Recent research from multiple labs suggests some of the most expensive stressors cows experience are the ones we don’t see.

It’s typical for newly weaned or sale barn-acquired calves to experience multiple stressors simultaneously when brought onto the farm. This might be the first time those animals are introduced to new feeds. In addition to the new diet, there is a new home along with new penmates and a social hierarchy. These changes then can compound on top of the stress of removing the calf from their dam.

Fall is a wonderful season for agriculture and a time to, hopefully, reap the bounty of the year’s production.

Moving calves from the hutches to group pens isn’t just stressful for the calves. Workers know that when a new group of calves moves into the group pen, the calves have a much greater risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) or pneumonia.

Inflammation is a complex biological response triggered by the immune system in response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, tissue injury, or stress. In mammals, including beef cattle, understanding the inflammatory response is of utmost importance as it can have significant implications for health, productivity, and overall well-being.

Winter can take a toll on your sleep, stress and energy levels. Keep in mind that your cows are experiencing at least equal levels of stress. 

As the much-anticipated lull in calf numbers settles down upon us, flashbacks to middle school lessons on supply and demand jog our memory as cattle prices continue to soar to new highs each month.

In the dairy industry, corn silage is often fed to gestating and lactating cows. In big dairy states such as Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, corn silage production and feeding has been optimized by forage and dairy producers alike.

It’s no secret that reproductive success is the most influential factor determining profitability in beef production. If a cow doesn’t produce a live calf, the operator is left holding the bag of her annual production cost without an opportunity for a return.