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Water is the most critical nutrient, but its importance and contribution to animal nutrition is often overlooked. Cattle require an adequate, available supply of fresh water to enable metabolic processes of the body.
Heat stress in the cattle herd may be a concern during the warmest months of the year in the southeast U.S. Unlike humans, cattle get rid of excess heat in their system through breathing and panting more than sweating.
Preparing for breeding season is a big labor and resource investment – and unfortunately, fertility can be impacted by heat stress. Here are five tips to aid in prevention to help ensure a successful breeding season.
The full force of summer months and hot temperatures are almost upon us. With it will come heat stress, a major concern in the beef industry. Heat stress can cause countless problems in cattle, such as a decrease in feed intake, changes in the rumen which lead to diminished digestibility and a significant negative impact on performance.
Cattle handle heat differently than a human or dog. Because cattle are ruminants, they produce a lot of heat during ruminal fermentation and digestion of forages.
Summer is upon us, and with the warm weather moving in, it’s a good time to remember that proper watering is one of the most important aspects of maintaining cattle productivity. With so many ways to provide water to your cattle, it can be overwhelming to weigh the pros and cons of each, but when it comes to seasonal changes, it’s obvious why an automatic waterer is one of the smartest choices.
This is not another article about how important fresh, clean water is for calves. Instead, this article focuses on why feeding water from day one is so vital. The "why" is rumen development and the long-term benefits for animal health and productivity.
For cattle producers who rely on wells in pastures and rangelands as a water source for their cattle, much time is spent checking water to make sure that windmills and submersible wells are delivering the water cattle need.
From a young age, Dean Swager has been an innovative farmer, thinking of ways to make improvements both large and small for the benefit of his cattle, his time and the milk and meat he produces.
Cattle producers obviously want to make money, but they must deal with bad markets that can be right around the corner, and they continue to be a drought or flood away from a financial crisis. So what is it that keeps them going? It must be in their blood. Why would they be in the business if they did not take pride in their cattle by wanting their cows to maintain body condition, their calves to grow, and all of the cattle having a healthy appearance?
