Spring grazing management for beef cattle

Experts offer ways for producers to best prepare pastures ahead of spring grazing   MANHATTAN, Kan. – Beef cattle grazing on lush, green pastures is a common sight when driving through the Kansas Flint Hills in the late spring. Experts from Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute discussed steps for managing the spring grazing season recently on the weekly podcast Cattle Chat. K-State beef cattle extension specialist Bob Weaber advised producers to begin…

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Three Good Reasons for Early Castration of Bull Calves

Kevin Laurent – Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky These are challenging times market wise and it is easy to dwell on the negative and become complacent in our management. But in times like these we really need to explore every avenue to add value to our calves. If you watch the weekly market reports, you notice that we still have a significant number of intact bull calves being sold. Some producers choose…

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General Management Considerations to Increase the Proportion of Early Calving Heifers and Cows

G.A. Perry, South Dakota State UniversityM.F. Smith, University of MissouriRick Funston, Nebraska Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist Maximizing the proportion of cows that conceive early in the breeding season cannot be overemphasized in a beef herd. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz. Artificial insemination (AI) is the most powerful tool cow-calf producers have to improve beef cattle genetics. Still, they have been slow to adopt this technology due to the time and labor of…

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Considerations for Successful Estrus Synchronization Programs

Sydney O'Daniel, Nebraska Exension Beef Educator One of the biggest impacts on rebreeding success is body condition score at the time of calving. Photo credit Troy Walz. With spring calving in full swing, it is a good time to start thinking about if your cows are prepared for breeding season. Making sure your cows are in a good body condition score prior to calving is one of the most important steps to ensuring…

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OSU News: Weaning option for fall-calving herds

Cow-calf producers may find two-stage weaning process useful By Donald Stotts STILLWATER, Okla. – Cattle producers with fall-calving herds who are contemplating upcoming weaning choices have several options to reduce animal stress. “Many people eat a lot when they are stressed, but calves tend to do the opposite,” said Earl H. Ward, Oklahoma State University Extension area livestock specialist for northeastern Oklahoma. “This can lead to health concerns such as depressed immune systems…

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Cow-calf producers should record multiple births in their herds

By Donald Stotts STILLWATER, Okla. – Cow-calf producers need to keep recordkeeping and genetic drift in mind when cattle births result in twins that are a heifer calf and a bull calf. “This condition – called freemartinism – causes infertility in most of the female cattle born twin to a male,” said Dana Zook, Oklahoma State University Extension area livestock specialist for northwestern Oklahoma. “Freemartinism is recognized as one of the most severe…

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Getting bulls ready for the breeding season

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Any coach of a winning athlete will say that success in competition is the result of the athlete’s nutrition and fitness preparation. Beef cattle experts at Kansas State University say that same mentality applies to preparing bulls for the breeding season. “A single bull is responsible for many pregnancies, so it is critical that he goes into the breeding season healthy and fertile,” said veterinarian Bob Larson, speaking recently on…

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Ensure Herd Bulls Are Ready for the Upcoming Breeding

Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Spring calving for some is underway, while for others is approaching quickly. This indicates the next breeding season is right around the corner. Percent of calf crop weaned on any operation is the single largest factor influencing profitability. Subsequently, herd bulls influence herd fertility more than any other single animal. Soundness and fertility of these animals is essential to the future calf crop and profitability of…

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Twins need special care, say beef cattle experts

K-State beef experts discuss reasons why twins occur and how to care for them MANHATTAN, Kan. – The goal of every cattle birth is a live, healthy calf, but every so often ranchers find a surprise: a second calf. Understanding how twins develop and best practices for managing their care was a topic recently discussed by the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute during their weekly podcast. “It is estimated that…

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Rotational Grazing Improves Stocking Capacity and Ranch Profitability

Tong Wang, SDSU Extension Advanced Production Specialist Livestock stocking rate is considered as one of the most important decisions that ranchers can make, as heavy stocking rate causes grassland degradation and adversely impact the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services. However, only maintaining proper stocking rate is not enough, as inappropriate grazing management strategies will also cause rangeland degradation. Continuous Grazing vs. Rotational Grazing Currently, continuous grazing is the dominant practice in the U.S.…

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