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Cattle Production and livestock production articles will include information on production costs and those issues we face that influence our supply and demand.

Breadcrumb To anyone who has raised animals, it’s apparent that not every lame animal is created equal. There is a wide gradation of clinical signs, with some animals exhibiting obvious “dead” lameness, while other cases of lameness almost escape detection....

How important Is water quality to livestock?

published: June 15th 2020 source: Igrow

Water is the most important nutrient to all livestock animals and is sometimes overlooked. Poor quality water can have a negative effect on growth, reproduction, and general productivity of the animal....

Evaluating annual cow cost

published: March 16th 2020 by: Julie Walker source: Igrow

When evaluating annual cow cost, feed rises to the top of the list. Feed cost is an important area to consider; however, have you evaluated the cost of incorporating replacement heifers into the cowherd? Cost of developing a pregnant replacement heifer will vary by operation....

Prepare horses for spring: Vaccinate for West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus

published: February 19th 2020 by: Mallory Pfeifer source: Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Labratory

With spring around the corner, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory wants to prepare your horses for West Nile virus and Equine Encephalitis virus. This AgriLife agency reports on annual trends in positive disease cases and discusses the best way to prepare horses with vaccinations and your veterinarian’s help....

The art and science of developing heifers

published: January 15th 2020 by: Les Anderson Ph.D., Beef Extension Spec source: The Ohio Beef Leader

The older I get the more I realize that heifer development is as much art as science. The art is understanding what type of female best fits your operation and your marketing scheme. What size cow best fits your management system? Which cows will produce the best replacements? The science is understanding the principles enabling the “right” heifers to succeed....

The value of measuring

published: October 16th 2019 by: Dr. Gary Bates source: University of Tennessee Extension

We have a wall in our house, like I’m sure most people do, where we have measured our kid’s height on their birthdays each year. We put a mark along with their name, the date, and their age....

Cattle handling and bruises

published: September 26th 2019 by: Steve Boyles source: The Ohio State University Extension

Utilization of proper cattle handling is key. It can eliminate carcass bruising and the presence of dark cutters. Although the industry has observed a decrease in the presence of carcass bruising according to the 2016 National Beef Quality Audit results, the “2016 Lost Opportunities in Beef Production” publication indicated that carcass bruising cost the industry approximately $62....

Backgrounding; A Phase of Growing Calves in Preparation for the Feedlot

published: September 10th 2019 by: Steve Boyles source: The Ohio State University Extension

Backgrounding is a term used to describe a phase of growing calves being prepared for feedlot placement. As compared to wintering programs, backgrounding emphasizes a faster rate of gain, with relatively more grain and less roughage....

Adding value to your feeder calves this fall

published: September 6th 2019 by: Garth Ruff, OhioState University Extensi

A recent CattleFax survey indicates that calves weaned for 45 days return almost $100/head more. As summer slips past us yet again and with fall rapidly approaching it is time to discuss how to maximize the value of feeder calves that will be hitting the market in late September and October....

Body Condition Scoring Your Beef Cow Herd

published: September 5th 2019 by: Dr. Rick Rasby source: University of Nebraska Extention

Body condition scores (BCS) describe the relative fatness or body condition of a cow herd through the use of a nine-point scale. A body condition score five (BCS 5) cow is in average flesh and represents a logical target for most cow herds....

Udder quality in beef cows--does it matter?

published: August 26th 2019 by: Dr. Michelle Arnold, DVM, R Dr. Darrh Bu source: University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Clinic

Udder and teat quality are two of the most important functional traits for a beef cow. Although much of the focus in selection of female replacements is on milk production, the milk delivery system (udder and teats) is equally important....

Weaner cattle need their own trainer

published: July 19th 2019 by: Kirsten Nickles and Anthony Parker source: The Ohio State University Department of Animal Science

The most common weaning method in the United States beef industry is the abrupt removal of calves from cows at 5-8 months of age (Enríquez et al., 2011). Natural weaning in beef cattle however, occurs later in life for a calf at 7-14 months of age (Reinhardt and Reinhardt, 1981)....

The elephant in the room

published: July 15th 2019 by: Kindra Gordon source: Southern Livestock Special Edition

It’s a difficult time in agriculture right now. Challenging weather, uncertain trade policies and low commodity prices have created a perfect storm across the ag sector. Banks are seeing more farm borrowers fall behind on their payments, and reports of bankruptcies are rising....

Ways to stretch cash flow

published: July 15th 2019 by: Robert Tigner and Austin Duerfeldt source: University of Nebraska Extention

Over time, negative cash flows will put farm and ranch businesses, and the lifestyle of the owners, at serious risk. The following suggestions for additions to cash flow are adapted from Iowa State Extension AgDecsionmaker C3-58, Farm Financial Management: 16 Ways to Stretch Cash Flow, written by William Edwards, retired extension ag economist....

Bruising in cattle

published: June 7th 2019 by: Steve Boyles source: The Ohio State University Extension

Cattle bruising is an animal well-being concern as well a loss in economic value. When loaded, 60% of cattle are in the middle portion of a trailer, 30% in the rear compartments and 10% in the nose. Cattle rarely change position while a trailer is in motion, and the cattle typically position themselves at right angles to the direction of travel to try to compensate for the trailer movement and focus energies on keeping their balance....

Not all cows are equal – some eat more

published: June 4th 2019 by: Jack Arterburn source: Nebraska Extension

On most ranches, average cow size has increased significantly over the last three decades as a result of genetic selection. These changes do not come without consequences to forage intake. If the per-head counting method has been used to plan and track grazing, stocking rates may have unknowingly increase over time caused by increased forage intake of larger cows....

Mud and how it leads to lameness

published: April 11th 2019 by: Alvaro Garcia source: Igrow

Melting snow and spring rains produce conditions that can increase lameness in beef cattle. Mud is among the predisposing causes for cattle lameness. Wetness decreases hoof hardness and increases the incidence of claw lesions....

Now is time for some "defensive driving"

published: April 9th 2019 by: John F. Grimes source: The Ohio State University Extension

The term “defensive driving” may seem like an odd choice of words to start an article about beef cattle. Stay with me on this one. When I think about defensive driving, I think about watching out for factors such as the surrounding traffic, weather conditions, time of day, driver fatigue, etc....