K-State experts share tips on how to manage the bulls for optimum performance MANHATTAN, Kan. – Just as an athlete can experience an injury in competition, so too can a bull when he is turned out in a breeding pasture where his athleticism is going to be tested. “Bulls will be the busiest in the first month of the breeding season when there are a lot of females coming into heat (estrus),” said…
Rory Lewandowski, Extension Educator Wayne County Like any resource, pastures respond to management. Grazing offers economic benefits as compared to producing and feeding stored forages as livestock harvest the forage directly. Capture the benefits of grazing and set yourself up for success by using the 4-R’s to manage pastures. We typically hear of the 4-R’s in relationship to water quality and fertilizer management, but pasture management has its own set of 4-R’s. Those…
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – “Missouri livestock producers have some options to manage tall fescue seed head development and the toxic endophyte issues we have in Missouri,” says Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy. Seed heads emerge in tall fescue grass pastures by mid-May across most of Missouri. Sarah Kenyon, MU Extension field specialist in agronomy, says it is important to know how forage grows to understand the effect seed…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Wildlife biologists in Oklahoma have some new insights into the annual reproduction of gamebirds, thanks to a smartphone app that was developed last year. Oklahoma State University wildlife specialists, along with experts from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, created the Gamebird Brood Observation app to help gain a better understanding of gamebird reproduction, said Dwayne Elmore, OSU Extension wildlife specialist and Bollenbach Chair in the university’s…
Dave Boxler, Nebraska Extension Educator As cattle producers plan for the grazing season, a very important consideration should be what type of flies will impact their pastured cattle, and what method of fly control will work best for their management system. Photo credit Troy Walz. As livestock producers prepare for another grazing season, thoughts are often directed towards grass conditions, animal conditioning, and fence repair. An additional very important consideration should include what…
By Brian Hays, Pasture and Range Consultantand Jeff Goodwin, Conservation Stewardship Leader and Senior Pasture and Range Consultant May is a very important month for native pastures in the southern Great Plains. By the end of this month, approximately 50% of this year’s forage production will be produced. Monitoring your native pastures that are being grazed is critical to making sure they are not being overutilized. As you evaluate your native pastures, you…
https://ksubci.org/2020/04/17/beef-prices-up-cattle-prices-down-grazing-management-and-pasture-turnout-top-recommendations-for-transitioning-cows-to-grass-grass-tetany/
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…
Chris Teutsch, UK Research and Education Center at Princeton Figure 1. Excessive rainfall and high livestock concentration in and around hay feeding areas has resulted in almost complete disturbance. Wet conditions this winter have resulted in almost complete disturbance in and around hay feeding areas. Even well-designed hay feeding pads will have significant damage surrounding the pad where animals enter and leave. These highly disturbed areas create perfect growing conditions for summer annual…
By Malay Saha, Ph.D.Professor Warm-season perennial grasses are essential components of pasture systems in the southern U.S., where beef and forage production are the largest contributors to agricultural income. Bermudagrass is the most prevalent warm-season perennial grass species in the region. It is also a predominant turf grass. Bermudagrass produces lush green forage and/or ground cover during summer months and remains dormant during fall-winter. However, standing or stockpiled bermudagrass can be grazed in…