Latest News From Stocker

With the current above average temperatures, first hollow stem in wheat pastures will likely be here earlier than is usual. So, it’s a good time to look at the benefits and costs of grazing wheat past first hollow stem.

Although it appears producers took advantage of strong prices to market both steer and heifer calves last fall, it is possible decisions about whether heifers on wheat will be feeders or replacements have not been made.

New research at Oklahoma State University is adding to our understanding of stocker cattle nutrition programs and its affect on finishing performance.

Setting stocking rates on wheat pasture in the fall and winter has large impacts on performance of growing calves and can have large influences on productivity of pastures during the spring.

Given the value of the current fed market, widening quality grade spreads and longer feeding periods across the industry, the importance of preventing BRD has never been more important.  

Oklahoma State investigated using distiller’s grain cubes in a supplementation program for growing steers with mineral supplements containing ionophores offered free-choice in a separate complete mineral mix.

A Beef Quality Assurance certification is available to those who complete the Central Texas Stocker Cattle Program on June 21 in West

With hay supplies extraordinarily tight and winter still here, both wheat stocker producers and cow-calf producers are looking for forage sources to get by until stockers are sold or grass greens up for grazing.

Learn the six metrics a beef veterinarian recommends to help ensure your bovine respiratory disease (BRD) control program is set up to maximize profit.

As much as 11 percent of Oklahoma's winter wheat has been planted despite soil moisture profiles that are bleak at best. Wheat grazing prospects look dim and risky this fall.

Zoetis presented its second donation to Folds of Honor in August, bringing the company’s total first-half contribution to $292,000 to help support the work of the nonprofit honoring America’s heroes.

What forage do you have available? The implant you choose depends on nutrient availability, and proper planning can help ensure stockers gain even when feed quality and quantity are compromised.

Kansas cattleman, Brian Keith, knows his success depends on a healthy herd. Keith leads a diversified cattle business with cattle sourced from a variety of places and keeping BRD locked out on arrival is crucial.

From beef cattle economic outlook to improving efficiency in feeding strategies, the 2022 KSU Beef Stocker Field Day is set to be held on Sept. 29

Despite higher feed costs, buyers are willing to pay a premium for weaned and vaccinated calves.

Performance of stocker calves on native range declines from highs of around 2 to 3 pounds per day during the spring and early summer to less than one pound per day through the late summer.

Real expectations for real-time antibiotic control depend on disease complexity and its cause.

Strategically supplementing yearlings with dry distillers grains in the second half of the summer as the grass quality declines will increase average daily gain (ADG), but will it increase returns?

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s 12th annual Central Texas Stocker Cattle Program for McLennan County will be held June 22 in West and will offer the opportunity to earn Beef Quality Assurance Certification.

Administering implants can be economically justifiable to help stocker cattle be more efficient on grass. Choosing the right implant is key.

Veterinarians say there are steps producers can take to lessen disease risks before bringing new animals into your operation.

Many producers assume providing minimal protein supplementation to target approximately 1.0 pound/day gain during the winter is the most economical system. However, research data would suggest otherwise.

A significant drought in the wheat pasture regions on the High Plains has stocker operators feeding roughage and supplements. Higher priced grain has ranchers seeking alternative feedstuffs.

You’ve given your cattle the best sound nutrition, vaccine and antibiotic treatment programs and they still don’t respond. Frustrated, you blame your products and programs. But something else could be the culprit.

Jeff Sarchet, D.V.M., Beef Technical Services with Zoetis, offers three reasons bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing can be misleading. And he answers your question, “What can we do?”

What’s the best implant for your stocker cattle? In drought, give extra thought to the animal’s nutrition needs.

Metrics provide a great starting point for measuring the success of your BRD treatments and control antibiotics. Find out if your operation is already tracking all or some of these essential metrics.

Stepped up management needed with early weaned calves.

Most components of fall and winter stocker budgets are uncertain at this point but it’s not too early to begin to pencil out possibilities, evaluating risk and perhaps taking actions to lock in some budget components.

At least 13 different coccidial species are known to infect cattle in the U.S. Consider cattle can be infected with several species simultaneously, and suddenly you need help—fast.

Reduced performance or ‘Summer Slump’ is associated with decreasing forage quality during the late summer.

Time means money in the cattle business. Find out how Kyle Stern gets more bang for his buck by using SYNOVEX® ONE GRASS long-acting implants.

Born and raised on an Idaho feedlot, Justin Lake now manages yearlings on a large Wyoming stocker operation and runs his own Idaho cow/calf operation.

Dwight Doffin, longtime manager at Feller & Co Cattle Feeder, Wisner, Nebraska, has seen the feedlot business grow and change over his 30 years working alongside President and CEO Tom Feller.

More pounds can mean more for your bottom line. Find out how SYNOVEX® ONE GRASS helps South Dakota cattleman Tom Arnesen get heavier, more uniform calves with one trip through the chute.

A successful implant program doesn’t have to be complex to get the best return. In fact, with the right products, it can be quite simple. Zoetis experts offer valuable insights and advice.

Animal husbandry basics set the course for success when starting newly arrived stocker cattle. Pushing the gain button at the start might not be the best way to healthy cattle.

To stay on top of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), producers find patience and persistence are two assets they need in their treatment plans.

Calves and stocker cattle sold higher at auctions across the country the last full week of March. Feeder cattle futures rallied to new contract highs and settled up $1.15 to $2.325, with the May contract leading gains.

Solving an outbreak in a group of calves can feel a lot like an investigation. Use diagnostics to answer questions and uncover clues in a BRD outbreak.

Don’t Risk Losing $100 Per Head. Keep Implant Applications Clean. Make sure your implant administration process follows the practices in this article, or you might risk losing a significant amount of money per head

The first hint of green grass was evident throughout much of the Midwest last week, and moisture across the High Plains was welcome with warmer weather on the way. Demand for grass cattle was high.

The early winter storm in late October brought timely and much-needed rain to much of Oklahoma and sharply reduced drought conditions. Feeder cattle prices jumped sharply from the low two weeks ago during the storm.

Crunching the numbers using Performance Beef showed the Gall family where overfeeding was costing their business every month. The ability to accurately capture every dollar made it easy to switch to Performance Beef.

Markets will no doubt evolve this fall and producers must continue to evaluate winter grazing potential under dynamic market conditions and profit potential may vary widely.

Hide color and breed character are tools currently available to sort stockers, with little information about genetic potential. But is there a role genomics, or DNA, can play for the stocker operator?

NCBA says it will continue to push Capitol Hill for additional resources for cow-calf producers, backgrounders, and all other segments of the industry who may not sufficiently benefit from CFAP in its current form.

Managing feed and health costs while optimizing marketing strategies are keys to success.

In the upcoming I Am Angus documentary, "Wildorado", a forgotten town finds hope in a young cowboy and his class of high school ag students.

This year's weather extremes will play a role in the success of calf marketing programs.