Consultants at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation work with livestock producers on ranch solutions related to their operations.

Cattle will naturally seek windbreaks in the winter. In cold weather, cattle require additional energy to maintain body temperature, and wind chill further increases energy demands.

For most cattle producers, culling cows is not an easy task. However, some culling needs to be done each year to maintain optimal productivity. Records on each cow’s yearly production would be beneficial when making culling decisions, but collecting information when cows are processed provides a good start. Cattlemen should make it a point to evaluate all breeding females at least once a year. Weaning is likely the most convenient time to do this evaluation.

Infectious diseases cost cattle producers millions of dollars each year through decreased performance, treatment costs and death loss.

Cattle-handling facilities are necessary for proper animal husbandry. Low-stress cattle-handling practices combined with good facilities will allow you to process cattle safely and efficiently.