What is the effect of rain damage on hay?
Brian Pugh
FarmTalk
Hay that has been cut and then rained on can lose quality in four ways. These include: 1) leaching of soluble carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, 2) increased and prolonged plant respiration, 3) leaf shattering, and 4) microbial breakdown of plant tissue.
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Investing in the future, heifer development for longevity
Justin Rhinehart
A Steak in Genomics™
In our nutritional development, we can have steady growth, fast early growth then plateau, slow early growth and fast late growth. We can develop heifers to a lower target weight and still get good pregnancy weights.
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Harvesting and handling high-quality baleage
Tim Harrigan
Michigan State University
Perhaps the greatest challenge Michigan forage growers face is quickly transforming high quality standing forage in the field to a form that is stable, storable and the best feed quality for livestock.
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Economist: Beef industry set up for crash
Krissa Welshans
Feedstuffs
Steve Meyer, vice president of pork analysis at EMI Analytics, said during the 2017 World Pork Expo, held last week in Des Moines, Iowa, that the beef industry is set up for a real crash this summer.
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Options Available for Pasture Weed Control
Burleigh County NDSU Extension
Yellow patches of leafy spurge are beginning to pop up in road ditches across North Dakota. “Leafy spurge is the most recognized noxious weed in the state, infesting approximately 746,183 acres, followed by Canada thistle (824,659 acres) and absinth wormwood (608,414 acres),” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “These species are the most common noxious weeds found on rangeland and pastures across the state.”
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Tips for Adding 50 Pounds to Weaning Weights
Gene Johnston
Successful Farming
Fifty pounds – the weight of a bag of feed – in extra calf weaning weight seems like a worthy goal. It could add up to $100 per cow to your sales. The following four cow/calf experts give their best low-cost tips on how to get an extra 50 pounds.
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Profit Tip: Feed Additives
Rob Eirich
University of Nebraska
When profit margins are tight, the use of technologies such as feed additives should not be overlooked. Feed additives are compounds fed to feedlot cattle for reasons other than supplying nutrients. These compounds increase the rate of gain and feed efficiency of beef cattle, decreasing the cost of production and improving the profit potential of feedlot producers. Here, we will focus on ionophores and beta-agonists.
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An easy mistake to make
Hay and Forage Grower
It matters not where animals are grazed or, in most cases, what they’re grazing — if left on the same slab of ground for too long, severe consequences will ensue. To be sure, overgrazing is the most common mistake made on pasture-based livestock farms.
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Keep cattle cool on hot summer days
Rod Swoboda
Wallaces Farmer
Summer is here and the temperatures have increased considerably in recent days. After a cool spring that felt good to most people, many cattle that haven’t adapted to warmer weather still have remnants of a winter hair coat.
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On the urban edge: Dane County farmers find success raising Scottish Highlands
Jim Massey
The Country Today
Kevin and Keely Oppermann say they haven’t had much problem raising beef cattle and growing crops on the urban fringe, but they don’t know what tomorrow might bring. The Oppermanns operate Stoneman Family Farm, a farm that has been in Kevin’s family since 1918. His grandfather was literally born in the house on the main farm in 1921.
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The Beef Blog 