Top 5 Production Stories Ranchers Found Helpful in 2022
The past year has been no walk in the park for producers. From the ups and downs of regular day-to-day tasks to the challenges of drought, high feed costs and high fuel prices, ranching is not for the faint at heart.
As we prepare to close out another year on the calendar, here’s a look back at the top five production focused stories that ranchers found helpful this year.
5. How Much Hay Will A Cow Consume? Estimate Your Winter Feed Needs
Especially with a winter following a drought-stricken growing season, estimating forage usage is a key part of calculating winter feed needs. While this task has likely already been done for this season, here are some additional tips that may be useful to producers heading into spring. Read more>
4. Choose the Best Cattle Mineral Supplementation for Your Operation
Determining proper mineral supplementation merits more thought than simply going to the feed store, grabbing a few bags or a pallet of the mineral they have on hand and throwing it in a lick tub. Contributing to stronger immune systems, reproductive performance and calf weight gain, providing the proper vitamin and mineral nutrition is widely beneficial to the herd. Here’s some tips to help choose the best mineral supplementation plan. Read more>
3. What's A Good Bull Worth?
At this time of year, when many bulls are being marketed and we are planning ahead for spring breeding season, a large, looming question arises—what’s a good bull worth? Before heading to the next bull sale, here’s some considerations that might be helpful in making the best decision for your herd’s future. Read more>
2. Give Weak Calves A Boost With a Big Squeeze
Heading into the spring calving season in a few weeks or months? While the hope is that every calf gets up within the first few minutes and goes straight to suckling on that liquid gold—colostrum—unfortunately, that’s not reality. Those calves that look perfectly healthy yet are weak and have no suckle reflex may simply need a ‘big squeeze.’ Here’s more on this simple, low-cost and effective intervention. Read more>
1. Tips for Bottle Feeding Calves
Calving season may also bring the occasional orphaned calf that is no longer able to nurse its mama. As the calf will fully rely on the producer to meet its nutritional needs, here’s a look at several tips that will help keep the calf on pace to grow and develop as closely as possible to the other calves in the herd. Read more>
One thing is for certain as we head into 2023—nothing is for certain. Every year is filled with ups, downs and curveballs that will continue to make each production year different from the last.
Providing timely and relevant tips and considerations for your operation throughout the year, a variety of beef production resources can be found on our website.
Best wishes to you and your operation in the coming year from all of us at Drovers!
