Challenges for cattle ranchers: Beef industry, still rebounding from 2012 drought, now facing new challenges

Challenges for cattle ranchers: Beef industry, still rebounding from 2012 drought, now facing new challenges

Nikki Work

The Greeley Tribune

At Marshall Ernst’s ranch in Windsor, the curly white faces and red hair of Hereford cows stand out against the green and brown patches of pasture. For nearly 40 years, Marshall and his wife, Barbara, have run their herd of Herefords, an operation built around breeding and advancing genetics.

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Livestock Shows & Drug Testing : Procedures & best practices

Livestock Shows & Drug Testing : Procedures & best practices

Heidi Carroll, Hillary Rossow

iGrow

State and county livestock shows may require drug testing of exhibited animals to ensure a level playing field and food safety. During the May 4th Animal Care Wednesday Webinar, Mike Anderson, Iowa State University’s State 4-H Livestock Program Specialist, shared his experience with youth livestock shows, and provided practical procedures and best practices for individuals implementing, or considering drug testing for livestock shows.

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A Calf on the Ground is Money in the Bank

A Calf on the Ground is Money in the Bank

Clay Coppedge

DTN/Progressive Farmer

The most important factor in a successful cow/calf operation is weaning rate, but there is no good weaning rate without a good conception rate. Conception rates are a numbers game, affected by management decisions and the environment.

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Study examines how beef genetics adapt by region

Study examines how beef genetics adapt by region

Iowa Farmer Today

Genetics of beef cattle vary by region across the United States. Those differences develop over time as beef herds evolve in local environments.

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Pre-conditioning calves puts money in the bank!

Pre-conditioning calves puts money in the bank!

Kevin Gould

Michigan State University

Where can beef producers spend $10 for life insurance and then get paid a 400 percent return on your original investment? Answer: Properly pre-conditioning and vaccinating your calves!

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Tracking Brucellosis Transmission

Tracking Brucellosis Transmission

John Maday

AgWeb

Researchers from several federal agencies and universities recently completed a study tracking brucellosis transmission patterns between bison, elk and cattle. The study, using genomic analysis to identify specific strains of the brucellosis bacteria Brucella abortus, shows that elk can serve as a self-sustaining disease reservoir, exposing cattle and complicating control measures.

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Producers, industry groups react to Missouri beef checkoff vote

Producers, industry groups react to Missouri beef checkoff vote

Benjamin Herrold

Missouri Farmer Today

In the aftermath of Missouri cattle producers’ vote against a state beef checkoff, supporters and opponents of the proposed checkoff voiced agreement on two things: First, the importance of the cattle industry to Missouri’s economy, and second, that producers remain very involved in issues affecting their business.

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TPP Would Benefit U.S. Agriculture Most

TPP Would Benefit U.S. Agriculture Most

Annie Ropeik

Indiana Public Media News

The TPP is President Obama’s big trade deal to reduce tariffs and open new markets with Pacific Rim countries. There’s a better-than-expected outlook for Indiana agriculture in a report out this week on what would happen if Congress ratifies the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The TPP is President Obama’s big trade deal to reduce tariffs and open new markets with Pacific Rim countries. Congress could vote on it this year, and asked for this forecast from the U.S. International Trade Commission as part of that debate.

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Is it time for fly control?

Is it time for fly control?

Justin Mcdaniel

The Ada News

The beef cattle industry in Oklahoma loses millions of dollars annually due to external parasites. These losses result from reduced performance due to blood loss, irritation and annoyance while indirectly causing diseases affecting cattle, such as anaplasmosis through blood transmission. We need to utilize control methods as a holistic approach meaning correct ID and timing are important, as well as an overall plan for a specific pest.

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Robot ranchers monitor animals on giant Australian farms

Robot ranchers monitor animals on giant Australian farms

Alice Klein

New Scientist

Farmers, put your feet up. Autonomous robots are already being used to inspect crops, count yields and dig up weeds – now they are shepherds too. Sheep and cattle farms in the Australian outback are vast as well as remote. For example, the country’s most isolated cattle station, Suplejack Downs in the Northern Territory, extends across 4000 square kilometres and takes 13 hours to reach by car from the nearest major town, Alice Springs.

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