Hunter Observations Can Help Manage Deer Populations

By Josh Gaskamp, Technical Consultation Manager and Wildlife and Range Consultantand Will Moseley, Wildlife and Fisheries Consultant Posted Oct. 1, 2020 As deer season approaches, many hunters and managers set up trail cameras in hopes of learning the whereabouts of a trophy buck. Calculated deer managers may even use this technique and other survey methods to monitor deer population parameters and keep records as a basis for harvest recommendations. We are often questioned on which…

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Grazing Alfalfa in Fall or Winter

Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension EducatorBen Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator Winter alfalfa stands will seldom provide enough nutritional value to be a primary forage source for animals. Photo credit Troy Walz. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: Alfalfa needs 6 weeks of growth, uninterrupted by grazing or hayingFall grazing should maintain 8 inches of stubble height; Winter grazing should maintain 4 inches of stubble heightBloat risk can be reduced by making sure livestock are full prior to grazingFeed…

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Grazing Corn Stalks or Corn Residue?

Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension Educator Grazing corn residue can be very beneficial to the cow and the producer’s bottom line. Photo credit Troy Walz. There are 8 lbs of grazable dry matter per bushel of corn.Leaf and husk make up 39.6% of the dry matter in corn residue.Intake on corn residue fields will be close to 2% of bodyweight.Check questionable fields for excessive corn before grazing. Having corn stalks to graze is a…

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Fencing & Water for Beef Cattle

Steve Niemeyer, Nebraska Extension Educator Basic grazing infrastructure for livestock includes fencing, water, and a method of controlling grazing activity. Photo credit Steve Niemeyer The goal of any grazing operation is to introduce the cow or calf to forage in adequate quality and quantity for their needs.  A majority of cattle operations in Nebraska use pasture or native range for grazing during the growing season and crop residues or harvested purchased feed for…

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Cautions for Cattle Grazing Frosted Forages

Troy Walz, Nebraska Extension Educator Photo credit Troy Walz. When some forages are frosted, the potential for bloat, toxicity, and nitrates may increase for grazing cattle. Bloat When grazing alfalfa in the fall, bloat remains a potential problem, especially during the first three to five days after alfalfa has been exposed to freezing temperatures. In general, the risk of bloat will be minimal only after a significant portion (about 50-70 percent) of the…

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Assessing Temperament in Cattle Using Chute Score – New Learning Module

Jamie T. Parham, former UNL Graduate StudentRonald M. Lewis, UNL Professor Animal Breeding & Genomics Temperament in cattle is often evaluated using a common six-point chute scoring system. Temperament is an animal's behavioral response to handling by humans, or to any potentially fearful situation. Since these reactions are often linked with stress, they have negative effects on production and profitability. Because of its impact on pregnancy rates, growth, meat quality, and safety, producers…

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What’s that Buzz? Project aims to use computer vision to identify bumble bee species

Web-based AI program encourages users to submit photos of bees for identification MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University researcher’s effort to develop an artificial intelligence tool for identifying bees has created quite a buzz already. Brian Spiesman, an assistant professor in K-State’s Department of Entomology, launched the website, BeeMachine.AI, earlier this year to relieve a backlog of information needed to help track trends in bee populations across the world. “Bees can be very difficult…

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Trump Administration Invests $5.5 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Central South Dakota

ReConnect Funding to Connect 599 Rural Households to High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity BROOKINGS, S.D., Oct. 14, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $5.5 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in central South Dakota. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program.“High-speed internet e-Connectivity helps businesses get access to global markets,…

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Ways to capture the marketing value on calves

K-State experts offer advice on how to maximize the return on investment MANHATTAN, Kan. — When putting money in the stock market, there is nothing like the feeling of watching a return on investment grow. The same can be true when cattle producers are financially rewarded at the point of sale for their time and money invested in pre-conditioning calves. But as the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute recently…

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