Latest News From Beef Cattle

Beware of Mud Season
Beware of Mud Season

Preventive practices are recommended for feedyards to reduce the stress and performance loss that comes from muddy lot conditions.

Reducing Mature Weight and Increasing Cow Productivity
Reducing Mature Weight and Increasing Cow Productivity

Improving the efficiency, sustainability and profit potential of commercial cow calf production involves reducing feed costs while improving pounds of calf weaned.

A ‘Smart’ Examination to Improve Livestock Management Efficiency
A ‘Smart’ Examination to Improve Livestock Management Efficiency

Animal nutritionist studies precision livestock management technology to develop cost-effective and noninvasive methods of monitoring feeding behaviors that can make operations more efficient.

USDA Issues Meat Labeling Final Rule
USDA Issues Meat Labeling Final Rule

Ag Secretary Vilsack hails voluntary “Product of U.S.A.” label as a vital step towards consumer protection and builds on efforts to bolster trust and fairness in the marketplace.

How to Measure Pasture-Feed Intake for Cattle
How to Measure Pasture-Feed Intake for Cattle

Cows have a job, and that job description will vary from ranch to ranch. Have you taken time to write down what cows need to do to earn their keep?

BSEs can Add Dollars to Producer Pockets, Thanks to Improved Calf Weaning Weights
BSEs can Add Dollars to Producer Pockets, Thanks to Improved Calf Weaning Weights

Turning out a subfertile bull means some cows in the herd won’t get bred or bred in a timely manner. Both problems are costly, says Chance Armstrong, DVM, Auburn University. Check out the two scenarios he outlines here.

Chasing the Elusive Second Calf
Chasing the Elusive Second Calf

Growing, lactating cows have greater nutrient requirements and smaller rumens than mature cows making it difficult for them to meet their nutrient needs with the same diet as the cow.

Images From the Smokehouse Creek Fire
Images From the Smokehouse Creek Fire

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photographer Sam Craft was in the Texas Panhandle documenting the aftermath of the largest wildfire in Texas history, and the aid and support for fire victims.

BSEs help Veterinarians Provide a $7 ROI for every $1 Cow-Calf Producers Invest, on Average
BSEs help Veterinarians Provide a $7 ROI for every $1 Cow-Calf Producers Invest, on Average

Bulls passing all four parts of a BSE are set up for reproductive excellence. The best achieve a 60% to 65% conception rate every 21 days on healthy, cycling cows, says Dr. Chance Armstrong. Subfertile bulls are costly.

Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma
Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma

After burning for more than six days, the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma was only 15% contained Sunday morning. Drifting sand now poses a threat to rural roads.

Wildfire Burns 71,000 Acres in Central Nebraska
Wildfire Burns 71,000 Acres in Central Nebraska

Nebraska officials say a mower ignited a wildfire that burned roughly 110 square miles of central Nebraska grasslands.

Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock
Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock

Devastating wildfires are burning in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle region and the Smokehouse Creek Fire has already become the second largest in Texas history, consuming at least three-quarters of a million acres.

The Growing Role of the U.S. Feedlot Industry
The Growing Role of the U.S. Feedlot Industry

The feedlot inventory as a percentage of the total inventory has increased over time, and the declining number of feeder cattle means there are not sufficient feeder cattle to maintain feedlot inventories this year.

Four Steps Veterinarians Can Take To Help Producers Transition To Beef-On-Dairy
Four Steps Veterinarians Can Take To Help Producers Transition To Beef-On-Dairy

Beef-on-dairy numbers in the U.S. will reach up to 5 million head – roughly 15% of the cattle harvested annually – as early as 2026. The sexed-and-beef model of production will play a prominent role in the process.

The Basics of Wheat Pasture Frothy Bloat
The Basics of Wheat Pasture Frothy Bloat

Cattle grazing small grains pastures this time of year are susceptible to bloat which is influenced by environment, weather, forage growth stage and forage quality.

Despite Mild Winter, Spring May Bring Forage Challenges
Despite Mild Winter, Spring May Bring Forage Challenges

Unusual winter weather conditions have created benefits for some ranchers, but that could change and ranchers should consider whether winter feed supplies are enough to stretch into spring in case of delayed turnout.

How Much Water do Cows Really Need During Cold Weather?
How Much Water do Cows Really Need During Cold Weather?

Dehydration is an added stress for cows in cold weather. Help cows deal with winter stress and maintain their body condition by ensuring they have adequate water.

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When to Assist with Calving

Deciding when to offer assistance for a calving cow is a judgment call and good judgement is the result of experience. Here are tips to help make the determination.

Humane Euthanasia of Cattle
Humane Euthanasia of Cattle

Euthanasia of an animal that is suffering from irreversible disease or injury is a primary responsibility for cattle producers and veterinarians.

Getting Implant Application Correct
Getting Implant Application Correct

When used correctly, growth-promoting implants can increase ADG by 20% in growing cattle. With a 100-day feeding period, 48 lbs. more of liveweight could mean $40 to $50 per head more, depending on the price slide

Monitor Cow Condition During Weather Stress
Monitor Cow Condition During Weather Stress

Melting snow has created special challenges for beef cattle producers and monitoring the body condition of gestating cows during times of cold stress becomes critical for calving and rebreeding.

Are Your Cows Too Large?
Are Your Cows Too Large?

The increased cow mature weight equates to an increase in stocking rate if cow numbers are not adjusted. As stocking rate increases we know that weaning weights and rebreeding rates decrease.

Study Confirms Facial Recognition Technology’s Success in Disease Prediction
Study Confirms Facial Recognition Technology’s Success in Disease Prediction

Ag tech startup MyAnIML and USDA find first-of-its-kind facial recognition technology successfully analyzes cattle muzzles to predict illness.

Winter Months 'Notorious' For Increased Colic Risk
Winter Months 'Notorious' For Increased Colic Risk

The reason is as clear as water.

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USDA Launches Remote Beef Grading Pilot Project

Technology and robust data management will allow more cattlemen and smaller processors access to USDA graders to remotely assign official quality grades for beef carcasses, providing an opportunity to increase value.

Managing Cows in Severe Cold Weather
Managing Cows in Severe Cold Weather

For each 1-degree Fahrenheit the average daily temperature is below 30 degrees a cow in moderate BCS will need an additional one percent in daily energy requirement.

Calving Interval and Gestation Length
Calving Interval and Gestation Length

Breeding efficient cows is usually measured by a cows’ ability to calve each year and maintain a yearly calving interval. 

Managing Cow Body Condition is Critical for Profitability
Managing Cow Body Condition is Critical for Profitability

The single most important factor in keeping a cow at zero non-productive days is body condition, which has a direct impact on calving interval, conception rate and percentage of open cows.

Answering the Cattle Nutrition Protein Question
Answering the Cattle Nutrition Protein Question

New equations will better estimate protein utilization by beef cattle, benefit producers.

Three Tips for Better Cow Nutrition
Three Tips for Better Cow Nutrition

Obtaining a basic understanding of nutrition and making data driven decisions can give every cattleman an advantage in creating a nutrition program best suited to their operation.

Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation
Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation

Removal of the 84 turbines erected beginning 10 years ago without a mining permit from the Osage Nation ends a long legal battle and will cost the developers $300 million.

NDSU Extension and SDSU Extension to Host Alternative Beef Cow Systems Symposium
NDSU Extension and SDSU Extension to Host Alternative Beef Cow Systems Symposium

Producers interested in expanding their herd or considering alternative production practices due to limited perennial pastures and rangeland are the target audience for the Dakota Alternative Beef Cow Systems Symposium.

Differences Between High-, Medium-, and Low-Profit Cow-Calf Producers
Differences Between High-, Medium-, and Low-Profit Cow-Calf Producers

Cow-calf costs and returns data from the Kansas Farm Management Association Enterprise Analysis for individual producers finds annual returns over variable costs averaged $71.02 per cow over a 46-year period.

Proper Vaccination Increases Calf Welfare and Value
Proper Vaccination Increases Calf Welfare and Value

In beef calf preconditioning programs, the importance of vaccinations to minimize respiratory illness, related to bovine respiratory disease (BRD), cannot be overstated.

What's A Good Bull Worth?
What's A Good Bull Worth?

Determining the value of a bull is an important question, and one that is a challenge to answer. Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University, offers some calculations to help determine a value.

Johne’s Disease: What You Need to Know
Johne’s Disease: What You Need to Know

Johne’s disease is gaining greater attention among beef cattle producers and veterinarians who work with beef cattle. Here's an in-depth look into the disease and how to best avoid it.

Industry Surveys Gauge Sentiment of Angus Genetics
Industry Surveys Gauge Sentiment of Angus Genetics

Angus Media, CattleFax survey producers to gather insights on current management, future intentions of cow-calf and feedlot sectors.

Brazil Supreme Court Suspends $2 billion JBS Fine
Brazil Supreme Court Suspends $2 billion JBS Fine

JBS parent company J&F Investments has paid about 28% of the fine levied against the giant meatpacker in 2017 over a political bribery scandal.

Veterinarian Reviews Steps for Cattle Producers Before and After Calving
Veterinarian Reviews Steps for Cattle Producers Before and After Calving

Being prepared ahead of calving season is the best way for producers to assure they will bring home the newborn calves successfully.

Anaplasmosis: An Ongoing Battle
Anaplasmosis: An Ongoing Battle

With limited options to address the disease, pharmaceutical stewardship must be considered when using antimicrobials in the treatment and control of anaplasmosis to maintain long term effectiveness of these products.

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What Are the Benefits of Compensatory Feedlot Gains Following Grazing?

New research at Oklahoma State University is adding to our understanding of stocker cattle nutrition programs and its affect on finishing performance.

 House Passes Bill to Preserve Veterinary Use of Xylazine 
House Passes Bill to Preserve Veterinary Use of Xylazine 

 The House of Representatives passed the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act on Tuesday. It will help fight illicit use of the product in humans while preserving access to the drug for animals.

Genetic Focus on Improving Beef Sustainability
Genetic Focus on Improving Beef Sustainability

New selection traits are being developed to reduce maintenance energy requirements, increase feed efficiency and decrease methane emissions.

Cow Herd Report Card II. Measures of Performance
Cow Herd Report Card II. Measures of Performance

To optimize performance and production, ranchers must understand the factors that impact post-partum interval length (PPI), the time from calving until the cow resumes a fertile estrous cycle.

Winter Cow Syndrome: What You Need to Know
Winter Cow Syndrome: What You Need to Know

Some individual cows or groups of cows experience significant decline in body weight and condition over the winter known as “winter cow syndrome.” The best strategy of prevention is twofold.

 Three Common Categories of Pregnancy Losses in Beef Cattle
Three Common Categories of Pregnancy Losses in Beef Cattle

“Although pregnancy losses in beef cattle are a fact of life, late-term losses are likely the most discouraging,” says Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist.

Elanco Animal Health Shares Updates On Cattle Implant Portfolio
Elanco Animal Health Shares Updates On Cattle Implant Portfolio

Elanco has updated its Component line of cattle implants to comply with new CVM regulations. To help ease this transition, Elanco is outlining the changes to its cattle implant portfolio.

What to Know About Feeding Road Ditch Hay to Cows
What to Know About Feeding Road Ditch Hay to Cows

Road ditch hay can provide needed forage. With a few precautions and a forage analysis, it can help you meet your cow’s nutrient requirements this winter.

Feeding Corn Silage to Cattle Can Add Value
Feeding Corn Silage to Cattle Can Add Value

Corn silage is an excellent source of energy for cattle and replacing a portion of corn in cattle diets with silage should be a economical solution.

How Does Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence Animal Performance?
How Does Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence Animal Performance?

Low-stress cattle handling methods have been discussed and promoted for many years, but could implementing low-stress handling techniques influence animal performance and improve your bottom line?