For generations, managing beef cattle across the vast and rugged landscapes of the American West has relied on traditional stockmanship and an intimate knowledge of the land. Now, new technologies are available to augment these established practices, offering producers a more detailed, real-time view of their herds.

For the first time in years, you felt that you could take the family on vacation this summer. It seemed like a fun idea at the time when you bought the tickets to the amusement park. Standing in line, listening to the screams and seeing the cars go flying by on the roller coaster have you second-guessing life’s decisions. Just keep reminding yourself that it will all be over in a few minutes.

As it always is, the 2025 edition of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium – hosted June 9-12 in Amarillo, Texas, by West Texas A&M University – delivered boatloads of cutting-edge research results and practical applications of genetic tools.

Artificial insemination as a regular practice may seem out of reach on your operation, but this floor- and ceiling-raising technology is more affordable and easier to access than ever before.

We’ve made it through another breeding season, and the constant hot temperatures are in full swing. The “dog days of summer” not only take a toll on your mood, but also become a consistent stressor to the cow herd.

If you have ever tried to recall where you wrote down a cow’s tag number or decipher pen marks on the back of your hand after a long day of processing cattle, you know the frustrations of recordkeeping. Recordkeeping isn’t always the easiest task, but it plays an important role in informing management decisions.

Two employees are having a conversation about work, and one mentions that they heard that a co-worker of theirs is having marriage problems. A lengthy conversation, based mostly on unfounded information, ensues. One of those employees then tells the rest of the employees about all the personal struggles their co-worker is experiencing.

In today’s robust market, cattle producers have flexibility as aspects of the market are thriving, cattle prices are at a record high, and producers are witnessing a positive shift in revenues. When conditions are favorable, the critical question arises: What comes next?

After more than 15 years of practicing in a large-animal clinic, a veterinarian pinpoints three herd health issues on which producers can take action to add pounds to their calves and efficiency to their operations.