January 25, 2023

January 25, 2023 Progressive Cattle digital magazine

January 25, 2023

What's new on the Progressive Cattle podcast

Have you checked out the Progressive Cattle podcast recently? If not, here are some of the current topics and events you’re missing.

January 5, 2023

Knowledge and networking await producers at NCBA 2023

January 10, 2023

Carrie Veselka

Producers can expect to hear the latest on production management and beef technology and get the latest industry market outlook at the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans, Feb. 1-3.

Cattle Q&A: Gearing up for GFI No. 263

January 5, 2023

Cassidy Woolsey

After June 11, 2023, producers will need a prescription from a licensed veterinarian to purchase the products listed by the FDA. This means the products will no longer be available for purchase from a retailer via e-commerce or at a brick-and-mortar retailer without a prescription from a veterinarian.

Fourth-quarter slaughter data raises 2022 projections

December 19, 2022

Russell Knight and Hannah Taylor

Beef production forecast for fourth-quarter 2022 is raised by 70 million pounds on higher expected total cattle slaughter, along with slightly heavier carcass weights. Total 2022 beef production is projected at 28.4 billion pounds, an increase of nearly 2% from 2021.

Checkoff Watch: Growing stronger, healthier kids with beef

Checkoff-funded nutrition and health research is connecting with new consumer audiences, from infants and toddlers to teenagers and beyond.

December 15, 2022

Angie Meyer

The beef checkoff’s nutrition and health research is not only driving more demand for beef – it’s also giving parents and health professionals the resources they need to help infants, toddlers and adolescents build healthy, strong minds and bodies.

More WOTUS changes implemented at close of 2022

January 10, 2023

Tyrell Marchant and David Cooper

The Biden administration issued a water law reversal on the last working day of 2022, creating further change in the longstanding issue of how to define navigable waters of the U.S., including streams, runoff and ponds used in agriculture.

Efficiency in growing and finishing beef cattle

Every producer is looking for the next edge in efficiency. But are the formulas the industry has relied on for so long the best math for every operation?

December 29, 2022

Heidi Rossow and Carl A. Old

Efficiency can be defined as achieving the greatest output with the least input; a commonly used measure is pounds of gain per pounds of feed, abbreviated as G/F.

Be prepared to assist during calving: Part 2

A veterinarian offers six best practices for safely pulling a calf.

January 9, 2023

Tony Hawkins

He only called when there was trouble, and just as I had guessed, he had a heifer trying to calve out at pasture, and “Things just aren’t good, doc.”

13 non-monetary incentives for ranch employees

Most people who work on a ranch don’t do it for the money. With that in mind, non-monetary incentives provided for employees who exceed expectations can be a great way to motivate and retain a great workforce.

December 21, 2022

Rick Machen and Dave DeLaney

Surveys of ranch employees indicate many forgo higher-paying jobs to pursue the culture and lifestyle that comes with ranching. Sure, wages and benefits are important, but ranch employees are motivated by means other than financial compensation.

The challenges and rewards of creating a USDA slaughterhouse

Creating a local or on-farm processing facility may seem out of reach, but some producers are finding success despite challenges such as capital investment, regulations and negative views from the public.

January 5, 2023

John O'Meara

With the price of cattle and beef often in flux, wise producers are always looking for ways to build financial resiliency. One way to capture the most value out of cattle is to process them and market the meat directly to customers.

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.

The environment is right to tell beef’s sustainability story

While it’s often frustrating to see how people view the livestock industry and its impact on the environment, cattlemen and cattlewomen hold a lot of power in the modern world to change public perception for good.

December 21, 2022

Joe Proudman

Finding information about meat isn’t really hard. If you’re involved and interested in the livestock sector, it is likely reflected in your news and social media feeds. You’re inundated with content about beef and other animal-sourced foods through social media, podcasts, newsletters and even face-to-face conversations.

Hiring for your farm or ranch during inflation

December 7, 2022

Karyn Moyer

Ag wages have seen an increase of seen an average of 15% to 20% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multibreed database serves commercial cattle industry

While International Genetic Solutions’ multibreed database is filled with purebred cattle, its primary purpose is to bolster the commercial industry. As the database grows, the result will be faster genetic progress for the commercial cow-calf producer.

December 27, 2022

Ryan Boldt and Jackie Atkins

Simply put, serving something bigger than oneself provides meaning and helps ensure integrity and satisfying work. International Genetic Solutions (IGS), a genetic service provider, doesn’t exist to serve individual breed associations but the commercial beef cattle producer.

Doing your homework to make bull buying easy

Few decisions have as big an impact on your operation as which bull to purchase. Given due attention to detail beforehand, that choice can pay both short- and long-term dividends.

January 17, 2023

Troy Rowan

Purchasing a bull is one of the most consequential decisions a cow-calf operation can make. Bulls play an outsized role in the long-term genetic progress of our herds, especially when females are retained.

Composite sires offer opportunity for seedstock and commercial producers

Composite and hybrid cattle are becoming more common and are increasingly offered at sales. Today, these crossbreds can compete alongside their purebred counterparts thanks to a greater understanding of heterosis and better genomic analysis.

January 9, 2023

Jaclyn Krymowski

As the genetics business becomes increasingly competitive, commercial cattlemen and seedstock producers are ramping up their efforts to market the most desired traits as efficiently as possible. Among the ways they have accomplished this is developing composite herd sires.

Set your herd up for success with year-round precision nutrition

The best nutrition plans are put in place with both cow and calf in mind. Whether the season calls for a focus on calving, raising a calf or rebreeding, precision nutrition should always remain top of mind.

January 9, 2023

Chris Cassady

The ideal cow is one that weans off a heavy calf each year, breeds back on time and doesn’t significantly add to the annual feed or vet bills.

The complicated web of feed ingredient approvals

In recent years, the review process for feed ingredients has become even slower and more cumbersome. What do producers need to know, and what can the cattle industry do to ensure a continued safe, nutritious and reliable feed supply?

January 18, 2023

Leah Wilkinson

As a cattle producer, you have many things to worry about on any given day, one of which is ensuring the feed you are receiving from your feed manufacturer is safe and high quality and provides the nutritional value it guarantees.

The importance of measuring feed efficiency in bred heifers

Measuring and understanding feed efficiency of feedlot steers has long been an indicator of profitability. But the female side of the equation may have just as much to do with ensuring a successful future of the beef cattle industry.

January 9, 2023

Phillip R. Myer, Brandon Beavers, and Gabbi Martin

We all have heard the common concern facing global food security: The demand for a high-quality protein source is expected to increase with a rapidly increasing population.

Getting the most out of your hay

Take these steps to make sure the hay you're feeding is not only the most nutritious for your cattle but also the most profitable for your operation.

December 28, 2022

Shannon Williams

If you are feeding livestock, you know that the price of hay has gone up. Even if you raised your own hay, the cost to produce that hay has increased.

Taking a good, hard look at minerals

Forage testing is obviously important for achieving optimal livestock nutrition. But understanding the relationships between different minerals is just as vital as knowing the raw numbers.

December 29, 2022

Woody Lane

Let’s look at a forage test report – particularly at the levels of minerals. Lots of interesting numbers. Here are some things to consider when I look at those numbers.

Joe C. King & Sons Ranch of Montana elevates rangeland health

January 15, 2023

Heather Smith Thomas

For the past 50 years, the Joe C. King & Sons Ranch has operated with the belief that their corner of central Montana is best left as native range where cattle, wildlife and landscape act in a mutually beneficial and sustainable system.

Gregory Feedlots: Standing out with customer service and conservation

January 4, 2023

Abigail George

Cattle come from across the U.S. to Gregory Feedlots because producers know the customer service and end product they will receive is superior.

Good bacteria: The answer to clostridium

How can producers help cattle survive and thrive against opportunistic pathogens? When bacterial pathogens like clostridium are the issue, proper utilization of good bacteria can be a powerful answer.

January 9, 2023

Octavio Guimaraes, Steve Lerner, and Jennifer Schutz

Clostridium is a genus of anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria. These organisms can be found in soil and in the intestinal tracts of many, if not all, animals, birds and humans.

Histophilosis-caused issues in feedlot cattle

H. somni can be difficult to detect and treat and can cause a variety of clinical syndromes in feedlot cattle including pneumonia, thrombotic meningoencephalitis (TME), reproductive disease, joint infections and more.

January 4, 2023

Richard Linhart

Although feedlot cattle of any age are potentially at risk, H. somni is more common in recently weaned and/or shipped cattle.

Unraveling the diverse aspects of pain mitigation

Cattle producers understand procedures such as castration and dehorning cause pain. But while research continues, questions like "How intense is the pain, how can we measure it, and what can be done about it?" still lack concrete answers.

December 21, 2022

Bruce Derksen

Currently, the use of pain mitigation in beef cattle is sporadic at best. With limited approved and labeled drug product options available to alleviate the effects of procedures such as castration and dehorning, it’s difficult to navigate the various pressure points and establish a realistic path forward.

Veterinarians offer advice on resuscitating newborn calves

When faced with a weak or unresponsive calf, producers can clear airways using methods such as acupuncture or tickling the calf's nose to stimulate breathing. Artificial respiration, similar to CPR in humans, is another option.

January 4, 2023

Heather Smith Thomas

After a hard birth, some calves are dull or even unconscious from oxygen shortage and fail to start breathing. But there are things producers can do to help calves start breathing.

4 steps to decrease winter carrying cost of the cow herd

Consider all costs of supplementing the herd – the supplement itself, fuel, equipment, labor, etc. Sometimes what looks cheaper may not be when all costs are considered.

October 28, 2022

Billy Whitehurst

Sometimes what looks cheaper may not be when all costs are considered.

Irons in the Fire: Weather I like it or not

January 4, 2023

Paul Marchant

I seem to have a chronic ailment. I complain about the weather. I don’t know if there’s a true scientific declaration (climatological whine-itis?) regarding this syndrome, but I promise you it’s real.

Across the Fence: For the love of Pete

January 10, 2023

Marci Whitehurst

My husband’s grandfather went by the name Pete. It wasn’t his given name, and no one seems to know for sure where he got it or when it started. Pete was as amazing as they come: the perfect blend of gentleman, comic and hard worker. His kindness radiated out of his sparkling eyes.

Money well spent

January 10, 2023

Cassidy Woolsey

Seventy-two percent. That’s the average return on investment the flyer in my mailbox was promising if I installed new windows.

South Central: Growth – which trait and how much?

January 5, 2023

Jason Banta

During the bull selection process, growth traits receive a lot of attention.

West: Shopping season: Get ready to purchase bulls

January 23, 2023

Meranda Small

Though it’s only February and many are dialed in on calving season, producers remain looking forward to the next management task and next calf crop.

Midwet/North: Managing and adapting your new herd sire

January 20, 2023

Travis Meteer

While picking out the next herd sire is important, knowing how to adapt and manage a new herd sire is paramount to its success.

Southeast: Burning warm-season hayfields

December 29, 2022

Kim Mullenix

Although we don’t discuss burning warm-season perennial pastures and hayfields as much anymore as a management tool, fire is one of nature’s ways of preparing for renewal.

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