Beef Cattle

mature grass in a pasture

Is mowing pasture a good thing?

During the summer I frequently get asked about mowing pastures. Often, farmers are seeking a yes or no answer…and hopefully validation of their current practice. Unfortunately, the answer is somewhat dependent on previous pasture management and the chosen grazing system.If pastures have heavy weed...
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hay in a hoop barn

Start with a forage test

The foundation of a least-cost, balanced winter ration starts with a forage test. For those buying or selling hay, forage testing can play an even bigger role in pricing and purchasing value. Sample in lots A ‘lot’ is defined as forages from the same field, harvested at...
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Angus bull picture

Select and Nominate 2025 Illinois Performance Tested Bulls

Seedstock breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2025 Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale. The IPT Bull Sale is the leadoff event for the annual Illinois Beef Expo. The sale is scheduled for Thursday, February 20 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield....
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Cow in chute

Why are my cows open?

There is no more unnerving feeling than hearing the veterinarian say “open” too many times during preg-check. Having some open cows is normal in a 60-90 day breeding season. However, if the number of open cows is excessive (greater than 6-10%), evaluation of management, nutrition and herd health...
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Details matter when artificially inseminating beef cows

As breeding season for spring-calving cows’ approaches, now is a good time to refresh on semen handling practices. Often, semen handling gets overlooked as we focus on estrus detection, synchronization, and semen placement. However, proper handling is just as important and cannot be overlooked....
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Watching your cows

Observation and reflection seem to be a lost art in a world dominated by phone screens, data sets, and short attention spans. I challenge you to observe and reflect when watching cows graze. Below are just a few of many observations that I have made when watching cows graze in the spring/summer...
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