Cow-Calf
Douglas Lake Cattle Company, Douglas Lake, British Columbia, was recognized as the Beef Improvement Federation Commercial Producer of the Year on July 4 at the group’s annual symposium in Calgary, Alberta.
Cash fed cattle prices ended last week $10 per cwt. lower than last year while the beef cutout closed $16 higher than the same week a year ago. The result? Packer margins $314 per head more than last year.
Prices are higher as tighter numbers and beef supplies push markets toward record levels. The biggest question now is the extent herd rebuilding begins with increased heifer retention and reductions in cow slaughter.
As the balers roll through the fields and hay meadows, now is the time for proper maintenance and regularly inspected equipment.
Compared to other animals, cattle can’t dissipate their heat load very effectively. Cattle do not sweat effectively and rely on respiration to cool themselves.
Understanding the signs of heat stress, effective strategies to combat it, and maintaining optimal conditions to keep cattle cool are critical to beating the heat.
Why do some of the best calves catch a cough, known as summer pneumonia? K-State experts discuss the disease and what ranchers can do to best mitigate an outbreak in their herd.
Veterinarians as Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute discuss tips for using and storing animal health products for optimum performance.
Higher cattle prices have calmed much of the producer angst about the market not working. Now seems like a good time to analyze how we think about factors that drive prices.
Many similarities exist between today’s cattle market and that of a decade ago. But this year’s market is not, as Yogi Berra once said, “déjà vu all over again.”
Here’s why Shelby Rosasco, Beef Extension Specialist at the University of Wyoming, feels it is important for cattle producers to focus on heifer development and which strategy is right for their operation.
With dry weather and short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows.
The current high cattle prices were not a matter of “if” but “when,” following severe drought across cattle country. However, in volatile markets, should cow-calf producers be optimistic about profits in 2023?
It’s no secret that understanding the genetic value of your cattle is critical to garnering an ROI. But how can you capitalize on genetics and ensure you get an ROI from the process?
Established product requirements in the beef industry may differ somewhat from one segment of the industry to the next, but there are some common expectations fundamental to each.
Fly season is upon us! With three major fly types, it’s important to approach fly control with a variety of strategies for optimal control.
The arrival of El Niño likely means that additional drought impacts will be minimal and herd expansion may begin. The July Cattle inventory report may be the first sign showing an increase of beef replacement heifers.
Drugs such as penicillin and some others routinely used to treat cattle, hogs and other food animals will be available only with a prescription from your veterinarian, starting June 12, 2023.
When going out to tag calves, most cow-calf producers would prefer to find a new bull calf. However, it’s important to remember the extra options and opportunties heifer calves provide.
Producers should make the decision of whether or not to creep based on economics. Here’s a simple, quick “Cowboy Math” example based on current economics.
Markets may be higher, but there’s inherently more risk with each calf crop over time. That reality means ranchers must implement sound business strategies to ensure successful decision-making going forward.
Even with the best management practices in place, some stressful events such as shipping are unavoidable. These recommendations can help mitigate the risk of respiratory disease and other health issues.
Tightening supplies of beef and cattle are dominating market fundamentals and will continue to do so in the near-term.
Kurt and PJ Myllymaki of Stanford are the 2023 recipients of the Montana Leopold Conservation Award®.
A previous column drew producer responses about the OFF Act. Nevil Speer reviews some of the broader themes regarding your Beef Checkoff.
Times of profitability provide excellent opportunities to reflect on what decisions we made to get here, more specifically what management practices resulted in the improving balance sheet.
Increasingly tight cattle supplies suggest that margins at all levels above the cow-calf sector will be squeezed in the coming months. The severity of the squeeze and the timing will vary across beef industry segments.
Governor Mauro Mendes of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, recently met with the Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen at the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference to discuss opportunities for partnership between the two states.
Calving season can be an exhausting time on the ranch, especially when cows experience difficulty giving birth.
The Food and Drug Administration is changing guidance for using implants in beef cattle after June 2023.