R-CALF to continue Beef Checkoff battle

R-CALF to continue Beef Checkoff battle

Anna Miller

Western Livestock Reporter

The battle against the Beef Checkoff program has raged on, but has been halted for the time being. Montana Magistrate Judge John Johnston issued a summary judgment Jan. 29 in favor of the government in the case R-CALF v. Perdue. The case traces back to last summer, when Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) asked the federal district court to rule the Beef Checkoff program was unconstitutional.

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Tips offered to use your commercial herd as recipients for embryo transfer.

Tips offered to use your commercial herd as recipients for embryo transfer.

Kasey Brown

Angus Beef Bulletin

Unless we do things out of the ordinary, beef is a commodity. A commodity is by definition a break-even game, admitted Scott Lake, associate professor and beef extension specialist for the University of Wyoming. To beat that statistic, Lake suggested thinking out of the box for profit potential — implants, ionophores, beta agonists, artificial insemination (AI) and even embryo transfer (ET).

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Houghton Named 2020 Stockman of the Year

Houghton Named 2020 Stockman of the Year

Kansas State University

Patsy Houghton will be recognized Thursday, March 5 as the 2020 Stockman of the Year. The award is presented annually by the Livestock & Meat Industry Council (LMIC) at the annual Stockmen’s Dinner that kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. Patsy, native of Mitchell County, Kansas, is the 2020 Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC) Stockman of the Year. Patsy graduated from Kansas State University (K-State) in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) and in 1979 with a master’s degree in Reproductive Physiology.

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Emergency Calf Management after Dystocia (Difficult Birth)

Emergency Calf Management after Dystocia (Difficult Birth)

Dr. Michelle Arnold

Ohio Beef Cattle Letter

“Dystocia” is defined as a difficult or prolonged calving, whether or not human assistance was necessary for delivery of the calf. Factors known to cause dystocia include a mismatch between small pelvic size of the dam and large calf size, abnormal calf presentation (for example, backwards or head turned back), and maternal factors such as weak labor, insufficient dilation of the cervix, or a uterine twist or torsion.

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Helping the newborn calf breathe

Helping the newborn calf breathe

Glenn Selk

FarmTalk

Despite our best efforts at bull selection and heifer development, cows or heifers occasionally need assistance at calving time. Every baby calf has a certain degree of respiratory acidosis. Acidosis is the result of the deprivation of oxygen and the accumulation of carbon dioxide that results from the passage of the calf through the birth canal.

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Better genetics pay at the feedyard

Better genetics pay at the feedyard

Larry Stalcup

Beef Magazine

The better the genetics, the more the profit potential. That’s what Cactus Feeders has learned from historical data on hundreds of thousands of cattle, which allows the feeding company to closely project the value of cattle headed to one of its 10 feedyards.

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Cows can handle the cold — but extreme cold is a different story

Cows can handle the cold — but extreme cold is a different story

Alberta Farmer Express

Regular feed only goes so far in keeping cattle warm when it’s bone-chilling cold. “Cattle can stay warm down to -20 C without wind chill, and the heat from digestion when they consume their feed will keep them warm,” said beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. Feed requirements change when it gets that cold.

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Wet Bales Can Tip the Scales

Wet Bales Can Tip the Scales

Ben Beckman

University of Nebraska

The past few months, we’ve been focusing quite a bit on the issues that can arise when hay gets a bit too wet: combustion, mold, and Maillard reactions.  One often overlooked issue that can arise from wet hay is just the moisture itself.  Whenever we provide part of our animal’s daily feed, whether spreading hay on the ground or a ration in a bunk, cattle are trusting that we as producers are providing for all their energy and protein needs.

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The Difference Between The EPA’s Old WOTUS and New WOTUS

The Difference Between The EPA’s Old WOTUS and New WOTUS

Oklahoma Farm Report

Scott Yager, NCBA’s Chief Environmental Counsel explains the difference between the EPA’s old Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) and the new version, known as the Navigable Water Protection Act. The new edition was signed two weeks ago by EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler but it will take 60 days to become official law. “This new rules goes a long way to correct the federal overreach of the 2015 rule,” said Yager.

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Here’s the Impact of Fencing and Planning on Grazing Days and Profitability

Here’s the Impact of Fencing and Planning on Grazing Days and Profitability

Tom Krawiec

On Pasture

During the growing season and up to Oct 31, I use the custom grazing rate for my area to give one Stock Day a monetary value. I use custom grazing rates because it is the operator’s choice whether they custom graze someone else’s animals or graze their own. Starting November 1, I use the value of ‘normal’ winter feeding to assign a monetary value. I use November 1 because I believe most people can graze until the end of October without much planning.

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