Cattle Chat: Planning for upcoming pregnancies

Caring for cows well in mid-pregnancy influences future breeding success Kansas State beef cattle experts share fall cow management tips for spring calvers MANHATTAN, Kan. — Most would agree that planning ahead is one of the best ways to meet a goal and that is true of the cow herd as well, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, veterinarians Bob Larson and Brad White shared…

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Cattle Chat: Maintaining cow efficiency

Many factors influence the efficiency of the cow herd. Beef cattle experts share the factors that influence the well-being of the cow herd MANHATTAN, Kan. — Efficiency is something many strive for, whether it is spending money wisely or making the most of the time dedicated to a project. And for the beef producer, developing an efficient cow herd has financial implications, according to beef cattle experts who recently spoke on a Kansas…

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Mesonet weather program benefits Kansas farmers

State meteorologist says local weather information is free By Shelby Varner, K-State Research and Extension news MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Anyone who has ever lived in Kansas knows that the weather can change quickly, a fact that Chip Redmond thinks makes the Kansas Mesonet especially valuable in the state. Redmond, a meteorologist and manager of the Kansas Mesonet, said the program is working to continue spreading its multiple resources across Kansas for citizens. He…

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Researchers team up to look at benefits of ag technologies on quality of life

Automated systems score high in 15-year study MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University agricultural economist is taking a step-back approach while carving out a new way of looking at the returns of precision agricultural technology. “As an economist, I (normally) look at things like profitability – dollars and cents – and whether the benefits outweigh the costs,” said Terry Griffin, a precision agriculture economist at K-State. “But sometimes economists may take a step…

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Armyworms taking aim at farmer’s fields

K-State crop entomologist discusses worms in agricultural fields By Shelby Varner, K-State Research and Extension news writer MANHATTAN, Kan. – The destructive – though rarely seen – armyworm has taken its voracious appetite to many Kansas farm fields this fall. Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth said many Kansas farmers are reporting sightings of the small worm, which feeds on turf grasses, vegetables and other plants when other food sources become scarce.…

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Cattle Chat: Bull care between breeding seasons

K-State experts discuss health considerations for herds calving in spring and fall MANHATTAN, Kan. — While many beef producers only calve once per year, there are some who maintain both a fall and spring calving system with the same set of bulls. And with this herd management plan, special care needs to be given to the bulls, said veterinarians with the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University. “In large operations that follow…

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Cattle Chat: Knowing when to retreat an illness

Providing comfort care and understanding when to intervene are keys to wellness MANHATTAN, Kan. — Strep throat, and ear and sinus infections are just a few bacterial illnesses that might lead a physician to prescribe an antibiotic. Oftentimes relief soon follows. But when the sickness lingers, sometimes it is necessary to retreat the infection. This can be true in cattle as well. Treatment intervals and comfort care were two topics of discussion on…

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Cattle Chat: Caring for growing bulls

K-State experts offer tips on meeting the nutritional needs of young bulls to aid in fertility MANHATTAN, Kan. — Anyone who has raised a teenage boy knows that meeting his nutritional needs can be challenging because of the rapid growth his body is experiencing. Just like teenage boys, young bulls also have special nutritional needs to optimize their growth and development, said the experts with the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University…

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