The Cattle Connection 2025

While better cattle prices are a relief to many, it is important to not lose site of the basics. A few fundamentals often seen on successful ranches are highlighted below, but I am sure there are others that you can think of and consider as well.Select and propagate genetics that fit your...

How do you know who is who? When you have a multitude of animals, it’s important to have an identification system in place. Using an ID system allows for better organization in a herd and makes daily checks, vet visits, and sorting run smoother. By exploring the methods used on different operations...

Pregnancy checking cattle is beneficial to any operation. Culling open animals allows for saved feed costs and potential profit. Keeping a tight calving window increases the importance of pregnancy checking. When checking, if cattle are bred and don’t fit your desired calving season, they can...

Weaning is one of the most stressful times in a calf’s life. The stress that occurs at weaning can negatively affect early performance post-weaning, whether that be on the pasture or in the feed yard. We want our cattle to have a positive start as they enter the feeder phase, and that all starts...

Having access to water is a crucial component of any grazing system. Pastures look different depending on the type of grazing system utilized. If you are designing a new pasture or changing a current one, placing and planning for water access should be near the top of your list. Water quality is...

To shade, or to not shade, that is the question. Providing shade can be a bit of a hot topic among cattlemen. No matter what side of the argument you’re on, there are gains and losses in both situations. If you’re considering whether or not to provide shade, looking at the advantages and...

Summer is heating up and so are the cattle! Heat stress is a reoccurring issue in the summertime. Black hided, sick, or heavy-weight cattle are most susceptible to heat stress. When it comes to heat stress, it’s important to know the warning signs and what can be done to prevent it.Signs...

A recent case in Van Buren County, located in southeast Iowa, has brought new awareness to an emerging threat in the cattle industry. Sadly, 20 heifers were lost due to a disease many of our herds are still naive to – Theileria orientalis Ikeda. This disease is transmitted by the Asian...

Summertime means the start of fly season, which in turn can lead to higher numbers of pinkeye cases. As face flies buzz from cow to cow, they land on the mucus membrane and tear duct of the eye which directly transmits bacteria. When using preventative measures like proper fly control, reducing eye...

Rotational grazing is a popular choice when it comes to putting cattle out on pasture. When using this grazing plan, cattle spend time grazing one paddock before moving to the next. This gives all open paddocks time to “rest” between grazing cycles. When using a rotational grazing system, how often...

Whether you are buying hay or making it yourself, it can be expensive. Reducing the need for stored feeds is a key profitability indicator for beef cow/calf operations. However, having access to dry, quality forages can serve as an important supplement and forage replacement in times of drought or...

With breeding season approaching, let’s look at some areas of focus to that could be robbing from conception rates. Some factors that I think disserve discussion are cow condition, cow requirements, lush pastures, timing of vaccinations, lack of heterosis, stress, and bull fertility. First and...

Recently I saw an old advertisement for hybrid seed corn. The two inbred parent ears of corn were small and low yielding, but the hybrid ear in the middle was robust and high yielding. Sure, this is not new news to you as a reader, but often simple messages, even old ones are worthwhile.Obviously,...

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...

Although there are year-round management strategies that can impact calving season success, here are some short-term, in-the-moment calving tips for success this year.Prepare a calving kit. The last thing you want to be is unprepared during calving season. Having all calving equipment clean, ready...