Uniformity a worthy goal in cattle herds

Cattle producers--whether they are a one-bull cow herd owner in southwest Missouri or a 1,000-cow rancher in Montana--like to have a uniform herd. There's no doubt when it's time to market cattle, a uniform set of calves, stockers, finished cattle or bred heifers attract more buyer interest, according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Years ago, according to Cole, breeding or developing a consistent product involved a relative few breeds of beef ... [Read More]

Follow 5 steps for better heifer reproduction

Conception rate and percentage of heifers pregnant within three services are metrics commonly used to track performance of heifer reproduction. "Conception rate and percentage of heifers pregnant within three services keep enough heifers in the calving pipeline to maintain herd size. "The gold standard for monitoring reproduction in heifers, just as in cows, is the how quickly open heifers are converted to pregnant heifers or pregnancy rate. [Read More]

Self-feeding options for cattle

Most cattle feeding is designed around daily or twice-daily deliveries of feed to meet the expected needs of the cattle being fed. The investment in feeding equipment may be very minimal for small numbers of cattle being hand-fed by placing feed in bunks with a bucket and fork. Creep feeds also typically are self-fed to nursing calves in feeders with cages to restrict access to cows. [Read More]

OPSU bulls weighed off performance test

The top gaining bull on test was an Angus junior-age bull consigned by Wink Farms of Panhandle, Texas. Hollon Angus also has the top pen of junior age bulls with an ADG of 4.34 lbs. on a pen of three Angus sired by LD Predestined 827. Another Mindemann bull sired by Spur Rito 6I6 6400 is tied with an OPSU senior bull for third place on an ADG of 4.55 lbs. [Read More]

Report: Nation's cattle herd continues decline

In a report that likely foreshadows higher beef prices for consumers at the meat counter, the National Agricultural Statistics Service counted 90.8 million head of cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1. Texas still leads the nation with 11.9 million head of cattle and calves, but its numbers fell by 11 percent. The decline was less severe in Kansas, where cattle numbers fell 3 percent to 6.1 million head, according to the report. [Read More]