Rejuvra® herbicide: Reduce wildfire risk. Restore healthier rangeland.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:49:33 GMT

Across the western United States, invasive annual grasses like cheatgrass, medusahead, and ventenata reduce forage availability and increase wildfire risk. That is why cheatgrass management is about more than initial weed control. It’s about investing in the long-term longevity and productivity of the land.

Short-term suppression can feel like the practical choice, especially when budgets are tight. But short-term results don’t always deliver long-term value. What looks less expensive at the onset can lead to repeat applications, ongoing labor, and continued pressure on forage and land health. For ranchers and land managers focused on the future of their operation, the better question is not simply what a treatment costs today, but instead, what that treatment helps protect over time.

Rejuvra^® herbicide gives ranchers and land managers a longer window to protect forage, reduce repeat applications and invest in land health over time. It can offer up to four years of control of cheatgrass and other invasive annual grass species in one treatment by preventing germination and helping deplete the soil seed bank over multiple seasons. That longer control window gives native vegetation more time to recover, helps reduce invasive annual grass pressure and can limit re-establishment when desirable perennials fill the space.

This matters because cheatgrass does more than just compete for space. It can reduce forage availability, pressure native plant communities and contribute to the fine fuels that increase wildfire risk. Instead of spending year after year trying to hold the line, ranchers and land managers have an opportunity to make meaningful progress toward rangeland recovery.

The return is not only control of invasive grasses. Rejuvra helps restore desirable forage, increase forage availability and lessen grazing pressure on the land. In field trials, treated acres produced up to 3.5 times more perennial grass than non-treated acres, helping support a stronger forage base over time, although forage response is variable.

That kind of forage response can support a stronger grazing system and a better opportunity for the land to function as productive rangeland again. More desirable forage can help support grazing capacity, improve the overall condition of the range and contribute to a healthier habitat for the species that depend on it.

Another major threat to the long-term resilience of western rangeland is wildfire risk. Invasive annual grasses increase the fine fuels that can help fires spread quickly across the landscape. Additionally, certain invasive annual grasses come back stronger after a wildfire, while native vegetation takes longer to recover, increasing the length and viciousness of wildfire cycles. Long-term control of those grasses can help reduce wildfire risk while supporting healthier, more resilient habitats. In a region where wildfire can change the trajectory of working lands in a single season, protecting rangeland before that occurs is an important part of responsible stewardship.

The return on investment of Rejuvra is best measured over years, not season to season. One treatment can help protect forage and support healthier rangeland for years to come. Rather than relying on the typical one-year inputs, land managers should try Rejuvra and invest in restoration, resilience and long-term return.

For those looking to dig deeper, Envu^® is hosting a webinar in May titled Breaking Vicious Wildfire Cycles: How Proactively Controlling Invasive Annual Grasses Can Lessen the Intensity and Speed of Wildfires in the West. In the session, Envu experts will discuss how proactive invasive annual grass control can help reduce wildfire risk and support long-term rangeland health.

Register to learn more: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d8cce317-2eea-4a48-a862-475ab422776f@c4dedb74-d916-4ef4-b6b5-af80c59e9742

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. Follow label and stewardship guidelines to limit impact to non-target native species. Environmental Science U.S. LLC, 5000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 400, Cary, NC 27513. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-800-331-2867. Not all products are registered in all states. Envu^®, the Envu logo and Rejuvra^® are trademarks owned by Environmental Science U.S. LLC or one of its affiliates.

Conservation, Data and Market Opportunity: Connecting For On-Ranch Success

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:50:37 GMT

On the 40,000 acres of public land that Gayel Alexander grazes each year with her 200-head of beef cattle, there are a lot of unknowns.

The terrain is extreme –rugged and rocky – and the weather between far-stretching altitudes can vary wildly.

But, over the past two years, Alexander has tackled one big unknown – her grazing patterns.

“I have range cows, not pasture cows,” she says. “They are very agile, very smart and they are used to doing what they want to do to survive on their own.”

In the past, that meant that Alexander was turning her herd out in a rangeland “free-for-all” and then spending time and money herding them from public lease land boundaries and shooing them from neighbors’ cropland and hay barns.

Now, with the help of virtual fencing that she received through Farm Journal’s Trust In Food Connected Ag Project, Alexander is not only managing her cattle and their grazing, she is optimizing the data she collects, and turning it into market opportunities for her ranch.

Connecting Innovation to Legacy

In 1936 and 1942, through the Taylor Grazing Act, Alexander’s grandfather was able to secure two land leases.

“Even though he only had an eighth-grade education, my grandfather was a very smart man,” she said.

Now, these separate leases, managed first by her grandfather, then later by her mother and now by Alexander, combined with adjoining private property, make up the Ja Quidi Ranch. 

“When I look at where my grandfather came from --the Dust Bowl and all that,” she says. “He was the one that built it and was smart enough to start doing things in the 20’s and the 30’s and the 40’s that were not common for ranchers,” she says.

“So then when I came into it, I wanted to take what my grandfather did and what he built and then take it into the next century with new technologies that were coming out.”

Connecting Innovation to Stewardship

Through the use of virtual fencing, Alexander is now able to track her cattle, learn their grazing patterns and move them easily and humanely. Virtually managing her cattle has opened up new opportunities for the environment and her farm economics.

“I normally had four allotments, but when we wrote my summer plan with the virtual fence, we tripled it to 12 allotments,” she says.

“Now I can do a lot more intensive rotational grazing which will increase forage and help bring back grasses that have been dormant for years because they haven’t had hoof and cow activity,” Alexander continues.

Range management practices will be beneficial for wildlife and allow Alexander to increase riparian areas that will revive springs and ponds for healthier habitats. Which, in turn, create improved pastures for her cattle.

“Some of this land just isn’t healthy anymore, and this will help it come back alive,” she added.

Connecting Innovation to Opportunity

Alexander doesn’t sell her cattle directly to consumers, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t aware of the downstream chain that they enter when they leave Ja Quidi Ranch. 

“The way I look at it is, marketing of my cattle is a very, very important part of my business because that’s what keeps me going,” she says.

Courtesy of her participation in the Connected Ag Project, Alexander now has data rolling in about her cattle’s feeding and grazing that is proving to be a critical tool in her marketing conversations.

“In this day and age, people want to know where their food is coming from,” she says. “It’s important for people to know where our animals come from, how they are treated, what kind of vaccines they get.”

“When you market your animal, you need to be able to tell people what you’ve done with them, what you’ve done for them, how they have grown up and where they’ve grown up.”

The power of her herd’s growth and feeding data, combined with the environmental stewardship that her grazing planning is enabling, is unlocking opportunity for Alexander.

“People like that they can see the land, so they feel comfortable when they are buying animals from me, they know how I care and how they are taken care of,” she says.

Connecting Farm Data to Opportunity

In the same way that Alexander’s herd data is providing key information to enhance her marketability, other farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are using their precision data to monetize premiums.

“Diligent measurement of data like variable rate technology and high-resolution soil mapping allow farmers to track nutrient application and soil health over the growing season,” says Andrew Lyon, director of technical assistance at Farm Journal. “This information not only allows farmers to steward their land and resources better, which saves time and money, but it creates an opportunity for them to work with customers to get value from that information. Examples include premiums, accessible via carbon or sustainable sourcing contracts.”

“Those types of market opportunities are simply unavailable to farmers who do not keep those kinds of digital records.”

The Connected Ag Project can connect farmers in any sector to these market opportunities by providing financial and technical assistance to implement practices and gather digital data. Learn more about how it can connect your conservation and data to opportunity by visiting www.trustinfood.com/grow .

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G096

The Importance Of Rumen Gut Health

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:21:23 GMT

The ruminant digestive system is as complex as it is important to beef and dairy production. Understanding how the gastrointestinal (GI) tract functions, how it contributes to overall ruminant health and what to do when it’s compromised are critical to the success of your herd. After all, a healthier GI tract helps improve performance, prevent leaky gut and mitigate stress — all of which lead to healthier cows and profits.

Understanding the GI tract

The function of the GI tract — primarily the villi in the small intestine — is to digest and absorb nutrients, defend against harmful pathogens, prevent harmful compounds from entering the host and maintain a balanced microbiome. Leaky gut occurs when a compromised GI tract lining allows harmful substances to be absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a variety of health implications.
A healthy gut:

Breaks down nutrients for optimal absorption
Promotes and maintains immune system health
Maintains structural intestinal integrity
Preserves the balance of microflora

A damaged GI tract, also known as leaky gut, could result in:

An unbalanced microbiome, leading to a higher prevalence of enteric pathogens
Reduced digestive and absorptive capacity
Decreased intestinal integrity of the gut, allowing harmful pathogens and toxins to enter into the host, which can lead to both intestinal and systemic inflammation
A compromised immune system

Kemin Industries Inc

(Kemin Industries Inc)

Stressors impacting intestinal health in cattle

Just as exposure to pathogenic bacteria in the environment is inevitable, so are animal stress events. Under stress, both the mucosal layer and the tight junctions are negatively impacted, often leading to inflammation and reduced integrity of the intestinal barrier.¹ Reduced intestinal integrity indicates there is a breakdown in the tight junctions between the epithelial cell membranes, allowing for intestinal permeability.

Without these tight junctions, pathogenic organisms like Clostridium, Salmonella and Escherichia coli can cross the intestinal barrier and into the bloodstream, resulting in an immune response that makes cattle more susceptible to diseases that can reduce their performance and your profitability.²

All cows endure stressors daily, and some are unavoidable. To ensure your cattle are set up for optimal health and productivity, it’s important to identify which stressors you can alleviate, and which ones you need to mitigate with a direct-fed active microbial.

Kemin Industries Inc

(Kemin Industries Inc)

Kemin Industries Inc

(Kemin Industries Inc)

Choosing a microbial

Not all probiotic products are active microbials, and not all active microbials are the same. When evaluating active microbial solutions to fight against intestinal-compromising pathogenic bacteria, consider the following factors:

Proven mode(s) of action
Backed by repeatable research
Efficacy against a broad spectrum of disease-causing pathogens
Stable in multiple manufacturing processes, including pelleting
Intestine viability

Why mode of action matters

By now you know why gut health beyond the rumen is important, so why does the mode of action matter? By understanding how the active microbial works the ruminant digestive system, one can better predict how the host will respond to the product once it is fed. This helps create confidence in the product, as it has gone through the rigorous testing and research to prove the mode(s) of action.

Targeting pathogens with precision

CLOSTAT^® from Kemin contains a proprietary, patented strain of Bacillus subtilis PB6. Kemin selected B. subtilis PB6 — a unique, naturally-occurring and spore-forming probiotic — because it helps maintain the balance of microflora in the GI tract in an array of animals, including beef and dairy animals. What’s more, the B. subtilis PB6 in CLOSTAT has been shown to have multiple modes of action:

Kemin Industries Inc

(Kemin Industries Inc)

Get close to the action! Visit kemin.com/clostat-us for the science behind proven protection against pathogens.

References
¹Williams, J. M., et al. (2015, May). Epithelial cell shedding and barrier function: A matter of life and death at the small intestinal villus tip. Veterinary Pathology. 52(3):445-455.²Chakaroun, R. M., L. Massier and P. Kovacs. (2020, April). Gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, and tissue bacteria in metabolic disease: Perpetrators or bystanders? Nutrients. 12(4):1,082.,/small>

Where the Green Grass Grows: Add Pounds to Your Calves With a Solid Weed Control Strategy

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:27:40 GMT

Late spring is the best time of year to utilize the rise in rainfall and extended growing hours to put extra pounds on growing calves. Savvy cattle producers don’t leave the productivity of their lowest-cost feed source up to chance. They solidify a pasture management strategy and apply proven weed control products.

Andrew McCrea continually adapts the pasture management plan on his family’s stocker cattle operation northeast of St. Joseph, Missouri, to fit production goals and changes in weather. McCrea Family Farms has relied on Range & Pasture products from Corteva Agriscience for more than 30 years and continues to enhance forage production for their cattle.

“We can see the difference in a well-managed pasture and the pounds of beef that we’re growing and grazing off that pasture,” McCrea said.

To get the most out of grazing land, producers should maximize low-cost pounds of gain by reducing weed pressure in their pastures. Cattle producers can secure at least 1 to 1.5 pounds of forage for every pound of weeds they remove. This increases the return on investment from pasture acres by adding nutrition to their calves’ diet and, in turn, more pounds across the scales.

“You go in with a strategy for weed control and to grow the maximum potential forage,” McCrea said. “You need to think about the yield that you’ll have and then how you’ll harvest what you’ve grown.”

NovaGraz™ herbicide is the only weed control solution on the market that preserves white clover and annual lespedeza for a diverse, high-quality forage that improves soil fertility. Producers throughout cattle country are taking advantage of this technology, which Corteva released in 2025, to preserve protein-rich legumes in their pastures.

“Being able to use NovaGraz opens the door to not only being able to graze more annual lespedeza but also interseeding some white clover and doing that in more places too,” McCrea said. “It opens the door to be able to have more beneficial species within a pasture.”

Considering the cost of maintaining equipment and baling hay, it’s critical to put a weed control plan into action to ensure producers are not wasting time and money baling up weeds that have no nutritional value for cattle. With live cattle prices at record highs, producers can’t afford to not use every available tool to add pounds to their growing calves.

Keep reading about Andrew McCrea’s pasture management strategy and watch videos from his farm at Corteva.us/McCreaSummer26 .

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^™Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. White clover and annual lespedeza exhibit some initial injury (such as lodging and loss of vigor) but recover. NovaGraz^™ is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva. 036317 BR (04/26) 01261-01

Virtual fences. Real freedom.

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:34:26 GMT

In Montana’s Missouri River Valley, the landscape is as beautiful as it is brutal. For Cory and Jennilee Bird, who’s family has ranched this ground for over a century, the “office” spans from lowland river bottoms to high-mountain forest allotments. It’s the kind of country that chews up equipment and spits out fence posts.

The Birds, along with their extended family, manage nearly 600 cow-calf pairs across this rugged terrain. For years, that legacy came with a heavy price: 112 miles of physical fence that required constant, back-breaking maintenance.

When the Fence Never Lasts
In the foothills of southern Montana, a fence is often more of a suggestion than a boundary. Between the spring snowmelt that wash out river gaps and the elk herds that plow through wire like its wet string, containment is a never-ending battle.

“It’s daunting,” Cory says. “The river takes it out, wildlife runs through it, and ATVs leave gates open. We’ve lost cattle to the railroad, to neighbors’ pastures — you name it. We’d waste ten days every single summer just chasing cattle that got out.”

For a family operation, those ten days aren’t just labor costs, they are missed ballgames, cancelled fishing trips, and a constant, low-grade stress that follows you into the house at night. Cory knew there had to be a better way to manage the herd without spending his life behind a wire stretcher.

Embracing Virtual Fencing
The solution came from an unexpected place: a Forest Service range specialist who suggested Nofence virtual fencing. While the tech sounded out there at first, Cory decided to put it to the ultimate test on his toughest group of cows.

“One summer, we took four ATVs and put 36 miles on them just to gather cows that had wandered eight miles,” Cory recalls. “I thought, if this technology can keep that bunch where they belong, it’s worth a try.”

The pilot was a lightbulb moment. The GPS-enabled collars and user-friendly app allowed Cory to draw a digital line right at the river’s edge.

“I’ve never herded cows from my phone before,” Cory laughs. “But one day two cows got out onto an island in the river. I set a new boundary on the app and watched them come back across on their own. That saved us hours of chasing.”

Knowing, Not Wondering
When raising cattle, peace of mind is a rare commodity. Most producers live in a state of constant wondering - if the gate stayed shut, wondering if the herd stayed off the highway, wondering if they’re overgrazing the riparian zones.

With Nofence, Cory stopped wondering and started knowing.

“I don’t have to wonder where they are anymore. That alone changes everything,” he says. “I can wake up, check the app, and see they’re exactly where they’re supposed to be. It takes the chaos out of the day.”

This real-time data also improves the land. The Birds can now move cattle to fresh pasture with a few taps on a screen, allowing them to rest sensitive areas and meet strict grazing standards on government allotments, even when the physical fences are down.

The Real ROI: Time for What Matters
Efficiency is great for the bottom line, but for the Birds, the real return on investment was measured in family time.

“Every time you’ve got a little time to go fishing with the kids or work on another project, something would come up with those cows being out,” Cory says. “Not this year. Instead of wasting days chasing strays, we’ve had the freedom to actually enjoy summer.”

For an operation where labor is a family affair, that breathing room is priceless. It allows the next generation to see ranching not just as a life of endless fence repair, but as a modern, manageable business.

The New Frontier
As Cory looks toward expanding the collars to the rest of his herd, he remains a realist and an open learner. “It’s not perfect, but neither is barbed wire when the river takes it out,” he says.

By combining century-old traditions with 21st-century control, the Birds are ensuring their family legacy stays right where it belongs: on the home ranch, for another hundred years.

Where the Green Grass Grows: Stop Feeding Weeds; Maximize Spring Forages with the Right Herbicides

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:07:53 GMT

Cattle producers are consistently looking for ways to stretch their dollars and improve production practices. Spring is an ideal time to evaluate return on investment when it comes to forage potential. The last thing producers want to do is waste good fertilizer on bad weeds.

By spring, Andrew McCrea of McCrea Family Farms identifies what his pastures need. To boost soil fertility, he works with his retailer to apply fertilizer and DuraCor^® herbicide together in one pass with UltiGraz℠ Pasture Weed & Feed. Combining fertilizer with the herbicide saves producers time with one pass over the ground and gives them the advantage of both technologies. Lush grass with fewer weeds means more cattle per acre, less supplemental feed, and more desirable forage on grazing and haying acres.

In pastures with annual lespedeza, he turns to NovaGraz™ herbicide to keep weeds at bay. NovaGraz enables producers to preserve white clover and annual lespedeza while providing enhanced broadleaf weed control, reaping the benefits of added legumes in pastures while improving forage quality. McCrea evaluates the forage plan on his operation northeast of St. Joseph, Missouri, following a productive grazing season.

“We saw such good results with NovaGraz last season and how it allowed the annual lespedeza to grow and thrive. We’re going to sow some annual lespedeza in pastures where we don’t have any currently, just because we think that the NovaGraz was good for us and it allows us to have more diversity in the pasture,” McCrea said.

Scott Flynn, Ph.D., global biology leader for Pasture and Land Management at Corteva Agriscience, outlines the benefits of adding multiple types of legumes for forage diversity in pastures. The added protein benefit for livestock is very appealing. 

“White clover is really nice to introduce into these cool season grass pastures,” Flynn said. “It is tolerant to lower soil pHs and poor fertility, so it is a little more forgiving than many other legumes. Now, annual lespedeza is the same, but also having white clover in there is going to help you out with your nutritional needs for your cattle. It’s high in crude protein. It’s a very leafy, soft-stem plant. And so having a little more diversity into a pasture is really a good thing.”

Pasture management isn’t one-size-fits-all. McCrea evaluates his fields often and uses results from soil sampling to keep improving forage production.

“Over time, we’ve been able to manage the fertility of the pastures well.,” McCrea said. “Sometimes I feel like we’ve got so far to go, but we look back and say, ‘Well, we have accomplished a lot too.’”

When it comes to spring pasture management, insight reigns. Don’t guess-test. Maximize the pounds of usable, nutritional forage in your fields and don’t feed the weeds.

Keep reading to learn more about Andrew McCrea’s experience and get more spring pasture management tips at Corteva.us/McCreaSpring26 .

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^{™ ®} Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. White clover and annual lespedeza exhibit some initial injury (such as lodging and loss of vigor) with NovaGraz^™ but recover. Under normal field conditions, DuraCor^® is nonvolatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Consult the label for full details. DuraCor and NovaGraz are not registered for sale or use in all states. UltiGraz^℠ with fertilizer is available for use with specific herbicides in the states of AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva. 035777 BR (02/26) CARP5RANG055

A Producer-Led Look at Sustainable Parasite Control

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:09:11 GMT

In this roundtable discussion at Leaning Oak Ranch in Oklahoma, rancher Buck Rich joins veterinarians Dr. Jody Wade, Dr. Matt Washburn and Dr. Tyler Thomas to talk candidly about the real cost of parasites. Hear how utilizing combination deworming, refugia, diagnostics and pasture management helped shape decisions on this ranch, and what fellow producers can do to protect herd performance and profitability.

Vytelle at CattleCon 2026

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:14:17 GMT

Success in cattle production means managing herds across many different facets of genetics, health, reproduction, performance, and sustainability. Yet many of the most important elements that drive those outcomes have historically not been measured or are measured in isolation. Feed intake, enteric methane emissions, and reproductive performance are deeply connected, but without integrated data, producers are left managing each piece separately. Vytelle is changing that by connecting measurement the science of measurement and insight with action across the production system.

This week at CattleCon in Nashville, Vytelle is introducing a new approach with Vytelle SENSE™ Methane Powered by Integrity™, a cost-effective system that measures individual animal methane emissions alongside feed intake.

“Vytelle is excited to apply cutting-edge innovation in practical ways to help producers achieve their goals across genetic improvement, profitability, and sustainability. With the easiest pathway to get started with IVF, no donor shots, no hidden fees, and a focus on Grade 1 embryos that lead to better pregnancy outcomes, Vytelle is well positioned to advance genetic progress around the world.” - Jason Osterstock, Chief Science Officer & Head of Marketing

Enteric methane represents energy loss, calories an animal consumes but does not convert into growth, fertility, or performance. By capturing methane every time an animal comes to the bunk and automatically pairing it with intake data, Vytelle SENSE Methane provides a clearer, more complete picture of biological efficiency at the individual animal level.

Unlike traditional methane measurement systems that require expensive infrastructure or depend on voluntary animal participation, Vytelle SENSE Methane integrates directly with existing Vytelle SENSE feed intake nodes. Every animal in the system is measured multiple times per day with no added labor, no attractants, and no participation gaps. This high frequency data allows producers and researchers to determine whether an animal’s emissions are more or less than expected given what it consumes, delivering meaningful context rather than standalone sustainability metrics.

Field trials conducted across North America throughout 2025 demonstrated that accurate methane phenotypes can be achieved in as little as 30 days, with a clear relationship between methane emissions and feed intake. That biological insight is critical because methane is not just an environmental consideration. It is energy lost in a cycle producers do not get paid for. Identifying cattle that allocate energy toward performance and reproduction is where profitability begins.

Those efficiency insights are designed to inform what comes next. Vytelle ADVANCE, their hormone free in vitro fertilization and embryo technology allow producers to leverage the best genetics in their herds to drive long term progress. To support adoption, Vytelle is offering a referral program that rewards producers with a Grade 1 embryo when a referred operation completes its first IVF event. The program is a practical way for producers to get started in maximizing the genetic footprint of their best females.

Together, Vytelle SENSE Methane and Vytelle ADVANCE solutions give producers the ability to measure what matters, make informed selection decisions, and build more efficient and profitable cattle programs. Producers can see the technology firsthand and learn more by visiting the Vytelle team at CattleCon or exploring available resources online.

CERES TAG: Launches CERES GEN6 at CattleCon 2026

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:33:39 GMT

Cattle producers make dozens of critical decisions every season around breeding, nutrition and culling. Too often, those decisions rely on observation, experience and best guesses rather than consistent, animal-level data. CERES GEN6 is designed to change that and is new to the market this week at CattleCon.

CERES GEN6 is not simply a cattle monitoring tag. It is a phenotype performance intelligence platform that translates day-to-day cattle behavior into clear, economically relevant insights producers can act on. By capturing accurate behavioral data at the individual animal level, CERES GEN6 helps producers make more informed decisions that improve reproductive efficiency, labor use and overall herd profitability.

One of the most significant advancements with CERES GEN6 is the introduction of three new reproduction algorithms. These include estrus detection in beef cattle, automated calving alerts and monitoring of mounting behavior. These additions build on CERES TAGS’ existing suite of insights, which already includes pasture feed intake indicators, location data and behavioral patterns tied to health and performance.

For producers, the impact is immediate. Earlier and more accurate heat detection allows for improved breeding timing, leading to better conception rates and tighter calving windows. Calving alerts reduce labor strain and help producers intervene when necessary. Monitoring mounting behavior provides deeper insight into breeding dynamics, confirming whether bulls are working as expected and identifying cows that may face reproductive challenges.

The cost of operating without this level of insight is significant. Missed heats extend calving intervals. Inefficient breeding timing wastes labor and bull power. Undetected health or welfare issues quietly reduce productivity. Without behavioral data, producers may feed, breed or retain animals that limit overall herd performance.

If producers are not using data to guide decisions on which animals to cull, which to retain, and which genetic selections to make going forward, they are relying on guesswork and assumptions about how efficiently their animals truly fit their operation.

Virtual fencing and heat maps transform ranch into model of conservation

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 19:10:03 GMT

One Colorado ranch is proving that healthy, productive cattle can also mean a healthy habitat for wildlife.

Since 1910, the LeValleys have been ranchers and caretakers of their local plot of land in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Through changing regulations, weather conditions and economies, one thing has remained true: Their regard for the land that sustains both their community and local wildlife.

“For generations, ranchers have served as stewards of the land,” Robbie LeValley told the House Natural Resources Committee in 2016. “Land and habitat thrive because of the knowledge and resources that we put into our land and grazing management decisions.”

Looking out for the grouse

On any given morning, you can find the LeValley family going through the motions on their ranch in Colorado’s North Fork valley—checking in on their cattle, monitoring water levels, and preparing for daily fieldwork.

But with every check, there’s another species on their mind, one that’s just as critical to their business and to the land: The Gunnison sage-grouse.

The sage grouse in its natural habitat.

(Merck Animal Health)

The private and federal land the LeValleys graze on happens to be an important habitat for a threatened species of sage grouse. As an “indicator species,” the Gunnison sage grouse not only deserves protection in its own right, but also reflects the health of its surrounding environment. Today, fewer than 5,000 of these birds remain.

Since 1995, the LeValleys have worked with the local Audubon Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to monitor and protect this threatened species. In fact, it was the BLM’s encouragement that convinced the LeValleys to implement virtual fencing to speed up grazing rotations and collect vital data.

“The BLM thought it might be a way to see if we could make the pasture moves even quicker on our BLM ground, as well as see if it will work in these Gunnison sage-grouse habitat areas,” said Robbie LeValley.

Putting Vence to work

The family’s implementation of Vence has been a gamechanger. Vence has reduced the amount of time it takes the family to roundup cattle and set up a new pasture—crucial for their rotational grazing plan. Their commitment to rotational grazing has reduced overgrazing, protecting the water supply in a drought-prone landscape and allowing the grasses to grow stronger, which provide both food and shelter for their feathery friends.

It also allows them to showcase the effect their efforts are having on the sage-grouse and the surrounding environment. Despite their stewardship, ranches like the LeValleys’ have been under fire from environmental groups. But they share a common interest in sustaining the local environment.

“We wouldn’t be in business if we didn’t care for the land,” Mark LeValley told Maggie Malson for Drovers. “If you manage the land right everything flourishes, and it is going to be here for the next generation.”

Vence has allowed the LeValleys to prove to environmentalists and advocacy groups that their rotational grazing plan allows the grouse and cattle to coexist peacefully—even benefitting from each other. Heatmapping allows them to show where cattle have been, and prove that far from endangering the local wildlife, consistent grazing can promote diversity and plant growth.

“With heatmapping, we’re able to show the BLM where the cows were, and show how we’ve moved them around the pastures,” says Robbie. “We want to highlight that the Gunnison sage-grouse and livestock grazing are about coexisting as they’ve been coexisting for generations. It has been a constant education effort.”

“You can show them the data and where we’ve been able to keep cows and make them stay in places where normally they wouldn’t want to,” added Ross LeValley.

Tech tells the story

The technology has made the LeValley story even stronger, solidifying them as a productive, responsible presence in their community. They’ve used it to save miles of hard fence, keep cattle off public areas, and showcase the positive effects grazing can have on the landscape.

“I think it’s the way of the future for grazing in the West,” said Ross LeValley.

By partnering with local wildlife organizations and embracing cutting-edge technology, the ranch has transformed its operations into a model of environmental stewardship—proving that cattle ranching and wildlife conservation can not only coexist, but thrive together.

Parasite Testing: Why it Matters

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:22:53 GMT

Knowing the species and relative population levels of the parasites threatening your herd can help you proactively plan a parasite management program. Properly timing parasite testing and deworming, however, varies by geography, environment, calving season, and more.

“The ideal time to deworm cattle is dictated more by the parasite’s life cycle than when cattle handling takes place,” says Dr. M. Wayne Ayers, senior beef technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health.

To determine the optimal time for both parasite testing and deworming on your ranching operation, Ayers suggests asking these questions.

When are you calving?

Are you calving in spring or fall?

Spring calves experience their environment quite differently from fall calves. The spring calf encounters an increasing number of parasites emerging on the pasture as the grass greens up and is actively growing. In contrast, the fall calf is exposed to a declining parasite population as grass matures and winter approaches. Timing should be guided by the parasite’s life cycle.

“Better understanding ideal timing can help producers adjust cattle handling to coincide with that ideal,” Ayers says. “For example, if cattle usually are branded or put on pasture the first of May but parasite populations aren’t building until June, shifting deworming later to coincide with parasite exposure helps producers do what’s right by cattle and increase the ROI of deworming and handling cattle.”

How many larvae are available on the pasture?

Parasite load on pasture varies based on environmental conditions, increasing when temperatures warm and grass is actively growing, and decreasing when heat or cold extremes slow or halt larval development and survival.

“The risk of parasites rises when ambient daytime temperatures reach the mid-50s and there is adequate moisture. A good indicator of increasing larval load on pasture is rapidly growing green grass. If conditions favor grass growth, they also favor parasite larval development,” Ayers says.

Ideally, producers should deworm cattle a few weeks prior to when larvae populations are at their peak. This helps limit the larval load on pastures by reducing the number of egg-laying females in the animal and reducing survivability of the larvae being consumed from the pasture, thereby reducing the total parasite population that can develop into egg-laying adults.

Where are you located?

Parasite population levels and timing can differ depending on geography, with larvae becoming dormant during periods of extreme heat or cold.

For example, populations in the South may be lower in summer due to extreme heat and decreased rainfall, and higher in spring and fall when temperatures are moderate and adequate moisture supports larval development and survival. In contrast, summer temperatures in northern climates are generally milder, promoting parasite activity.

“Larvae are less active in both hot and cold extremes. If larvae sense conditions are not suitable for survival, they burrow into the ground, and then, when conditions are right, they emerge,” Ayers says.

What is the ideal time to test for parasites?

Parasite testing using fecal egg counts (FEC) as an indicator of parasite load should be performed when adult pest populations reach peak activity, which varies depending on geography and environmental conditions.

In northern areas of the country, fecal egg counts typically rise in late June and July, making mid-summer an ideal time for parasite testing. In more southern areas, the optimum time to test is more likely in spring or fall.

Fecal egg counts have limitations, as they provide a rough estimate of parasite load but do not accurately indicate the related risk of economic loss. The eggs of the four most common worms responsible for the greatest economic impact look identical under a microscope. Additionally, female worms have different egg-laying capacities. There is also variation among species regarding the potential economic loss they can cause.

To better understand the potential risk of economic loss, Ayers recommends performing a coproculture. This involves hatching eggs in the laboratory and identifying the species present by examining the larvae under a microscope or using PCR to determine both the species and their proportions. This provides a more comprehensive understanding of which species are present and their percentage of the total population, thereby assessing potential economic loss. At Elanco, they refer to this holistic method as Species Specific Quantitative Analysis (SSQA).

Using a Species Specific Quantitative Analysis with pre-weaned or weaned calves is a good first step to better understanding parasites on a given ranch.

“Calves get everything that’s available, and they will be shedding eggs at pre-weaning or weaning time, providing producers with a good idea of what those calves were exposed to during the summer months,” Ayers says.

For screening purposes, composite fecal samples can be used. This involves submitting 20 individual fecal samples to the lab, where a specific amount of each sample is blended into a composite for SSQA testing. This method has been shown to statistically represent the “average” of the group.

While composite testing helps determine the parasite population numbers present in a group of cattle on a given pasture, a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) helps evaluate the effectiveness of current deworming products. This process involves performing individual fecal egg counts (FEC) on 20 animals within a group of cattle at the time of treatment and then repeating the FEC on the same animals 14-21 days later. This allows us to compare the before-and-after treatment results as a percentage reduction in eggs per gram of feces.

A FECR of 90% or higher indicates the treatment was effective. If the FECR is less than 90%, it suggests some level of resistance could be developing in the parasite population. Performing composite coprocultures on the pre- and post-treatment samples provides additional insight into which species may be showing reduced efficacy to the dewormer used.

Tips to improve parasite testing include:

Fecal samples should be the size of a chicken egg.
Samples should be put in individual sealable plastic bags labeled with proper animal identification.
Be sure to use a new glove to take each fecal sample to avoid cross-contamination.
Immediately put samples in a Styrofoam cooler with an ice pack. Wrap ice packs in paper to avoid direct contact with the feces, insulating and protecting the eggs from freezing.
If being kept overnight, store the samples in a refrigerator. Do not freeze fecal samples.
Ensure samples arrive at the testing lab within 48-72 hours of collection, maintaining refrigerated conditions.
Separate composite testing by herd units as follows:
- Mature cows
- Three-year-old cows
- Two-year-old cows
- Yearling replacement heifers
- Suckling calves

To learn more about parasite testing or deworming recommendations, contact your local Elanco representative or visit Elanco.us .

Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2025 Elanco. EM-US-25-0266

Virtual Fencing Built for Cattle Country

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:50:27 GMT

For most ranchers, roundups require careful planning and a significant time investment. But for those working on public land or expansive terrain, directing the herd to available forage presents even more challenges and costs.

For Shawn and Tyler Ivins of Broken I Ranch, roundups used to mean 10 long days in the saddle, pushing through the forests, canyons, and desert of the Abajo Mountains with a crew of eight riders, trying to locate every last cow and calf before winter.

“We would spend days and days riding, and we would never see a cow,” Tyler says.

Spanning over 250,000 rugged acres and stretching from the San Juan River up to the mountains above Blanding, Utah, Broken I Ranch runs Angus-influenced commercial cows, selected for their ability to cover these rocky, arid landscapes. In addition to difficult terrain, a significant portion of the ranch is public land, including areas within the culturally-sensitive Bears Ears National Monument.

Managing such a vast and diverse range was a challenge. But since implementing Vence virtual fencing 2022, the Ivins say they’ve regained control over their time and have new visibility into their herd.

“We’re way more effective with our riding and our time because we know where the cattle are, what they’re doing and where we need to move them,” Shawn says.

Vence allows the Ivins — and an increasing number of other ranchers across the West — to control cattle movement, manage grazing, create fences across thousands of acres of rangeland, and monitor animal location and movement.

With GPS-enabled collars, solar-powered base stations and a computer or tablet, ranchers can create and adjust boundaries remotely and pinpoint where each cow is, drastically reducing roundup time.

The ability to track individual cows, in particular, has allowed the Ivins keep their cattle away from the 10 miles of protected watershed that borders their ranch. If a cow crosses a virtual boundary, the system lets them know immediately.

“There’s a lot of concern about management and how we run cows in this area,” Shawn says. “We try to make sure that we’re very responsible with it.”

The Ivins say Vence is transforming the way they manage cattle on Broken I Ranch — saving time, improving grazing practices, and strengthening communication and relationships with public lands agencies.

“One of the biggest surprises for us is how effective it has been as far as tracking the cattle, and saving our time riding and finding lost cows,” Shawn says.

For other operations running on leased public lands, investing in advanced management tools like Vence can result in increased stocking rate and more sustainable use of natural resources.

“It’s pretty crucial for everything we do because it’s a huge time saver moving cattle,” Tyler says. “Some of our pastures are 20,000 acres. To round up cows in that large of an area, what used to take us weeks now takes days.”

Though roundups continue to be a busy time for ranchers, opportunities to save time and maximize land usage exist for those willing to rethink traditional approaches.

Invisible boundaries. Visible results.

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:48:13 GMT

For the Berquists, ranching is a family business. But with 12,000 acres across rugged Idaho terrain 150 miles away from their homebase in Washington, time and distance were not on their side—especially when it came to roundups.

With physical fencing and traditional ways of working, their riders often spent whole months in the mountains, riding 10 to 12 hours a day to keep cattle inside Union Cattle Company (UCC)’s leased property for rotational grazing. “They put in long hours and were away from their families. That’s hard,” says Caleb Berquist, who operates UCC with his parents and sister. Roundups would start mid-September, and the UCC team would be lucky to wrap up by Thanksgiving.

Incorporating the latest virtual fencing technology, however, has drastically changed things for the Berquists. Vence virtual fence allows their range riders to pinpoint the location of the herd, saving time they traditionally spent looking for their herd. In fact, after implementing virtual fencing from Vence, their annual roundup timeline was cut from over 60 days to just eight days, allowing them to devote more time in Washington to the other tasks of running a ranch.

Tracking collars allowed UCC to make plans when cattle start to drift, and helped ranchers make the most of trips to round them up.

“With Vence, we can keep an eye on things from 150 miles away. Because we’re confident about the location of the herd, we don’t have to cover ground looking for cattle,” Berquist says.

Virtual fencing also makes it easier to cover for a crew member who is taking time off, something UCC encourages. “We might not know the lay of the land near as well as our range rider, but Vence can take me or another crew member right to the cows so we can push them where they need to go,” adds Berquist.

Implementing the technology was relatively easy, too. “Getting started with Vence takes some legwork, but it’s not rocket science,” says Berquist, who uses virtual fencing technology on the home ranch as well as in Idaho’s mountainous terrain.

“There’s a learning curve to setting up the base station, but once that’s done, you can shift focus to turning fences on and off and tracking the herd.”

He expects the process to become easier for him each year.

Overall, tweaking their ways of working and incorporating new technology has paid off for the Berquists and their ranch. It has saved them countless hours, increased transparency for management in Washington state, reduced stress on the crew and cattle, and saved costs of installing or maintaining traditional fencing. “I love that I can pull up Vence, see that our cows are all in, and tell our range rider he can spend another night at home with his family,” Berquist says. “That’s good for them and our business.”

To see the real savings UCC experienced with virtual fencing, download their case study .

Understanding the Asian Longhorned Tick and Its Impact on Your Herd

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:54:08 GMT

A single female Asian longhorned tick can produce 4 million disease-carrying ticks in one generational life cycle.

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) or ALT for short, poses a growing threat to cattle producers in the United States. Originating from eastern China, Japan, the Russian Far East, and Korea, it has spread to Australia, and New Zealand.

This invasive pest was first identified in the US in 2017 but is suspected to have arrived here as early as 2010. The Asian longhorned tick is now spreading in the U.S., increasing the risk of Theileria orientalis Ikeda infections in cattle.

Tick Characteristics

A unique aspect of the Asian longhorned tick is its ability to reproduce without a male (called parthenogenesis), potentially producing millions of ticks by the second generation.

The Asian longhorned tick is a three-host tick, meaning it attaches and feeds on three different hosts throughout its life cycle, complicating control efforts.

“This three-host tick attaches to a new host at each molting phase of its development, feeding and then dropping off to molt before finding another host. This can include a variety of mammals, making control challenging,” explains Dr. M. Wayne Ayers, Elanco beef technical consultant.

In comparison, a single-host tick has one host animal through its three molds before becoming an egg-laying adult. Both single-host and three-host female ticks die after egg laying.

Disease Risk

The primary concern of Asian longhorned tick infestations is Theileria orientalis Ikeda resulting in the development of bovine theileriosis disease, which causes severe anemia in cattle, affecting all ages from calves to mature cows.

This contrasts with anaplasmosis, another tick-borne cattle disease, which typically impacts older cattle the most. Symptoms to watch for include anemia with or without jaundice, weight loss, inappetence, decreased milk production, abortions, and death. There are no approved treatments for theileriosis disease.

“Even a single tick can transmit disease, and with cattle bearing numerous ticks, the risk is high if they aren’t swiftly removed,” notes Dr. Ayers. “Once a cow is infected, there is concern that further spread can occur through blood by needles, biting flies, and other tick species, all potentially serving as mechanical vectors.”

What to do if an infestation is suspected

Collect suspect ticks preserve them in alcohol.
Deliver samples to your veterinarian, state veterinarian, or Extension office for identification.
Submit aborted fetuses and blood samples from affected cows for testing.
Once one has a herd affected by Theileriosis, use ranch-raised heifers for replacements. Avoid the risk of introducing unexposed animals without natural immunity.

“Diagnostics are important to being aware of where the Asian longhorned tick is currently located and where they may be moving,” Ayers says.

Management Strategies

Pre-treat animals arriving at your farm with approved insecticides labeled for ticks.
Quarantine new arrivals in a dirt-floored corral for several days.
Ensure thorough spray coverage, focusing on hidden areas where ticks embed.
Minimize tick habitats by maintaining clean pastures and reducing brush.
Utilize backrubs, oilers, and automatic sprayers in pastures so cattle periodically self-apply insecticide treatment.

Currently, there are no insecticides labeled explicitly for the Asian longhorned tick nor related disease in the United States.

Understanding and managing the Asian longhorned tick is crucial for beef producers to protect their herds. Stay informed and proactive to mitigate the risks associated with this invasive species.

Please review the current USDA policy thoroughly to ensure understanding and applicability to your operations. To learn more about controlling ticks on your operation, visit Elanco.com or reach out to your local Elanco representative.

Grazing Management Plans: The Power of the Pen

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:03:56 GMT

In the world of working grasslands, grazing management is as diverse as the operations it serves.

For some ranchers, grazing is monitored, measured, analyzed and relied upon as a tool for successful everyday management of an operation.

For others, it’s an instinct — a gut-check moment of knowing when and where cattle need to be moved.

And there are a thousand other scenarios that lie somewhere in the middle of those extremes.

For ranchers who have a grazing management strategy and put it on paper in some way, the benefits can be numerous. A written grazing plan can add up to better productivity, an ability to capture more market opportunities and land management that buffers against extreme weather.

We talked to two ranchers in the Dakotas about how they are managing their grazing and making it work for their land, their operation, their profitability and, ultimately, their legacy.

Supplied Photo

(Trust in Food)

The Ranchers

Chad Njos – Cow Chip Ranch

Purchasing a ranch south of Bowman, North Dakota in 1993, Chad and Amanda Njos established Cow Chip Ranch atop land previously used for small grain farming. Through holistic management and intensive rotational grazing, they are restoring the 5,000 acres to native prairie that is benefitting the health and production of their 300-head cow/calf operation. The Njos are grazing mentors for the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition.

Dan Rasmussen – The 33 Ranch

The 33 Ranch sits on generational land located in south central South Dakota and runs 400 cows and 1,100 yearlings annually on 22,000 acres, grazing as close to 52 weeks of the year as the Dakota climate will allow. With a vision of healthy land, healthy families and healthy livestock, the Rasmussens are operating with several generations on-ranch. Rasmussen is a grazing specialist with the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition.

Supplied Photo

(Trust in Food)

Planning = Continuous Improvement

Both ranchers operate with a grazing management plan as part of a holistic management strategy.

Njos: “I have a spreadsheet with our past grazing and then I put together a grazing plan in the spring,” Njos says. “But those grazing plans are just a road map that I’m constantly adjusting.”

“I now have help on the ranch with my son and employees, so I am trying to transition all of the information in my head to the plan so that everyone is informed about what is going on.”

“We’re trying to be more deliberate about making plans that are understood by everyone in the operation versus just by me and my boss, who is myself.”

Rasmussen: “Holistic planning is often very difficult because people often don’t manage that way, but the bottom line in ranching is that there is a lot of complexity in managing a ranch’s many moving parts, and we can benefit as managers by having a tool to objectively manage all these moving parts.”

“Once people see the advantage of a holistic, all-ranch approach that encompasses people, finances, environment and livestock and understand that when you change one, and it changes the others, it is very powerful.”

Planning = Profitability

Both Njos and Rasmussen draw a direct line between their intensive grazing management, their holistic management plan and their bottom line. Njos says that his management has allowed the ranch to “more than double” their stocking rate and production on the land.

Rasmussen: “We converted these season-long grazing pastures to a rotation and saw an increase in production,” he says. “We saw a 30% increase just initially because of efficiency and the native plants that started to respond and that increase keeps getting better over time, which means our stocking rate can go up, too.”

“We can put a dollar value on that really easily,” he says. “I do custom stocking and if we covert 30% to a custom rate of $1 a day per yearling, that comes up with quite a few dollars.”

Supplied Photo

(Trust in Food)

Planning = Security

Working with the land instead of against it has yielded some surprising benefits for both ranchers, including setting them up for success in weathering changing climate conditions.

Njos: “After a few years, I did see the land start to regress because I had increased production and was over-utilizing it,” he says. “Then we took a holistic management class again and we made some big changes to start working with nature and mimicking nature and focusing on soil health.”

“That included intensive grazing and looking at these pastures and trying to figure out how to better utilize them for livestock and regenerate them.” “It’s been amazing to see how resilient nature is when you work with it instead of trying to control it.”

Rasmussen: “We have green grass theoretically all summer because as the warm seasons mature and the first of September, the cool seasons start greening up again,” he says. “With just a little rain, we can have green grass for our cattle all summer.”

“Another advantage of the rotation and healthy soil is that we can grow the same amount of grass now on 14 inches of rain that took quite a bit more 30 years ago,” he says. “That’s how we can keep our herd numbers steady at under 14 inches of rain average.”

“With the rotational grazing, we are improving our drought tolerance.”

The Bottom Line

Both ranchers serve as mentors and consultants, helping other ranchers in their region understand that grazing management is part of a holistic strategy of success. We asked them what advise they lean on time and time again in those roles.

Rasmussen: “I’m a firm believer in education,” he says. “I don’t think we can go to enough workshops and schools because I learn something at every one I go to, whether I’m an instructor or a or a student.”

“The more we learn about managing this complex business, the better we can do it.”

Njos: “No matter what you’re doing, your management has to keep adjusting to what is happening,” he says. “Every change you make — like moving cattle, calving times or time of grazing — affects the whole. Be able to understand that, measure it, and then adjust.”

No matter how you manage your grazing, there are resources that can help. Visit www.trustinbeef.com/grazingmanagement for insights, organizations that can help and to get access to a free, step-by-step grazing management workbook to start getting your plan on paper now.

What cattle producers need to know about New World Screwworm

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:38:49 GMT

New World Screwworm (NWS) is a devastating pest of livestock and other mammals. Screwworms are fly larvae, or maggots, that burrow into the flesh of living animals causing serious, and even deadly, damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people.¹

Identifying New World Screwworm

Adult screwworm flies have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs. The center stripe begins partway down the backside and appears shorter than the outer stripes.²

Screwworm larvae burrow into a wound, feeding as they go like a screw driving into wood. The maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts’ tissue with sharp mouth hooks. The wound becomes deeper and larger as more maggots hatch and feed on living tissue.²

Producers should monitor livestock and other warm-blooded animals regularly for signs of NWS including irritated behavior, such as head shaking, smell of decay and presence of maggots in a wound.² Egg masses may be found around or in the wound and larvae may be visible by the third day of infestation.³ NWS infestations are painful for the host, so animals may become depressed, stop eating and separate themselves.³

Economic impact of New World Screwworm

Although the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) eradicated NWS from the United States in 1966 using sterile insect technique, there is a constant risk of re-introduction into the United States.¹ During the 20th century, the presence of NWS cost the U.S. livestock industry more than $100 million annually.⁵ Another incursion into the United States could cost millions of dollars from livestock losses, trade embargoes and eradication work.³ Pets, livestock, wildlife and even humans may suffer and die from screwworm myiasis.³

Climate impact on New World Screwworm

NWS is not tolerant of cold weather. Adults do not survive air temperatures below 20° Fahrenheit and larvae dropping from the host between 15° and 20° Fahrenheit usually die. Pupation, when larvae transform to an adult fly, does not occur in dry soil when the mean average daily temperature is below 46° Fahrenheit.⁴

Historically, year-round populations were restricted to the lower quarter of Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, California and parts of Florida. In areas where temperatures were too cold to support fly development over winter, annual expansions occurred every spring and summer from areas where NWS presence remained yearround.⁴

If there is an infestation in your area

In areas where NWS is found, measures should be implemented to prevent animal wounds and avoid NWS myiasis.⁶ For example, to the extent possible, eliminate or delay performing wounding procedures such as dehorning, branding, shearing, ear notching, tail docking and castration.⁶

Untreated umbilical cords of newborn animals and foot lesions are commonly infested sites. Immediately treat all wounds with approved insecticides; it may also be prudent to follow up with precautionary spraying of animals with insecticide before transport.⁶

Information for veterinarians

Currently, there are no animal drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment or prevention of NWS myiasis in animals.⁷ Veterinarians may prescribe the use of FDA-approved products for uses that are not on the label, in accordance with the existing regulations (21 CFR Part 530) with a valid veterinary/client/patient relationship. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine provides information to support veterinarians with the identification of FDA-approved animal drugs labeled for indications other than NWS myiasis that scientific literature indicates may be effective to prevent or treat NWS myiasis.⁷ Visit the FDA website for a list of options.

Immediately report signs to your State Animal Health Official ( www.usaha.org/saho/ ) or USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge ( www.aphis.usda.gov/contact/animal-health ).

For more information, visit BQA.org/Screwworm

Sources:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pest-alert-new-world-screwworm.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/bro-new-world-screwworm.pdf
https://entomology.k-state.edu/extension/human-and-animalhealth/New%20World%20Screwworms_June2025.pdf
Novy, J.E. 1991. Screwworm control and eradication in the Southern United States of America. Special Issue of World Animal Review FAO, pp. 18–27. https://www.fao.org/4/u4220t/u4220T0a.htm. Accessed 4/22/25 .
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws_myiasis_disease_strategy.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians

Feeding the Future: Why Monitoring Cow Size Matters Now More Than

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Genetics Have Outpaced Management in Some Herds

In today’s beef industry, growth is expected – and often rewarded. As cow size evolves alongside genetics, it’s a great time for producers to ask: Are our management practices keeping pace?

“Feeder weights have gone up, but weaning weights have stayed flat for the last 20 years,” says Dr. Elizabeth Belew, beef nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. “That tells us something. We’re building bigger cows, but we’re not necessarily translating that into heavier calves at weaning.”

The difference, she explains, comes down to nutrition. As genetics continue to advance, today’s cows are capable of greater growth and performance, making it more important than ever for management practices to evolve in step. Ensuring cows receive the right balance of forage and supplemental nutrition is key to unlocking their full potential.

Matching management with modern cattle

“We’re using these genetics for a reason; they’re delivering growth and performance,” says Belew. “But it’s worth asking: Are our management strategies evolving alongside them, or are we still feeding today’s cows with yesterday’s playbook?”

That means looking beyond pedigree and asking deeper questions about nutritional strategies, grazing pressure and reproductive performance.

“If you go from managing a 1,000-pound cow to a 1,500-pound cow, that’s a 50% increase in body weight,” Belew explains. “But her energy requirement doesn’t increase linearly. It goes up about 36%. That’s still a significant bump.”

Bigger cows, bigger resource needs

Let’s do the math. Using 2.5% of body weight as an intake estimator:

A 1,000-lb. cow will consume about 25 lbs. of dry matter daily.
A 1,500-lb. cow will need roughly 37-38 lbs. of dry matter daily.

That difference adds up to approximately 4,500 additional lbs. of forage per cow, per year. Multiply that by herd size, and the forage demands become clear.

“If you don’t have the resources, whether that’s pasture, feed or labor, then that cow’s size could start working against you,” Belew says.

Increasing stocking rates can help address nutritional needs, but forages alone will not always be enough, especially for today’s larger cattle. In addition to dry matter intake, it is important to ensure each cow is receiving the right minerals to support their needs and size. Purina’s Wind and Rain^®Mineral is available as a comprehensive line of beef cattle minerals designed to address the mineral deficiencies of the available forage, in a palatable, weather-resistant, granular formula.

Are bigger cows weaning bigger calves?

Many producers wonder whether a heavier cow justifies her cost by weaning a proportionally larger calf. One benchmark Belew recommends is weaning 50% of the cow’s body weight.

“A 1,500-lb. cow should wean a 750-lb. calf,” Belew says. “Can that 1,500-pound cow get it done? I think she can, but only if she’s fed and managed to meet her genetic potential.”

One tool to help meet those needs? Creep feeding.

There’s definitely a play for creep feeding in today’s herds,” Belew says. “Creep feeding Purina^® Accuration^® Creep programs can help close the gap between what the cow can deliver and what the calf needs to thrive.”

Belew suggests producers ask themselves five key questions:

1. What is the average weight of my mature cows?

Weigh them on a scale or compare your sale barn ticket to find the average of your herd.

2. Am I matching my nutrition program to actual cow size and performance goals?

During breeding, analyze your cow’s body condition score and make improvements if needed to meet your herd’s needs before weaning.

3. How do my weaning weights compare to cow size?

Compare your weaning weights to your average cow size to better understand if your cows are properly supporting their calves.

4. Can my land support the grazing needs of a heavier herd?

Especially in drought-prone areas, reevaluate your land to ensure you are meeting the needs of your herd.

5. Where does creep feeding make sense in my system?

Complement mother’s milk and available forage, while boosting calf gain before weaning by feeding Purina^® Accuration^® Creep Programs.

Bottom line: Feed the cow you’ve got

“Bigger cows can absolutely work in a herd,” Belew says. “Whether you’re managing 50 cows or 500, the message is the same: feed strategically, stock appropriately and never assume one size fits all.”

Want help evaluating your forage demands or cow size strategy? Visit PurinaMills.com/CattleCare or talk to your local Purina^® cattle specialist.

Where the Green Grass Grows: Make Pasture Planning a Priority This Fall

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 20:26:50 GMT

With the bustle of harvest and most pasture weed control measures completed for the year, fall may seem like a fine time to ease up on pasture management. But for Andrew McCrea, that’s far from the case.

“We like to use the fall season to evaluate our pastures, and start making plans for the next year,” says McCrea, who runs a fifth-generation crop and cattle enterprise near Maysville, Missouri, with his dad, M.L., and 16-year-old son, Luke.

Throughout the year, 400- to 500-pound calves, mostly Missouri-sourced, arrive at the farm, located about an hour northeast of St. Joseph. They’ll spend about five months grazing a dozen or so bluegrass and fescue pastures as calves. McCrea supplements the steers’ diets with distillers grains and silage in the winter, but he doesn’t like to feed hay.

“Pasture should be our lowest cost feed source each year, and a little proactive planning in the fall can go a long way next spring,” he says.

McCrea considers the following questions each fall and jots down notes to help him plan for next year:

Which pastures were treated this year?
Which pastures should be treated next year?
Were there any new or unexpected weeds?
What was the weather like and how did that impact the forage quality this year?
Is there anything that went really well this year, or any areas for improvement?

“It’s easier to have a plan going into next year and make adjustments, than to wait until spring and then try to decide what to do,” McCrea says. “We try to take a step each year to make our pasture management program just a little better than the year before.”

The McCreas have relied on Range & Pasture products from Corteva Agriscience and its legacy companies for more than 30 years. The portfolio of products available to manage pastures has grown significantly in that time, which has provided McCrea more options to further boost forage production.

“When we first started out, we would use one product to treat all of our acres, and that worked well for us,” he says. “But now the portfolio has expanded, and there’s more opportunity to match the products to the pastures for even better results.”

Fall can be an ideal time to spray several weed and brush species. Blackberry, sericea lespedeza, tropical soda apple, thistles, and biennial and winter annual broadleaf weeds are all susceptible to foliar applications in the fall to help set up your pastures for a clean, fast start next spring. By keeping weeds at bay, soil nutrients and moisture will go to grass when the growing season begins.

Keep reading to learn more about the products the McCreas have added to their pasture management program at Corteva.us/McCreaFall25 .

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^{™ ®}Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. ©2025 Corteva.031595BR (09/25)CARP5RANG055

Ranchers Reclaim the Market: How One Co-op is Putting More Margin Back in the Saddlebag

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:56:18 GMT

Have you ever stood in the meat aisle at the grocery store, eyeing a steak for dinner or checking out your fellow producer’s product, only to overhear a shopper say, “I can’t believe how expensive this beef is! Ranchers must be rich with how much we’re paying for it.”

As producers, we know the reality: that $24.99 steak yields only a small fraction back to the rancher. Behind every package on the shelf is a story of early mornings, late nights, winter feedings, fall cattle drives, and significant investment—both financial and personal.

“We heard from consumers that they want to support family ranches, buy local, and make a difference with the products they purchase. But we weren’t sure how to do that through conventional production methods,” says Mary Formann, founding Country Natural Beef family rancher.

What if every steak purchased meant more than just a meal? What if it meant supporting family ranchers directly—putting more of the margin back into their pockets to reinvest in the land, the animals, and the future of sustainable ranching?

That’s exactly what 13 ranching families envisioned in 1986 when they came together to form Country Natural Beef Cooperative—a family rancher-owned company built to support people, land, and animals while ensuring fair returns for the hard work behind every cut of beef.

Today, Country Natural Beef is proud to be the largest rancher-owned meat cooperative in the nation, with over 85 member ranches across 11 states. Together, we provide customers with high-quality beef while ensuring our members receive competitive returns on their cattle.

Why Join Country Natural Beef?

As a member of the cooperative, you’re not just a supplier—you’re an owner. That means:

More margin in your pocket: By cutting out the middleman, profits go directly to our rancher-members.
A voice in the business: Members help shape decisions around product attributes, loyalty programs, and more.
Dedicated support: Our expert team handles sales, marketing, production, and financial services—so you can focus on your ranch.
Shared knowledge: Our membership includes some of the top regenerative ranchers in the industry, creating a powerful network of shared expertise.

Over nearly 40 years, we’ve built strong customer relationships, developed loyalty programs, and refined payment structures—all with one goal: to do better for the people, land, and animals today and tomorrow.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re interested in learning more about Country Natural Beef or exploring membership opportunities, click here to connect with us. We’d love to hear your story and explore how we can support your ranching journey.

An Association Built to Preserve the Past and Shape the Future of Ranching

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:02:57 GMT

Ranchers across the country share a common challenge: protecting the heritage and hard-earned legacy of their operations while navigating an increasingly complex beef industry. Rising costs, succession planning hurdles, and shifting public perceptions make it harder than ever to ensure the ranching way of life continues for future generations.

The Ranching Heritage Association is dedicated to meeting that challenge head-on. For over 50 years, RHA has worked alongside ranching families, industry leaders, and working cowboys to strengthen the visibility, understanding, and sustainability of ranching in America.

One of the most visible ways RHA honors the industry is through the National Golden Spur Award and the Working Cowboy Award. These nationally recognized honors spotlight individuals whose leadership and hard work have shaped ranching and livestock production for decades. By elevating these stories, RHA ensures the people behind ranching’s success are celebrated and remembered while inspiring future generations to continue the tradition.

Passing down tradition, however, is not without its challenges.

As longtime rancher Tom Moorhouse and winner of this year’s RHA Working Cowboy Award-East explains, “Tradition is very important. Change is hard to do, but a lot of ranchers still pull a chuck wagon. They still drive the remuda where they’re going to be working.

“It’s important to embrace change, but tradition is a big deal to me. And I want to pass it on to the younger generation. And sometimes they don’t accept it because they don’t understand why,” Moorhouse says. “But I like to try to tell them how we did things, and why we did things, and how they might improve on things like that.”

His words reflect the delicate balance between honoring the past and embracing new practices to keep the industry strong.

Preparing the next generation of ranchers and advocates is critical to sustaining the industry long-term.

Through the Ranch Life Learning curriculum, featuring Hank the Cowdog, RHA is teaching thousands of students about the science, stewardship, and values behind ranching. Already present in more than 90 Texas school districts and growing nationally, this program is shaping tomorrow’s producers, policymakers, and consumers.

The Ranching Heritage Association also safeguards the physical history of ranching through the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas. With 55 historically preserved ranch structures and immersive exhibits, the Center connects families to ranching roots and provides the public with a tangible understanding of how ranching has evolved to feed and clothe the world.

The challenges ranchers face cannot be solved in isolation. At its core, RHA is about community. Membership creates a national network where ranchers can connect with peers, share experiences, and work collectively to secure the industry’s future. The support generated through membership and events sustains educational programs, historic preservation, and national recognition efforts — all aimed at keeping ranching strong for future generations.

The future of ranching requires a united effort to preserve its heritage, educate the next generation, and ensure the story of ranching remains visible and valued. The Ranching Heritage Association stands ready to support ranching families in that mission.

Join today and help ensure the legacy of ranching remains strong for generations to come.

Learn more at ranchingheritage.org

Diligence Key to Mitigating Screwworm Threat

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:59:42 GMT

The New World screwworm threat could be the top livestock health topic of 2025. Although it is predominantly found in Central and South America, it has appeared sporadically in the United States since national eradication efforts were implemented in the 1960s. The last outbreak occurred in the Florida Keys in 2016.

Despite its name, the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is not a worm; it’s a fly. But the screwworm is not your average fly.

A female screwworm only lays her eggs in open wounds, including castration sites and lacerations, even those from tick bite wounds, and other potential entry points such as mucous membranes. Each female can lay about 200 eggs. The eggs then hatch into larvae, burrowing into the live tissue as they develop before eventually dropping out of the animal and burrowing into the ground. Once in the ground, the pest goes into the pupal stage of its life cycle before again emerging as a fly.

“Screwworm maggots feed exclusively on live tissue, making it especially devastating. Left untreated, infestations can become debilitating, and if the larvae reach vital organs, they can be fatal,” says Dr. Thach Winslow, beef cattle technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health.

There are two ways the New World screwworm moves geographically - through natural migration and through the movement in livestock and other animal hosts.

“If the screwworm has a host source available, it is satisfied to stay in a local area where it can infect live animals. But if that becomes less available, the screwworm will travel 10 to 12 miles to find an adequate host to lay its eggs,” Winslow says. “The more rapid movement from Central America into Mexico has been the direct result of those larvae taking a ride with cattle and other livestock.”

Prioritizing wound care

Should New World screwworm reach the U.S., wound management and pest control are ranchers’ first methods of defense. We’re working with our customers to help prevent or mitigate the threat.

“We need to be diligent in caring for wounds related to castration, branding, and dehorning. We need to focus on newborn calf checks, because the navel cord can be an entry point for this pest,” Winslow says.

Good tick and fly control is also crucial to reducing the bite wounds that could serve as entry points for screwworm.

The importance of surveillance

This evolving threat highlights the need for on-farm vigilance and individual producer action alongside government oversight and recommended responses.

“Be mindful and monitor herds,” Winslow says.

When surveilling for potential New World screwworm populations, Winslow notes that producers should be aware of the secondary screwworm, a lookalike pest.

“It’s the same genus, but a different species, and it looks very similar to the screwworm and is present in the United States. However, it feeds on nothing but dead tissue. In comparison, the New World screwworm feeds only on live tissue,” he says.

Identify and report

The next important step is early detection.

“Animals that appear off—isolated, lethargic, or disinterested—warrant a closer look,” Winslow says. “Even small wounds from tick or horn fly bites can become entry points.”

When examining the animal, look for wounds with a foul odor—this can signal an infestation.

Screwworm eggs may resemble small white shingles on a wound’s surface. And once eggs hatch, the wound area may appear larger and more visually prominent.

If you suspect a screwworm infestation, contact your veterinarian immediately. You’ll also need to contact your state veterinarian and collect samples, if possible, preserving them in an alcohol-filled container.

“The screwworm larvae (maggots)are both easier to collect and to identify than flies. If the larvae are not found feeding in live animal tissue, they are not screwworms,” Winslow says.

Above all, producers must remain vigilant. Early detection and prompt reporting are essential to stopping the spread of this invasive pest if it were to cross into the United States. Through responsible care, treatment, and collaboration with veterinarians, we can reduce the potential risk to herds and help prevent the New World screwworm from becoming a national problem again.

For updated information about the New World screwworm issue, please monitor the websites and informational bulletins, including those published by USDA, the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Florida Department of Agriculture, Texas ACM AgriLife, and Texas Tech.

©2025 Elanco or its Affiliates. EM-US-25-0171.

More than Vaccines

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:35:48 GMT

Nothing is more frustrating than weaning a nice group of calves only to have a major outbreak of pneumonia a week later. Or to buy a single-source group of calves and have to treat what seems like every other one just days after arrival. Too frequently when thinking of bolstering the immune system, the answer is to add another vaccine. While vaccines are a proven way of increasing the antibodies of the adaptive immune system, many other cells and components of the innate immune system should not be overlooked in our efforts to keep animals healthy.

The innate immune system contains non-specific cells and barriers to prevent infections. Think of them as the local police force; patrolling, looking for invaders that don’t belong while also incorporating walls (the skin) and traps (mucous and pH) that will prevent infection. If these mechanisms are unable to successfully clear an infection, the special ops (adaptive immune system and antibodies) come in and clean things up. For cattle to remain healthy, both the adaptive and innate immune systems must be functioning.

If vaccines can improve the adaptive immune response prior to a disease challenge, what can be done to improve the innate immune system either prior to or during an actual disease challenge? A recently published study completed by researchers at Iowa State University demonstrated that injecting trace minerals shortly before or during an actual bacterial disease challenge may reduce the clinical signs of disease. This supports previous research that injectable trace minerals also mitigated the effects of viral challenges.

Iowa State Study¹
Researchers at Iowa State University enrolled 32 Angus-cross steers weighing approximately 640 pounds to evaluate the benefits of injectable trace minerals either before a Mannahemia hemolytica challenge or two days after the challenge. Calves enrolled in the study all had adequate levels of trace minerals as determined by liver biopsy. As part of the study, all calves received a dose of tulathromycin two days post infection. Calves were watched daily for changes in health status based upon depression, appetite, respiration, and rectal temperature. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed to monitor the effects in the lungs. Blood, nasopharyngeal swabs, and bronchoalveolar lavages were all collected to monitor and assess the involvement of the innate immune system. Researchers concluded that the use of injectable trace minerals can improve an animal’s disease resilience. Researchers also stated that, “even if an animal is considered nutritionally sufficient for certain trace minerals, this may not be sufficient to mount an optimum innate immune response. In these instances, ITM injection may provide additional support.”

Moving Forward
As we move into the fall weaning season, ranchers and cattlemen across the country will be looking for ways to keep their animals healthy. Many will reach for vaccines to improve the adaptive immune system of their calves. Those who also strategically supplement trace minerals by injection will supply the trace minerals necessary for full immune system support.

To learn more about the role injectable trace minerals can play in cattle health, visit www.axiota.com/multimin .

¹Hong, S., et al. 2024. Biological Trace Element Research.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-024-04251-z

©2024 Axiota®
AX-00031-00

Bridging the Nutrition Gap

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:10:43 GMT

As summer winds down and fall begins, beef producers face a common nutritional challenge: a steady decline in forage quality. While forage quantity may still seem adequate in the pasture, its nutritional value often falls short of the cow’s requirement. This seasonal gap between nutrient supply and demand can significantly impact herd productivity and reproductive performance. In many operations, liquid feed supplements have proven to be an effective strategy to bridge this nutritional gap and support herd performance during times when forage quality is poor.

Seasonal Decline in Forage Quality

In the spring and early summer, forages are in their most nutritious state. They are vegetative, high in protein, low in fiber, and rich in digestible energy. But as grasses mature in late summer and early fall, they shift their energy from leafy growth to seed production. This process results in an increase in structural fiber components such as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), which lowers digestibility. At the same time, crude protein levels drop, often falling below the 7–8% required to support optimal rumen microbial function. Once this threshold is crossed, cows may begin to reduce their overall forage intake, further compounding the challenge for cows trying to meet their maintenance and production needs.

Rainfall patterns can influence the timing and severity of this seasonal forage quality drop. In dry years, forage may mature more quickly, resulting in shorter plants with high fiber and low protein. However, in years with above-average summer rainfall a second flush of forage growth often occurs. While this may temporarily boost forage availability, it does not necessarily guarantee high nutritional value.

Rainfall-stimulated regrowth late in the season is often lush but can be high in moisture and low in dry matter. This can dilute the nutrient concentration per pound of forage. Additionally, if nitrogen fertilization or soil fertility is limited, this regrowth may be deficient in crude protein, particularly for cows with higher nutrient demands. Moreover, rainy conditions can leach important minerals from the plant tissue, further compromising the forage’s ability to meet the cow’s mineral requirements. If cattle rely on these forages without supplementation, they may fall short of meeting their nutritional demands—even when pastures appear visually “green.”

Beef Cow Nutritional Requirements in Late Summer and Fall

The seasonal drop in forage quality occurs at a time when many beef cows are entering the third trimester of gestation or early lactation. Both stages represent peak nutritional demand for the cow. In late gestation, a cow’s energy and protein requirements increase significantly to support fetal development and prepare for milk production. If she calves in the fall, her needs escalate further, as lactation demands more protein and energy than any other stage of production.

Likewise, if a spring calving cow has a big calf on her side, her nutritional demand will also be high. Likely exceeding what the forage can provide during that time of the year.

When cows are offered only low-quality, mature forage without supplementation, the risk of nutrient deficiencies increases sharply. Inadequate protein intake can suppress rumen microbial efficiency, which reduces forage intake and further limits energy availability. Deficient cows may lose body condition, experience delayed postpartum estrus (breed back) and exhibit reduced conception rates in the next breeding season.

Bridging the Gap with Liquid Feed Supplements

Liquid feed offers a practical and effective solution for supporting beef cows during this seasonal nutritional gap. These molasses-based supplements are typically fortified with nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals. They provide a readily available source of energy and nitrogen to stimulate rumen microbial activity, improving fiber digestion and overall forage utilization.

One of the key benefits of liquid feed is its ability to complement low-quality forage rather than replace it. By enhancing the digestibility of fibrous forages, cows can extract more energy from the same pasture, which helps maintain body condition without dramatically increasing feed costs. Additionally, liquid feeds are formulated to be self-fed through lick tanks, which minimizes labor and allows for consistent intake across the herd and eliminates the “boss cow” effect.

Research has shown that supplementing cows on poor-quality forage with a balanced liquid feed can improve body condition, reproductive efficiency, and calf performance. Trace minerals and vitamins delivered in liquid feed can also support immune function, reproductive health, and calf development—key outcomes for cow-calf operations aiming for long-term sustainability and profitability.

Conclusion

As forage quality naturally declines in late summer and fall, it creates a nutritional bottleneck for cows at a time when their needs are rising. Without proper supplementation, cows may fall behind in body condition and reproductive performance. Liquid feed supplements offer a convenient, economical, and biologically effective means of bridging the gap between declining forage quality and the nutritional demands of the cow. By enhancing rumen function, boosting energy intake, and supporting vital metabolic functions, liquid feed plays a key role in helping producers maintain herd performance and reproductive success, while keeping their ranches profitable for the next generation.

To contact us at Westway Feed Products, please visit WestwayFeed.com or call (800) 800-7517.

Why Endotoxin Load Matters

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 18:55:10 GMT

Springtime is often when calves get their first vaccinations. It’s also their first exposure to high endotoxin loads.

Protecting calves from disease often begins with vaccinating young calves as they transition to grass or are branded. These vaccines contain a combination of Gram-negative bacteria, which commonly include Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni, among others. Excessive endotoxin levels can be dangerous.

In a perfect world, cow-calf producers would administer one vaccine at a time, spacing them out to avoid endotoxin stacking. However, that is generally not the case due to the necessity of time management.

“When we talk about stress on these calves, there’s acute stress and chronic stress,” says Dr. Brett Terhaar, beef technical consultant for Elanco. “Branding or turnout to grass vaccination of young calves (60 days) is a time of acute, short-term stress for calves. We often administer vaccines, separate calves from cows for a few hours, and some calves may undergo surgery or castration, but the risk of stress-related respiratory diseases is low.”

After administering Gram-negative vaccinations, calves may experience a post-vaccination reaction due to high endotoxin levels. This is commonly called a “sweat,” and symptoms can resemble those of pneumonia, as the clinical signs of a heavy endotoxin load often mimic respiratory diseases.

“Calves are sensitive to endotoxin, but weight is a significant dilutional factor. If a vaccine protocol has a high endotoxin load, a 60-day-old, 200-pound calf will be more negatively affected than a 500-pound calf, which will then be more negatively affected than a 1,000-pound animal,” says Terhaar.

A heavy endotoxin load can cause fever, hypotension, blood vessel damage, shock, and even death.

“Anytime I see more than one calf have a severe negative reaction to a vaccine, my antennas go up. If I see multiple deaths, I start looking at vaccination protocols,” Terhaar says. “Some vaccines provide a higher dose of endotoxins than others. That’s where a product, like Elanco’s NEW NUPLURA^Ò PH+5 really shines.”

Endotoxins are inherent in Gram-negative bacteria. The production of vaccines involves growing bacteria in an extensive fermentation system where bacteria continually grow and die. When bacteria die, if their cell walls are disrupted, whether naturally or through the manufacturing process, free endotoxin are released.

For example, a vaccine protocol can deliver several Gram-negative bacteria, including Histophilus somni, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Salmonella, will contain a significant amount of endotoxin.

Many Gram-negative bacterial vaccines deliver as many as 100,000 (+/- 20,000) endotoxin units per vaccine dose. In comparison, NUPLURA PH+5 does not significantly contribute to the endotoxin load, containing only about 1,500 endotoxin units per dose.

If you use three vaccines that each contain 100,000 endotoxin units, 300,000 endotoxin units are being delivered to that calf, and when numbers this high are delivered to a small calf, the potential for adverse events increases,” notes Terhaar.

Due to the unique manufacturing process for NUPLURA PH+5, the endotoxin load remains consistently lower than that of other Gram-negative bacterial vaccines. A 5-way viral vaccine, NUPLURA PH+5 includes protection against Mannheimia haemolytica bacteria.

“With NUPLURA, we are not giving the calf the entire bacteria. We are administering a vaccine composed of the outer portion of the bacteria, excluding the cell wall, which reduces the endotoxin units delivered to the calf. I like to think of the bacteria like a basketball. We aren’t making the vaccine from the complete ball. We’re shaving the dimples off and providing the calf with the dimples instead of the cell wall, which contains the majority of the endotoxin load.”

Terhaar recommends walking through the herd approximately 20 minutes after vaccinating to assess calves for respiratory distress or allergic reactions.

Although the risk of anaphylaxis is low, calves can, on rare occasions, experience an allergic reaction related to vaccines.

Cow-calf producers should closely monitor calves following vaccine administration and keep epinephrine on hand in case of an allergic reaction.

Other tips for maximizing your spring vaccination program include:

Be careful to ensure that bacterial vaccines are not stored in freezing conditions. If gram-negative vaccines freeze, the water inside the cell can form sharp ice crystals that break the cell apart and release free endotoxins.
Carefully invert vaccines to mix and avoid settling. Shaking until bubbles or foam form may increase the release of endotoxin.

For all vaccine products: The label contains complete use information, including cautions and warnings. Always read, understand and follow the label and use directions.

Nuplura, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2025 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-25-1177

Does Water Quality for Cattle Impact Performance?

Tue, 27 May 2025 19:04:23 GMT

The quality of the water cattle drink has a significant influence on their performance because it drives nearly every function within the animal. Feed digestibility, milk production, weight gain and reproduction all depend on water. And it sets the metabolism rate.

Water also has a major impact on forage digestion in the rumen. Cattle are unique because the rumen provides nearly 40 gallons of water storage. If cattle aren’t getting enough quality water, the rumen won’t be able to turn forage into energy and add pounds of production.

Know what you have

Conducting quality tests on your water sources at least once a year is a good idea to understand what your cattle are ingesting. By knowing the quality of your water sources , you can address issues through changes to your nutrition program or water source management. Your Purina® representative or even your local Extension agencies can help with water quality testing.

A water quality test can be especially beneficial during drought since lower water volumes lead to minerals concentrating together. Also, if you see reductions in feed or mineral intake that you can’t account for, consider testing water to see if it’s the source of the issue.

What to look for

Water quality test results will show the type and amount of mineral in your water. High quantities of iron, magnesium, sulfates, nitrates, nitrites and salinity in water can negatively impact cattle performance.

Sulfates can limit the amount of water cattle will drink. When iron and sulfur are present together it can create antagonisms, inhibiting how well other minerals are digested. High salt content in water may cause cattle to lower their mineral intake because they won’t seek out salt as much. Magnesium in higher amounts leads to looser manure because the digestibility of forage drops due to lower retention time in the rumen.

During drought conditions , excess phosphorus and nitrogen in water sources can produce blue-green algae blooms. Toxins produced by blue-green algae negatively impact the nervous system and liver, reducing performance and, in severe cases, leading to mortalities.

Address water quality issues

The most common way to fix issues with water quality is to find a different water source. If you use natural sources like ponds or streams, drilling a well or accessing treated water may be a consideration. Similarly, if well water is your primary option, building a pond or hauling water is an alternative to consider. However, getting new water sources is expensive, so you may have to look for other options.

If you have blue-green algae, dilution can be a good solution by providing an alternative water source. You can also treat the water with copper sulfate to kill blue-green algae, but cattle shouldn’t drink from the pond for at least five days after treatment.

Providing supplemental mineral is a way to nutritionally offset the impacts of poor water quality for cattle. After testing water quality, work with your local Purina® dealer to identify a mineral mix that will work best for your herd. For instance, if your water source has high sulfates or iron, you should feed your cattle organic trace minerals to offset this and keep the rumen and other bodily functions working efficiently.

Does your cattle nutrition program stack up? Find out with a Purina^® Proof Pays^® feeding trial .

Animal Husbandry Drives Health Outcomes

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:21:36 GMT

Cattle husbandry is at the heart of maintaining a healthy herd.

Dr. Thach Winslow, a beef technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health, defines cattle husbandry as the responsible housing, feeding, breeding, and care of livestock.

“They’re all cross-related, each enhancing the others,” he says. “For example, responsible housing protects cattle from weather extremes, while allowing for feed delivery, safe calving, and easy access and handling of animals if intervention is needed.”

In adverse weather conditions, a pasture with good wind breaks or low spots allows cattle to escape the wind. Other housing necessities include access to feed or pasture, the ability to separate animals if needed, and readily accessible facilities to aid in the delivery of a calf or treat for disease.

“Typically, pasture utilization and animal location are designed around scheduled calving seasons, maximizing our ability to manage feed resources and ensuring a uniform calf crop. We don’t typically want the bulls with the cows year-round,” Winslow says.

Another critical component of animal husbandry is nutrition because it impacts growth and fertility, and therefore, production.

During a cow’s annual cycle, energy requirements, nutritional needs, and body condition scores can vary from breeding through gestation to calving.

“It is important to ensure that breeding cows are on a positive plane of nutrition for 30 days before and following calving. If she’s on a positive plane of nutrition before calving, she will come into heat sooner and be ready to breed back sooner than if she’s on a negative plane of nutrition,” Winslow says. “With a positive plane of nutrition post calving, breeding cows tend to have a higher conception rate on their first heat. Cows that breed back sooner will wean larger calves and tend to remain in the herd longer.”

Cow nutrition can be more complex than determining body condition scores and adjusting rations around calving. For example, with seasonal grazing, pasture conditions vary and supplemental feeding may be necessary. A critical component of animal care is the use of ionophores, which can increase feed efficiency 5-10% and enhance care by preventing coccidiosis, reducing calf diarrhea and immune system suppression.

Similarly, vaccines and calving management, including the environment, aid in disease prevention of scours, (a viral, bacterial or protozoan infection causing diarrhea) that infects calves at an early age.

“When people ask what causes scours, I say dirty teats, right? Because when you have mud and manure on the cows’ teats, those nursing calves are exposed to the organisms that live in the manure at a high rate,” Winslow says. We can manage that.

Whether or not an infected calf develops scours and its severity depend on factors including immunity, vaccination, weather and facilities.

“While we may have fed an ionophore for coccidia control, did we ensure that the calf was up and nursing in the first four hours of life, or was nursing delayed? Colostrum intake makes a huge difference in calves’ immunity and ability to combat disease,” he says. “Did we protect the calf from the extremes, or did we fail to minimize immune-compromising stress factors? “

Further, did the calf’s mother produce enough high-quality colostrum for that calf to nurse? Was she vaccinated, boosting her immunity and ensuring she had adequate antibodies to pass on to her calf?

“Data shows that health performance in the feedlot can be tied back to the quality of colostrum that the calf got from its mother at birth,” Winslow says.

Equally important is genetics. While a high yearling weight is desired because ranchers are growing calves to make beef, responsible genetics dictate that adjustments be made for optimum cattle health, maternal traits, disposition, and longevity.

“A high weaning weight can also mean a high birth weight, which may result in calving difficulty. There’s a balance there, and we need to plan our genetics,” Winslow says. “We’re not going to put a high weaning weight bull on young heifers that haven’t fully developed and cannot have a large calf.”

Balanced genetic selection includes prioritizing bulls whose genetics promote growth and good carcass qualities while producing heifers with acceptable birth weight genetics and good milk production to wean a heavy calf. Artificial insemination is a great tool to rapidly advance a herd’s maternal genetics in the early-born calves while allowing bulls with good growth and carcass traits to sire later-born calves for feeding.

“As we seek to responsibly house, feed, breed, and care for our livestock, we must also balance the integration of products with practices by using only the right products in the right animals at the right time: no more and no less. In doing so, we set them up for a lifetime of health and productivity,” Winslow adds. “The same concepts apply to parasite management and mitigation, fly control, and Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), which kills more cattle in the U.S. than all other diseases of cattle combined.”

Elanco is a global leader in animal health, striving to help farmers and ranchers deliver a sustainable supply of safe, affordable beef through products and services that prevent, treat, and control cattle diseases while improving performance and production. Elanco is also committed to enabling the beef industry’s success by providing resources to help manage health, enhance economic performance, and promote operational sustainability.

For more information, visit Elanco.com or contact your local Elanco representative.

Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2025 Elanco. EM-US-25-0107

Get the Job Done with the One for All Tractor

Tue, 27 May 2025 18:52:54 GMT

In the face of labor shortages, market volatility, rising feed costs, extreme weather and more, livestock operations have no shortage of challenges to the viability of their operations. Producers are looking at every opportunity to boost the productivity of their operations – including their equipment.

Whether it’s in a pasture or a feedlot, the tractor is the heartbeat of any operation, multi-tasking as well as producers do. Durability, quick-attach loaders and implements, and fuel economy are just some of the features that can improve productivity for today’s operations.

The One for All: the Tractor That Gets the Job Done

Tractors have evolved over the decades with an increased focus on functionality, efficiency and operator comfort. Known as “The One for All,” the Farmall series tractors from Case IH have been purposefully designed and built to meet the demands of livestock operations with durable, versatile, easy-to-operate, and low-maintenance tractors.

Farmall series tractors are rugged, dependable machines for tackling the toughest chores. With a range of configuration options, Farmall series tractors are built to meet the unique needs of any operation.

“No matter the task, the Farmall tractor is built to be your partner for field, pasture and feedlot work,” said Leo Bose, customer segmentation lead at Case IH. “With quick-attach loaders and implement that make switching between tasks a breeze, to greater in-cab visibility and cab comfort, the design of the Farmall series helps operators get more done in a day without the fatigue.”

The performance built within the Farmall series is unmatched, boosting runtime and improving time efficiency. With heavy-duty design, operators can easily maneuver the tractor from fields to the rough terrains of pastures, while simply swapping out implements and loaders when moving onto the next task.

Advancements in design and performance don’t stop there. When operating a Farmall series tractor – or any piece of Case IH equipment – operators can connect, view, and manage their operation within Case IH FieldOps, streamlining farm and fleet management regardless of who is in the cab. Whether on-the-go, in a cab or in the office, FieldOps is a central location for all Case IH data, such as fuel consumption, productivity rates and machinery location.

With any piece of Case IH equipment, operators have access to Case IH’s robust dealer service. Regardless of equipment size and machine location, Case IH dealers proudly service machines to get any operator back up and running. To learn more about the Case IH Farmall series tractors, contact your local dealer or visit caseih.com

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