Beef Cattle Blogs

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...

As high summer temperatures continue, it is important to ensure water quality levels are in the appropriate range. Beef cattle require one-to-two gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight, but this amount increases during summer months and different stages of cattle. When water quality...

The unique microbiota of the rumen allows cattle to ferment a variety of by-products, such as soybean hulls from soybean processing. The hull is made from the skin of soybeans, making them a good source of fiber and non-structural carbohydrates, and can be made into pellet or...

As June begins, flies are ready to bother cattle all summer long. It is important to plan an effective fly control system to limit the chances of reduced grazing time, spread of disease, and increased stress. Observing herds and combining different prevention methods can save up to $1 billion in...

There are many reasons to maintain strict breeding windows and shorter calving windows. A tight 60-day calving window can aid in programming cow nutrition, concentrate labor, and certainly create a more uniform, marketable calf crop. If you have a spread-out calving season, consider breaking cows...

Isn’t it fun to watch people that are good at handling cattle? I love it. We all aspire to be better stockman and handling animals correctly is a big part of that goal. Investing time in animal handling skills improves quality of life, safety, health, and performance… for both animal and human....

I have been traveling recently. I hop in the truck, load the navigation app, and off I go. Within seconds, I know exactly how to get to my destination and how long it will take. If I get off course, the app tells me how to get back on track. Finding your way in the cattle business would be easier...