Heterosis (hybrid vigor) has great value in beef production. Research shows 25 percent more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed to a bull when crossbred cows produce crossbred calves.

Most cows and heifers progress normally through the stages of labor – uterine contractions in early labor get the calf aimed toward the birth canal, the cervix dilates, and the calf starts through.

Christmas is the celebration of the most important event in history – the birth of Christ. At Christmastime, we pause in thankful remembrance, realizing all the things this event means in our lives today.

Producers don’t have control over weather and some of the other variables that affect cattle health, including how an animal responds to vaccines (white cell response and cell-mediated immunity).

Cattle have a large digestive tract, holding many gallons of feed or fluid. Bodyweight may vary depending on whether the tract is full or empty. This will depend on time of day, how much the animal has eaten or exercised, or how far it has been hauled.

“We know that nighttime temperature is very important,” says Don Spiers. “If it doesn’t drop below 70ºF at night, cattle start getting too hot.” Heat is cumulative, and if they can’t dissipate heat into the cooler night air, their body temperature will slowly rise during a multi-day heat wave.

Heat stress – and subsequent loss of production from lower weight gain, increased health issues and death loss – costs cattle producers millions of dollars each summer.

The cattle industry has been moving toward improvements in low-stress handling, better ways to manage cattle.