Jordan Thomas

Waiting for ships to come in: Rethinking ranch profitability

Producers who simply hope for profitability, rather than demand and plan for it, are missing opportunities as managers.

September 6, 2023

Aren’t we often waiting for something to happen, dreaming of some future set of circumstances that we hope will make our operation profitable?

Timing of weaning: How should we think about it?

If producers are weaning calves based on a date on the calendar, they might be overlooking just how much leverage they have to control costs simply with the timing of weaning.

April 26, 2023

Jordan Thomas

Our decision on when to wean calves is an incredibly powerful lever we have as managers. How should we make the decision on when to wean?

7 & 7 Synch: Is trying to maximize A.I. pregnancy rates worth it?

A new protocol recommended for beef cows offers greater heat responses and improved pregnancy rates to fixed-time A.I. with conventional or sexed semen. Is it worth considering using it in your herd?

January 30, 2023

Jordan Thomas

Whether you are striving to raise elite seedstock or high-quality commercial calves, a major goal of your operation is – or should be – getting as many cows pregnant as early in the breeding season as possible.

Controlling cow replacement costs

When trying to control the cost of replacement females, we often think only about how cheaply we can develop heifers. But the cost we should be focused on controlling in a cow-calf enterprise is really cow depreciation.

January 4, 2023

Jordan Thomas

It’s time to talk more about controlling replacement costs from the perspective of the cow-calf enterprise.

Cow-calf theater: How much is for show?

September 26, 2022

Jordan Thomas

When lecturing to the beef production capstone course in the division of animal sciences at the University of Missouri, I like to ask uncomfortable questions.

Considering costs: Should you invest more in reproductive management?

February 24, 2022

Jordan Thomas

Have you ever sat down and figured out what it costs to breed a cow? It might seem like an easy number to calculate, since we can add up all of our natural service bull purchases and subtract out the salvage value of any bulls sold.

What problems are we causing ourselves this calving season?

December 24, 2021

Jordan Thomas

Sometimes I wonder what cow-calf production in the U.S. would look like if we all spent more time with books in our hands instead of tools.

Playing with house money: Integrating enterprises for greater return on equity

August 24, 2021

Jordan Thomas

Imagine you are playing a betting game and you have brought $20 you are willing to bet. The odds for the game are 4 to 1. If you aren’t familiar with fractional odds, this means that winning the bet would make you 4 x $20, or $80.

Should you ‘hate’ your cows? Flexible stocking rates

March 24, 2021

Jordan Thomas

The late Bud Williams had a quote something along these lines: “Ranchers love their cows and hate their grass. They need to learn to love their grass and hate their cows.”

Short-term focus and long-term problems

February 24, 2021

Jordan Thomas

Did you know there is a difference between economics and finance? If you are not familiar with the distinction, here it is in simple terms: Economics is about whether we should do something, and finance is about whether we can do something.

Progressive Dairy

Progressive Dairy Canada

PD Canada en Francais

Progressive Cattle

Progressive Cattle Canada

Progressive Forage

Agproud Idaho

Home

Jordan Thomas

ARTICLES

Waiting for ships to come in: Rethinking ranch profitability

Timing of weaning: How should we think about it?

7 & 7 Synch: Is trying to maximize A.I. pregnancy rates worth it?

Controlling cow replacement costs

Cow-calf theater: How much is for show?

Considering costs: Should you invest more in reproductive management?

What problems are we causing ourselves this calving season?

Playing with house money: Integrating enterprises for greater return on equity

Should you ‘hate’ your cows? Flexible stocking rates

Short-term focus and long-term problems

Heat and sun safety on the farm

A closer look: Reading the mineral tag

How rising temperatures are affecting dairy cow fertility in Canada

FREE NEWSLETTERS

SUBSCRIBE to Leading Industry Magazines

I'm looking for ________

[Podcast] What it takes to raise great heifers and build a winning team culture with Jason Shamburg and Nic Schoenberger