March 5, 2020 | Vol. 13 : No. 2
Ute Creek Cattle Co., Bueyeros, N.M., was selected as one of seven regional finalists of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The award recognizes the operation’s outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts.
Dan Moser, president of Angus Genetics Inc., joins Bob Weaber, Bob Larson and Brad White to discuss priorities for selecting the right purebred bull for an operation. Not all numbers shown in the sale book merit the same emphasis in making selections. Tune in to hear their advice on what numbers should be prioritized.
There are limitations to a breeding soundness exam (sometimes referred to as a BSE), George Perry admits, but it is still a crucial step to reproductive success. The South Dakota State University professor and Extension beef reproductive management specialist explains that reproduction is five times more economically important than growth and 10 times more important than carcass quality. While reproduction affects profitability in a big way, the bull bears more of that responsibility because he affects half of the calf’s genetic makeup. A fertile bull is crucial to an operation’s success.
Many if not most cow-calf producers eagerly anticipate the coming of calving season, anxious to see the latest calf crop. However, the season can be colored by angst, too, when producers must deal with calving difficulty. In an ideal world, all cows and heifers would calve unassisted, but in the real world it’s advantageous for producers to know how to recognize dystocia and to know when and how to intervene in the delivery of a calf.
Present weather with frequent freezing and thawing helps farmers overseed weakened pastures. Natural fluctuations in soil help work broadcast seed into thinned grass stands.
End-of-winter seeding improves pastures by adding legumes — a high-protein forage — to fill thin spots. That’s better than overseeding more grass, says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. Long-term research plus farm experience show the advantages of legumes.
