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cows grazing cornstalks

A golden opportunity

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of grazing cornstalks. Lowering feed costs, extending the grazing season, and getting animals back out on the land are all reasons to graze cornstalks.Cattle will eat the more digestible and higher protein portions of the plant first. Cattle first eat the...
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people looking at beef cows

What is your ideal cow?

Herd rebuilding talks and a focus on shifting the beef cattle genetics conversation back to the cow, have more people asking questions about what makes an ideal cow. This question always spurs quite the debate. Factors like breed, cow size, milking ability, and a long list of phenotypes are...
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cows grazing a cover crop

Cattle and crops create synergy

Synergy describes two separate systems that when combined, yield more than the sum of the individual systems when they are alone. In my experience, farms and ranches that use both crops and livestock to add value to a land investment have synergy.Living in the Midwest, I see plenty of acres...
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A group of black and white Simmental cattle standing in a pasture on a cloudy day.

Orr Beef Research Center Field Day

The annual Orr Beef Research Center Field Day will take place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The meeting will be held at the new Ag Sciences Complex and Fred Bradshaw Learning Center at the John Wood Community College Ag Center, located west of Perry, IL. Speakers from University of Illinois will...
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cows and calves on pasture

Hidden benefits of rotational grazing beyond soil health

We all want a future where the land continues to be productive and supportive of agriculture. And as cattle producers, you’ve probably heard about using rotational grazing to improve soil health. But adoption remains limited. It’s not because producers don’t want healthy soil, but because...
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calf swatting flies away

Preventing Problems: Pests, Parasites, & Pet-Related Risks

Warm summer temperatures create the perfect environment for challenges from insects and internal and external parasites to transpire. Pets spending time outside can also cause trouble in the cattle herd. With the growing risk of New World Screwworm, proper pest and parasite control is even more...
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fireworks over a barn

Can fireworks cause stress on beef cattle?

You’re pulling back into your driveway after a night spent watching the fireworks and celebrating independence. Then, you see pairs of eyes staring at you, from outside the fence. The cattle are out. What follows is a night spent gathering the herd, searching for calves, and fixing fence....
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Hay in a barn

Should I buy hay or grow my own hay?

While cost is the primary factor, there are several reasons to choose buying hay or growing it.Buy HayLimited land resources to use for hay productionBusy, limited time to devote to hay productionShort on laborMust purchase hay equipment, update old equipmentSet-up to handle by-product/alternative...
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