Bottleneck in beef industry pushes producers into making key decisions

K-State beef team outlines feeding options during online workshop MANHATTAN, Kan. – Several members of Kansas State University’s extension beef team hosted an online workshop Thursday to help producers with looming decisions on managing their herds in light of unique challenges in the market. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed Kansas’ beef supply chain to as much as 40 percent capacity, though the state has rebounded in recent days, according to K-State agricultural economist…

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Minimizing Synchronization Costs

Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist With the word, “uncertainty” looming in many of our heads, it’s a prime time to consider strategic management approaches to maintain an operation’s bottom line. With calving season quickly coming to an end and breeding season right around the corner, it’s time to look at how money can be invested intelligently and outcomes can be beneficial. Consider Lower Input Estrus Synchronization Protocols With the rising costs…

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Management Strategies for Minimizing Early Pregnancy Loss

Sydney O'Daniel, Nebraska Exension Beef EducatorRick Funston, Nebraska Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist Managing cows and heifers to be on a positive plane of nutrition at the time of breeding is essential for the establishment of pregnancy. Photo credit Troy Walz. As we approach the breeding season, cows and heifers are faced with a variety of stressors from the metabolic pressure of providing for a calf to changes in environment. Stress during early…

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Flies on Pastured Cattle

Dave Boxler, Nebraska Extension Educator As cattle producers plan for the grazing season, a very important consideration should be what type of flies will impact their pastured cattle, and what method of fly control will work best for their management system. Photo credit Troy Walz. As livestock producers prepare for another grazing season, thoughts are often directed towards grass conditions, animal conditioning, and fence repair. An additional very important consideration should include what…

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Think Before Putting Fish, Plants, Water and More in a Pond

By Mike PorterSenior Wildlife and Fisheries Consultant People unintentionally harm pond environments by releasing inappropriate fish, dumping aquarium organisms, transferring water from a river or using contaminated equipment. Inappropriate organisms, or the microscopic hitchhikers on them, in associated water or on equipment can create havoc in a pond, such as harming desired fish populations, introducing diseases or establishing invasive species. Know Your Source Sources of fish or aquatic plants should be carefully evaluated…

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What You Should Be Monitoring on Native Rangelands in May

By Brian Hays, Pasture and Range Consultantand Jeff Goodwin, Conservation Stewardship Leader and Senior Pasture and Range Consultant May is a very important month for native pastures in the southern Great Plains. By the end of this month, approximately 50% of this year’s forage production will be produced. Monitoring your native pastures that are being grazed is critical to making sure they are not being overutilized. As you evaluate your native pastures, you…

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Backgrounding rates of gain effect carcass characteristics

Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist People are currently investigating methods to control rate of gain. Anna R. Taylor  and Robbi H. Pritchard, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; and Kelly W. Bruns , University of Nebraska-Linclon, West Central Research & Extension Center, North Platte, NE, looked at backgrounding rate of gain on carcass characteristics.  Steer calves weighing an average of 690 pounds were backgrounded until they weighed an average of 880 pounds.…

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The Basics of Pricing Freezer Beef

Garth Ruff, OSU Extension Henry County COVID-19 has proven to be a catalyst for consumer demand for local product Over the last decade the demand for locally raised meats have steadily increased and that demand has skyrocketed as of late, due to the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on animal agriculture and the meat packing sector. With the significant increase of demand in local product we have also seen an increase in the…

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