Time of Weaning and Cow Condition

Jack C. Whittier, Ron C. Torell and Ben Bruce

University of Nevada

Dave Chamberlin, Jay Carr and Bill Zollinger

Oregon State University

Time of weaning can be altered to manipulate cow body condition to maintain high reproductive rates and reduce winter feed requirements. Cows nursing their calves for a longer or shorter period of time than is traditional decrease or increase their body condition.

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Winter & Weaning are on the way

Winter & Weaning are on the way

Randy Kuhn

Beef Today

 The next 2-3 months can be a stressful time of the year for the cow, the calf and the farmer/rancher.   Probably the most critical weaning decisions a farmer/rancher needs to make are gauging when and where to wean. 

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Stocker operator turns bawling calves into healthy feeders

Stocker operator turns bawling calves into healthy feeders

Beef Producer

BOYD KIDWELL

Receiving unweaned calves and moving them into pastures is a tough job, but Mark Bray has been successful for many years at Ridgecrest Farm in Stokes County, N.C.

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Silage Inoculants – Are They Worth The Money?

Silage Inoculants – Are They Worth The Money?

Weseh Addahabc, John Baaha, Eramus K. Okineband Tim A McAllister

Effectiveness of an inoculant depends on the type and viability of bacteria in the inoculant, the number and types of natural microbes on the forage, method of application, the characteristics of forage ensiled and the type of ensiling practice employed.

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Eng symposium to explore innovative practices in cow-calf systems

Eng symposium to explore innovative practices in cow-calf systems

Food Consumer

Exploring expansion of cattle herds will be discussed at the 2014 Kenneth and Caroline McDonald Eng Foundation Symposium,scheduled Sept. 18-19 at the Embassy Suites Riverwalk, 125 E. Houston St. in San Antonio.

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Swath grazing cereals saves half of overwintering costs in beef cattle

Swath grazing cereals saves half of overwintering costs in beef cattle

Jennifer Blair

Manitoba Cooperator

Swath grazing cereals could save producers almost half the cost of overwintering cattle, says a federal forage researcher. “Extended grazing practices like swath grazing, bale grazing, and grazing second-cut grasses in the fall are one of the most effective ways to reduce your overwintering costs of beef cows,” Vern Baron said at the Lacombe Field Day in late July.

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Stockpiled Bermudagrass Can Reduce Winter Feed Costs

Stockpiled Bermudagrass Can Reduce Winter Feed Costs

Glenn Selk

Beef2Live

Harvested forage costs are a large part of the production costs associated with cow-calf enterprises.  An Oklahoma State University trial had the objective to economically evaluate stockpiled bermudagrass. 

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Beef Genetics Trade Mission to Russia Cancelled

Beef Genetics Trade Mission to Russia Cancelled

Stan Allen

KELO

Due to uncertainties in the Russian market, the beef genetics trade mission hosted by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) and South Dakota Beef Breeds Council planned for October has been cancelled.

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High beef prices bringing back days of rustlers, farmers say

High beef prices bringing back days of rustlers, farmers say

John Switzer

Columbus Dispatch

With the price of beef going through the roof nowadays, cattle rustling is coming back into vogue across the country and in Ohio. Michael Bergman, a Madison County farmer who raises cattle, said farmers are worried.

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