Beef Production
Market analysts expect demand for beef and wholesale beef prices will begin a post-July 4 seasonal decline the next several weeks.
More than 45% of the contiguous US is currently in drought, with many parts of the southwest experiencing severe, extreme or exceptional drought. And no state has it worse than Texas.
Drought has limited pasture availability and forced many producers into feeding total mixed rations to cows. Including silage in a TMR can reduce ration cost, improve the energy content of the diet, and add moisture.
Gaining a greater understanding of how your cattle development decisions impact the next phase provides context around the market signals from bidders and buyers.
North Dakota weather conditions this year have provided much needed rainfall, good for forage growth but less than ideal for hay drying and curing.
Strong basis bids are sparking questions about the reality of corn supplies and issues in getting grain to areas of the country that need it. Analysts are watching USDA’s Grain Stocks report this week for answers.
Over 1,250 poll responses reveal the least favorite job you had as a kid likely centered around weeds and rocks.
High temps are here to stay! In preparation for upcoming heat waves, here’s a list of strategies to reduce the impact of heat stress on cattle and decrease the chances of cattle loss on your operation.
Grazing cattle generally benefit from a vitamin and mineral supplementation program, but achieving “balance” between animal requirements and vitamin or mineral supply can be a challenge.
Prussic acid toxicity led to the death of some cattle in northwest Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Oklahoma State veterinarians provide management tips for cattlemen during times of increased prussic acid danger.
It will take much of the remainder of the year for feedlots to work through the current inventory and we can’t be sure what additional impacts the drought may have in the coming months.
Prices in the North continued to trade premium to the South while wholesale beef prices inched lower for the week. USDA’s cattle on feed report looks positive for next week’s markets.
UNL researchers found that planting, harvest and calving season shave off 28 minutes of a farmer’s sleep each night, while fewer than 7.5 hours increases their risk of injury by 61%.
Weed infestations can diminish the nutritional value of pastures, forage availability and stocking rates.
Last week, hot and dry weather fueled commodity markets. This week, the change in the weather forecast, as well as growing concerns about a recession, spurred market speculators to sell.
Genetics are cumulative, with long-lasting impacts in both positive and negative ways, says Red Angus Assn. CEO Tom Brink. The stronger the cowherd, genetically speaking, the greater the payback for many years to come.
Grasses and crop growth are stunted in Texas under abnormally dry conditions, and damages begin to show as moderate drought sets in. Extremely high temperatures are exacerbating the moisture deficit for pasture grasses.
Compared to other animals, cattle can’t dissipate their heat load very effectively. Cattle do not sweat effectively and rely on respiration to cool themselves.
Packers in the Northern region remain short on cattle which helped boost the price for a second consecutive week.
Active cash cattle trade in the northern feeding region led to a $4 to $5 rally this week even as an early season heat wave gripped the plains states.
After seeing the devastation of a major heat stress event, consider these strategies to help mitigate heat stress issues in the herd.
Did High Heat And Humidity Really Cause Cattle Deaths In Kansas? The Latest Look at Potential Losses
Feedyards battled through the intense conditions to keep their cattle safe this week. The heat and humidity proved devastating, and estimates point to western Kansas feedlots seeing losses of 100 to 500 head per day.
Arm mangled inside a hay baler, Doug Bichler fought a gruesome battle for life, determined to escape the machine at all costs.
With recent rains, humidity and warmer temperatures an ideal breeding ground for annoying pests that rob profit potential from beef operations.
Consumer concerns with inflation are quite real and retail beef values closed out the first quarter 15% higher than last year. Even so, the end user beef market has gained a widening appreciation for Prime beef.
With the extreme heat in cattle feeding areas there have been reports of death losses.
Research has shown weaning weights can be increased by over 30 pounds and pregnancy rates by over 10% by deworming cows in the spring and again in mid-summer.
At some point, a forage yield/quality compromise is reached when plant growth has reached a point of an acceptable yield and forage quality is still high enough to meet nutritional needs of livestock.
Cash fed cattle prices turned higher late week with Kansas trading Friday morning and were rewarded for their patience.
Through May, beef cow slaughter for the year-to-date is 15% higher. While some drought reduction has improved pasture conditions, range and pasture conditions remain at the worst level ever for this time of year.