Culling Sub-Fertile Bulls Increased Herd Value $30,000

Culling Sub-Fertile Bulls Increased Herd Value $30,000

Victoria G. Myers

Progressive Farmer

Every year the Hereford bulls at Timberline Ranch go through a breeding soundness exam prior to turnout. So when Kenneth Allen started to look for reasons conception rates on his Brahman cows were hitting between 70% and 75%, the last place he expected to find a problem was in the bull pen.

Full Story

Building winter cattle rations without wrecking your bottom line

Building winter cattle rations without wrecking your bottom line

Jennifer Blair

Alberta Farmer

Despite record-high cattle prices and strong demand for beef, margins remain tight for cattle producers who are battling the high price of land and feed.

Full Story

Distillers grains with calcium oxide improve cattle diets

Distillers grains with calcium oxide improve cattle diets

Darrin Pack

Imperial Valley News

Research by Purdue University scientist Jon Schoonmaker and his colleagues has shown that small amounts of calcium oxide can neutralize the acid in distillers grains, a commonly used alternative to corn in many livestock feed mixes.

Full Story

Research Suggests Successful Weaning Results In Higher Quality Carcasses

Research Suggests Successful Weaning Results In Higher Quality Carcasses

Nicole Lane

BEEF

Calf weaning season often brings at least a few anxious phone calls from worried cow-calf producers to their veterinarians. Some may lack experience or have attempted weaning without a solid plan—they may be in over their heads. Others may have a new twist this year, not encountered in the past, but feel confident in regaining control of a health challenge.

Full Story

Alternative Feed Costs Drive Down Hay Prices

Alternative Feed Costs Drive Down Hay Prices

Hay and Forge Grower

Hay prices have declined in south-central Kansas, following falling prices for feed alternatives such as soybean meal, cornstalks and distillers grains, believes Roger Black, an Arkansas City grower with about 600 acres of alfalfa and prairie hay.

Full Story

Antibiotics and the Meat Industry

Antibiotics and the Meat Industry

Wall Street Journal

A growing number of meat producers are selling chicken, beef or pork from animals raised without antibiotics, and sales of such products are growing rapidly. The food companies’ efforts largely are being driven by consumer pressure, rather than regulatory moves. Here’s what’s happening.

Full Story

Beef’s Carcass Weights At Record Levels

Beef’s Carcass Weights At Record Levels

AgriMarketing

Yes, the coffee-shop talk in cattle country usually starts with cattle prices. However, it does not take long before the talk turns to how big these fed cattle are getting. In early September, we heard the report of a record high for steer carcass weight of 885 pounds (lb.). By mid-September that was 889 lb.; by mid-October it was 896 lb.

Full Story