Pastures and small grain fields are finally green, and livestock producers have already put their livestock out on pasture.  However, keep in mind the risk of grass tetany. Grass tetany is caused by low blood magnesium (Mg) level. Magnesium is one of the macro minerals required by animals...

I consider myself a scientist first then an educator.  It can be "entertaining" to read what the latest research is.  Most is nothing to be excited about but those with headlines that pertain to animal agriculture usually will receive more than a cursory look.  The most recent...

Technology can be a wonderful thing...especially when it works!  One technology is accelerometers.  They measure acceleration such as when a smartphone switches orientation from portrait to landscape, depending on how it's tilted, or a car's airbag inflates when it senses collision forces...

Phil Griebel, DVM, PhD, presented research results suggesting vaccinating newborn calves, using a modified live, intranasal vaccine, can provide protection against pathogens causing bovine respiratory disease later in life.Griebel is a research fellow at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease...

Last week Travis and I presented to the Monroe County Cattlemen's Association.  It was a great meeting.  Part of the program included safely handling cattle and designs of cattle handling facilities.  Although many may feel that right now is not the time to spend money on facilities...

Hello all,I was reading Feedstuffs and came across this article.  Thus the following information is taken from their site." The mandatory country-of-origin labeling rule for meat has yet to provide observed demand increases, but has resulted in increased costs which have had an adverse...

The nation's farms should prepare to see lower net cash and net income for 2015 if projections from USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) prove true. ERS is forecasting that net cash income for U.S. farms is expected to fall by 27.7 percent in 2015 while net farm income is expected to drop by...

Hello all,It's a new year and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.  Due to the hectic holiday season and breeding schedule at DSAC I haven't posted much since December, but that doesn't mean there aren't many issues for cattlemen.  I came across this article from...

I was reading several articles, trying to catch up and found this very interesting article (it was on the Drovers website).  This is what the article said: "We're feeding the world" is a mantra often used by those involved in farming and food to build support for modern food production...

Everyone knows that there is a huge debate about antibiotic resistance and the cause(s).  I will not even address that issue in this column - there's not enough space here, plus it is a multifaceted problem.  I read the following article in...

Cover crops are receiving much attention from grain and livestock producers.  Cover crops can help reduce soil erosion, increase organic matter, improve early weed control, and provide forage for animals. They can also benefit the public by improving water quality, air quality, and...

It's that time of year and there are numerous management items that all livestock producers must keep in mind.  The temperature in southern IL has heated up this week with temps in the 90s during the day and high humidity.  The one saving grace is that there is a breeze. Nevertheless,...

Cattlemen recently have seen prices decrease, especially for feeders.  I found this article and think it is relevant.  Hope you find it helpful.   Cattle prices for...

Sometimes I find articles that potentially have broad application; human, livestock, etc.  This appears promising, but is still many years away from practical use. For years, pathogens' resistance to antibiotics has put them one step ahead of researchers, which is causing a public health...

Howdy there,It's been a bit since I have posted but here's an interesting and pertinent article for cattlemen.  On April 17 FarmWeek published an...

IN an era when consumers have a wealth of information at their fingertips, where do they turn for recommendations on meat purchasing? That's the question assistant professor of consumer economics Kuo-Liang "Matt" Chang and a team of South Dakota State University researchers sought to answer...

Nearly 80 percent of Americans mistakenly believe that chicken contains added hormones or steroids, according to a new national survey released today by the National Chicken Council (NCC). No chicken sold or raised in the U.S. is given hormones or steroids. The survey, meanwhile, highlighted an...

By Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University extension livestock marketing specialist Among top global beef exporters, the 2016 market situation is quite variable according to the latest USDA World Markets and Trade report for livestock and poultry. India passed Brazil in 2014 to become the No. 1...

As they say there's an app for that.  I was reading and found this article and if you have a smart phone and use apps, then maybe consider downloading this one.University of Tennessee (UT) Extension IT Specialist Brad Greenfield and UT Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Justin Rhinehart have...

There has been many articles published on antibiotic resistance.  I usually try to read all of them, but this one really caught my eye.  I have NOT read the journal article, thus I have NOT seen how the analyses were performed.  Nevertheless, if what is in...