Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs. Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated in order to make the calculations.
Cull cows represent about 20% of the gross income in commercial cow calf operations, so understanding the major factors impacting cull cow prices is important to your bottom line.
If you are targeting selling your calves during one of this fall’s value-added or preconditioned sales, be mindful some of the required weaning dates are only days away.
Cattle have an upper critical temperature 20 degrees cooler than humans. When humans are a little uncomfortable at 80 degrees and feel hot at 90 degrees, cattle may well be in the danger zone for extreme heat stress.
Producers should exercise caution and test forages before cutting or grazing shortly after a drought-easing shower. Some of the greatest concentrations of nitrate in forages will be recorded at this time.
Pinkeye has long been a costly nuisance with reduced beef production in the form of lower weight gain, milk production, body condition, and eventually even poorer reproduction can result from eye infections.
Weaning during very hot summer weather is stressful enough to the calves. Therefore, any management strategy that can reduce stress to the calves should be utilized.
Vaccines can cost more than $3.00 per dose, and if not stored properly they can be rendered ineffective. Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store vaccines and handle them prior to injection.
Before the breeding season begins a few simple management procedures involving your bulls can increase the likelihood of a high pregnancy percentage among your cows.
