Feeding cost of gain is expected to drop for the remainder of 2016. Small net returns could be on the horizon for cattle finishers. Where are feeder cattle prices headed? Does it pay to retain ownership?
Have you ever wanted to shorten your breeding season, but don’t want to AI and are afraid of pulling the bull out early and potentially increasing the number of females that come up open?
The last thing producers want to hear at pregnancy check time, is the call of “Open!” from their veterinarian. It is often assumed that open females failed to conceive; however, fertilization rates in beef cattle typically range between 90-100%. Nonetheless, only around 70% of fertilizations result in conception.
Will prices continue to decline, or will they trade steady or find support between May and October? That is a tough question at this point, but it is hard to imagine further significant declines at this time.
As calving moves into full swing, many producers are thinking about vaccination programs they want to implement at branding. However, only a few are also considering how growth implants could be used as a management tool for the nursing calf.
