May 25, 2025

May 25, 2023 Progressive Cattle digital magazine

May 25, 2023

Beef production raised on higher fed cattle slaughter

April 25, 2023

The forecast for first-quarter beef production is lowered 25 million pounds, based on USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports of federally inspected livestock slaughter, showing a slower pace of fed cattle slaughter and lower aggregate carcass weights than expected last month.

Proposed BLM rule could change priorities for public lands

April 10, 2023

Tyrell Marchant

The U.S. Department of the Interior on March 30 published a proposal that could shift priorities on 245 million acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The rule would likely mark a sizable shift in BLM practices; according to an agency statement, it intends to put “conservation on equal footing with other uses,” which it says is “consistent with the BLM’s multiple use and sustained yield mission.”

Consultants in the beef industry: Unlocking the fit

With the massive amount of information, news and data beef producers face, many search for outside help to maintain priorities. Consultants, whether industry, independent or governmental, all feature their unique brand of expertise to help cut through the noise.

April 20, 2023

Bruce Derksen

Farmers and ranchers are continually flooded with vast amounts of new information and data they must somehow decipher and use as a foundation for critical decision-making.

Nonprobate transfers: Planning pays off

The complexities and expenses associated with probates vary. However, the good news is that many assets can pass outside of the probate process if the decedent planned ahead.

April 26, 2023

Garrett Couts

With proper planning, you can potentially help your loved ones avoid the need for a courthouse visit when your life adventure ends. Many assets can pass outside of the probate process if the decedent planned ahead.

Genomic testing: The past, present and future

The history of genetic evaluation in the beef cattle industry is relatively brief, but the discoveries made in that time provide invaluable information that should enable advances in the industry far into the future.

April 20, 2023

Ali Luety

The foundations for beef cattle genomic testing began over a century ago, when forward-thinking breed associations started collecting pedigree and phenotypic data on registered animals. Breeders studied pedigrees, aspiring to create matings that would yield more valuable animals with desirable physical traits.

Tips for success when starting an A.I. program

The success of an A.I. program depends on a number of variables. Developing a specific 'equation of reproduction' for your ranch will go a long way toward implementing a strong, profitable program.

April 26, 2023

Dan Busch

As with everything in the beef industry, there is no magical potion or protocol that will guarantee achieving maximum success with an A.I. program in all management scenarios.

Getting show cattle ready for the fair

There’s a lot more to getting your calves show-ready than making sure they’re fat. Here are some key considerations to make sure they perform both in the show ring and the real world.

May 16, 2023

Chris Cassady

There’s nothing quite like the county fair. It’s one of those places where your senses come alive with the sights, sounds and smells that will develop into a lifetime of memories.

Lessons learned: Planning for future feed shortages

If recent experience has taught us anything, it’s that the cattle industry should anticipate feed shortages and that producers can have a plan in place to continue thriving when those shortages arrive.

April 24, 2023

Stephen B. Blezinger

A cattle operation's feeding and nutrition program is the single-largest ongoing production expense and the one that may require the greatest amount of time, focus and planning to manage. It may also be the most variable, depending on the region and operations themselves.

Managing minerals during summer grazing months

It can be difficult to ensure your cattle get the proper nutrients when they’re out on grazing pasture. But steps can be taken to give them a better chance of getting the nutrition they need.

April 10, 2023

Chance Farmer

The main factor determining cow herd profitability is optimal reproduction. Furthermore, nutrition is the main factor in determining reproductive success. Energy and protein nutrition are paramount in this endeavor, and mineral nutrition is vitally important as well.

Before rebuilding the cattle herd, focus on rebuilding pastures

Even the most pessimistic prognosticators point toward favorable conditions in the cattle market through the coming years. Now is the opportune time to get your pastures back in shape.

May 20, 2023

Jeff Clark

Herd rebuilding or expansion must start with enabling grazing land to support the additional animals over the long term.

The opportunities and challenges of grazing sudangrass and sorghum-sudan hybrids

Producers interested in grazing sudangrass and sorghum-sudan hybrids should be aware of its potential risks and how to mitigate them.

April 7, 2023

John O'Meara

Successful beef producers maximize available pasture. Planting annual forages is a time-tested way to increase yield per acre for a grazing herd of cattle.

Rethinking grazing management rules of thumb in drought years

Some grazing practices that may have seemed like common sense in years past may not be so efficacious in times of drought.

April 24, 2023

Keith Harmoney and Jason M. Warner

2022 was a challenging year regarding precipitation throughout much of the Central and Western portions of the U.S. Many major cow-calf production regions, particularly in the central and southern Plains, are continuing to experience drought.

Internal parasites wreak havoc on more than growth rates

Growth, milk production, immune function and reproduction can all be compromised with internal parasites. An effective deworming program is critical for an efficient operation.

April 26, 2023

Grant Crawford

Cattle producers invest their time and resources in the best vaccination protocols and nutritional programs. However, these efforts are not fully utilized without an effective deworming strategy. Why?

Help nix the culex mosquito that transmits 3 of 5 core equine diseases, and more

Help prevent mosquitoes from spreading disease to horses, livestock and humans through physical deterrents and appropriate vaccinations.

May 25, 2023

Aimee Robinson

For your horses and livestock, hang fans to keep mosquitoes out of your barns. You also can deploy proven mosquito prevention products to do all that you can to control them and the risks they can pose to your family and animals.

The key to measuring the livestock industry’s warming impact

A new metric for measuring methane emissions, GWP*, paints a clearer picture of animal agriculture’s true role in warming the planet and offers promise of the industry’s ability to achieve climate neutrality.

April 18, 2023

Frank Mitloehner

To paraphrase Peter Drucker, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Ever since the business guru shared his words of wisdom, the principle has become integral to effectively running an organization. But who knew it also applies to animal agriculture, methane emissions and global warming?

Iowa woman continues family legacy, adds direct-to-consumer marketing

May 15, 2023

Abigail George

At 26 years old, Lillie Beringer is a full-time, third-generation farmer from Cascade, Iowa, taking over her grandparents’ farm. Though she is one of 26 grandchildren, she is the only one with dreams of keeping the farm going.

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?

Heat stress toolbox: Preparing cattle for summer

Producers should know the signs and remedies to help cattle cope with heat and maintain their health.

April 20, 2023

Heidi Doering-Resch

Going from the winter lows to summer highs often leaves cattle without the proper coping mechanisms. Seeing the signs of heat stress and being prepared can help your cattle recover in a safe manner and allow you to mitigate performance and economic loss before it becomes largely impactful.

Design and management is key with monoslope barns

Design elements including ventilation and planned pen density, along with good management practices, make monoslope barns a good option for beef operations.

May 9, 2023

Beth Doran and Kris Kohl

Monoslope barns are common in the Upper Midwest and particularly in northwestern Iowa. Initially, they were built to control manure runoff and comply with new environmental regulations.

Irons in the Fire: And I wonder why my dog is nuts

May 3, 2023

Paul Marchant

In keeping with tradition and, well, what most of us know, the talk usually circles around to calving season, haying season, crazy cows or stupid dogs. Livestock-related topics are always welcome.

Across the Fence: Tired attire

Cowboy accessories and spring/summer cleaning

April 26, 2023

Marci Whitehurst

Many of us live in places where the weather may change at the blink of an eye. We may have four layers on in the morning, but by afternoon, we have shed three of them: our “I’m warming up” layer, our “It’s past midmorning” layer and our “Dang, it’s a different climate” layer, which leads to …

To everything there is a season

May 23, 2023

Carrie Veselka

To me, June is the most hopeful month of summer. If I had a magic eight ball, it would say “Outlook good” in June.

South-Central: Feed-through insecticides for horn flies

May 3, 2023

Jason Banta

Horn flies, stable flies, house flies and face flies can all be a challenge for cattle and cattle producers.

West: Grazing season: Monitoring forage supply

May 3, 2023

Meranda Small

While many cattle producers have seasons of experience telling them how many cattle a tract of land can hold during the grazing months, it could still prove to be of benefit to have a reminder of how to determine how many animals the land can support, i.e., determine a proper stocking rate.

Midwest/North: Is creep feeding worth it?

May 22, 2023

Travis Meteer

Feed cost, labor cost and availability, equipment cost and availability, calf marketing strategy, herd genetics, forage availability and cow age are all factors to consider when deciding to creep feed.

Southeast: Making baleage work in cow-calf operations

May 12, 2023

Kim Mullenix

Many producers in the southeast U.S. have made the switch to making baleage or use both hay and baleage as stored forage in their operations during the year.

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