Beef Production
Commodity prices won’t grow less volatile over the next several months. So, what’s a potential game plan for locking in feed prices? Friday’s market action may be one example of what producers can do to manage risk.
Raising cattle to qualify for the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) brand requires a black hided animal and meeting 10 carcass specifications.
When choosing a breeding protocol, it’s important to consider time, labor, skill, cow condition and cost. Dr. Steven Hughes shares considerations and tips to have the most success in your breeding season.
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is still a serious threat to the economics of beef production accounting for $800 to $900 million in losses from death loss, treatment cost, and reduced production.
Wheat and other small grain pastures have been short, but as growing conditions improve, forage growth comes on rapidly. Rapidly growing small grain forage can lead to bloat of grazing cattle.
Cattle feeders have been more willing to sell finished cattle in recent weeks since corn prices have elevated the ration cost and feed conversion efficiency decreases at the end of the feeding period.
Keeping pests away from your livestock is crucial for their well-being and the biosecurity of your facilities.
As the spring thaw in eastern North Dakota continues at a rapid rate, inspecting the dirty-water containment ponds and manure stacking areas daily is an important practice for livestock owners.
If drought conditions persist, feedlots may continue to borrow against the future with early weaned calves available through the spring and summer before facing the full reality of tighter feeder cattle supplies.
Modest packer participation in all regions led to another disappointing week for cattle feeders trying to push the market higher.
Fed cattle trades began the week at steady before finding higher bids late week. Cattle on feed numbers remain high as USDA reported a 9% increase in February placements over last year.
Dr. Bob Weaber shares how the beef on dairy phenomena is a disrupter in the usual dairy and beef business and discussed research findings from a beef on dairy carcass trait collaborative project.
By adding one more pig to a litter, the U.S. pork industry could increase production by an estimated $120 million annually. To do that, Karl Kerns says we need to learn what influences the capacity of sperm to fertilize.
Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist Mark Z Johnson provides an answer to the question he posed in Part 1: Which bull transmits more profit potential to this operation?
Simple nutrition program tweaks can boost your breeding season success and help you make the most of promising market conditions.
Feeder cattle markets have been in transition for several months and more transition is ahead. A strong uptrend in feeder prices is now reflected in Feeder futures prices, which may offset typical seasonal patterns.
Cattle feeders began last week optimistic that the market trend would be higher, but those ideas were quickly squashed as futures prices began trending lower.
Cash fed cattle prices traded mostly steady in what most describe as a disappointing market. Cattle feeders began the week asking higher prices but cash bids of $138 bought most cattle in the South.
Sales of live and frozen Hereford genetics increased in 2021, with continued growth forecasted for 2022.
A number of causes and contributing factors can result in hair loss and itching, and last year’s drought has played a role as harvested forages may be low in vitamin A.
Ensuring that bulls are in good body condition and physically fit for the upcoming breeding season is key to reproductive success.
A bi-annual survey of the four largest packers showed a dramatic increase in rewards for the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand. Grid, formula and contract premiums paid on CAB carcasses in 2021 totaled $182 million.
By comparing the EPDs of new bulls under consideration to the five bulls that sired our existing cowherd, we can predict genetic change expected in the next generation of cows in an operation.
Six best practices for safely pulling a calf, provided by Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian.
Castration is a key component to any preconditioning program that can greatly influence market price premiums or discounts, especially in older bull calves.
Three categories of pregnancy losses in beef cattle include early embryonic death, abortion and stillbirth. Many potential causes for stillbirths and abortions make it important to investigate each calf loss.
Maps show the severity of drought in eight Central Plains states and where they began 2022 in beef cow numbers. These eight states represent 52% of America’s beef cows, and accounted for 67% of last year’s herd culling.
Veterinarians say there are steps producers can take to lessen disease risks before bringing new animals into your operation.
Access to adequate, good quality water will continue to be a challenge for ranchers in North Dakota who depend on surface water sources, such as dugouts and stock dams to provide water to livestock.
Warmer temperatures, low humidity, dry conditions and wind mean that wildfire risks are very high now. The drought conditions impacting the region will become much more apparent in the coming weeks.