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…
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…
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…
Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist Structuring a calving program that best suites farm and ranch operations can be challenging. Of primary concern are: weather, labor, market timing, and animal health considerations, with weather possibly being the most volatile factor, as it ranges from challenging to catastrophic in some years. Evaluating alternatives that can improve calving conditions and quality of life, while also reducing financial and health risks is an important step…
Written collaboratively by Russ Daly, Christopher Chase, Travis Clement and Matt Dammen. Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is among the most important pathogens affecting today’s beef and dairy cattle operations. Associated with reproductive, digestive, and respiratory illnesses in cattle, the virus can also create a congenital, persistent infection in calves, greatly aiding the virus’ spread within and between herds. Testing and removal of these persistently infected (BVDV-PI) calves is the hallmark of BVDV…
Kansas State University will host the 2020 Winter Ranch Management Seminar series in five Kansas locations beginning in late January. Seminars begin in late January at five sites in Kansas MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University officials will focus on strategies to enhance profits during the Winter Ranch Management Seminar series, which will be held at five sites in Kansas beginning in January. The meetings feature presentations and comments by K-State Research and…
The Top Seven Criteria for Picking a Bull for Replacement Heifers Use the factors below to describe the level of calving ease performance needed.Decide if the bull will be used only to breed replacement heifers or also used to breed cows.Know the calf marketing plan so that the calf raised has value beyond being alive.Consider the calving season to include the Calving Ease EPD requirement because winter born calves typically have heavier birth…
https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2020/01/calving-ease-in-breeding-decisions.html
Victor Shelton, NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist Unseasonable weather yielded a New Year’s Eve blossom. I’m glad the days are starting to be a fraction longer, even though it’s not much more yet. While I wait for some daylight, I can usually be found reading early in the morning. I’m certainly a morning person, just ask my wife. There is no other good reason to be up at 4 A.M. this time of year,…
Garth Ruff, OSU Extension Henry County Group lots of calves with uniform weight, frame, and genetics sell for a premium in the market place. Each year I like to look evaluate any upcoming opportunities and set goals for the New Year in an effort to better myself both professionally and personally. I prefer to call them goals rather than New Years Resolutions because many people tend to let resolutions fall through the cracks.…