Latest News From Beef Production

The Asian Longhorned Tick has been identified in 11 states and carries the tick-borne disease, Theileria orientalis (Ikeda genotype) “Ikeda”, which can be fatal to cattle.

Aided and abetted by drought, feedlots put together another month of large placements in July despite growing indications that feeder supplies are declining. 

Active trade pushed cash fed cattle prices higher again as the market has now advanced $7 over the last three weeks. Drought-induced feedyard placements created a modest surprise for analysts.

Blister beetles are appearing in large numbers in Missouri and entomologists warn the beetle's toxin, called cantharidin, can cause animals to become sick and even die.

The workplace trend, quiet quitting, has gotten a lot of attention lately. Instead of going above and beyond, employees are wanting more from their work-life balance. The question is how do you keep employees motivated?

If you’re out of grass and about to start feeding hay it’s time to take drastic action to maintain your cowherd and prevent further injury to pastures.

Dry Conditions. Unabated cow slaughter. High Prices. This list of known factors weighs on the unknowns of the future to be seen in the cattle industry. Scott Brown shares insight to what we may see in the coming months.

Weaning spring calves may be more of a challenge this year because of short pasture supplies and the questionable nutritional value of this year’s hay crop.

Stable flies and other blood-feeding pests take a $2.2 billion bite out of agriculture. A team of researchers is finding a new way to fight back...with a coconut.

Timely baler maintenance is key to preventing dangerous round baler fires.

Both summer and fall are important times for ranchers to keep an eye on cattle that graze where Johnsongrass is present, due to the risk of prussic acid toxicity.

Amid continuing drought, the 2022 hay supply data illustrate why so much herd liquidation has occurred this year. It also speaks to the continuing challenges that cattle producers will face to get through the winter.

Beef packers were forced to pay up to attract inventory last week, a bullish signal that the longer-term trend is higher for cash cattle.

All plants can contain some nitrate, but buildup of nitrates to toxic levels in forage plants can occur. Nitrate is not particularly toxic to cattle, at normal levels, but how much is 'too much?'

Depressed, feverish calves with an increased respiratory rate? Your calves are likely fighting a case of 'summer pneumonia.'

The impacts of drought are leading some to reconsider marketing alternatives for calves. Consider these 5 things before you shift your marketing plan.

Lameness in cows, bulls, and replacement heifers is a problem confronting cattlemen. Here's a look at some of the most common reasons cattle develop issues.

U.S. consumers grappling with soaring inflation face more pain from high beef prices as ranchers reduce their cattle herds due to drought and lofty feed costs, a decision that will tighten livestock supplies for years.

Sudden deaths late in the feeding phase are both frustrating and expensive. Simplot Land & Livestock says its research suggests genetic selection can greatly reduce the incidence of bovine congestive heart failure.

Packers had to pay up to acquire the numbers of cattle they wanted last week helping to clean up show lists and signaling the summer lows may be in the rearview mirror.

Cattle markets reversed a month-long lower trend with decent gains in all regions, a strong indication retail buying for the Labor Day holiday has begun.

Reducing your cow inventory may be the best option to reduce stress on your grazing system and help stretch your feed/forage resources as long as possible.

Weather events in the weeks, days and even hours leading up to harvest can trump our best efforts and transform a carefully raised feed resource into a nutritional time bomb.

Dr. Phil George, Miratorg Agribusiness Holding beef & lamb operations production director, explains opportunities for genetic progress in vertically integrated beef production systems.

Considering a replacement heifer is a 10+ year investment and requires 2 years of expenses without income from the day we wean her, is the survival model the best we can do?

Warm-season annuals are often thought of as emergency grazing and hay crops when late spring and early summer hay harvests are lacking. Recent rains in some areas offer an opportunity to plant warm-season annuals.

Why do some of the best calves catch a cough, known as summer pneumonia? K-State experts discuss the disease and what ranchers can do to best mitigate an outbreak in their herd.

All manure is not the same. That's why a group of researchers is taking another look at manure nutrient "book values."

Beef producers are culling older cows, cows with any health concerns and selling calves earlier, plus planting and trying to store up some hay. Without rain, it's a struggle.

Intensive or ‘mob’ grazing allows for higher stocking densities, but does it provide benefits to soil health and biodiversity? UNL researchers share their findings after an eight-year study.

Nitrates and prussic acid build up in forages to levels dangerous to livestock during drought. Consuming such forages can cause illness and even death to livestock.

With dry weather and short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows. There is no feed for freeloaders when forage is short.

Advancing drought pushed auction volumes higher with early marketings of summer grazing cattle. Calf prices dropped under accelerated seasonal price pressure.

Early weaning can help reduce the pressure on drought-stressed pastures, but ranchers should evaluate feeding, management, and marketing options prior to weaning.

Cattle feeders continue to fight for shackle space as cash price continue slumping toward a summer low.

New Leader upholds a commitment to sustainability by designing and manufacturing spinner spreaders that comply with 4R Nutrient Stewardship to help improve agricultural productivity and minimize impact to the envir...

Anaplasmosis is transmitted through the bite of ticks and flies, as well as blood contaminated instruments like needles, tattoo tools, castration equipment and dehorning instruments.  

Testing the quality of your harvested hay is important as hay quality is variable depending on the type of forage, soil type, fertilizer rate, and the maturity of the forage when it was hayed.

Take steps now to determine your estimated winter feed resources and if you might be able to plant late summer and fall forages for grazing.

Drought impacts have accelerated sharply in the southern plains in July, with the volume of feeder cattle in Oklahoma auctions up 24% the last two weeks and the volume of cows and bulls up nearly 124%.

Cash cattle prices declined a dollar or more in all regions last week with packer demand noticeably softer than the week before.

Nothing says county fair week like a hot forecast. Don’t forget to prepare for the heat your animals will face at the fair. 

USDA's mid-year inventory is the smallest since 2015 with beef cow herd down 2.4%. Cattle on feed inventories unchanged from last year at 13.4 million.

Markets understand the tight supply picture that is being set up and have responded accordingly. Feeder Cattle futures have moved into the mid-$180s, which creates pricing opportunities for summer stocker operations.

When buying a 4-H steer or other beef animal from a local producer, how much beef can you expect after processing? Check out these tips to calculate how much meat one beef animal will return.

Worries about drought and how to make it through the winter with limited or no stored forage has monopolized our thoughts, energy, and time. There are critical steps that need to be made in order for us to make it.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is concerned about the impact this week's high heat could have on corn production as the majority of the crop was planted late. The August forecasts are also concerning for soybeans.

Hot, dry conditions have taken a toll on pasture growth this year. What should cattle producers consider to conserve grass in these dry areas?

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are harmful to livestock, wildlife and people.

Ranchers face the reality of a depleted forage base. One potential solution is early weaning calves which has the primary benefit of improving cow condition for rebreeding, especially when forage is limited.