Adjustments to grazing system has paid off for this South Dakota ranch “The year 2000 is when we started making some changes,” recalls South Dakota rancher Pat Guptill.

As cattle producers adjust their herd management strategies to reflect current market changes, many ranchers are turning to DNA technology to mitigate risk and take the guesswork out of important selection, breeding and marketing decisions.

Mid-season pasture improvement tips DuPont range and pasture specialists offer these regional strategies for making mid-season pasture and rangeland improvements:

Restoring pasture health is a long-term project Dry weather impacted many areas last summer and is still working on different regions of the country with limited or no rainfall. Cattlemen usually are very respectful of the grass that feeds the stock, trying not to harm the land while maintaining stocking rates that will allow ranchers to be profitable.

Taking an active approach to managing your pastures is the best way to ensure they are highly productive. In today’s challenging grazing environment, making the most of grazing options is critical to stretching input and feed dollars and maximizing profits.

Fall is the most economical time to help spring-calving cows regain body condition and prepare for their third trimesters.

Occasionally, a cow loses a calf at birth or a calf loses its mother, and you need to “graft” the orphan or a substitute calf onto another cow to raise.

Beef quantity and quality importance are on the rise. Feedlots, packing plants and end consumers are demanding higher-quality meat, which means there is a need for more efficient feeder calves.

As one of the five distinct geographical areas in Texas, east Texas is primarily comprised of the Piney Woods ecoregion, but also includes part of the Gulf Coast Prairies, Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairies ecoregions.