Progressive Cattle

Managing cow size, bull selection in rangeland operations

It’s often assumed that bigger cows will wean bigger calves. However, the biggest cattle aren’t always the most profitable. Follow these steps to determine the best kind of cattle for your ranch.

January 9, 2026

David Bohnert

Over the past several decades, beef cows have quietly gotten bigger. In 1975, the average beef cow weighed just over 1,000 pounds; by 2009, that number had jumped to 1,350 pounds, and today, many herds include cows tipping the scales at 1,400 pounds or more.

Give your calves a sure start to a productive life

To give your calves a leg up for the rest of their lives, make sure they are getting adequate nutrition in utero and in the hours and days immediately after birth.

January 8, 2026

Chris Cassady

Few seasons on the ranch inspire more optimism than calving time. With calf prices at historic highs, every live and healthy calf represents not just an animal, but a major financial asset.

New dietary guidelines push for twice the protein

January 7, 2026

David Cooper

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2025-30 make a direct push for whole, nutrient-dense foods, specifically protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits and whole grains, while reducing highly processed refined carbs, added sugars and sodium. Recommendations for daily protein intake were doubled from the previous 2020-25 version.

What your mother never told you about the 21-day cortisol surge in cattle

The 21-day cortisol surge in cattle, triggered by stressors such as weaning and transport, impairs immunity, weight gain and vaccine response. Understanding and managing this ancient biological response can improve cattle health and industry efficiency.

January 7, 2026

Blaine N. Ellison

The 21-day cortisol surge in stressed cattle is a common problem that costs the combined beef and dairy sectors millions of dollars annually in mortality, morbidity, drug and labor costs, and impaired efficiencies in animals. And, yet, this inescapable reality is poorly understood and seldom planned for in producer protocols.

Managing risk in the modern cattle cycle: What resilient operators are doing

Resilient cattle operators prioritize risk management, financial discipline and strategic investments. They track costs, use risk tools, maintain liquidity, stress-test scenarios and build strong lender relationships to navigate market volatility and ensure long-term success.

January 6, 2026

Josh Davis and Todd Moore

Beef producers today are navigating one of the most dynamic environments in recent memory, with many unpredictable variables positioned to influence the next phase of the market cycle.

Prepare for difficult calvings now

No matter the size of your beef cattle operation, there are some universal steps that can help you and your cows be ready when a difficult birth comes.

January 5, 2026

John O'Meara

The most rewarding time on a ranch is the time of new life – newborn calves hitting the ground. Calves have resiliency and spirit and often thrive even when born in the wrong circumstances or weather. Still, any beef producer will have the occasional calf who was stuck or had some other mishap that requires extra care.

Recordkeeping for calving season

During calving season, efficient recordkeeping is crucial. Use up-to-date systems, plan ahead and ensure all team members collect consistent details such as the calf ID, the name of the dam, the calf's birth date and other specific observations for better herd management.

January 5, 2026

Terrell Miller

Calving season is a time for renewed growth and is a product of planning and ensuring the continued growth of the ranch and the cattle industry. You know keeping records is important, but what does that look like at calving time?

Adding value to calves with vaccinations

Vaccinations offer more than just the promise of better immunity. They are the foundation of both health and profit in today’s cow-calf operations.

January 2, 2026

Brian Beer, Amber Starnes, and Lee Van Vlake

While disease prevention remains the primary purpose of vaccine programs, a well-designed vaccination protocol is now an essential marketing strategy for producers selling calves into value-added and graded feeder sales.

Finding the right bull for the ranch

There is no bull that fits every operation perfectly. Here are some keys to finding which bull might work for you and how to give the bulls on your place the best chance of success.

January 2, 2026

Megan Van Emon

Although some ranchers haven’t started calving yet, it’s never too early to consider what bull(s) you’re going to use during the next breeding season.

Getting that next calf

Maintaining a yearly calving interval is crucial. Key factors affecting rebreeding are postpartum interval, uterine involution, suckling effect and especially cow nutrition and body condition. Proper management ensures reproductive success and herd productivity.

January 1, 2026

Kalyn Waters

'Tis the season of one of the many seasons on the ranch. Many times, it seems like all the seasons run together. You have calving season, branding season, breeding season, hay season, weaning and shipping, and then before you know it, you’re into calving season again.

Progressive Dairy

Progressive Dairy Canada

PD Canada en Francais