Given how little the American public wanders into an honest discussion about its food policy, when a news story does broach the topic, you have to pay attention.

The Feb. 23, 2016 Drought Monitor showed a spotty increase in D0 Abnormally Dry and D1 Moderate Dry areas in most of the U.S. east of the Basin and range of the West – a major improvement, however, from this time last year, with most of cattle country experiencing favorable weather and improved forage conditions in the first quarter of 2016, allowing cattle to stay on pasture for longer periods.

Inevitably, at some point in your employment duration, you will ask yourself, “Is it time for me to make a job change?”

Research at South Dakota State University has examined the effect cow nutrition has on meat quality of their offspring. SDSU Extension meat specialist Amanda Blair and graduate students fed 140 cows either a positive energy diet or a negative energy diet during mid-gestation.

You’ve likely heard the mantra that six small meals a day are better than three large meals a day. Think about a time when you’ve had multiple snack-sized meals throughout the day – perhaps a Super Bowl party or potluck.

Antibiotic use is a big issue today in cattle production. Consumers have concerns about the way antibiotics are used in livestock production but sometimes confuse the problem of antibiotic resistance (which is a crucial issue for stockmen).

Several years ago, regulations were considered on the issue of feedyard dust. However, the question remains: Is feedyard dust really that big of an issue? And if so, how can operators help to minimize this issue?

Beef production practices continue to focus on animal comfort and stress reduction.

The Veterinary Feed Directive has been in the news a great deal lately. Even in this magazine, several articles discussing the provisions of this new rule have been published already this year. One important issue, however, has not been frequently discussed.

The scenic environment around Kaczmarek Herefords may be a bit remote from traditional cattle country. But when buyers go there, they typically find just what they’re looking for.