Beef cattle genetics, management critical in fine tuning herds to fit environment

Matching cattle to the land available to graze and the nutrition it offers is critical in optimizing production in an operation. New calves and mother cows gather around the watering hole. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter) Jason Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, Amarillo, who is frequently contacted to help with problems cattle operators are having, was a speaker at the recent Southwest Beef Symposium in Amarillo. “More…

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Emergency Calf Management after Dystocia (Difficult Birth)

Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Figure 1: Meconium staining (yellow color) is an indicator of calf stress during delivery. Placing the calf on the sternum (as pictured) maximizes ventilation of the lungs. “Dystocia” is defined as a difficult or prolonged calving, whether or not human assistance was necessary for delivery of the calf. Factors known to cause dystocia include a mismatch between small pelvic size of the dam and large calf…

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Winter Nutrition: Are You Staying Ahead or Getting Behind?

As winter progresses, winter nutrition and increased environmental stress on cows may concern many cow-calf producers. Winter nutritional management affects not only the profitability of a beef cowherd, but also the future performance of the cow and her offspring. With that in mind, building a nutritional program for a cow-calf system requires understanding nutritional requirements, knowing the “stress periods” that can happen, and knowing the quality and quantity of your forage resources.  One…

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K-State’s Tarpoff: Plan now to assure successful calving season

Stocking supplies, cleaning equipment are among management strategies MANHATTAN, Kan. – Cattle producers who have not yet started the spring calving season still have time to plan ahead, and a Kansas State University veterinarian notes that could make a big difference in having a successful year. “This is the time for a pre-emptive strike,” said A.J. Tarpoff, a beef veterinarian with K-State Research and Extension. “If you haven’t started calving yet on your…

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Marshall, Peel to Headline Cattlemen’s Day Program

K-State's 107th Annual Cattlemen's Day set for March 6. MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University's Animal Sciences and Industry Department will host Cattlemen's Day 2020 on Friday, March 6 at Weber Hall in Manhattan. Lorna Marshall, Select Sires vice president of beef programs, will kick off the event by highlighting genetic and reproductive trends in the global beef industry. "We're excited to host the 107th KSU Cattlemen's Day," says Ken Odde, K-State professor…

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Do You Possess the 8 Characteristics of an Intentional Beef Producer?

By Robert Wells, Ph.D.Livestock Consultant To be successful, any business person must develop a plan and then devise a strategy on how to work the plan to accomplish desired goals. That’s especially important in the cattle business, where most cow-calf producers would agree that the return on investment on an annual cash basis is typically low. In order to become and remain profitable, producers must effectively manage the operation by paying close attention…

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K-State: First milk important to successful calving experience

Calves need to nurse their mothers soon after they are born to maximize the immunity passed along in that first milk. Beef Cattle Institute experts offer advice on post-calving intervention MANHATTAN, Kan. – Once the calves are born into a beef cattle herd, there is no better sight than watching them get up and begin to nurse their mamas. However, experts in Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) say that difficult deliveries,…

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Choosing a Supplement for the Cowherd

Jeff Lehmkuhler, PhD, PAS, Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky The spring of 2019 delayed hay harvest in many parts of the state. This delay resulted in much of the hay being harvested at mature stages. Fescue was in full flower to soft-dough stage or even more mature in some cases. Mature forages have greater cell wall and lower digestibility. I tried to demonstrate the impact of late cutting on feed value by…

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The Art and Science of Developing Heifers

Les Anderson, Ph.D., Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky The older I get the more I realize that heifer development is as much art as science. The art is understanding what type of female best fits your operation and your marketing scheme. What size cow best fits your management system? Which cows will produce the best replacements? The science is understanding the principles enabling the “right” heifers to succeed. The first week of…

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Match EPDs to Your Ideal Grazing Management Style

Dean Kreager, Licking County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator (originally published in Farm & Dairy) As we move into January the grazing season is over for most and ended long ago for many, such as me, thanks to a dry fall.  Now is the time to start putting some thought into breeding decisions.  Is this the year to purchase a new bull?  What semen do I need to order so it will be…

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