BeefTalk: Age and Source Verification Revisited

BeefTalk: Age and Source Verification Revisited

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Ten years (as of November) have passed since the Dickinson Research Extension Center summarized research on tagging calves for improved market traceability, and the subject remains relevant today.

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The “Positive Associative Effect” of High Protein Supplements

The "Positive Associative Effect" of High Protein Supplements

Glenn Selk

Drovers

As you drive across much of the country this fall you see many big round bales of hay stored for winter feed.   The quality of this hay will vary a great deal.  Frankly, some of it will be low in protein content and therefore low in digestibility.  The micro-organisms in the rumen of beef cows and replacement heifers require readily available protein to multiply and exist in large enough quantities to digest the cellulose in low quality roughages.

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International beef initiative launched by Texas A&M animal science

International beef initiative launched by Texas A&M animal science

Southern Livestock Standard

A new international beef initiative is underway by the Texas A&M University department of animal science, emphasizing research and educational activities related to cattle adapted to subtropical and tropical climates.  Dr. Cliff Lamb, department head, said two new faculty positions have been created to lead this effort.

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Tracing chromium concentrations in ruminant feeds

Tracing chromium concentrations in ruminant feeds

Jerry W. Spears

Progressive Forage

Providing adequate trace minerals to dairy cows is essential for high production and good health.

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Cow-Calf Cost Breakdown – Feed Cost

Cow-Calf Cost Breakdown – Feed Cost

Aaron Berger

University of Nebraska

An economic analysis of annual cow costs in Nebraska shows that feed cost represents approximately 40-70% of all costs when labor and depreciation are included. An economic analysis values owned pasture and raised feed at market value. The cows are asked to pay fair market value for both grazed and fed feed.

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Developing Heifers

Developing Heifers

Shelby Mettlen

Angus Beef Bulletin

"A system only works great in that particular system,” said John Hall, superintendent of the University of Idaho’s Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension and Education Center in Carmen, Idaho. Hall spoke on the topic of heifer development at the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) symposium in Manhattan, Kan., Aug. 29-30. He encouraged his audience to concentrate on certain concepts and build their own systems to meet their unique needs.

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7 Steps to a Farm Succession Plan

7 Steps to a Farm Succession Plan

America Family Insurance

The family farm. It’s your legacy and your American dream. And it means everything to you. Passing that dream on to the people you trust helps ensure your hard work continues to provide for generations.

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World Beef Expo draws 1400 entries

World Beef Expo draws 1400 entries

Wisconsin State Farmer

Over 600 exhibitors hailing from 22 states around the country showed beef cattle at the World Beef Expo held Sept. 22-24 at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in West Allis.

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Plant that produces feed from corn stover to be built in Osage

Plant that produces feed from corn stover to be built in Osage

Radio Iowa

The northern Iowa town of Osage will be the site for a $20 million demonstration plant to produce a highly-digestible feed product from excess corn stover.

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Will feeding open cows cost — or make — you money this winter?

Will feeding open cows cost — or make — you money this winter?

Alexis Kienlen

Alberta Farm Express

Preg checking your cattle is important — but it’s hard to know if you should cull open ones now or feed them through the winter. Beef economist Kathy Larson of the Western Beef Development Centre doesn’t always recommend feeding open cows.

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Producers Benefit From Year-Round Herd Health Program

Producers Benefit From Year-Round Herd Health Program

Daniel Kniffen

Cattle Today

Many times a producer does not consider or appreciate the value of a good year-round herd health program until confronted with a difficult calving season or an unacceptable level of calf loss from health challenges.

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Use small grain stubble fields to boost forage supply

Use small grain stubble fields to boost forage supply

Iowa Farmer Today

One of the many benefits of incorporating small grains into the crop rotation is the ability to get a forage cover crop established, which is a great way for beef and dairy producers to add value to their crop fields by extending the grazing window or adding to the forage supply, say Jared Goplen and Eric Mousel with the University of Minnesota.

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Fall grazing offers opportunities and challenges for cattle

Fall grazing offers opportunities and challenges for cattle

Farm & Ranch Guide

After a summer of drought in North Dakota, pastures have been used heavily and cattle producers are looking for forage options to get them through the fall.

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Hair Loss in the Herd

Hair Loss in the Herd

Dr. Ken McMillan

DTN

A skin biopsy is the only way to get a definitive reason for hair loss in the herd, but most likely it’s caused by something more common than you’d think.

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Pennsylvanians bring hay to Montana after devastating drought and fire season

Pennsylvanians bring hay to Montana after devastating drought and fire season

FarmTalk

Five truckloads of hay were being unloaded in Miles City on Monday after a nearly 1,600-mile journey last weekend from Eau Clair, Pennsylvania.

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Forage digestibility and nutrition in ruminants

Forage digestibility and nutrition in ruminants

John Hibma

Progressive Forage

Forage is the foundation for all cattle and equine diets. The digestive systems in ruminants such as cattle, goats, deer and elk and the hindgut-fermenting species such as horses, elephants and rodents, all digest forages through a process called fermentation.

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Fall Pasture and Grazing Management

Fall Pasture and Grazing Management

Jessica A. Williamson

Drovers

Fall pasture growth often provides additional opportunity for grazing livestock; however, careful management of pastures is essential for the over-wintering of forages and improvement into the next growing season. A dry end to our summer has stunted fall pasture regrowth dramatically, but as rains begin to increase in frequency in most regions, fall grazing is beginning to look a little more promising, but could be detrimental to your forage stand if not managed carefully.

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Vet Mike Apley Says Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture is a Matter of Judicious Use vs. Stewardship

Vet Mike Apley Says Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture is a Matter of Judicious Use vs. Stewardship

Oklahoma Farm Report

In recent years, the threat of bacterial resistance to antibiotic treatments, has prompted concerns not only in the human health sector, but also over the use of antibiotics in livestock production as a contributor to the issue. Hence, the recent enforcement of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) that now governs antibiotic use in production agriculture.

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Parasite Control: Kill most, protect some

Parasite Control: Kill most, protect some

John Maday

Bovine Veterinarian

Drug resistance in parasites, like the worms themselves, can progress unnoticed, until the damage is done. Today, with resistance becoming more common, veterinarians and parasitologists are sounding the alarm, saying we’re reaching a tipping point, where changing practices can preserve the efficacy of existing products, but inaction could allow multi-drug resistance to become the norm.

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Be ‘Master of Beef’ advocate

Be ‘Master of Beef’ advocate

Jayde Farbo

AgriView

Ever been caught off-guard in a conversation with a consumer that somehow headed south past the point of repair? Where in the heck did that come from?

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