Drovers
With another round of frigid temperatures blanketing the U.S. again, what’s behind the cold? Here’s a hint: it’s not El Niño.
Without selecting to increase weaning weight, increasing the number of calves born the first 21 days of the calving season positively impacts total pounds of weaned calf and pounds of weaned calf harvested per acre.
Greater Omaha Packing Inc. announces the successful acquisition of Heartland Protein, solidifying its commitment to meeting the increasing demand for bovine-originated products.
The single most important factor in keeping a cow at zero non-productive days is body condition, which has a direct impact on calving interval, conception rate and percentage of open cows.
Breeding efficient cows is usually measured by a cows’ ability to calve each year and maintain a yearly calving interval.
For each 1-degree Fahrenheit the average daily temperature is below 30 degrees a cow in moderate BCS will need an additional one percent in daily energy requirement.
Current Death Tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2025, and it is vital that Congress acts soon and provide permanent relief for family operations.
If you are risk averse—the cattle business may not be for you. It’s a business full of environmental, production and marketing challenges.
The onset of severe cold temperatures and snow in a broad spectrum of cattle feeding regions will pull fed cattle production down. Beyond the reduced weekly slaughter head counts, carcass weights are set to plunge.
What do you use your land for? It’s easy to say that pastures are for grazing and cropland is for farming, but the list is much larger than that.
Winter weather dominated livestock markets the second full week of the year with slowing harvest and transportation. Cattle and hog prices were steady and margins improved modestly, yet losses remain significant.
Despite nearly 24 inches of snow, below-zero temperatures and raging winds that some people are affectionately calling “Death Storm #2,” Illinois livestock producers are finding ways to overcome the horrific conditions.
Utilizing the Starlink network, this solution will allow farmers facing rural connectivity challenges to fully leverage precision agriculture technologies.
Critics of U.S. beef’s trade activity claim imports distort domestic cattle prices. But actual data tells a much different story.
Severe winter weather across cattle feeding country reduced weekly harvest and damaged feeding performance. Cattle feeders will seek higher prices this week.
U.S. hay production in 2023 was 6.3% higher than the drought year of 2022, but remains 7.8% lower than the 10-year average. Hay stocks were higher in eight of the ten states, with decreases only in Kansas and Kentucky.
Methodical grind. There’s no question talent makes a difference, but what makes the biggest difference is commitment -- the daily decision to choose to work hard and show up.
No matter when beef cross calves are being sold, steps can be taken to make them more marketable.
New equations will better estimate protein utilization by beef cattle, benefit producers.
Brutal winter weather disrupted cattle markets and significantly curtailed cattle harvest in western Kansas. Cash cattle trades were steady to lower while wholesale beef prices posted a significant rally.
With larger-than-expected yield revisions to both corn and soybeans, it leaves one burning question: which states grew such big yields in 2023? USDA NASS released maps and charts to help answer that.
Winter storms across the country have resulted in significant pork and beef supply disruptions in terms of livestock moving to processing plants as well as beef and pork moving to population centers.
Are You Ready For the Polar Plunge? Some Areas Could See Temperatures Plummet to Negative 40 Degrees
From 40 degrees above zero earlier this week in parts of the Great Plains to now forecasts for temps to fall 40 degrees below zero, ag meteorologist Drew Lerner says the frigid conditions will be dangerous for livestock.
Whether it is a bull sale, bull shopping, calving or anything else; what can you do this week to prepare/make the next season go smoother?
There remains a lot of noise around the issue of LRPs in the cattle markets. That was best described by one of my readers last week: “[most of the critics] don’t even understand the facts, let alone the myths.”
What can we do to make calving in the late winter months as problem-free as possible? GET PREPARED!
As the fastest growing breed in America, the American Wagyu Association is actively working to keep the momentum going with additional staff and new programs.
Economics and the impact on weights – both longer-term and decisions based on short term factors will play an important part in determining beef production in 2024.
Obtaining a basic understanding of nutrition and making data driven decisions can give every cattleman an advantage in creating a nutrition program best suited to their operation.
After reaching a peak price in August, cull cow and bull prices moved higher to end the year on a positive note.