Colostrum: the foundation of a healthy life for calves

Colostrum: the foundation of a healthy life for calves

Travis Meteer

University of Illinois

Growing pressure from the consumer to further reduce use of antibiotics in livestock production is a hot topic. Many times in hot topic discussions, the obvious gets overlooked. I believe colostrum and managing cows to produce high quality colostrum is necessary no matter the production practice, but we should do a better job emphasizing colostrum in today’s production climate.

Full Story

Ways to Improve Conception Rates in the Cow Herd

Ways to Improve Conception Rates in the Cow Herd

Feedlot Magazine

Profit in the cow herd starts with reproductive success. If your cows don’t get bred, you’re not going to have calves to market. And feeding an open cow is just not much fun. However, reproductive success is not guaranteed. Several factors go into getting cows bred and keeping them bred. One of those factors is a sound nutrition program.

Full Story

Cull on Infertility

Cull on Infertility

Dr. Ken McMillan

DTN Progressive Farmer

Hormonal issues can cause aggressive behavior in females, as well as infertility.

Full Story

Mineral Supplementation Changes When Feeding Distillers Grains

Mineral Supplementation Changes When Feeding Distillers Grains

Karla Jenkins

University of Nebraska

Most producers are very well aware that distillers grains are a very economical, concentrated source of protein and energy. Distillers grains are also a good source of phosphorus and can often times eliminate the need for supplemental phosphorus in the mineral.

Full Story

Calving to Breeding

Calving to Breeding

Kathy Voth

On Pasture

“Nutrition has a huge impact on the performance of both the cow and the newborn calf,” said Ken Olson, Professor & SDSU Extension Beef Specialist. “Nutrition for the cow is important during this period because of its effect on subsequent reproductive performance.”

Full Story

What causes abortion in beef cows and heifers?

What causes abortion in beef cows and heifers?

Niall Claffey

AgriLand

Aborting cows do not normally display signs of illness unless there is retention of the foetal membranes (afterbirth). Illness that occurs at the later stages of pregnancy can result in abortion or stillbirths.

Full Story

What is the Economic Value of Beef Manure?

What is the Economic Value of Beef Manure?

Farms.com

Rick Koelsch

Manure has value. That value may result from improvements in soil quality, increases in yield, and replacement of commercial nutrient required for crop production. Previous articles on manure’s value have focused on its soil health (https://go.unl.edu/q23y), environmental benefits (https://go.unl.edu/hqd5), and tools for estimating manure’s value (https://go.unl.edu/w9xn). This article will focus on the economic benefits of manure.

Full Story

Americans Are Set to Eat More Meat in 2018 Than Ever Before

Americans Are Set to Eat More Meat in 2018 Than Ever Before

Fortune

For all the buzz about pea protein and lab-grown burgers, Americans are set to eat more meat in 2018 than ever before. To be precise, the average consumer will eat 222.2 pounds (100.8 kilos) of red meat and poultry this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, surpassing a record set in 2004. Meanwhile, domestic production will surpass 100 billion pounds for the first time, as livestock owners expand their herds on the back of cheap feed grain.

Full Story

Roseda Farm is breeding a ‘supercow’ in a quest to become the Berger Cookies of the beef industry

Roseda Farm is breeding a ‘supercow’ in a quest to become the Berger Cookies of the beef industry

Sarah Meehan

Baltimore Sun

Nestled in Baltimore County’s rolling hills, Roseda Farm has been slowly perfecting its Black Angus herd to create beef prime for plating. Through genetic testing, dry-aging and a closed system that allows the ranch to see its cattle from conception to butchering, Roseda has built one of the largest beef operations in the Mid-Atlantic, according to the Maryland Cattlemen’s Association.

Full Story

What are optimal EPDs and is the data reliable?

What are optimal EPDs and is the data reliable?

Amanda Radke

Beef Magazine

“What a producer identifies as optimum in terms of milk production, weaning weight and mature size can vary significantly from one operation to another depending upon resources available and management. When optimum is identified, sires can be selected to produce daughters whose maintenance energy, longevity, level of milk production and mature weight will move the cow herd toward identified goals given available resources.

Full Story