BEEF
The first few days an animal spends in a feedlot are critical to their health and overall performance through the feeding period.
Given developments in multiple financial markets it is useful to pause and appreciate the broader situation underpinning the start of 2016 “outside” of the cattle markets to further assess possible upcoming changes within the cattle complex.
What goes up must come down! That is exactly what has happened to cattle prices, but the task now is determining where the market is headed in 2016 and beyond.
Cattle markets in 2015 transitioned from what 2014 was to more like what 2016 will be.
The last two years have been a whirlwind of dramatic extremes for the cattle industry.
As calving season looms in the not so distant future, the first things that come to my mind is considering plans for pre-calving vaccination of pregnant cows, and thinking about controlling calf scours.
If our nation’s consumers can limp along and hold this bedraggled economy to its walker, beef should have a chance to make that decent recovery.
Supplementation may be necessary to achieve desired calf development and subsequent lactation.
An Iowa farmer has found a niche market for his beef.
Cattle will select the grain and best quality forage first when initially turned into a field.
Fall and winter grazing on warm-season grasses is the least detrimental time to graze these species.
There is never a bad time to update your marketing plan.
Growing piles of evidence show we’ve created an unsustainable and less-profitable or unprofitable cow herd in this nation.
A friend called the other day and asked suspiciously what I thought about the confined-cow idea. He feared it could set up a pathway for true vertical integration in the beef industry.
Tools such as expected progeny differences help producers buy the right bulls.
As producers with spring calving herds are completing weaning and moving cows to winter range, fall calving herds are gearing up for the next breeding season.
Beef cow-calf producers can balance rations to precisely meet the nutrient requirements of cows. However, they need to the nutritive value of rations feedstuffs first.
Now that the first blast of winter weather is quickly approaching, have you thought about what that means to your cows?
Durable hay conserver feeder and custom cattle working equipment dramatically cut hay cost and ease the safe, efficient handling of cattle.
Nice winters are not the time to skimp on cow nutrition.
New program provides nutrition recommendations for feeding dairy steers from start to finish.
Winter weather has hit much of the country. Time to start getting a ration put together.
There has been an increasing interest and utilization of remote medication delivery systems in the beef cattle industry.
Producers need to plan ahead for cattle-working days and invest in good, secure cattle-working facilities.
Deciding how to meet the nutritional needs of your cattle through the winter is one of the most important management decisions a cow-calf producer will make.
A uniform set of calves are the result of a disciplined estrus synchronization and artificial insemination program.
Food safety, beef quality and environmental stewardship discussed in-depth.
When feed costs are too high, consider selling the higher-maintenance cows.
Checking cows’ body condition scores, evaluating bulls and vaccinating against diseases are good management steps in the fall.
You can use the assessment to set benchmarks and goals for the operation and your employees strive to maintain or reach.