MANAGEMENT...
Drought Requires Immediate Action
Resources available from the Noble Research Institute.
Farmers and ranchers in the Southern Great Plains are in a drought with conditions worsening since November.
While the drought affects many of the contiguous states, the states experiencing the worst conditions are Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Kansas. According to the current U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire state of Oklahoma is in at least a severe drought; more than 80% of the state is considered either in a severe or extreme drought. South of the Red River, 90% of Texas is in some level of drought, from abnormally dry to extreme drought. Read more.
Calving Do’s and Don’ts
There are many ‘traditional’ ways to assist a birth — some are helpful and some that are not.
Veterinarian Bill Lias, Interstate Vet Clinic, Brandon, S.D., says he has seen a variety of ways to assist cows at calving over the years. Some have been improvements, while a few others he’d rather not see again.
“As I’ve aged and gained experience, there are some things I do differently now, too. For instance, the option of doing a C-section is something veterinarians and producers today consider sooner,” he says. In the past, people tried harder and longer to get a calf out before resorting to surgery, and sometimes those calves didn’t survive and/or the cow was irreparably injured. Read more.
Stretch Hay Supplies
MU beef nutritionist advises cattlemen facing questionable hay supplies to ‘feed less, need less.’
As winter feeding season continues with a forecast of arctic weather in February, cow-calf operations face questionable hay supplies. Eric Bailey, University of Missouri (MU) beef nutritionist, gives the short answer: “Feed less, need less.”
In practice, that takes management decisions and exacting math. Read more.
Lighten Workloads, Pack on Pounds
Advice offered from a renowned researcher on increasing feedlot performance.
You go to work well before sunup, and you don’t hang up your hat until after sundown. With so much to get done, hours in the feedyard click by in a hot minute. Cattle are constantly moving — feeder cattle coming in, market cattle shipping out. Your list continues, from processing 100-plus head at the chute to moving and checking on cattle that could be miles from where you’re standing now.
It is more important now than ever for feedlot operators to take advantage of every tool and technology available to increase overall gain and to improve labor efficiencies and operational flexibility. Read more.
Kris Ringwall
Beef Talk
Now may be the time to get a handle on the perpetual size race.
I did some pondering as I traveled to and from recent commercial bull-selection workshops. The travel time offered an opportunity to ruminate on current news regarding the management of growth in the beef industry and related beef carcass size. Once home, dangling thoughts remain.
Bull-buying season is a great opportunity for beef producers to steer carcass size through sire selection, and as long as a producer is at the steering wheel, that is what one should do. Read more.
Evaluate Risk, Then Manage It
Realize vulnerabilities to manage them effectively.
“Evaluate your risk. Where are you vulnerable?” asked Tony Drake with the CME Group as he addressed attendees at a Learning Lounge educational session during the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 2. “Getting cattle to the retail store, there’s a lot to consider in the chain. Market ups and downs represent a lot of opportunity, but also a lot of risk.”
Noting that all commodity markets are more volatile than they’ve ever been, Drake continued. “What blows up or can go wrong? Is it inputs like feed, energy, transportation or interest rates?” Read more.
Angus Advisor
Click here for March herd management tips from cattle experts across the nation. Advice separated by region.
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