As we get closer to spring and begin to think about green grass and grazing cattle, it is a good time to evaluate your mineral supplementation program. It takes more than just energy and protein to ensure optimal health and performance of beef cattle.

One of the most common topics discussed when feeding pasture and breeding cattle is protein. Producers are concerned with crude protein in their hays, pastures, supplements and so on.

Minerals have jobs in nearly every biological process that occurs in the cow’s body – from the ability to get the cow bred, to bone and muscle growth of both cow and calf, to successful calving of a heathy calf.

The summer heat can be hard on pastures, cows and calves, especially first-calf cows. These cows are in a special class as they are still trying to maintain body condition, actively grow, support reproduction by gestating with a second calf and lactating.

I’m proud to say I was a vocational student, even though the rest of my high school looked down on us, and we were quarantined far from the regular campus.

It was a fairly nice day for Cut Bank in early April. A little breeze blowin’ off the reservation, the sun about the color of skimmed milk and the creek startin’ to show the runoff.

What exactly are expected progeny differences (EPDs) and what information do they really offer producers? Genetic specialists Alison Van Eenennam from the University of California – Davis and Matt Spangler from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln teamed up for the first of four webinars focused on beef genetics that were sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and eBEEF team.

Rabobank’s Dairy Quarterly Q1 Report provides a current snapshot of seven major dairy regions of the world, as well as things to watch for in the second and third quarters of 2018.

Some dairy producers could see total 2018 Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) premium payments recouped within two months.