Beef Production
Cattle feeders continue to struggle with ample supplies of market-ready cattle and only moderate demand from packers.
If you plan to graze stockpiled native range this fall and winter after the grasses become dormant, supplementation of cows will be necessary.
NDSU Extension veterinarian Gerald Stokka warns that a sudden change in the composition of forage of mature grazing cattle may result in a condition known as “fog fever,” or bovine pulmonary emphysema.
The modern protein buyer has been forced to become accustomed to much higher prices across beef, pork and chicken as price inflation hasn’t waned. Demand outstripping supply seems to be the theme across each sector.
The drought of 2021 in the northern plains states has left many ranchers short of feed, both grazing forage and hay. A great option for spring grazing or hay production is winter cereals.
Anaplasmosis is a serious disease often transmitted by ticks that has historically been a problem for southern producers. Now, veterinarians say the disease is spreading north and encourage producer vigilance.
An overnight fire at the JBS beef facility and a temporary computer glitch at Tyson’s Dakota City facility disrupted beef packing on Monday sending futures prices sharply lower.
Between the pandemic forcing the shutdown of meat processing plants in 2020 and recent ransomware attacks on the nation’s largest meat supplier, some say concentration of the meat supply chain is a bad idea.
Negotiated cash trade of fed cattle was limited in both the South and the North last week, and steady to softer prices was the result.
Vaccines are crucial to keeping livestock healthy and productive. However, with timing, labor constraints and the necessity for boosters, there are several factors to consider before implementing a vaccination program.
Drought-stressed soybeans are a potential forage source for ranchers that can be grazed or harvested. Check with your crop insurance agent and the local Farm Service Agency to determine impact on farm program payments.
Regulators in Brazil and Chile have granted market authorization to Bovaer®, a novel methane-reducing feed additive for ruminants produced by Dutch nutrition giant Royal DSM NV.
Proper handling and administration of vaccines should follow BQA standards to decrease the likelihood of infection upon exposure to a pathogen and to minimize tissue damage to consumable protein products.
The International Brangus Breeders Association announces the launch of the Brangus® Vigor Feeder Calf Program, a Process Verified Program (PVP).
The Biden administration plans to take a tougher stance toward meatpacking companies it says are causing sticker shock at grocery stores.
Imports of Mexican cattle the the U.S. are down 18.7% through the first seven months of the year compared to 2020. However, the fourth quarter of the year typically sees increased Mexican imports.
The fed cattle market in the South continued to inch higher last week. Now that we have the holiday behind us packers should have a greater need for cattle than what we have seen for the last several weeks.
We’re finally on the backside of the cattle cycle. Calf crops are getting smaller, and the inventory of 2019 and 2020 born cattle on feed continues to shrink.
The percentage of heifers in USDA’s August feeder cattle sale reports is higher this year in all three marketing channels – auctions, direct sales and video auctions – an indication of the drought’s influence.
Officials in North Dakota are investigating the suspicious deaths of 58 pregnant cows grazing U.S. Forest Service rangeland. The loss to the rancher is estimated at $100,000.
The U.S. is experiencing drought conditions affecting cattle, pastures, feed crops and beyond. During Farm Journal Field Days, Drovers’ Greg Henderson discussed the drought and its effect with four industry stakeholders.
Most commercial bulls ultimately cull themselves due to injury or old age. The USDA Meat Animal Research Center evaluated the ability of genetic testing to inform management decisions around bull prolificacy.
Is there a correlation between the emotional well-being of livestock and their performance? The short answer is yes.
The combination of smaller yields and fewer acres harvested will translate into another year of rising hay prices, says the Livestock Marketing Information Project.
Early fall calving herds face a challenge from the high temperatures of late summer. The primary challenge is the impact those temperatures can have on newborn and young calves.
Dual purpose crops are planted in mid to late September. Seeding rates, planting dates, and fertilizer management are compromises between the needs for fall forage production and grain production in the spring.
Presume for a moment that all of this optimism turns out to be wrong and market performance does not deliver as analysts forecast. How will this affect your business going forward?
Auction markets across the country saw some sizzling prices last week as demand was called moderate to good for all weights of steers and heifers.
For Texas livestock owners, the registration of brands, earmarks, tattoos and other forms of animal identification expire every ten years at the end of August.
The average culling rate the past two years, since the cyclical peak in 2019, has been 10.25%. Over the past 35 years, across cycles of expansion and liquidation, the average herd culling rate has been 9.65% annually.