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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Mineral imbalances need to be considered in cattle deaths

Texas A&M AgriLife offers expertise, assistance in livestock mineral toxicity, testing Ranchers need to keep in mind that the wrong quantities of minerals can be dangerous or even deadly to cattle, said experts from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. What works for one livestock operation will not always work for a neighbor when it comes to mineral supplements. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can help producers test for their needs. (Texas A&M AgriLife…

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Cattle Chat: Managing thin cows in winter

K-State experts offer advice on optimizing body condition scores in the herd before calving MANHATTAN, Kan. — In the midst of the holiday season and the increased access to sweets, many people may be observing a less than ideal change in their personal body conditions. While people may strive for a skinnier physique, holding a thin body condition over the winter may create deficits for cattle heading into calving season, said the experts…

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Late Gestation Planning Prior to Calving

Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist For most, weaning is in the books and pregnancy detection is complete or soon to be underway. Now is the time to pay attention to those pregnant cows out on crop residue or grass. While these females may be the last thing on your mind, this time is critical for her success the following year. Annual Cow Cycle Cow calf operations are more profitable when cows…

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2021 Calving Schools Planned

K-State to host four events around Kansas focused on providing tips to help producer prepare for calving season.   MANHATTAN, Kan. – In anticipation of calving season, Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry and K-State Research and Extension are planning a series of calving schools throughout the month of January.  The program will outline overall calving management that includes stages of the normal calving process as well as tips to handle difficult calving situations.…

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