The 2017 U.S. commercial beef production forecast was reduced almost 150 million pounds from the previous month to 26.4 billion pounds on fewer fourth-quarter steer and heifer marketings and lighter carcass weights.

Imagine a scenario where people would go into a fast-food or fast-casual restaurant and, after gazing at the menu, they decide to order the No. 2 Cull-Cow Burger combo with fries and a milkshake. Then, after sitting down, the person eating says, “This cull cow is really good.”

Another year has come and gone and, as we gear up for another calving season, now is a good time to reflect on the challenges of last year and consider implementing some alternatives to make improvements this year.

The new year signifies the perfect time to start thinking about ways to reduce costs associated with our spring-calving herds. In grazing operations, supplementation is necessary to meet production goals (i.e., biological and economic). However, feeding cows represents the largest expense for most cow-calf operations.

Information is king. If we don’t know the quality of our hay, we won’t know if it meets the nutrient needs of the animals eating it.

With the start of a new year, there are at least minor changes to the federal estate tax, and there is the potential for massive reform in Congress. Everyone should take time to understand the current and any new estate tax law and to evaluate his or her estate to determine if estate tax liability may be an issue.

Cattle producers attending the 25th annual Cattlemen’s College held in Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 30-31 can look forward to a good educational experience this year. This year’s Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, will kick off the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Phoenix.

At one point or another, nearly every cattleman will experience the not-so-joyous occasion of twins on the ranch. Understanding the cause and effect of this phenomenon can help breeders make decisions to impact a herd’s long-term reproductive success.

Recent headlines read, “World Health Organization calls for ban on preventative uses of antibiotics in livestock.” Product labels and even restaurant menus read, “raised without antibiotics.”