As growing conditions improve on wheat pastures that have been grazed short all winter long, the threat of bloat rises. Here’s how to combat the onset of bloat in grazing calves.
Practices that decrease feed costs without affecting productivity have potential to improve profitability. Ionophores can increase energetic efficiency and reduce production of waste molecules such as methane.
Growth rates and carcass weights have been increasing over the last 30 years. However, little research has been conducted to determine how aggressive selection for production traits affects cow maintenance requirements.
In every drought cycle some producers have an earlier end to the drought than others while others are more severely affected by drought. This cows are often available to purchase, but they aren’t always a bargain.
When cows get below their lower critical temperature and get into cold stress, they can adapt by increasing feed consumption to increase their basal metabolic rate and increase heat of fermentation.
Faced with conditions where it will likely be valuable to buy or retain calves this fall to sell as feeders next spring, producers should evaluate options in self-fed rations.
Winter backgrounding programs in most areas will not include grazing this year, which makes calculating precise ration costs and projecting breakevens critical for success.
Why should buyers at cattle auctions pay $10 to $15 per cwt premiums for the best cattle that have received the best management, if they can get the same thing at commodity prices?
