Spring time storms and the cow herd

Spring time storms and the cow herd

Derrell S. Peel

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

The calendar says that spring is here and it’s beginning to show in Oklahoma. Some pastures (and lots of weeds) are greening up and grazing cattle demand is also building. Calf and stocker prices have increased back to levels of early January. Large runs of heavy feeder cattle so far March, combined with modest feedlot demand, have limited price increases for heavy feeder cattle, though prices have increased from February lows.

Full Story

What Your Livestock Think About Your Pasture

What Your Livestock Think About Your Pasture

Darrell Emmick

On Pasture

Your animals have a lot more to do than just walk around and eat. Understanding what they’re doing ensures that you’re making it easy for them to harvest their own food with the least amount of effort so you get the best performance from them.

Full Story

Stocker Gains on Kentucky 31 With These Management Tricks

Stocker Gains on Kentucky 31 With These Management Tricks

Becky Mills

Progressive Farmer

Conventional wisdom, not to mention research, says stockers don’t perform on Kentucky 31 fescue. The toxins produced by the forage keep young cattle from gaining enough to be profitable.

Full Story

No Profit in Excuses

No Profit in Excuses

Sara Gugelmeyer

Hereford World

The more information we have, the better decisions we can make,” says Doug Gerber of Gerber Land & Cattle in Indiana. “I am making the commitment to DNA profile all females and all our sale bulls to gain the information GE-EPDs (genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences) provide.

Full Story

Relating to health

Relating to health

Christy Couch Lee

Drovers

An open, well-established relationship with your veterinarian can pay off in herd health and profits.

Full Story

The Top 10 reasons to bid one more time for the quarter next door

The Top 10 reasons to bid one more time for the quarter next door

Mark Parker

FarmTalk

10. When the cows get out, you can just leave them there.

Full Story

Grass finished beef marketing update

Grass finished beef marketing update

Kable Thurlow

Michigan State University

The grass fed beef industry is a growing industry and many producers are searching for information on current market prices. This article will shed some light on sources of information for the grass-fed beef producer.

Full Story

Time to put extra weight on beef calves

Time to put extra weight on beef calves

Beef Producer

"The trick is to put those added pounds on economically without harming the appearance and marketability of the calf. There are many ways to add those pounds with the most popular being to creep-feed," said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Full Story

Antibiotic Use In Meat Is Soaring

Antibiotic Use In Meat Is Soaring

The Huffington Post

Alexander C. Kaufman

Editor’s note: Stories of this ilk are included in the blog to inform those in our industry how agriculture is being presented to and perceived by the public.

BLT sandwiches may need to add an A to the acronym — for antibiotics. Soaring demand for meat across the world has caused a major uptick in the amount of antimicrobial drugs in pork, beef and poultry, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Full Story

Book about cows leaves a sour taste

Book about cows leaves a sour taste

JOHN FETROW

Minneapolis Star Tribune

I read Prof. Tom Zelman’s review of the book “Cowed” by Denis Hayes and Gail Boyer Hayes in the March 15 Variety section with frustration. It appears that the book and certainly Zelman have trotted out the long and oft-heard polemics regarding cows in America. I feel it’s critical to respond to repeated misinformation.

Full Story