Body condition important at calving

Body condition important at calving

Farm and Ranch Guide

The last 60 days before calving and the first 60 days after calving are critical periods in the production cycle of the beef cow herd. Energy and protein requirements of the cow increase by 15 percent to 20 percent from mid to late gestation to support fetal growth and prepare the cow for lactation. Requirements increase again by 20 percent to 30 percent during peak lactation (about eight weeks post-calving).

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Late-planted cover crops yield value

Late-planted cover crops yield value

Garth Ruff, Jason Hartschuh and Allen Gahler

Ohio Farmer

The combination of poor-quality hay made in 2018, historic alfalfa winterkill and excessive rainfall across most of Ohio in spring 2019 created a large need for high-quality alternative forage sources this past year. Record amounts of prevented-plant acreage across the state created an opportunity to grow forages on traditionally row-cropped acres.

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KSU vet: No evidence of COVID-19 transmission in livestock

KSU vet: No evidence of COVID-19 transmission in livestock

Alice Mannette

The Hutchinson News

The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, is transmitted through humans — not animals, and there is no evidence that livestock can transmit the disease to humans. While coronavirus is a disease familiar to livestock producers, it is not the same strain of the virus that is grabbing headlines across the globe.

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Can you make those cull cows a better profit center?

Can you make those cull cows a better profit center?

Alan Newport

Beef Producer

Cow culling typically produces poor returns for many ranches, but it could be made more profitable. It’s a matter of weighing your costs versus potential returns, combined with better market timing.

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Reproduction starts with Nutrition

 Reproduction starts with Nutrition

Jaclyn Krymowski

American Cattlemen

Reproduction and parturition are perhaps the two most demanding life processes we, or nature, can demand of an animal. While these functions are certainly hardwired, built into the very nature of living things, they are also rather delicate, able to be influenced on multiple levels. With this in mind, its no surprise one cornerstone to reproductive and calving success is as simple as proper nutrition, aligned with the unique needs of the geographic region, age, breed, and physiology.

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Deliberate genetic focus results in quality boost

Deliberate genetic focus results in quality boost

Wes Ishmael

Beef Magazine

“Consistent carcass premiums of $4 to $8 per cwt — the spread between branded cutout values and the comprehensive cutout — is forcing commercial cattle feeders to strive for increased carcass quality,” explained Don Close, senior analyst of animal protein for Rabo AgriFinance, at this year’s Kansas State University Beef Stocker field day.

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Value-based marketing comes to feeder cattle.

Value-based marketing comes to feeder cattle.

Mark McCully

Angus Beef Bulletin

There was a time in our industry when all beef was valued at the same price. Then along came the USDA grading system. It was originally developed to make sure our troops were getting high-quality meat, but it has evolved into a system of grades and brands that predict yield, consistency and consumer eating satisfaction.

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Working with cattle is just one side of new Clemson Farms director

Working with cattle is just one side of new Clemson Farms director

Tom Hallman

Clemson Newsstand

You don’t have to be an agricultural scientist to understand it: The beef will only be as good as the food it eats. Matt Hersom, though, is an agricultural scientist: From Oklahoma to Florida, he’s been a student, professor, researcher and Extension specialist trained in both cattle and their pastures and feed.

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Farmers first: Growing the right grass

Farmers first: Growing the right grass

Robert Fears

The Eagle

Successful beef cattle producers are, first, proficient grass managers. They are quick to say they are primarily grass farmers and cattle are one of the management tools. Productive pastures require proper forage species selection and effective grass management which were discussed by Jamie Foster of Texas A&M AgriLife Research in a webinar last November.

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As Cattle Prices Try To Claw Back, Rally May Not Be Sustainable

As Cattle Prices Try To Claw Back, Rally May Not Be Sustainable

Tyne Morgan

AgWeb

Cattle prices are on a historic ride. Producers are trying to make sense of it all, as well as industry insiders.  “I think this is completely unprecedented,” says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University livestock specialist. “In the cattle industry, specifically, we’ve had lots of things that have shocked the market over the years: the packing plant fire in 2019, or maybe even all the way back to the first BSE case in 2003.

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Grass cover crops can be bargain feed or bedding

Grass cover crops can be bargain feed or bedding

Jason Hartschuh and Stan Smith

Ohio Farmer

With somewhere around 1.5 million acres not planted last spring to the intended crops of corn or soybeans due to the extraordinary weather, today, Ohio farmers likely have more acres of cereal rye planted for cover than at any time in previous history. At the same time, cattle producers and livestock owners are facing forage shortages that rival the drought of 2012.

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Making Sense of Your Next Generation Cow Herd

Making Sense of Your Next Generation Cow Herd

Trudy Ohlde

American Cattlemen

Truly focusing on the female. The livelihood of the commercial man or woman depends on their cowherd. What is the best direction to take your cow herd in the near future? Decisions made this breeding season can affect your cow herd for the next 12-14 years. The initial impact of a bull used this year will not fully be realized for 3-5 years when those heifers born from these genetics start production and either fall out or stay in the herd.

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The art of the load

The art of the load

Matt Reese

Ohio’s Country Journal

East of the Mississippi, the average farm cattle herd size is less than 20. The often-small number of cattle on Ohio farms creates an inherent marketing challenge: it can be tough to put together a good, consistent load of cattle larger operations need.

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Disconnect Between Cash, Futures And Packers

Disconnect Between Cash, Futures And Packers

Brad Hulett

Drovers

Last past week was a wild ride in the cash cattle market.  Some producers began to let cattle go Monday morning at $105.  This trade was short-lived and most feedyards chose to hold out for more money. By the end of the week most cash cattle in the south traded at $110-$113.

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Developing Replacement Heifers

Developing Replacement Heifers

Cliff Lamb

Angus Journal

With the theme of “Icons of Innovation,” I thought it would be appropriate to share some significant advances that have been made in recent years that have provided tools to producers to manage reproduction within their herds.

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New Website Aims to Connect Americans to Nearest Cattle Producers for Beef

New Website Aims to Connect Americans to Nearest Cattle Producers for Beef

Jody Heemstra

DRG News

In the wake of reports that beef cases in grocery stores are empty in some areas of the country, R-CALF USA has launched a new Website to connect consumers with their neighboring cattle farmers and ranchers who raise and sell cattle or beef that is exclusively born, raised, and harvested in the U.S. directly to consumers.

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US company looks to indoor production of cattle forage

US company looks to indoor production of cattle forage

Aerin Einstein-Curtis

Feed Navigator

Traceable production and reduced reliance on land and water use are prompting Grōv Technologies to develop an indoor production system for dairy and beef cattle forage.

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Cattle auctions continue amid the COVID-19 fallout

Cattle auctions continue amid the COVID-19 fallout

Wes Ishmael

Beef Magazine

For all the COVID-19 confusion surrounding stay-home orders and the like, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) makes clear where agriculture and the agricultural workforce stand.

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Stimulus package offers aid for livestock producers

Stimulus package offers aid for livestock producers

CAROL RYAN DUMAS

Capital Press

The bill would provide $14 billion to enhance the Commodity Credit Corporation, which finances USDA programs including price supports. It would also provide a separate $9.5 billion for livestock producers, specialty crops and local food systems.

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Take care to reduce risk of calf scours

Take care to reduce risk of calf scours

Glenn Selk

Enid News & Eagle

The ongoing human health issue, known as COVID-19, serves as a reminder to cattle ranchers about the importance of sound, common sense biosecurity measures that can aid in reducing the risk of a disease outbreak in the new 2020 calf crop. Neonatal calf diarrhea (commonly called “calf scours”) is one of the most costly disease entities in the beef cattle business. Fall-calving herds have the help of the hot, late summer and early fall sunshine to reduce the build-up and spread of the pathogens that cause calf diarrhea.

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