Departments

Southeast: Managing calves into the summer

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From rising heat and humidity to increased pressure from parasites, this time of year can greatly impact calf health and performance, but with proactive management, producers can navigate these challenges, setting their calves up for a successful future.

Southeast: Managing grazing to make the most of pasture

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:33 -0400

There are many factors that influence grazing management decisions, and often it comes down to a grazier’s observation of a pasture system and how it responds to grazing decisions.

South Central: Horn fly control options

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There is no perfect strategy for controlling horn flies, and the most successful strategies generally require more than one approach.

Midwest/North: Hay storage tips

wmeteer@gmail.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Proper storage of hay prior to feeding is important to reducing waste, avoiding nutrient loss and maintaining palatability.

West: Early detection of noxious weeds

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

April showers bring May flowers, right? These flowers that are beginning to appear in May just may be attached to a plant (noxious weed) that can actually cause harm to our livestock.

West: Support your local veterinarian

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Veterinarians are not only needed when we have sick animals. Vets also aid with reproduction synchronization protocols, health certificates and livestock travel permit, education for their community and so much more.

Midwest/North: Breeding season bandits

wmeteer@gmail.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

With breeding season approaching, let’s look at some areas of focus that could be robbing from conception rates. Some factors that I think deserve discussion are cow condition, cow requirements, lush pastures, timing of vaccinations, lack of heterosis, stress and bull fertility.

Southeast: Minerals matter

kmason21@utk.edu — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:26 -0400

A good mineral program can help to mitigate the risk of a deficiency and contribute to the overall success of the cattle herd. And as the adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

South Central: Have you vaccinated for clostridial pathogens this year?

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A vaccine plan is part of a sound preventive herd health plan. The vaccines that should be included will vary some depending on type of operation (cow-calf, stocker, etc.), geographic location, risk level and herd health history. However, a clostridial vaccine is one vaccine that is probably critical for all cow-calf operations.

Midwest/North: Cue the crossbreeding

wmeteer@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I think now is a good time to look at your cattle herd and evaluate crossbreeding.

Southeast: Managing the first-calf heifer

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

First-calf heifers are demanding not only due to potential calving difficulties but also because they have the greatest nutrient needs in the herd, and their reproductive performance has long-term effects on herd success.

West: Should I fertilize with nitrogen this spring?

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

It is important to understand the soil nutrient needs of your land, particularly how much nitrogen is available and how much (if any) you may need to apply for the upcoming growing season.

South Central: Working calves: BQA best management practices

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

When working calves, following BQA best management practices is not only the right thing to do, it can also help the operation be more successful.

West: Do yourself a favor and keep your records up to date

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

With calving comes a busy time of checking cows multiple times a day, providing adequate nutrition and remembering to update your records regularly during this busy time.

South Central: Milk production and nutrient requirements

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Understanding differences in milk production due to age or genetics, the milk production curve and how milk production affects requirements for energy is important for hay feeding and supplementation strategies.

Southeast: Minding the gap

kmason21@utk.edu — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:27 -0500

As we begin to wrap up the winter hay-feeding season and look towards spring, you may find hay resources are beginning to dwindle. There are several things to keep in mind as you manage the gap between now and spring greenup.

Midwest/North: Three cattle handling tips

wmeteer@gmail.com — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Investing time in animal handling skills improves the quality of life, safety, health and performance … for both animals and humans.

Education, e-commerce and engagement: How the checkoff’s channel marketing program successfully targets consumers

beefboard@beefboard.org — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

You may have guessed by that committee’s name that we’re tasked with trying to ensure beef safety – but that’s only part of what we do. We also promote innovative online marketing, packaging and shipping solutions.

Southeast: Muddy conditions and cold weather require extra energy

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Muddy conditions are common across the Southeast this time of year. Not only does it create problems around hay-feeding areas, but it also affects cattle performance.

Midwest/North: Tips for assisted calving

wmeteer@gmail.com — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Although there are year-round management strategies that can impact calving season success, here are some short-term, in-the-moment calving tips for success this year.

West: Planning for a successful new year

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

“Happy New Year!" The beginning of the year, for many, brings about a time of year where we usually create new resolutions for ourselves.

South Central: Is your calving kit ready?

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Being prepared and having a calving kit can make dealing with dystocia, a calf not wanting to nurse, a cow not producing colostrum or some other situation much easier.

West: The value of records

tylero@uidaho.edu — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

With the new year on the horizon, and calving season to follow, I would encourage you to look at your record-keeping system.

South Central: Heifer development from weaning to breeding

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Proper heifer development is important to get heifers bred but also to set them up to be productive cows that remain in the herd for many years to come.

Southeast: BCS – one of the best tools you have

kmason21@utk.edu — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Body condition score (BCS), an indicator of relative fatness, which is representative of energy stores, can be visually assessed at any point in time to evaluate the nutritional status of cattle.

Midwest/North: Planning and managing to avoid dystocia

wmeteer@gmail.com — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:00:30 -0500

We know that not every dystocia can be prevented, but there are some management factors that can help reduce difficult births.

Midwest/North: What is overgrazing?

wmeteer@gmail.com — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Now is a great time to evaluate your pastures and develop strategies to improve grazing days for next year. Feed may be less expensive this year, but it won’t stay that way.

West: What to feed the cows when there is no feed

tylero@uidaho.edu — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Fire season has walloped much of the Mountain West, with an estimated 1,980,108 acres across the U.S. burned as of the end of September.

Tips for reducing the impacts of winter weather

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

There are several strategies that producers can use to help reduce the negative effects of winter weather on cattle and help ensure feed resources are used efficiently.

Southeast: The nutritional roller coaster

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

I recently heard an interesting analogy: Not testing your hay can put your cows on a nutritional roller coaster. While some may enjoy the thrill of a roller coaster and the anticipation of the next flip or turn, for cattle nutrition and the rumen environment, slow and steady is the way to go.