Tips to Improve Cow Performance While Consuming Low-quality Forages

Rob Ziegler, UNL MS Animal Science StudentTravis Mulliniks, UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems Because of the challenges faced last spring and this year’s projected lower quality hay crop, supplementing cattle this year with protein will be an effective way to increase intake and digestibility of low-quality forages. Photo credit Troy Wal Low-quality range pasture and cold wet winter left cows in thinner than normal condition coming into spring this year. The…

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Frequently Asked Questions about Grazing Corn Residue Fields with Excessive Downed Corn

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Prior to grazing cornstalks with cattle, an estimate should be made of the amount of corn that is present in the field. Photo credit Troy Walz. Putting cows out on corn fields with a lot of corn is a recipe for acidosis (grain overload), abortion, and possibly death, if their rumen bacteria are not properly prepared. Cattle that become acidotic for even a short time can…

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What to Do with Wet Hay

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension EducatorHannah Greenwell, Nebraska Extension Educator While some weathering of bales is to be expected, those that were put up a bit wet, have been sitting in water, or were otherwise saturated need some special considerations. Photo credit Troy Walz. With the wet weather this year, putting up quality hay and keeping it protected from the elements has been a challenge.  While some weathering of bales is to be expected,…

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Range Beef Cow Symposium XXVI – Great Information in a New Format

Check out the exciting line up for this year’s Range Beef Cow Symposium in Mitchell, NE November 18-20. On Monday afternoon the program will kick off with beef quality assurance training and certification and you won’t want to miss the Ron Gill Stockmanship Clinic. Tuesday morning will begin the traditional program with Drs. John Hall and Benton Glaze from University of Idaho talking about when it pays to artificially inseminate and breed complementarity. …

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Effects of a Freeze on Forages

Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist Sorghum-related plants, like cane, sudangrass, shattercane, and milo can be highly toxic for a few days after frost. 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. If you haven’t experienced a freeze yet this fall, you soon will. And…

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Reducing Yucca in Rangeland

Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist When yucca covers too much land to spray, the only cost effective way to reduce its impact is to winter graze. Photo credit Troy Walz. Yucca plants, which are also called soapweed by many people, have nearly overrun many rangelands.  There are ways, though, to reclaim those grazinglands.  Across much of western and central Nebraska, yucca has nearly taken over some pastures.  While they may be able…

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Keys for Corn Stalk Grazing

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator Corn residue is a tremendous feed resource for cattle in Nebraska. Photo credit Troy Walz. Corn harvest will be underway soon in much of Nebraska. Corn residue is a tremendous feed resource for cattle in Nebraska. With Nebraska’s 9 million corn acres and 1.8 million beef cows, there is more than twice the number of corn stalk acres needed for grazing all of Nebraska’s beef cows! The…

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Feeding Light Test Weight Corn in Growing and Finishing Diets

Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension Educator Cattle feeders that grow their own corn have the opportunity to market light test weight corn through their cattle without sacrificing cattle performance. Photo credit Troy Walz. The number of growing degree days remaining for the season will influence the amount of light test weight corn harvested this fall. The current standard test weight for corn is 56 pounds per bushel. When corn test weight is below the…

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Feeding Elevated Levels of Corn Silage in Finishing Diets

Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension Educator Feeding corn silage gives cattle feeders the opportunity to capitalize on maximum quality and tonnage of the whole corn plant, while stockpiling large quantities of feed. Photo credit Troy Walz. Corn silage can be an economical feedstuff in finishing diets, especially when corn prices are high. Feeding corn silage gives cattle feeders the opportunity to capitalize on maximum quality and tonnage of the whole corn plant, while stockpiling…

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Using Weaning Date as a Supplement Strategy

TL Meyer, Nebraska Extension Beef EducatorTravis Mulliniks, UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems After weaning and prior to winter can be one of the most economical times to improve the body condition score (BCS) of a spring-calving cow. Photo credit Troy Walz. Many beef producers are preparing to wean, or at least thinking about it. After weaning and prior to winter can be one of the most economical times to improve the…

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