Latest News From Beef Production

Technology and ranching go together more than one might initially expect. Here's one example where technology helps cattle producers capture herd data.

Average cattle feeding margins were near steady last week despite weaker cash prices. Pork producer margins slipped further into the red as lean carcass prices dropped more than 3% for the week.

How can ranchers quickly identify compromised calves and help predict whether they can acquire optimal passive immunity? Elizabeth Homerosky, DVM, Veterinary Agri-Health Services, set out to find answers.

More Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics are discovering the feedlot and carcass performance of their genetics through various American Hereford Association (AHA) programs.

Trey Wasserburger, the 2023 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award winner, is redefining the conception-to-consumer beef model to live out his dream of being a cowboy.

Cattle feeders seem to start each week from behind as packers have utilized their captive supplies perfectly to maintain their margins.

Feedlot inventories declined for the fourth consecutive month and the number of heifers on feed declined for the first time since July 2021.

Cash cattle markets traded modestly lower in another week of lackluster activity. Northern regions experienced adverse weather conditions added stress to cattle and reduced weights.

The best market outlet for your cattle depends on multiple things, but much of it is determined by the attributes that you’ve built into your calves through your management.

With the demand for beef up, more dairy producers are crossbreeding poor genetic or less productive cows with beef semen. Over the past few years, dairy semen sales have idled while domestic beef sales have exploded.

To make calving during late winter months as problem-free as possible, producers must spend necessary time to get prepared.

When calves on grass drop like flies, have minimal gains and many carcasses are condemned on the rail, Kansas State University experts uncover the unfortunate cause.

Cattle feeding margins narrowed significantly last week while pork producer margins remain mired in red ink the first weeks of the new year.

Who loves winter fencing? Here's a look at some tips and strategies for working around the challenges winter throws at cattle producers when it comes to the not-so-loved winter task.

Reproductive performance is important to the overall success and bottom line of an operation. Benchmarking may help focus limited management time on critical areas of an individual’s beef cow business.

Understanding the three stages of the birthing process is critical in order to know when/if to provide assistance during calving season.

U.S. hay stocks are at their lowest level since 1973 as two years of widespread drought have taken its toll on forage production.

Keeping the harvest under 650,000 for six weeks has allowed packers to set the tone for the market and keep some cattle feeders desperate to move cattle.

Cattle markets traded modestly lower as slaughter levels recovered from the holiday-shortened schedules. Wholesale beef prices traded lower for the week, but Live Cattle futures ended on an up note.

Caffeine may help stimulate at-risk calves that are the result of dystocia (difficult birth), hypothermia from being born in the cold, or being run down from a stressful event such as disease or transport. 

Producers can prepare for drought by adding warm-season forages to pastures that grow during the warm, dry conditions of midsummer known as the “summer slump."

At approximately 90 to 120 days after calving, forage provides most of the calf’s nutrient requirements, which introduces a management decision: should I creep feed? 

Beef producers should approach 2023 with cautious optimism – matched with resolutions of good management and investment in infrastructure, says a University of Missouri business specialist.

Construction is expected to begin this year for Cattlemen's Heritage Beef Company, a 2,000-head per day beef processing facility south of the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area.

Growth rates and carcass weights have been increasing over the last 30 years. However, little research has been conducted to determine how aggressive selection for production traits affects cow maintenance requirements.

Being ready and prepared before the start of calving season can make life much easier for cow-calf producers and potentially save a calf. 

What’s the reason behind the length of your calving season? When it comes to your improving your bottom line, the length of your calving season may be a good place to start.

Diving into 2023, the much-discussed beef cow herd culling comes home to roost, bringing on a supply challenge for the beef industry.

In a year with rising commodity prices and limited availability, strategically feeding forages may offer the best option to deliver supplemental nutrients using existing infrastructure and equipment.

Cattle feeders are finding modest profits on market-ready cattle early in the New Year, but replacement feeder cattle prices are driving projected breakevens to eight-year highs.

Strategies to keep your water sources open and clear to drink to optimize your cattle’s performance during winter.

The new year looks to contrast with last year with noticeably tighter cattle numbers, especially at the feedlot level, driven by previous herd liquidation and sharply lower feeder cattle supplies.

Cattle feeders and packers were again locked in a standoff last week negotiating prices for fed cattle. The tug-o-war continues this week with cattle feeders’ leverage growing.

While genetic selection and feeding decisions play a large role in the quality of beef product reaching consumers' plates, a number of studies show cattle health is also a key factor affecting carcass quality.

When the weather forecast calls for extremely low temperatures, what preparations are a must on your operation? Here's a look at some of the most important "To Do" items before the winter chill sets in.

U.S. pork exports saw continued growth in November, posting the largest volume and value numbers of 2022. Despite a November slowdown, beef export value sets records in key markets. Here's a look at what's happening.

Cash fed cattle traded steady on the week, but further gains in the wholesale beef market gives cattle feeders the incentive to stick to higher asking prices in the short run.

Last year's drought has ranchers scrambling to manage reduced feed resources to keep their cows adequately fed throughout the winter.

In every drought cycle some producers have an earlier end to the drought than others while others are more severely affected by drought. This cows are often available to purchase, but they aren't always a bargain.

Reports of fescue foot in Missouri has extension specialists urging producers to check herds for warning signs of the disease in January when it most often occurs.

Cows contribute half the genetics and all the colostrum.

Breaking ice on water tanks is often a daily or multiple times per day task this time of year. What water systems do you have on your operation to ensure cattle always have water on the coldest days of winter?

While “high-risk” cattle are often given high levels of hay or forage to aid in the transition to a milled diet, a study at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researches ways to increase performance.

Matt and Lisa Moreland hoped at least one of their sons would return home to farm after college. What they didn’t anticipate? All three sons wanted to come back. Here are four things the family learned in the process.

As 2023 begins, 17 states have a Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI) greater than 150, mostly in the Central Plains and western U.S.

In this time of growing leverage, feeders should adopt a New Year’s Resolution, “I will not sell on the first bid,” as evidenced by the Eastern feeder’s ability to resist initial offers of $248 and trade at $252.

Negotiated cash cattle trade was slow to develop but finished the year strong with price advances in all regions.

Have you ever noticed that cows who calve during the fall and winter months tend to produce less colostrum than their herd mates who calved during the spring and summer? Here's why.

The nation’s largest family ranching cooperative has launched a major initiative called Grazewell to test and adopt ambitious regenerative ranching practices on all of its 6.5 million acres across 11 western states.

The past year has been no walk in the park for producers. As we prepare to close out another year on the calendar, here’s a look back at the top production stories that cow-calf operations found helpful this year.