MT. VERNON, Mo. – For many years, beef cattle producers have been under the impression that alfalfa was too expensive to feed to their cattle, especially their cows. “More recently cows have become pretty valuable and alfalfa, the queen of […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Are you interested in another market for your hay this year? Maybe you should have it certified as “weed free” Normally when you think of selling hay you think of dairy cows, beef cows, feedlots, or horses. But hay […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
In the production world, producing beef from grass depends on the development of grazing plans that allow plants to fully utilize their genetics that have evolved for centuries. Evidence of the calving season in the northern Great Plains is clear. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cattle producers facing fewer grazing acres for herd expansion can boost beef production with better grass. One answer is more cows on fewer acres, says Justin Sexten, University of Missouri beef nutritionist. Sexten is part of an […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Late March or early April is the time to plant spring forage cocktails for beef cattle grazing. Spring forage cocktails can be planted as a way of shortening fallow time between crop rotations or they could be planted as […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
This time of year, many producers are feeding cows hay. Have you ever stopped to think about what the dollar value of the nutrients in the hay are worth as fertilizer once they have been processed by the cow? Mature […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University will offer a combustible grain dust prevention workshop teaching advanced mitigation methods on Feb. 25 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in Omaha, Neb. following the 2014 GEAPS (Grain Elevator and Processing Society) Exchange. The […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Hay production in 2013 reflected the improvement in drought conditions in the last half of the year. In the recently released USDA Crop Production 2013 Summary, all hay production was up 13.4 percent over record low productions totals in 2012. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The USDA crop reports released on January 10 revealed some important fundamental information for the corn, soybean, and wheat markets. As always, the reports contained a few surprises relative to market expectations. For corn, the biggest surprise was the estimate […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Since late last summer, corn prices have fallen dramatically, but distillers grain prices have not. “While corn prices at South Dakota ethanol plants have dropped $1.50 per bushel since August 2, dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) prices have actually […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Part 2: Beta-agonists, the Environment and Cattle Feed Intake In this part 2 of a two-part series, a K-State feedlot specialist provides a look into how environmental factors, including heat stress, coupled with the use of beta-agonists potentially affects cattle […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Part 1: Beta-agonists, the Environment and Cattle Fatigue In this part 1 of a two-part series, a K-State veterinarian provides a look into how environmental factors, including heat stress, coupled with the use of beta-agonists potentially plays a role in […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Game changers occur every week or so in cattle feeding. That’s why managers try to stay current on everything that affects their profit score. Last week’s eighth annual Feeding Quality Forum was an opportunity that drew record attendance for a […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Fescue toxicity (fescue foot and summer slump syn-drome) is a non-infectious disease occasionally seen in cattle grazing tall fescue pastures. Fescue foot is more often seen in cold weather in thin cattle grazing stockpiled forage. Although the incidence of fescue […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Feeding yearling steers on grass is a plus, but adding annual forage is even better. All hands on deck! The Dickinson Research Extension Center is hosting a Beef Cattle and Forage Day on Monday, Aug. 19. Like many cattle events, […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
STILLWATER, Okla. – Much of Oklahoma experienced significant rainfall as July gave way to August, providing a number of cattle producers with what appears to be the best opportunity for fall and winter grazing in more than three years. Derrell […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
CONSTRAINTS IN PRODUCTION GROWTH TO CONTINUE FOR 5 TO 8 YEARS MEXICO CITY, — Rabobank has published a new report identifying structural changes that are emerging in the Mexican corn market, resulting from constraints in the growth of corn production. The […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Madison, Wis. – Stockmen with animals in pasture should check for their grass forages for the presence of ergot which can be toxic to cattle, sheep, swine and horses. “Recent reports of ergot are not unexpected with the cool, wet […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Harvested forage costs are a large part of the production costs associated with cow-calf enterprises. For the first time in two years, producers in the eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma will have enough Bermuda grass to consider stockpiling some of the […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The U.S. beef herd is likely getting smaller again in 2013 due to unexpectedly large beef cow slaughter in the first half of the year. The 3.4 percent year-to-date increase in beef cow slaughter masks a more dramatic increase in […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…