Cow-Calf

Fifth-generation Florida rancher Marty Smith was elected president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) replacing Jennifer Houston of Sweetwater, Tenn., 2019 NCBA president.

Gardiner Angus Ranch’s “Early Bird” bull sale – held at the ranch January 27, 2020 – saw 186 Angus bulls and 108 bred commercial Angus heifers sell.

USDA’s annual Cattle report revealed slightly lower cattle numbers, but the decline was not as large as some analysts expected.

Boehringer Ingelheim premiered the new “Cattle First” documentary at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio.

U.S. beef exports were down year-over-year in 2019 but could see a bump this year. Imports in 2019 were up slightly compared to the previous year.

The number of sensor based technologies available to livestock producers continues to advance. Today there are machines and sensors being used to replicate human observation related to sight, sound and even smell.

Despite our best efforts at bull selection and heifer development, cows or heifers occasionally need assistance at calving time. Every baby calf has a certain degree of respiratory acidosis.

NCBA and the Public Lands Council oppose the Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act, a bill that would require federal land management agencies to permanently end livestock grazing on some allotments.

Observations from a retired Utah State University extension agent challenges the Konefal Method of evening feeding of cows to encourage daytime calving.

There was some hesitation among buyers this week as the CME futures had a downward turn and sell-off early in the trading period. Steers and heifers sold lower at auctions.

The latest monthly cattle on feed report showed the January 1 inventory in feedlots (over 1,000 head) at 11.958 million head, 102.3 percent of one year ago.  This is the largest January on-feed total since 2008.

Calves born after a prolonged, difficult birth are at a high risk of failing to receive adequate colostrum by natural suckling because of greatly decreased colostrum intake.

Agricultural Marketing Service reporters said the market was most active on “lightweight cattle, in light flesh, as numbers of those cattle are not as plentiful as their heavier mates.”

It is important to maintain our community ties built around agriculture and mining that have been the fabric of rural America.

As the spring calving season begins, beef cows will show typical signs that will indicate to the rancher that parturition is imminent.

During the last trimester of pregnancy in beef cows, the fetus grows rapidly, placing increasing nutrient demands on the cow. In addition, cold weather increases the cow's nutrient requirements.

Authorities in Lincoln County, Nevada, are seeking information regarding the starving death of six cattle locked in a corral southeast of Las Vegas with no food or water.

No paid time off and no health insurance is the norm for livestock employees.

Many spring calving herds will begin calving around the first of February, if not before, so an increased understanding of the “calving” or parturition process is helpful.

Cull beef cows represent 10% of the beef consumed in the U.S. and they represent 20% of the gross income of commercial ranches, making proper cull cow management important.