Cut Cattle Feed Costs; Don’t Cut Corners

Maximize efficiency and minimize waste to help cut feed costs without affecting production.

Whether you’re in an area suffering from drought or not, cattle feed cost is the single largest expense in the cow-calf sector, and prices are still on the rise. Although the future looks strong, with a recent CattleFax report predicting the gap between calf prices and cash cow costs to narrow in 2022, the current situation has producers asking, “Where can I cut?”

Monitor for Summer Pneumonia in Calves

Veterinarians explain how immunity can wane in the summer for spring-born calves.

In the winter it is common for people to have a cold or respiratory illness, but sickness in the summer often catches people unprepared.

In much the same way, cattle producers may be surprised when their calves show signs of respiratory distress during the summer before they are weaned, veterinarians at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute said on a recent Cattle Chat podcast.

Seven Ways to Avoid Prussic Acid Poisoning After Drought-time Rains

Watch cattle closely as risk of prussic acid toxicity increases during drought, after rains.

Both summer and fall are important times for ranchers to keep an eye on cattle that graze where Johnsongrass is present, due to the risk of prussic-acid toxicity.

Clark Roberts, manager of Noble Research Institute’s Coffey Ranch at Marietta, Okla., says drought conditions put him on high alert for two reasons.

The Rising Rates of Death by Suicide in Agriculture

Experts offer tips for addressing suicide in rural America.

Rural America’s suicide rates are rising, and for a number of reasons. How we as loved ones, neighbors, co-workers and community members work to address that fact will affect the future. If we do our best, maybe we can even turn the tide.

Want to Make it Through Winter? Plan Now

Winter and extended drought mean some different strategies are needed this year.

Worries about drought and how to make it through the winter with limited or no stored forage have monopolized most cattlemen’s thoughts, energy and time. There are some critical steps that need to be made to make it through the colder months.

The first priority is to reduce the stocking rate on the ranch to a level that can be sustained through the rest of the summer and into the fall.

Improve Performance With Effective Fly Control for Cattle

It’s not too late for fly control to affect fall performance. Are you using the right control product for summer use?

Flies can cost producers approximately 20 pounds of lost weight gain. Pasture cattle in nearly all parts of the country are plagued with both face flies and horn flies. Horn flies are bloodsuckers and spend nearly all their life on the cow or calf, taking 20-30 blood meals per day. As numbers increase, productivity becomes a concern and can start to affect profitability. The more flies, the more potential for lost pounds and productivity.