Winter is critical to beef cow operation success.

Winter is critical to beef cow operation success.

Kevin Gould

Michigan State University

The winter of 2013-14 is fresh in the mind of most cow-calf producers. Many producers experienced severe condition that started in October in the Dakotas and lasted until May in many states. Cold stress, mud and marginal feed quality and supplies lead to significant losses in many areas and nobody wants a repeat of last winter.

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Results of Adjusting Feed Levels for Cows During Cold Weather

Results of Adjusting Feed Levels for Cows During Cold Weather

Glenn Selk

Feedlot Magazine

Beef cow nutritionists have known that cow energy requirements increase in cold weather. There is not much we can do about the weather, however adjustments in the diet of the range beef cows can mitigate the effects of the winter weather.

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Recordkeeping

Recordkeeping 

Bob Larson

Angus Journal

Because cow-calf operations characteristically have high operating costs and deal with fluctuating input and sale prices, ranches typically operate within a narrow profit margin.

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Does Winter Backgrounding Present an Opportunity this Year?

Does Winter Backgrounding Present an Opportunity this Year?

Greg Halich and Kenny Burdine

Beef Today

Cow-calf operators are currently enjoying the strongest fall calf market on record. While calf prices typically decrease from summer to fall, that has not been the case this year.

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Economist: Livestock’s ‘Mini-boom’ Likely to Last for a While

Economist: Livestock’s ‘Mini-boom’ Likely to Last for a While

Beef Producer

The mini-boom, brought on by lower grain prices and record-high animal prices, could foster opportunities for expansion of herds and flocks. It’s a change from 2006-2012, when livestock farmers downsized to cover higher feed costs.

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Have your say on new beef checkoff

Have your say on new beef checkoff

Wilson County News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking input from the public to guide its development of a new industry-funded promotion, research, and information order (also known as a “checkoff program”) for beef and beef products.

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New leadership for House, Senate Ag Committees

New leadership for House, Senate Ag Committees

Dave Natzke

Bovine Veterianrian

U.S. Rep. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) was named the 50th chairman of the House Agricultural Committee. Selected by the House Republican Steering Committee, Conway succeeds Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), who has held the post since 2011.

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Genetic diversity and virus transmission

Genetic diversity and virus transmission

John Maday

Drovers

We know that genetic diversity within species or a population is beneficial for numerous reasons, including reduced incidence of the expression of harmful or lethal mutations.

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Too Early to Gauge Damage From Cold Snap

Too Early to Gauge Damage From Cold Snap

Cheryl Anderson

DTN

The recent blast of arctic cold and snow that has fallen on parts of the Midwest has some wheat growers worried about damage to their crops. However, most growers and experts agree that it is too early to tell the extent — if any — of the damage.

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Employee Training Important To Dairy & Beef Operation’s Product Quality And Consistency

Employee Training Important To Dairy & Beef Operation’s Product Quality And Consistency

AgriMarketing

High employee turnover can lead to inconsistent animal production or potentially lower quality products, both meat and milk. "How is this possible?" asks Heidi Carroll, SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Extension Associate.

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