Livestock represent only 3.6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and specifically, cattle represent only 20 percent of the methane production in the U.S. Methane production by cattle results in a loss of 2 to 12 percent of the gross energy consumed by the animal.

The advantages of multi-species grazing far surpass the disadvantages. However, it is important beef producers compare both to determine if this system fits their operation and their goals and objectives.

Grazing cattle and sheep together isn’t something you see all that often in today’s agriculture production.

Our lameness research team at Iowa State University, comprised of faculty members Drs. Paul Plummer, Pat Gorden and Jan Shearer, and graduate students Drs. Adam Krull and John Coatney, has been actively studying digital dermatitis for the past six years.

In the February and March issues of Progressive Cattleman, I shared with you my top 10 beef cow-calf nutrition myths. In this issue are the first five of my top 10 beef cow-calf management myths. Click here to read part 2.

Reproductive performance is one of the most critical points which is highly correlated with sufficient production in cattle enterprises. Market demands and the need for efficiency increase the need for a high, predicted and uniform calf crop.

“We know that nighttime temperature is very important,” says Don Spiers. “If it doesn’t drop below 70ºF at night, cattle start getting too hot.” Heat is cumulative, and if they can’t dissipate heat into the cooler night air, their body temperature will slowly rise during a multi-day heat wave.

Heat stress – and subsequent loss of production from lower weight gain, increased health issues and death loss – costs cattle producers millions of dollars each summer.

When taking into account the effects of stress on human health, it is not hard to comprehend that stress affects animals similarly.

As a result of the increased concern about the development of bacterial populations resistant to therapeutic use of antibiotics, more cow-calf and feedlot operations are exploring cattle production without the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP).