Managing Cow/Calf Pairs With Excess Spring Moisture

Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Written collaboratively by Taylor Grussing, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist and Olivia Amundson. Rain, snow and warming temperatures are making their way again this winter as future forecasts indicate another wet spring. However, with last year’s flooding we’re a little wiser on how to tackle the predicted flooding. Last year’s flooding, blizzard conditions and excess snow wreaked havoc on livestock producers in South Dakota. While…

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Winter Cow Supplementation and Cold Stress

Adele Harty SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Cold temperatures coupled with wind chill and precipitation make it challenging to meet a cow’s nutrient requirements during the winter months. A Polar Vortex is set to bring below normal temperatures to much of the country for the next week. With these below normal temperatures come challenges of ensuring adequate nutrition and protection for livestock, including being prepared to provide additional feed and shelter. There are…

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Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

By Donald Stotts  STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers need to follow recommended livestock-care checklists to mitigate significant dangers that arctic blasts bring to animal health and production, said Oklahoma State University experts.  Ranchers might not typically think about frozen water sources during a mild winter, for example.  So it’s important to remember that cattle in southern Great Plains states are relatively naïve when it comes to the presence of ice in the field,…

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Cattle Chat: Managing mother’s milk

K-State beef cattle experts say the first 24 hours after birth is an important time for calves to absorb colostrum. | Download this photo. K-State veterinarians discuss the importance of a calf nursing in the first 24 hours of its life MANHATTAN, Kan. — The old phrase “Milk Does A Body Good” is an advertising slogan from the 1980s but still rings true today not only for people but for cattle as well. And…

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Calving Management and Reducing Calf Losses in Beef Herds

Steve Niemeyer, Nebraska Extension Educator Becky Funk, DVM, Animal Health Teaching and NE Extension Specialist Factors contributing to calving problems fall into three main categories – calf effects, cow effects and fetal position at birth. Photo credit Chandra Giles. Factors Causing Calving Difficulty Every year a significant number of calves are lost at birth due to complications of parturition (calving).  The most common factor in loss due to dystocia is time delay of…

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Calving Season – Not the Time to Skimp on Nutrition

Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management Because feed resources have likely been tight this winter, now is a good time to assess BCS of the cows and send feed samples to a commercial laboratory for nutrient analysis. Photo credit Troy Walz. The 2020 drought across the Great Plains has made hay scarce for many producers. Additionally, the pandemic has affected oil prices which in turn has impacted ethanol production and…

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Matching the Cow’s Milk Production to Your Forage Resources

Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist (this originally appeared in the Ohio Farmer on-line) Genetics and cow type must match the available feed resources and herd management style Type differences exist due to size, milk production, suitability to the environment and desirability of different types for profit. All these factors affect the amount of nutrients required by the individual. The nutrient requirements of the various types can determine different management schemes. There are several…

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K-State beef cattle expert cautions against cold stress

Cattle are "robust creatures," says K-State beef systems specialist Justin Waggoner. Nonetheless, producers should consistently monitor their condition during cold periods. | Download this photo. Late winter storms can cause challenges for cattle producers MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University beef cattle specialist is urging the state’s producers to continue monitoring their cattle’s condition, especially during periods when Mother Nature sends her winter chill. Justin Waggoner, a beef systems specialist with K-State Research…

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Cattle Chat: Readying replacement heifers

With good nutritional care, replacement heifers reach puberty around 12 months of age. | Download this photo. K-State experts offer advice on getting heifers prepared for their first breeding season MANHATTAN, Kan. — Anyone who has lived with teenagers can attest that their food consumption can be high as they are rapidly growing to their adult size. In much the same way, growing beef herd replacement heifers also need to have their nutritional needs…

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Annual Cow Costs – The Big Three

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator As we close the year on 2020 and start 2021, now is a great time to evaluate all of the costs associated with the cow-calf enterprise. Photo credit Troy Walz. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/unlbeefwatch into your podcast app. When looking at annual cow costs and doing an economic…

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