Latest News From PRODUCE

Matching Cattle Requirements to Available Feeds

What do cattle need for nutrients?

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Using Distillers Grains on the Ranch

In many situations distillers grains may be a good option to increase weight of calves and yearlings or for use as a winter protein supplement for cows.

Corn Prices Expected to Edge Up, Could Pressure Fed Cattle Bids in 2015

Recent lower prices in corn could translate into fewer planted acres in 2015, potentially putting pressure on bids for beef cattle next year.

Using Corn Stalks

As corn harvest progresses, don't overlook corn stalks as a feed resource.

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Producers Discuss Latest Research at Purina Animal Nutrition Cattle VIP Events

Nearly 1,000 cow-calf producers and feedlot managers gather in Gray Summit, Mo., to learn new production strategies.

Calving Cows will need More Nutrients than Regrowing Pastures Alone can Provide

Cooler weather and a resurgence in rain will be sparking regrowth in fescue pastures, but ranchers with fall calving cows may need more than grass to maintain good body condition for cows.

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Do Cows Need Protein Supplements on Corn Stalks?

Corn stalks are a great forage to graze, but is supplementation needed?

Replacing Hay With Corn-Based Feeds in Winter Cow Diets

Replacing hay in your ration with corn this winter could be beneficial.

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Might be a Good Year to Creep Feed Calves

With record-high cattle prices, many beef producers might look to creep feeding to put additional weight on calves before weaning.

NDSU Shares Beef Cattle Research Results

NDSU researchers study several beef cattle topics in 2014.

Balancing Rations: The Economics of Hay Quality

Hay should be analyzed for nutrient content.

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Pricing and Purchasing Protein Supplements for Fall and Winter

There are a number of things to think through when evaluating protein supplements.

Nutritional Concepts for Backgrounding Calves

The nutrient density of the weaned calf diet depends on the size of the calf, the desired rate of gain, and the feedstuffs available.

Guilty Plea in California Meat-recall Case

The co-owner of a Northern California slaughterhouse accused of processing cows with cancer while U.S. livestock inspectors took lunch breaks has pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge.

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Garage Sale on Distillers Grain Products

Dry Distillers Grains (DDG) are feasible as an energy source in beef cattle diets.

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Byproducts Big Business for Grain Mills

An Indiana feed mill is now selling more grain byproducts than ever.

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Improving Digestive System with Feed

NMSU is developing a feed supplement to improve cattle digestive system.

Precision Feeding the Beef Herd: Learning from the Dairy Industry

Beef producers can copy dairy feeding practices to more precisely meet the nutrient requirements of the herd.

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California Livestock Producers and Rice Farmers Create Win-Win Solution

The California drought has ranchers desperate for inexpensive feed and the air quality regulations has left rice farmers with an abundance of straw to unload. Two problems solved.

Cattle Feedlot Nutrition 'Boot Camp' Takes Learning a Step Beyond

Kansas State and New Mexico State will give graduate students a closer look at real-life industry scenarios.

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Consider Storing Distillers Grains for Fall and Winter Use

Distillers grains are getting cheaper, so now is the time to consider how to store it for fall and winter feeding.

Tool Helps Farmers Decide on Pasture Insurance

Is pasture insurance right for your farm? The answer could be yes, no or maybe.

Is There a Mycotoxin Risk for Beef Cattle?

How risky is it to feed crops that have mycotoxins to cattle?

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Monitor Mineral Consumption for Cows

Cow-calf producers should closely monitor animal mineral consumption.

How Does Weaning Affect Forage Intake for Lactating Cows?

When the calf is off the teat its time for the cow to get in prime shape for the birth.

Farmers, Brewers Await Grain Fate Under FDA Rule

Farmers and brewers are still waiting to hear a final ruling from the FDA on the use of spent grains in cattle rations.

FDA Backs Off Animal Feed Rule Affecting Brewers

The federal government is backing off proposed regulations that brewers say would add to their costs without improving the safety of grain used to feed livestock.

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Meeting the Cows’ Nutritional Needs After Calving

It is important to meet the nutritional needs of a cow as soon as she calves.

Schumer Calls on FDA to Drop Spent Grain Proposal

Sen. Charles Schumer will be at a western New York brewery to call on the federal government to drop a proposal that has the nation's craft beer brewers up in arms.

Brewers Fear Proposed FDA Rule Would Spike Costs

Northwest beer brewers have joined a national outcry over a proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration which they say would make it prohibitively expensive for them to recycle spent grain by providing it to dairy farmers.

4 Tips to Prepare the Herd for Spring and Summer Grazing

Proactive fly control, water access and a supplementation program can help promote consistent cow performance through spring and summer.

Health and Nutrition Go Hand in Hand

Proper nutrition goes a long way in maintaining a healthy herd of cattle.

Nebraska Brewers, Farmers Fret Over Federal Grain Plan

Breweries in Nebraska say a federal proposal would force them to stop giving spent grains to local farmers to use as cattle feed.

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Drylot Management

The use of a drylot beef cow/calf system is an alternative management system to the traditional methods of pasture or range beef production.

Recall Issued for Beef Jerky Product

Health officials have issued another recall for a food product processed by a Northern California slaughterhouse.

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Feed Additives for Stocker Cattle

Beef producers have many options available to include in beef cattle diets that can offer many benefits in a small package.

Feeding a Beef Cow: Analyze Your Options

Feed costs for over-wintering a beef cow are a major expense in beef cow /calf operations. Some decisions have already been made that will affect the outcome of both your costs and success at this point.

Using Genetic Tools to Better Understand Rumen Organisms

New genetic tools, similar to those being used to aid selection in the whole animal, are being used to improve our understanding of the relationships among the rumen micro-organisms along with how they interact with their hosts.

Understanding the Nutrient Requirements of the Two Year Old Cow

Probably the most pivotal time for a beef cow to maintain a position in the beef herd is the first three months after her first calf is born.

Importance of Calcium and Phosphorus in the Ruminant Diet

Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are two of the most abundant minerals in the body, which is why they are vital to the discussion of feed testing and ration balancing for cattle.

Weak Calf Syndrome, Adequate Nutrition, and the Ramifications of a Tough Winter

Nearly every winter we spend time talking about the impact that harsh weather combined with less than adequate nutritional intake can have on cattle.

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Winter Animal Care Tips

Along with the decreased temperatures and decline in forage growth, comes an increase in calories needed for farm animals.

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Pregnant Cow Nutrition: Effect on Replacement Heifer Progeny

The term “fetal programming” is used to describe a relatively new concept in the livestock industry indicating that the nutrient status of gestating cows may have various long-term implications on offspring.

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Don’t Have a Cow About Cold Weather

As temperatures drop we need to consider how to adjust diet and management practices for cows and heifers.

Nitrate Toxicity in Cattle

Finding dead cows is never pleasant, but there are often many culprits that are to blame. One of the most common when it comes to feeding stored forage or grazing is nitrate toxicity.

Fetal Programming and Effects of Cow Nutrition

Can changes to a cow's energy intake during the second trimester enhance the quality of beef her offspring will produce? What effect might it have on the reproductive ability of the cow's offspring?

Winter’s Early Start Could Increase Hay Demand

A cold, snowy December has caused many livestock farms to reevaluate their winter supply of forage.

Feed Supplementation Needed for Georgia Cattle Farmers

Poor hay quality due to last year’s increased rainfall, has Georgia cattle farmers searching for alternative ways to supplement the hay they feed their herd.

Why All the Fuss About Body Condition?

Why is it that nearly every article on beef cow nutrition in the winter seems to focus on body condition?

Is There Value in Fat Supplementation for Beef Heifers?

The value of addition of supplementary fat to improve reproduction in beef heifers has been a topic of interest throughout the last decade. A variety of research projects have found variable results.