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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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New World Screwworm (NWS) is the name of this metallic colored, flesh-eating pest

New world screwworm: Questions every cattle producer is asking

On June 3, 2026, the USDA confirmed the detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) on a cattle ranch near La Pryor, Texas in a 3-week-old bovine’s umbilical incision—the first in livestock since 21966. This detection has large implications and marks the beginning of many agendas against NWS. Naturally...
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Cows off in the distance grazing in a pasture

Spring breeding season is underway- What can you influence?

By the time producers get into the swing of breeding season, most of the outcome has already been written. Previous decisions and the prior calving season will influence the trajectory of your current breeding season. But, not all of it has been set. The next few weeks will determine which cows...
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summer annual forages growing in a field

Growing summer annual forages

With poor profitability projections on most row crop budgets, planting summer annual forages and using forage mixes for grazing should be considered on marginal acres. Adding a different crop to the rotation and a more diverse plant population on traditional row crop acres can have cascading...
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black baldy cows grazing

Early spring grazing management tips

Turning cows out on immature forages can have consequences. If forages are overgrazed early, permanent damage to grass stands can lower yields and increase weed pressure.Delaying turn-out until forages have reached eight inches in height is recommended. Even more important is rotating cows through...
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Angus bull

What will a good bull cost me in 2026?

A popular question this time of year is “What will a good bull cost me?.” My go-to answer is usually… “How much revenue loss would you have from a pasture full of open cows?” After all, we often de-value the role of the bull. We forget that he is a crucial part of the equation to making our product...
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two people checking cows in a pasture

A little better is still better

Speaking for myself, the past year has been fun. Conversations have mostly been positive with profitability gracing all segments of the cattle business. However, the constant talk of the cattle markets and market volatility has put a lot of anxiety into decision making. I have found myself trying...
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