It’s a nice, sunny day – perfect for a trail ride with your horse. You sink into the saddle in pure relaxation. Then, suddenly, a horse fly lands on your horse’s rear end.

Many ranchers raise polled cattle, but several breeds are noted for large horns (Longhorns, Watusi, Scotch Highlanders, etc.) and never dehorned.

Reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination (A.I.) and estrous synchronization (ES) can provide measurable value in the right situation – but often are dismissed as too complicated or logistically challenging to employ.

High corn prices, byproduct costs and other feed expenses can create challenges for cattle feeders and the beef industry.

Climate change, caused in part by release of greenhouse gases, is a frequent topic for discussion and debate. Greenhouse gases of concern are primarily carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

The events of 2020 hit the custom processing sector like a sledgehammer. In addition to the struggles faced by all small businesses, custom meat processors found themselves in a unique bind as larger plants were forced to slow or even shut down, and producers flocked to smaller businesses to get their animals harvested.

Ranchers who have been producing beef for a while are aware of the cyclical nature of the business.