Cattle Production and livestock production articles will include information on production costs and those issues we face that influence our supply and demand.
One challenge farm/ranch operators have is to accurately find where to make changes to an operation to increase profits. Many have the records and numbers but don’t know where to start. A system of financial analysis developed nearly 100 years ago by an explosive salesman for DuPont Explosives Company is a useful tool for farm/ranch managers analyzing financial performance....
Most of our farming and ranching enterprises would welcome a little more help from time to time. That additional help can be hard to find or find with the skills desired. In other cases, hiring help may put too much strain on the budget....
The beef industry, similar to other industries, is constantly attempting to be more efficient and create more value in the product produced. Most cow-calf producers concern themselves with reproductive efficiencies and pounds of weaned calf per acre of land....
Time and time again, the data tells us that properly weaned and preconditioned calves are more valuable than calves that were “weaned on diesel fuel.” And it is beyond the shadow of a doubt that weaning and preconditioning is the right thing for our industry....
Weaning time is here which can be a stressfull event for calves, cows and families alike. While preconditioning prepares the immune system to better handle the stress of weaning, there are some other areas of the ranch that can be modified to aid calf adjustment to life without mom....
Under normal production circumstances calves are typically weaned at 180-220 days of age, however under circumstances where forage supply is limited or cow body condition is lacking weaning calves at 180 days of age or less may be one of the easiest ways to reduce cow nutrient requirements and improve cow body condition....
Cows generate 70‐75% of “non‐fed” beef in the U.S. and are used for more than just ground beef (roasts, steaks, fajita strips, etc.). Because these animals are worth a significant amount, it is important to market them while they are healthy and mobile....
STILLWATER, Oklahoma – While economic efficiency measures focus on optimal use of inputs relative to the value of outputs in cow-calf operations, changes in output values or input costs can lead to improved returns due solely to changing market conditions while masking stagnant or even declining physical productivity....
Arden Hills, Minn. [Have you defined what success and failure look like in your weaning program? Success might look like live, healthy calves that put on weight with minimal intervention....
Since all food production is based on reproduction of the commodity, it stands to reason that a technology which positively impacts reproduction would be widely adopted. One of the major benefits of crossbreeding is realized through improved reproductive function....
Last spring I wrote an article entitled “At What Weight should I sell my Feeder Calves” that bought forth many questions on the value of each additional pound of gain. This article will serve as a follow-up to revisit the value of gain, and share the calculation for producers to use to evaluate their individual situation....
SAN ANTONIO – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County will present the 2018 Ag Symposium “Putting $ Back in Your Pocket” from 8 a.m.-noon April 17 in San Antonio....
AMARILLO – Dairy owners might be able to add more to their bottom line if they introduce a beef bull into their breeding program for some of the producing cows in their herd, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist said....
A sample was evaluated of 4,287 finished cattle in 27 lots slaughtered at one facility. Of all cattle, 7.7% had horns. Across lots this ranged from 0 to 26.5%. If present, horns were measured for length of longest horn and for distance between horn tips....
Depreciation is a non-cash expense that is often overlooked by cow-calf producers. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz. Cow depreciation is frequently the second or third largest expense to the cow-calf enterprise after feed....
Risks abound in the stocker cattle business. For fall stocker purchases, there are three major risks to navigate and two of them are immediate. The first major risk is the price when purchasing the animals....
Preconditioning is a generic term that means different things to different people and encompasses the different operating procedures that may be applied to a calf prior to shipping. Preconditioning activities may include weaning, vaccinations, dehorning, castration, and starting calves on a high energy diet....
Cow-calf producers are nearing weaning time of their 2017 calf crop, with current market and industry trends, producers should be considering and preparing for preconditioning or weaning programs. It is important to consider the best programs for the health of calves during these stressful periods and into the feeding phases....
Labor and material costs in constructing livestock working facilities can eat a livestock producer’s lunch and put a serious damper on the checking account. However, the cost of working facilities is not so expensive when the costs associated with not having facilities are considered....
Technology has provided agriculture with new, creative and efficient ways to accomplish production goals. However, sometimes traditional tools still provide effective ways to manage the cow herd at different stages of production....
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