What Does the Increased Grain Prices Mean for Backgrounders?

Jeff Lehmkuhler, PhD, PAS, Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky This time of year, we receive several questions regarding supplementing cows and calves. Often, I must ask what feeds are available and prices as this is rarely included in the original request. I see a wide range in feed prices when this information comes back. However, one thing is certain, feed prices are higher in 2021. What impact will this have on the…

Continue ReadingWhat Does the Increased Grain Prices Mean for Backgrounders?

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…

Continue ReadingMatching the Cow’s Milk Production to Your Forage Resources

Beef Cattle Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention

Steve Boyles, OSU Beef Extension Specialist Biosecurity plays a key role in Beef Quality Assurance In support of cattle producers across the country dedicated to preventing disease, improving animal welfare and reducing production losses, the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program developed a Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention template. The template, which helps cattle producers implement daily biosecurity measures on their operations, is available digitally as a PDF or can be…

Continue ReadingBeef Cattle Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention

Will Seasonality Patterns for Beef Export Sales and Commitments Hold in 2021?

Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor & Livestock Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln Trade occurs when price differences between the two locations are large enough after accounting for transportation cost, exchange rates, tariffs, etc. Exports vary throughout the year since prices reflect current and future supply and demand situations. Seasonality in cattle production, meat demand, and market disruptions are some examples of why wholesale beef prices increase and decrease…

Continue ReadingWill Seasonality Patterns for Beef Export Sales and Commitments Hold in 2021?

Preparing Your Cows for A Successful Breeding Season

Dr. Les Anderson, Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky A successful breeding season begins with management decisions made prior to calving. As we move into the winter-feeding period for spring-calving cows, cattlemen need to review their management plan to ensure optimal rebreeding and success. Rebreeding efficiency can be optimized by focusing on body condition score (BCS), early assistance during calving difficulty, scheduling a breeding soundness exam for the herd sires, planning their herd…

Continue ReadingPreparing Your Cows for A Successful Breeding Season

2020, Has it Changed How Consumers Shop for and Consume Beef?

Mike Estadt, OSU Extension Educator, Pickaway County (originally published in Ohio Farmer on-line) Is this our future? Place an order on MunseeMeats.com that will be filled and stocked in this Automated Farmers Market. You then receive a confirmation QR code that your order is ready. When you arrive at the locker you simply scan the QR code and retrieve your order from the self-serve lockers. Photo: Jason Mauck If we answer this question…

Continue Reading2020, Has it Changed How Consumers Shop for and Consume Beef?

Hay Quality: Beyond Proximate Analyses

Jeff Lehmkuhler, PhD, PAS, Associate Extension Professor My forage colleagues and I seem to get bombarded with questions on forage quality and interpreting forage test results this time of year. The timing coincides with folks starting to feed hay and looking at developing supplementation programs for the cattle receiving the forage. Getting the forage tested for nutrient content is the first step. Proximate analysis allows for separating a forage/feed into various macronutrient categories…

Continue ReadingHay Quality: Beyond Proximate Analyses

Little Mouse, Big Problems!

Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension (This article was originally published by Progressive Forage magazine) Mice can find any number of comfortable places to nest! Photo: Keegan Gelley The damage that a little mouse can do to electrical systems may have great impacts on the functionality of farm equipment. Before putting equipment in storage for winter, do routine maintenance, including preventing mice from taking up residence in your…

Continue ReadingLittle Mouse, Big Problems!

Grouping the Cowherd for Winter Feeding

Steve Boyles, OSU Beef Extension Specialist Young-bred heifers and young cows that have just weaned their first calf should be fed separately from the mature cows in the herd. The young animals are smaller, still growing, and are replacing their temporary teeth. They may be pushed away from feed by cows in their prime and settle for what hay is left and is likely of lower higher quality. The results of feeding young…

Continue ReadingGrouping the Cowherd for Winter Feeding

The Goal: Feed Less, Graze More

Winter; time to catch up on reading and sharpening the pencil and mind. I often talk about upcoming grazing conferences this time of year. Right now, meetings in person are scarce and perhaps rightly so. I still encourage you to continue learning whether it’s from watching YouTube videos, reading books or articles, or attending a virtual meeting or conference. It is also the time of year when I start thinking more about finding…

Continue ReadingThe Goal: Feed Less, Graze More