Latest News From Beef Cattle

Diversify Income Opportunities with Multispecies Grazing
Diversify Income Opportunities with Multispecies Grazing

Grazing sheep, goats or cattle together can open up new market opportunities and help improve pasture stewardship.

Scott King to Lead U.S. Cattle Business for Boehringer Ingelheim
Scott King to Lead U.S. Cattle Business for Boehringer Ingelheim

King brings more than three decades of animal health experience to the role. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and practiced veterinary medicine for 10 years.

Acidosis: Here's What You Need to Know
Acidosis: Here's What You Need to Know

Changing cattle diets may seem simple. However, it's important to know if diet changes require an adaptation period to avoid health problems, such as acidosis.

Replacement Heifer Dynamics
Replacement Heifer Dynamics

Uncertain when, but there will be strong interest in rebuilding the herd when conditions permit. Leaving aside the question of more drought, what's possible in 2023 given current availability of replacement heifers?

Aerial Gunning of Feral Cattle in New Mexico Set to Begin, USFS Violates Agreement
Aerial Gunning of Feral Cattle in New Mexico Set to Begin, USFS Violates Agreement

Feral cattle in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest are expected to come under crosshairs once again as USFS and USDA APHIS plan to decrease the area’s population via aerial gunning, beginning Thursday, Feb. 23.

Understanding Diseases Associated with Histophilus Somni
Understanding Diseases Associated with Histophilus Somni

Veterinarians and researchers have hypothesized why H. somni is becoming more widespread and increasingly prevalent, but there is not a clear culprit.

State of the Cattle Industry: Supply Shock Results in 61 Year Low in Beef Cow Herd and Record Price Forecast
State of the Cattle Industry: Supply Shock Results in 61 Year Low in Beef Cow Herd and Record Price Forecast

With the massive liquidation of the nation's cattle herd due to the historic drought what is the state of the cattle industry?

Feeding Monensin to Cows Decreases Intake but Increases Efficiency
Feeding Monensin to Cows Decreases Intake but Increases Efficiency

Practices that decrease feed costs without affecting productivity have potential to improve profitability. Ionophores can increase energetic efficiency and reduce production of waste molecules such as methane.

Will Cattle Prices Smash New Records This Year, Topping 2014?
Will Cattle Prices Smash New Records This Year, Topping 2014?

After years of liquidation, the U.S. cattle herd continues to contract. With drought still a driving force behind lower cattle numbers, market experts think cattle price could top previous price records set back in 2014.

Prepare for Cold-Weather Calving
Prepare for Cold-Weather Calving

For many ranchers, large amounts of snow on ground not entirely frozen has led to some wet and muddy situations. Here's some tips to help make it through the calving season with focus on animal health.

U.S. Cattle Herd Smallest in Eight Years
U.S. Cattle Herd Smallest in Eight Years

America's beef cow herd shrank by 4% last year, leaving the total inventory down 3% and the smallest in eight years.

Health Advocates and Online Activists Sue FDA Over Antibiotics in Livestock
Health Advocates and Online Activists Sue FDA Over Antibiotics in Livestock

A coalition of public health advocacy groups and online activists have filed a lawsuit against the FDA and its Center for Veterinary Medicine, challenging the decision to keep important antibiotics in animal ag.

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Groups Seek Reintroduction of American Beef Labeling Act

Fifty groups and organizations recently sent a letter to Congress members encouraging reintroduction of the American Beef Labeling Act in 2023.

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Sexten: Feeding the Foundation

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 Health Impacts Carcass Traits
Cattle Health Impacts Carcass Traits

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.

Purchasing Thin Cows: Opportunity or A Train Wreck?
Purchasing Thin Cows: Opportunity or A Train Wreck?

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.

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Fescue Foot Reported in Missouri Cattle

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.

Don’t Forget the Cows
Don’t Forget the Cows

Cows contribute half the genetics and all the colostrum.

The Best Water Tanks for Winter
The Best Water Tanks for Winter

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?

Calf Scours Prevention Starts Now
Calf Scours Prevention Starts Now

While there are many seasonal preparations to consider before calving season begins, calf scours prevention is not always one that comes to mind. However, the best time to mitigate the risks of the disease is now.

Remote water monitoring provides easy access to water management
Remote water monitoring provides easy access to water management

Ranchbot has developed reliable, remote water monitoring solutions that can be viewed anytime, anywhere from the palm of your hand.

Coccidiosis Affecting Calves in North Dakota
Coccidiosis Affecting Calves in North Dakota

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that affects several different animal species. In cattle, it may produce clinical symptoms in animals from 1 month to 1 year of age, but it can infect all age groups.

The Value of Vitamin A
The Value of Vitamin A

In addition to playing an important role in reproductive efficiency, vitamin A is essential for vision, bone growth, and maintaining epithelial tissue such as skin and hooves.

Melatonin Improves Growth Performance, Research Suggests
Melatonin Improves Growth Performance, Research Suggests

An Arkansas scientist has shown that a common and inexpensive hormone additive may mitigate the ill effects on growth performance of calves born to cows grazed on endophyte-infected fescue pastures during gestation.

Producers Beware: A Look Inside the Animal Activists' Playbook
Producers Beware: A Look Inside the Animal Activists' Playbook

Here’s three key claims and takeaways from this year’s animal rights extremist conferences and how they plan to turn consumers away from meat, poultry and dairy products.

Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Losses Largest since 2017
Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Losses Largest since 2017

The pendulum continues swinging toward cattle feeders as cash prices jumped $3 last week and left packers with their largest negative margins in nearly six years.

Syngenta Joins Trust In Beef™
Syngenta Joins Trust In Beef™

Trust In Beef™ announced Syngenta has joined as a partner of the collaborative value chain program helping ranchers integrate climate-smart agriculture systems into their operations

Genetic Improvement 101
Genetic Improvement 101

Genetic improvement can be complicated. Here’s a look at the basics.

Herd Liquidation May Be Slowing Down
Herd Liquidation May Be Slowing Down

It seems likely that many producers have adjusted herd inventories, given hay and feed supplies, to be able get through the winter.

7 Tips to Get Livestock Through the Winter
7 Tips to Get Livestock Through the Winter

Pasture and hay supplies are short in many areas. Here's a list of options and tips for livestock producers to consider for feeding their livestock this winter.

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Beef Quality Assurance Doesn't End at the Farm Gate

BQA Transportation is a comprehensive management program that incorporates responsible practices in all phases of transporting cattle.

Choose the Best Cattle Mineral Supplementation for Your Operation
Choose the Best Cattle Mineral Supplementation for Your Operation

As grazing or forage-based livestock, cattle present a few challenges when it comes to mineral intake. However, here’s several considerations to help you provide the best nutrition to your herd.

Weaning Considerations for Healthy Calves
Weaning Considerations for Healthy Calves

Whether calves will be retained and backgrounded or sold shortly after weaning, it is important to consider the impacts of weaning strategies on calf health and performance.

Greater Omaha Packing Will Expand 30%
Greater Omaha Packing Will Expand 30%

The nation’s fifth-largest beef packer will receive a grant from USDA that will help add 700 head to its daily harvest capacity.

Protein Supplementation: What Should I Know Before Purchasing?
Protein Supplementation: What Should I Know Before Purchasing?

In developing a protein supplementation strategy, it is important to consider what is the goal of feeding the protein supplement and that not all protein sources are equal.

Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Going Away: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Ranch
Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Going Away: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Ranch

On June 11, 2023, over-the-counter antibiotics will no longer be available through traditional retail channels. Instead, these antibiotics will now require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

BIF Releases Decision Support Tool for Beef Cattle Selection
BIF Releases Decision Support Tool for Beef Cattle Selection

The iGENDEC product was developed with the financial support of a USDA NIFA grant with the aim of helping enterprises make genetic selection decisions that are specific to their unique circumstances.

Sustainable Beef Systems Can Achieve Climate Neutrality
Sustainable Beef Systems Can Achieve Climate Neutrality

Jason Sawyer, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, explained the state of the beef industry with regard to climate concerns and discussed mitigation pathways that might help achieve climate neutrality.

Cattlemen Raise Concerns with Executive Order on Biotechnology
Cattlemen Raise Concerns with Executive Order on Biotechnology

Last week the White House announced an Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.

Breeding for Survivability with Genetic Selection and Measurement
Breeding for Survivability with Genetic Selection and Measurement

The general manager of Southern Cattle Company describes how the ranch uses genetic selection to breed heat tolerant animals with survivability and stayability in a harsh climate.

Vytelle Expands Network of Bovine In Vitro Fertilization Laboratories
Vytelle Expands Network of Bovine In Vitro Fertilization Laboratories

Vytelle announces the opening of a laboratory in New Zealand, part of a five-year plan to double the laboratory capacity to produce bovine embryos through in vitro fertilization.

NCBA Urges Senate Committee to Pass Livestock Regulatory Protection Act
NCBA Urges Senate Committee to Pass Livestock Regulatory Protection Act

The Livestock Regulatory Protection Act aims to prevent EPA from issuing Clean Air Act Title V permits for emissions like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane that result from livestock production.

When Disaster Strikes: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Provides New Insight
When Disaster Strikes: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Provides New Insight

What do the pork, beef and poultry industries have in common? Taking a look at the impacts of a disease outbreak might lead to striking similarities.

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Beef Quality Assurance Program Injection Site Guideline

In order to reduce the incidence of injection site lesions, injectable products should be administered subcutaneous (SQ)if the label allows.

Strategies For Drought Management on Pastures
Strategies For Drought Management on Pastures

If pastures are managed properly during times of low moisture, the effects of drought will be less severe and pastures will rebound faster when precipitation is sufficient.

Feeding Cows While Coping with Drought and High Input Costs
Feeding Cows While Coping with Drought and High Input Costs

Grouping cows or growing cattle in larger groups to maximize feed delivery over groups to feed is an additional consideration under current economic conditions.

Sexten: Sorting for Options With Thin Cows
Sexten: Sorting for Options With Thin Cows

With much of the US cow herd in some form of drought the odds of thin cows heading into weaning season are high. This month let's look at practical approaches to wrangling the challenge of dry pastures and thin cows.

Profit Tracker: Feedings Costs 25% Higher YOY
Profit Tracker: Feedings Costs 25% Higher YOY

The average cost of feeding a steer to finish weight was 25% higher for cattle marketed last week and is projected to be 31% higher for cattle placed on feed last week at roughly $600 per head.

Peel: Oklahoma Fall Forage Situation
Peel: Oklahoma Fall Forage Situation

Given the limited hay supply, proportionally more wheat pasture is likely to be used for cow herds than for stockers.  Even if there is wheat pasture, stocker demand may be somewhat lighter than usual this year.

Third AFBF Survey Reveals Stark Reality of Western Drought
Third AFBF Survey Reveals Stark Reality of Western Drought

Drought continues to hammer farmers and ranchers in Western, Central and Southern Plains states, with far-reaching implications for farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines, and also food availability and affordability.