Management

MANAGEMENT...

Ron Torell with his wife, Jackie

Cow Camp Chatter

Add value to bred heifers.

As we enter the rebuilding phase of our national brood cow herd, market analyzers are predicting high demand and record prices for bred females. Last year we saw commercial bred heifers sell anywhere from $1,200 to $1,800. These payouts were disappointing given the record high prices paid for calves, yearlings and market-ready cows. It is anticipated that bred-female prices will adjust in 2012 and trade in the range of $1,500 to $2,300. So why the disparity and huge price range associated with this class of cattle? Could it be that some sellers are producing what the buyer wants?

Genetic quality and uniformity are undoubtedly the top two factors to consider when determining the value of bred heifers. To bring top dollar in the bred-heifer market, start with quality heifer calves that are uniform in age, frame size, muscle, color and weight. Most sellers keep the best and sell the rest. Buyers know this and bid accordingly. Don't expect to receive top dollar when using the bottom end of heifer calves to put together a load of bred heifers. Read more.

Irrigation Tools

Irrigation water management is important every year.

A few years ago, the Nebraska Panhandle and eastern Wyoming were in the grips of a drought, irrigation water supplies were limited, and the North Platte River reservoirs were almost empty. Then we had three years of plentiful water supplies. This year should also provide adequate water; however, with the low snow pack in the mountains this year, we may not be so fortunate in 2013. Surface irrigation water supplies may be limited, and limits on the amount of groundwater pumping have been established in all of the Panhandle natural resource districts (NRDs).

Irrigation water management should be practiced every growing season to ensure this limited resource is utilized properly. Growers need to apply the water in the amounts needed by the crops in a timely manner to save money by reducing pumping costs and maintenance on their equipment by only running the pumps and center pivots when necessary. Read more.

Magnetic Solution

Research IDs method to remove faulty sperm from AI process.

All bull semen is not created equal, but Peter Sutovsky has found a way to level the bovine-fertility playing field. Research from the University of Missouri (MU) reproductive scientist identifies faulty sperm and takes them out of the equation for artificial insemination (AI) of cattle.

"There are many types of hidden sperm defects that are not obvious and cannot be identified by conventional analysis," Sutovsky said. "We look at biomarkers to improve our ability to correctly evaluate semen and to give us an idea about fertility of a bull that is used in an artificial insemination program."

Those markers serve as red flags, giving researchers a tool to identify sperm that just can't get the job done. Read more.

Get New Employees Started Right

The first few days on the job are important for long-term employee success.

From cattle handling to overall management, staffing is a key factor for any feedlot and has a direct impact on the bottom line.

"All too often, we are seeing that people jump into a new position at a feedlot without the knowledge or confidence to do their best," says Nicolas Buttars, labor management specialist, Pfizer Animal Health. "This type of hiring and lack of training is not good for the new employee, the cattle and certainly not for the feedlot owners."

Rather than jump directly into the day-to-day workload, a more structured "onboarding" or training plan for new employees can help build confidence, prepare them to do the job correctly and set new hires up for long-term success. Read more.

Kris Ringwall

Beef Talk

Are your cows ready for breeding?

Well, what is, is. After a long and fairly nice winter, cattle are moving slowly to the cool-season grasses. Some are waiting to calve; however, most of the cows have calved, so the pairs are in the process of being worked.

This means breeding is the next chapter in the management notebook. Are the cows ready? Also, do not forget to ask if the bulls are ready. Breeding preparation actually does not start now, because a cow's condition is the first step to evaluating readiness. Actually, a cow's condition should have been evaluated last fall as the cow came home.

Those cows that needed some extra feed should have been boosted while dry and not nursing a calf last winter. However, there always is the "I should have done this or that," so in reality, now is the time for the last check to make sure the cows and bulls are in good condition for the upcoming breeding season. Read more.

The National Beef Quality Audit:
What's It Mean to a Cow-Calf Producer?

Part one of a four-part National Beef Quality Audit series.

Tom Woodward thinks the National Beef Quality Audit is influencing the culture of cattle folk. It has at Broseco Ranch, near Omaha, Texas, where Woodward is general manager. Results of the latest audit were discussed at the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium April 18-21, in Houston, Texas. Speaking during the symposium's second general session, Woodward talked about what previous national audits mean to cow-calf producers.

Woodward said the audits have helped cow-calf operators embrace the principles of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA). He thinks more of them have changed their ways of thinking — from that of ranchers marketing pounds of cattle to that of food producers. They're more concerned about how the end product — beef — is perceived by consumers. To the consumer, said Woodward, "perception is reality." Read more.

New Products

Industry affiliates provide a wide array of products and services to assist you on the farm and ranch. Here's an assortment of new products to hit the market recently.

Angus Advisor

Click here for May herd management tips from cattle experts across the nation. Advice separated by region.

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