Every five years or so, most of the major beef processors in the U.S. are audited, sampling 10 percent of a fed or non-fed beef plant’s kill and funded by the Beef Checkoff.

My cattle wintered well, and I had a nice calf crop this spring, but the heat and humidity of summer here in south Texas makes me anxious for a nice rain.

Since the recently enacted changes in the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules, there is renewed interest in creating or improving the producer’s relationship with their veterinarian, which is surprising to me at least – I usually have a good relationship with my cattle vet.

Far south, along the Rio Grande on the U.S. and Mexican border, there is a reminder of one of the most successful livestock parasite eradication programs in the U.S., if not the world – the USDA Fever Tick Eradication Program.

We have an abundance of cattle breeds in the U.S. Often it is easier to speak of them as types based on their country or region of origin and their similarities of original or current use.