June 21, 2022 | Vol. 15 : No. 6
Summer grass is starting to wane and decision time for weaned calves is fast approaching. Breakeven calculators can be used to calculate the price a cow-calf producer must receive to clear the costs of producing a calf, the potential to add value through a backgrounding/stocker phase, and potential to break even by retaining ownership.
Remember the phrase earning your keep? Whether that was doing household chores as a child or bringing in a salary to contribute to the finances, many have a role in bringing value to the family. In a similar way, beef cows earn their keep by raising a calf each year, said the veterinarians at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.
This month we highlight five utility task vehicles (UTVs) used on the farm, ranch and at the feedyard. UTVs serve many purposes in the world of agriculture. They can be used to check cows or fences, and to haul heavy loads or feed. UTVs can offer an easier and more efficient way to get around the ranch.
June 7, 2022 | Vol. 15 : No. 6
There are several ways to make calves more attractive to buyers, adding more value to groups of calves at sale time and building more demand for them. Russ Daly, veterinarian with South Dakota State University, says any kind of preconditioning health care program will be beneficial.
A quick fix rarely fixes anything the way we want it to. Any decision on the ranch has potential to have both short- and long-term effects on production and profitability.
No matter the time at which you sell your calves, it’s important to know your costs and value of gain. That can affect the decision to retain or sell weaned calves. A financially sound business decision is one where what it costs to put on weight is less than what the market is willing to pay to put it on. While that decision is straightforward, some limiting factors can affect these calculations.
In this Angus Proud series, Editorial Intern Jessica Wesson provides insights into how producers across the country use Angus genetics in their respective environments.
Angus Proud: Scott SproulOklahoma operation learned wisdom of moving calving season to better suit their marketing needs.
Angus Proud: Bubba CrosbyFall-calving Georgia herd uses quality and co-ops to market calves.
Angus Proud: Jim MooreArkansas operation retains ownership through feeding and values carcass data.
Angus Proud: Stephen ShinerIdaho operation rotates pastures in summer and raises crops for winter.
Angus Proud: Brian Nusbaum Angus cattle fit cattleman’s marketing goals and helped him set out on his own.
Angus Proud: Les ShawSouth Dakota operation manages winter with preparation and bull selection.
Angus Proud: Jeremy StevensNebraska operation is self-sufficient for feedstuffs despite sandy soil.
Angus Proud: Dave RutanAngus breeder gets the most out of his bull investment by partnering with opposite calving-season operation.
Angus Proud: Nickey SmithAngusLink helps Louisiana cattleman gain more for his calves.
