Due to dry conditions, livestock producers should expect to see a reduction in grazeable forage. Drought management plans will be vital if the drought continues into the growing season.
A variety of production and marketing practices are available to help cow-calf producers enhance calf values. Though these practices are not new, many are still adopted by only a small percentage of producers. The following summarizes several surveys and feeder cattle pricing studies.
The first principle that needs to be understood is forage maturity determines forage quality, explains Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension.
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.
Quality beef heifers showed price strength in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale, Friday, May 20. The 291 bred heifers averaged $2,236 at Joplin Regional Stockyards.
It seems certain that herd expansion has slowed to a snail’s pace compared to one year ago, but from a historical standard, expansion is likely still moving at a fairly rapid clip.
USDA's May Cattle on Feed report said there were 1.3% more cattle on feed than a year ago. April placements were up a surprising 7.5% and April marketings were up 1.2%.
As producers continue to make both short-term and longer-term decisions in managing their operations it is useful to periodically step back and take stock of characteristics depicting the industry more broadly. The recently updated estimates from USDA ERS of production costs and returns offer an opportunity to increase our understanding of regional variation in the U.S. cow-calf sector.
For years, the accepted target weight for yearling replacement beef heifers at breeding was 65% of their mature weight. Recently that target has been questioned.
Another way to manage old world bluestem using glyphosate is by doing a one-time application of 2-3 pounds per acre once the plant begins early heading.
If someone was offering a deal promising that for every $1 invested there would be a $25 payoff four to six months later, how many takers would there be? Sounds too good to be true, but that is exactly the payoff from using implants on nursing calves this year.
Two year old cows that calved this spring will present a challenge to producers to get them to rebreed and stay in synch with the rest of the cow herd.
Monthly fed cattle net returns have been negative since December 2014. A few months ago, it appeared that we would climb above breakeven this spring. However, that was before the recent drop in fed cattle prices.
If you wait too long, perhaps until this fall, time will have mellowed most of the events and one soon has difficulty matching a calving season with particular problems.
The Choice cutout was $212.05 down $0.45 from Thursday and down $8.45 from last Friday, while fed cattle trade was $2 to $3 lower than a week ago on a live basis.
Small grains planted last fall are greening up and may be ready to graze soon. This spring, let’s make sure these pastures are productive and safe.
