Bull buying season is in full swing. When selecting bulls, one thing that is often overlooked but deserves consideration is the way in which the bulls were developed.

We live in an information-savvy world and industry. Information has come to be expected for use in decision-making processes. We have access to more information on individual beef animals than ever before.

Calving season decisions should be made based on labor availability, feed resources, cow nutrient demand, weather patterns and seasonal cattle markets.

February is marked by the beginning of bull sales out West. The western region of the U.S. has some of the top seedstock producers for many breeds used across the nation. However, before going to a sale, you should do your homework to ensure you know what you are looking for, how much the animal is worth and what you are willing to pay.

In last month’s roundup, I made the statement that it is important to focus on only the most important things in each scenario and not get overwhelmed trying to look at every expected progeny difference (EPD), index or performance information for a bull.

Preparation is critical to having a successful calving season. Step 1 of preparation begins by establishing a controlled breeding and calving season that works best with your operation, and is vital to the profitability and sustainability of your cattle business.

As we gear up for calving season, now is a good time to consider what information we should be collecting to help us make informed decisions about the future of the cow herd.

The most stressful period of a calf’s life are its first 14 days and, in the West, those first two weeks can be especially stressful during the bitterly cold winter.

Spring bull sale season is starting. This article will focus on bull buying considerations for commercial producers, but many of the items discussed also apply to seedstock producers for theirs and their customers’ needs.

Challenges? Everyone’s got them. We certainly have them in the Southeast. Before covering the challenges, let’s mention some of the positives of cattle production in our region.