The Cattle Blog 2014

I found this short, but great article.  I do know that it works!As calving season approaches, think about how to make your job easier and potentially save more calves at calving. Calving season can be challenging for producers. Long hours, not enough labor, and Mother Nature are only a few...

Here's an interesting read.  I found this on the BovineVet website. Maintaining high levels of nutrition plays an important role in a cow's reproductive performance, but recent research from two separate studies indicates that nutritional management immediately following artificial...

I found this article interesting.  With IL attempting to have a referendum, it may help shed some light. Every dollar invested in the Beef Checkoff Program between 2006 and 2013 returned about $11.20 to the beef industry, according to a study by Dr. Harry Kaiser of Cornell University. "It...

FOLLOWING on the discovery of a genetic mutation in certain breeds of dairy cattle that links high milk production to infertility (Feedstuffs, Jan. 13), researchers in Germany reported another genetic defect linked to infertility in cattle. To verify the small anomaly that may have "...

Hello all.While I am not an authority on the whole antibiotic issue, I do try to keep abreast of pertinent research.  Here's an interesting one that I read that was on the Feedstuffs website.  (see the following url for the original posting:...

Hello all,I thought this is a rather important topic for cattlemen - parasite resistance to dewormers.  While I have provided programming to small ruminant producers about anthelmintic resistance, it is also an issue for cattlemen.  If we keep using dewormers indiscriminately, we may lose...

Maintaining healthy livestock can be achieved through knowledge of which chemical parameters affect nutritional status, the natural occurrence of chemicals, plus regional and seasonal variability of water quality, A.M. Dietrich of Virginia Tech explained here at the 2014 Joint Annual Meeting of the...

Hello all, I know several people called last week while I was out; however, I was at a conference in Mobile, Alabama.  The conference had several tours available, but of course I chose to attend "Where's the Beef?".  We toured the following facilities: 1.  Hastings Farm is located...

by Taking Stock Contributor By Anne Zinn, ASAS Communications A two-year study appearing in the October issue of the Journal of Animal Science examined the effects of frame size and time...

Every year I am asked to provide a information on feedstuffs to balance rations.  I found an article that has a link to a Table of 280 feedstuffs commonly used to feed cattle and sheep.Keep in mind though that feeds are not constant.  The best way to balance a diet is to have your...

Well the cool weather is over.  Many producers have told me that they were trying to catch up on hay production.  It definitely was a pleasant weekend; too bad it would not last through October!Even though we had a brief reprieve from the weather, keep in mind that it has been hot and...