BeefTalk: Why Would Calving Time in the Northern Plains Change?
Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
This is a good time of the year to share four years of data and experiences collected at the Dickinson Research Extension Center on May calving.Why? The calving date is more than a calendar date on the wall of the barn. The date affects every aspect of a beef cattle operation and should be discussed with the utmost diligence.
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An Accidental Cattleman
Loretta Sorensen
Progressive Farmer
Bryan Huber didn’t begin his agricultural career with the intent to raise beef. However, in 1997, when he found himself with a bit of discretionary money, creek-filled land primarily fit for pasture and friends who knew the beef industry, he invested in three purebred Red Angus cows and one bull.
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Red clover: An alternative to antibiotic growth promoters?
Michael Flythe and Glen Aiken
Progressive Cattleman
Cattle often receive drugs at different stages of production. Vaccines and anthelmintics are given to young calves, while steroid implants and antibiotics are typically used in backgrounding and finishing.
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Turn up parasite control before spring turn out
Joann Pipkin
Drovers
Spring turn out time is right around the corner for beef cattle producers. But, before you open the gate be sure parasite control is on your to-do list. “Don’t just talk about parasite control, do it,” advises Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist.
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Prevent calving losses with proper nutrient supplementation, vaccination programs
Farm and Ranch Guide
In the midst of the spring calving season, beef producers could experience calf losses due to late-term abortions and stillbirths. Although it might seem that there is an increase in the number of calf abortions occurring, a certain number of them are a regular part of the calving season, according to Gregg Hanzlicek, director of production animal field investigations at the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
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Winter Bull Management
Heather Smith Thomas
Hereford World
Bulls need as much care through winter as your cow herd. Winter management is important to make sure bulls are healthy and in top shape for the next breeding season. They need a chance to regain body condition if they lost weight. Bull management will vary with each operation, partly depending on facilities available for keeping bulls separate from the cows. Yearling bulls may need to regain weight and to catch up if they’ve worked hard.
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Elanco develops resources for Veterinary Feed Directive
Beef Producer
Elanco has developed informational resources about the Veterinary Feed Directive regulations and suggests four steps farmers and ranchers can take to meet the Jan. 1, 2017, deadline.
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Preventing Predation on Livestock
Katie Allen
Angus Beef Bulletin Extra
Ask livestock producers in Kansas to name the most threatening predator to their operation, and most, if not all, will have the same answer: coyotes. In Kansas, this member of the canine family can be trapped year-round for fur or sport, or to control livestock predation.
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How Many Clean-up Bulls Are Needed After Estrus Synchronization and AI?
Hazy Nielson
University of Nebraska
One of the benefits of estrus synchronization and AI is purchasing and maintaining fewer bulls. However, an idea has been circulating that synchronized females not becoming pregnant to AI will return to estrus at the same time and require the same number of bulls as natural service without AI.
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Why Bother with Fences and Management-intensive Grazing?
Jim Gerrish
On Pasture
My friend, Bob Kinford, recently posed the following question during a conversation about grazing management alternatives. Recognize most of my operating experience is in high rainfall & irrigated environments while Bob comes from much more of a rangeland perspective. I wholeheartedly endorse what Bob does with cattle on rangeland. I enjoy what I do in the wet world.
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