Mark Parker: The Top 10 benefits of cold weather

Mark Parker:  The Top 10 benefits of cold weather

FarmTalk

10. That cool breeze serves as an early warning indicator of imminent rivet failure on the back pocket of your jeans.

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Ensuring Bull Fertility

Ensuring Bull Fertility

Shelby Mettlen

Angus Beef Bulletin

Sire fertility is crucial to breeding program success. Much of a cow herd’s genetic potential lies with its herd sires, making bull fertility a vital component of an operation’s breeding program.

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Management of Non-Pregnant Cows

Management of Non-Pregnant Cows

Alicia Lansford

University of Nebraska

Traditional practice has been to cull an open beef female after pregnancy diagnosis to avoid additional feed and labor costs on a non-productive animal. Frequently, cull cows are sold into slaughter in the fall when cull cow inventory is highest and prices are lowest.

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Focus on Efficient Handling Facilities

Focus on Efficient Handling Facilities

Dr. Ken McMillan

DTN

The foundation of every good cattle operation starts with three fundamental things. First, you need good working facilities; next, a controlled calving season; and finally, a good recordkeeping system. All of these work together to create an efficient, well-organized business.

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The economics of preg-checking your cows

The economics of preg-checking your cows

Canadian Cattleman

The major economic benefit of preg-checking is the money saved by not wintering open cows. However, it has been noted that preg-checking is not always worthwhile, as the increased revenue due to higher prices for cows in the spring and the additional weights put on in the winter could more than offset winter feeding costs.

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Can Storage of Vaccine Affect Its Efficacy?

Can Storage of Vaccine Affect Its Efficacy?

Bovine Veterinarian

Respiratory disease in cattle also known as BRD, shipping fever or pneumonia may cost the U.S. cattle industry over $2 billion annually (Powell 2013). Management techniques can offset much of this cost and having a good vaccination program can maintain the health of a calf all the way through the production system.

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The Most Important Trait in Beef Cattle Selection?

The Most Important Trait in Beef Cattle Selection?

Jared Decker

A Steak in Genomics™

What is the most important trait in beef cattle selection? Watch Jared Decker’s presentation from the Thompson Research Center Field Day to find out.

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Plan to feed your hay efficiently

Plan to feed your hay efficiently

Southern Livestock

Feeding hay without the protection of feeders can result in 20% or greater hay waste. This can increase the cost of hay consumed by more than $30 per cow over winter.

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Discoveries from a leading grazing researcher

Discoveries from a leading grazing researcher

Alan Newport

Beef Producer

In his years of studying great graziers, Texas A&M range scientist Richard Teague has come up with some valuable observations. Teague has watched and mixed with top grazing managers his entire career, but began in earnest about 10 years ago to define and measure the methods and results of those who use managed grazing.

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Winter feeding hay in the field

Winter feeding hay in the field

Frank Wardynski

Michigan State University

Michigan beef cattle producers have traditionally grazed cows through the summer months and then fed hay rations in confinement settings through the non-grazing days. It is a logical system that usually allows farmers to deal best with regions of heavy snowfall, access to barn shelter, automatic waterers and can be relatively time efficient. Another concept of feeding cows through the winter is to feed out in either hay or pasture fields. This concept is not necessarily new but is gaining popularity.

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