Managing for Heterogeneity on Rangelands in the Nebraska Sandhills

Kayla Mollet, UNL SRMC Research Project CoordinatorMitch Stephenson, UNL Range Management Specialist Nebraska Sandhills rangeland near Hyannis, NE. Photo credit Kayla Mollet. The Nebraska Sandhills is one of the most intact grasslands in the Great Plains of North America. The topography and soil substrate of the Sandhills has limited farming development and allowed for this region to be one of the prime native working landscapes for cattle production in the United States. While…

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Winter Interseeding Legumes

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension Educator Legumes are well-known for their ability to pull nitrogen from the air and fix it in a form useable by plants. Photo credit Troy Walz. From a forage perspective, winter is typically a time for using the resources we have on hand and planning ahead to next year’s growing season.  However, there may be some opportunity to take this time to improve your…

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Calving Season – Not the Time to Skimp on Nutrition

Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management Because feed resources have likely been tight this winter, now is a good time to assess BCS of the cows and send feed samples to a commercial laboratory for nutrient analysis. Photo credit Troy Walz. The 2020 drought across the Great Plains has made hay scarce for many producers. Additionally, the pandemic has affected oil prices which in turn has impacted ethanol production and…

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Annual Cow Costs – The Big Three

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator As we close the year on 2020 and start 2021, now is a great time to evaluate all of the costs associated with the cow-calf enterprise. Photo credit Troy Walz. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/unlbeefwatch into your podcast app. When looking at annual cow costs and doing an economic…

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Winter Tetany in Beef Cattle

Grass tetany is considered a problem that usually occurs when cattle or sheep are eating lush, spring grass or annual cereal forages such as rye, wheat or triticale; but, it can also occur when cattle are being fed harvested forages. Grass tetany, sometimes called grass staggers or hypomagnesaemia, is a metabolic disorder of cattle related to a deficiency of magnesium (Mg). Magnesium is a critical mineral to the nervous system and muscle function.…

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Cornstalk Residue Grazing with Weaned Calves, Dry Pregnant Cows or Pairs – What Supplementation Do They Need?

Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker ManagementMary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems SpecialistKacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist Cornstalk residue is an economical forage resource across Nebraska, which can help producers reduce annual cow costs. Photo credit Troy Walz. With approximately 9.8 million acres of corn yielding an average of 182 bushels/acre, cornstalk residue can be an accessible and economical winter grazing forage option for producers in Nebraska. Historic research at the…

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Valuing Corn Stalk Bales

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator What value should be put on baling corn residue? Photo credit Troy Walz. With dry conditions still plaguing much of the state, baling corn residue following harvest might be an optional roughage source if hay supply is getting tight.  What value should be put on baling corn residue? Figuring out the true value of corn stalk bales can be a bit tricky, but breaking down the costs can…

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Things to Consider before Harvesting a Market Animal at Home

Brianna Buseman, Youth Meat Nebraska Extension Educator Carol Schwarz, Nebraska Extension Educator Home harvest is very labor intensive and requires a lot of planning. Photo credit Troy Walz. Many people are looking for opportunities to buy market animals to harvest at home, which has led to many questions about the best way to complete that task. Prior to making the decision to try home harvest, there are a few important things to consider:1.  Food…

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Do You Know the Difference Between 9% and 7% Crude Protein Hay?

Hannah Greenwell, Nebraska Extension Educator What is the crude protein content of your hay? Photo credit Troy Walz. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/unlbeefwatch into your podcast app. When feeding harvested forages to the cow herd, you need to know what you have in order to know what to feed. This is vital when faced with…

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Grazing Alfalfa in Fall or Winter

Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension EducatorBen Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator Winter alfalfa stands will seldom provide enough nutritional value to be a primary forage source for animals. Photo credit Troy Walz. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: Alfalfa needs 6 weeks of growth, uninterrupted by grazing or hayingFall grazing should maintain 8 inches of stubble height; Winter grazing should maintain 4 inches of stubble heightBloat risk can be reduced by making sure livestock are full prior to grazingFeed…

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