In a way, we can compare the New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak to a hurricane. We've known for a while that the likelihood was pretty high that we would have to deal with it. We still aren't certain exactly how it will impact our operations, but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to prepare in some ways.

Let's get right down to it: the what and whys of rat-tail syndrome (RTS) in cattle. This trait has been around for decades, and most ranchers and cattlemen are aware of it and can easily identify those tight, curly-haired little rascals at birth.

'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.

While most of us are either dodging rain or praying for it in the hayfield, fall will be here soon, and weaning time will sneak up on us again. Whether you ship your calves straight off the cow or choose to wean them, those days around weaning are key times for management decisions to be made and data to be collected. But not just for the calves, also for the cows.

Colostrum. Y’all know the story, or at least I thought I did. In the Southeast, calves are being born left and right, and out West, producers are gearing up for calving season. And while there are about 654,168,334 things to deal with in the middle of the calving season, colostrum could be one of the most important for the newborn calf.

Bottle teats can be more than just an inconvenience during calving; they can play a major role in the economic efficiency of that cow.

For ranching families, it is common for their household expenditures to be included in their operating budget and loan. With that, household budgets need to be managed differently for ranch families than for families who don’t utilize operating loans.

From gestation to the rail, there are things that will impact the calf’s success. Genetics, environment and management are among the biggest. However, before that calf is even born, their growth potential is defined by the total number of muscle fibers that develop in utero.