Calves
As we enter this branding season, producers may be asking some questions.
By keeping detailed records, producers can know how to best manage their costs in a market where they don’t set the prices.
Feed conversions of calves fed creep feeds have been quite variable to say the least.
One of our best tools for increasing beef production is steroid implants. They’re also one of the most misunderstood technologies by consumers.
Correct administration of any injection is a critical control point in beef production and animal health.
Antibodies in colostrum provide calves with their initial protection.
The USDA’s Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) regularly conducts major studies of livestock-production segments to track animal-health related trends and practices.
Winter and spring rains across much of Texas and the country have created good conditions for the cattle market.
As producers finish this (or any) calving season it is very important to record any multiple births that may have occurred.
Fetal programming is a term that many producers may have heard of in recent years, but may not have understood the concept.
Cow calf producers with fall-calving cows have options as to the optimum date to wean the calves.
Shifting calving from March to May didn’t change the cow herd’s reproductive performance.
Calving season is one of the most exciting, frustrating and tiring seasons of the year for many cattlemen. This is a time when the only thing that compares to watching a newborn calf struggle to its feet for the first time is the sound of it nursing its dam for the first time.
During 2017, USDA’s Animal Health Monitoring System will focus on the cow-calf segment, collecting data from producers around the country.
Cornstalk residue utilization is a great way for producers to integrate crops and livestock.
Severe winter conditions are commonplace in many geographical areas where beef is produced and this can lead to some less than desirable calving conditions.
It is important to capture added value when it comes times to sell calves.
Nearly every winter we spend time talking about the impact that harsh weather combined with less than adequate nutritional intake can have on cattle.
As you make plans for this year, decide now to schedule time that will be spent working on the business in the year ahead.
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.
Feeding silage, baleage, or apple pulp to pregnant beef cows requires careful management or congenital defects may affect calves.
Successful calving seasons are the result of good planning and hard work.
A uniform set of calves are the result of a disciplined estrus synchronization and artificial insemination program.
Calf Crop Percentage may be the most important production calculation that a cow/calf producer can record.
Preconditioning is a set of management decisions relating to vaccination, weaning, nutrition and housing that maximize health and future growth potential of cattle in the feed yard.
Every rancher wants productive, easy tempered cattle in the pasture and heavy weight calves at weaning. But often the behavior choices of the cattle are directly impacted by the behavior choices of the rancher.
Determining open cow(s) early allows producers to select the best strategies that targets the highest potential revenue.