Latest News From Beef Production

Silage harvested in drought years brings nitrate concerns. Good silage can still be produced, however, as long as the crop is harvested correctly, ensiled well and carefully stored.

Zoetis Draxxin KP is designed to control bovine respiratory disease and, specifically, fever.

K-State geneticist suggests modifications to breeding systems to achieve end product goals.

Join Drovers editor Greg Henderson and experts from all segments of the beef value chain to better understand the current and future dynamics of this crisis at 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 5, for this free discussion.

Cattle feeders in the South saw a glimmer of hope in last week’s cattle trade. Most fed cattle in the South brought $120 and region saw decent movement, but still not totally in the clear of the backlog.

Imagine if we could determine adaptive qualities of our cows before investing the development cost of replacement heifers, building an adaptive herd over time.

Labor challenges for packers are particularly acute on Mondays, which have the lowest daily average slaughter in 2021. Carcass weights will rise seasonally the rest of the year but will remain lower year over year.

Heat and drought aren't the only issue farmers in drought-stricken areas are dealing with. Grasshoppers are also destroying pastures and crops. Producers say it's finishing off what's left of an already dire crop.

The drought in North Dakota is impacting the yield of small-grain crops such as barley, oats, rye, triticale and wheat, leading some producers to harvest the small grains as hay.

Fifth-generation Nebraska rancher Jaclyn Wilson, and her family, launched an innovative project using advanced technologies to track cattle as verified digital assets.

This summer many of us have had our eyes on carcass weights, grading trends and days on feed as related to the fed cattle sector. These factors have been on abnormal paths since the onset of the pandemic and backlog.

Chr. Hansen puts a new product into the US market, BovacillusTM, consisting of two strains of different species of Bacilli.

After a decade of research in New Zealand, scientists appear on the cusp of developing a vaccine to limit the methane production from beef and dairy cows.

After a decade of research in New Zealand, scientists appear on the cusp of developing a vaccine to limit the methane production from beef and dairy cows.

USDA’s semi-annual Cattle Inventory report on Friday confirms the U.S. inventories of beef cows, replacement heifers, feeder cattle and calf supplies are declining. The ongoing drought will accelerate the trend.

This summer's hot, dry weather is increasing the risk of fire in the hay fields. Producers are reminded to provide proper maintenance and regularly inspect the equipment.

The latest cattle on feed report confirms that the feedlot situation continues to improve relative to the slaughter capacity constraints that plagued fed cattle markets in early 2021.

Cash cattle traded steady, with cattle feeders in the South still needing a couple more weeks for good trade volume before they have any shot at being able to push the live market higher.

Silver Fern Farms, the New Zealand grass-fed red meat company, said it will introduce its first range of Toitu Net Carbon Zero Certified Beef in the United States late this year.

For cattlemen who've always considered feeding their own cattle but have never taken the risk, the first step in picking a partner can be the hardest. Here's a a 12-point checklist for selecting a feeding partner.

Alta Seeds announces the first-ever herbicide-tolerant forage sorghum featuring igrowth® technology for pre- or post-emergence week control.

Cattle market analysts point to declining carcass weights and declines in the percentage of Prime and Choice grading carcasses in recent weeks as a clear signal the peak in fed cattle numbers has been established.

New additions to your herd create the potential for disease. Developing a plan for new herd additions with a veterinarian can reduce the risks and help guard your investments.

Mineral nutrition is complex, with different macro minerals and micro minerals that are of concern. Also forages do not stay the same in mineral composition throughout the year and differ by region.

Sustainable Beef, LLC, will likely receive $1 million from the North Platte Quality Growth Fund. to be used to help pay for the estimated $10 million cost of architectural, engineering and planning.

Early pregnancy testing helps producers make important management decisions related to nutrition programs and marketing plans, as well as evaluating the reproductive efficiency of the cow herd.

Smith receives Industry Leadership Award for his work to advance the beef industry.

Higher feed prices reflect how cattle may be produced. Typically, cattle are grown to heavier weights before they are placed in a feedyard reducing the price slide for feeder cattle as weight increases.

Feedyard show lists are declining but the day that most lists get sold each week is still several weeks away. Packers have begun to take Saturdays off which will not speed the recovery from the backlog.

Cash fed cattle prices were called mostly steady while packer demand was called moderate. Feeder cattle and calf markets traded higher.

How backgrounding may boost feeder calf value.

Tyson Foods will begin integrating a new animal welfare assessment framework, known as the Five Domains, across its global operations. Adoption of the framework is part of Tyson's commitment to continuous improvement.

CoBank says challenges brought on by COVID-19 will speed up automation throughout many sectors of the supply chain. Here's a deeper look at the animal protein industries in CoBank's latest report.

Reduced performance or ‘Summer Slump’ is associated with decreasing forage quality during the late summer.

As farmers in the West experience record-breaking heat, the continued extreme drought conditions are also taking a toll on growers, crops and livestock, with pasture and range conditions worsening.

F.L. Sipes Farms of Ekron is the recipient of the 2021 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award®. The award recognizes extraordinary achievement in conservation and management of natural resources by American farmers.

Farmers and ranchers who have feedstuffs such as hay or corn for sale can list it on NDSU’s FeedList website, which is designed to connect feed sellers and buyers.

After President Biden signed a sweeping Executive Order late last week, NCBA and other livestock groups praised the President's focus on meat, poultry. However, not every ag group is on board with the President's plan.

Ranchers across the Northern Plains face forage quality and quantity issues this year due to the continuing drought. Extension experts provide tips for supplementing cows to meet nutrient requirements economically.

Feeder cattle found a hot market the week following the July 4th Holiday. Fed cattle traded steady to softer.

The value of added weight gain from creep feeding usually will not cover the added feed, labor and equipment costs unless feed is exceptionally inexpensive and (or) when value of added weight gain is exceptionally high.

Use these essential tips to work with seed stock suppliers and auction markets to gain better value for production.

From a tattered farm two years ago after a tornado flattened the Leach's dairy in Linwood, Kansas, to a farm with new barns and new life, the Leach family says the journey to rebuild wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Kansas State beef veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff explains some of the ways producers can help cattle be less stressed in high heat conditions.

Good calf management adds value.  This value can be captured through marketing preconditioned weaned calves or retained ownership past weaning. 

The estimated weekly slaughter total last week was 623,000 head, a significant reduction from the prior week, thanks, in part, to the three-day weekend.

Cargill announces a collaboration with producers to advance the practices of beef-on-dairy, with programs to advance research and support beef and dairy producers in finding the opportunities of beef-on-dairy.

Creating a More Effecient Rumen

General session speakers to provide insights into ranch industry future.

Utilizing drought-affected crops for livestock feed is a common practice; however, producers must consider the potential risks. One factor that needs to be considered is the risk of nitrate toxicity.