Blog Archive

The Cattle Connection 2026

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

The Cattle Connection
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

The Cattle Connection
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?

The Cattle Connection
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

The Cattle Connection
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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