Christmas is a fine opportunity to reconnect with family, friends and neighbors, and to even reach out to those who are less fortunate. It’s a season that can really bring out the best in all of us. However, to do so, maybe we need a way to let off a little steam. Maybe we need to also give a slight nod to the worst parts of human nature as well.

At the 2025 Range Beef Cow Symposium, held in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jay Parsons with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) facilitated a panel discussion focused on rebuilding the cow herd.

Rotational stocking improves forage use, but it can't overcome the biological limits of pasture growth. Meeting animal demand requires aligning stocking rates with forage yield.

Tyler Cozzens, agricultural economist with the Livestock Marketing Information Center, shared an update on the global beef market, and Troy Applehans, a senior market analyst with CattleFax, also discussed the current state of the cattle markets and gave an outlook for 2026 at the 2025 Range Beef Cow Symposium held in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

On Dec. 4, the FDA conditionally approved Exzolt Cattle-CA1 (fluralener), a topical solution to prevent and treat infestations of New World screwworm (NWS) larvae and cattle fever tick. The drug is approved for use in beef cattle 2 months old and older and dairy heifers younger than 20 months.

Cow-calf producers often rely on calving systems shaped by their own experience or from the trusted advice of respected peers within the industry. These approaches can be highly individual and reflect a wide range of influencing factors, including regional climate conditions, herd size, available facilities and management goals.

Almost 50 years ago, my Christmas wish list had just one thing: The Marvelous Milking Machine. If you grew up in the '70s or early '80s, you might remember her better by her official name – Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow.