Cow-Calf
With the prospects for tight cattle numbers over the next 2 to 3 years, the importance of consumer demand will be critical.
Emma Coffman didn’t grow up in production agriculture, but she’s finding her place in the livestock industry and welcoming others along with her.
With spring bull buying season here, producers should understand their goals for marketing calves and the genetic value to make replacement females.
Recent study looks at round bale feeders and cost savings versus waste.
USDA’s annual Cattle Inventory Report released Friday shows the U.S. total cattle inventory shrunk another 1% over the past year, with the number of beef cows also down 1%.
With the spring bull buying season beginning, producers need to know their cow herd and utilize selection tools to help find bulls to match their goals.
Last year’s USDA Cattle Inventory Report showed the smallest cattle herd since 1951. With strong heifer prices and no strong signs of rebuilding underway, the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows supplies may come in even lower than last year.
As new generations are added to operations, it’s important to create additional revenue sources that work with the ranch’s goals and overall system.
Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle futures prices have been forced higher as Live Cattle contracts had been lagging negotiated values until recent days.
The brief supports landowner ownership of groundwater in the Texas Supreme Court case Cactus Water Services LLC v. COG Operating LLC.
Total on-feed inventory to start the year was estimated at a little over 11.8 million head, which is down by just under 1% from January of 2024.
With no post-holiday wavering, all cattle and beef markets moved higher in the first half of January – setting new record price levels to start the new year.
Calving during the winter months can present some unique challenges, so being prepared with supplies and supplemental nutrition will help.
While some operations are increasing cow numbers, there are a couple segments decreasing numbers or exiting for good.
Feeding cattle in winter is critical to management, especially in regions where forage quality declines significantly during colder months. Proper nutrition during this period ensures cattle health, productivity and reproductive performance.
From ranching to feeding cattle to selling direct-to-consumer and owning a local beef locker, CJ and Calli Thorne view risks as opportunities for growth.
Total hay production in 2024 was up 3.3 percent year over year and combined with May 1 hay stocks up 46.6 percent over 2023 levels. Total hay supply by 7.9 percent compared to year earlier levels.
Topics include genetic modifications in livestock, yield grades and a beef industry economic outlook.
As cliché as it might sound, take the time in the new year to look back over previous years so you can make decisions that move your operation forward.
A new trend that helps ranchers market more carcass products and promotes beef as a whole is eating the whole animal, especially organ meats.
Be proactive to ease the impact of changing weather patterns and rising temps.
Using heart score and health records could help develop an EPD for the fatal, untreatable condition.
While rare in most cowherds, retained placentas jeopardize reproductive efficiency and can rob operations of profit potential.
In person and online educational events cover a variety of cow-calf and feedlot topics from University of Nebraska — Lincoln and Nebraska Extension.
Understanding the stages is critical in order to know when/if producers need to provide assistance during calving season to increase the likelihood a live calf is born alive and off to a good start.
A more productive cowherd fuels the growth of beef production which in turn reduces the need to increase cow numbers to generate that same growth.
Crossbreeding has shown increases in growth rate starting in utero, calf survival rate, immune function, average daily gain and longevity in cows.
The pest can travel on humans, vehicles, pets, livestock and even on some wildlife species — all of which increase the likelihood it could eventually enter our country.
Tight cattle supplies will remain the primary driver in the new year and weather will have a significant impact on feed and forage availability, and cattle marketing patterns.
Brad Kooima of Kooima Kooima Varilek in Sioux Center, Iowa, says cash fed cattle trade hit record highs last week and could be steady to even a bit higher again this week. Historically tight supplies continue to support the rally.