The fall sniffles. They are real for humans, dogs, cattle and swine. It’s no wonder that one of the most anticipated times of year becomes a time of worrying about the health and well-being of new show prospects.

Legislative proposals aimed at the U.S. livestock markets could have a negative impact on farmers and ranchers they are intended to protect, Meat Institute argues ahead of Thursday’s House Ag Committee hearing.

Consider the impact of your cowherd’s milk potential on energy requirements. Some cows respond better to their environment and this is often referred to as “adaptability.”

Fertility is an extremely important economic trait and genetic prediction of bull fertility is non-existent in most genetic evaluations, says a University of Wisconsin assistant professor of quantitative genetics.

Meat industry representatives will defend their operations and pricing practices on Thursday before the full House Agriculture Committee during a “Hearing to Review the State of the Livestock Industry.”

Weaning heavy, fast growing calves starts with conception. Cows conceiving every year and weaning even the most marginal calf can and still compete with a genetic giant with a zero in her average.