09/29/2008 04:43PM
Proper feeding during cold weather is an important management consideration in the prairies. Severe weather during the winter months can make previously “balanced rations” unsuitable for the nutritional needs of the cattle. This can lead to weight loss and reduced performance. Animals exposed to cold
02/14/2008 09:43AM
The newborn calf has many challenges to face as it begins live on its own. The first of these challenges is a change in environment. If a calf can get beyond the challenge of finding its feet and finding mom’s teat, there is a good chance it will be able to handle life. However, some challenges won’t
02/07/2007 10:45AM
Factors that create stress during the winter months are cold, wind, snow, rain and mud. The primary effect on animals is due to temperature. All these factors alter the maintenance energy requirement of livestock. Maintenance requirement can be defined, as the nutrients required for keeping an animal
02/05/2007 06:26PM
It is not unusual to encounter problems during the calving process. Often these problems can be more easily solved if the producer has more knowledge of the physiological process of calving. There are two common presentations for the calf during calving. The first, which is normal and occurs in about
01/12/2007 03:05PM
As the spring calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development, or making bag and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future
12/31/2006 09:34AM
Cull cows prices have a very consistent seasonal pattern. Prices are typically lowest in the fall, particularly October, November, and December. Prices are highest in the spring (February-April).
This seasonal price pattern is driven by supply and demand. The majority of cows are pregnancy-tested
10/30/2006 05:48PM
In late fall and early winter, the problem is to provide water to animals that are out on range or swath grazing, is it okay for cows to consume snow as their only water source?After a short adjustment period cows will consume adequate amounts of snow to meet water requirements. Eating snow it is a learned
10/27/2006 05:19PM
Almost as predictable as the coming of the winter season, will be the quickly spread horror story of the death of several cows from a herd that was fed "the good hay" for the first time after snow storm. Ranchers that have harvested and stored potentially high nitrate forages such as forage sorghums
10/04/2006 04:27PM
Artificial insemination of cows in commercial herds has been slow to catch on for a variety of reasons, but recent changes in estrous synchronization systems as well as the move towards value-based marketing makes AI in commercial herds a strategy to consider. Over the years, estrous synchronization