11/13/2009 03:32PM
Although February and March are still several months away, looking
ahead to the spring calving season requires that producers be prepared
for those situations where mother-nature needs a little boost.
11/13/2009 03:25PM
Only 8 or 9 months ago the spring calving cows were calving, the
temperature was cold and the calving pastures were muddy. Experience
would say that you do not want to ask cow calf operators how "calving"
is then, because the response would be less than objective, reflecting
bone-chilling cold and not enough sleep.
11/06/2009 03:21PM
The fall breeding season is about to begin. Herds that aim for a
September 1 first calving date, will turn bulls with the cows in the
latter part of November.
10/30/2009 03:09PM
The process of “calving” or parturition in beef cattle is defined by three stages.
10/30/2009 03:06PM
Cull cows that are destined to be go to the packing house are graded by their fleshiness. The fattest cows are called “Breakers”. Moderately fleshed cows are “Boners”. Thin cows are called “Leans” or “Lights”, depending upon the weight of the cow.
10/23/2009 03:12PM
Some culling of beef cows occurs in most herds every year. The Beef
Audits have generally shown that cull cows, bulls, and cull dairy cows
make up about 20% of the beef available for consumption in the United
States. About half of this group (or 10% of the beef supply) comes from
cull beef cows.
10/16/2009 02:26PM
First calf heifers have historically been the toughest females on the
ranch to get rebred. They are being asked to continue to grow, produce
milk, repair the reproductive tract, and have enough stored body energy
(fat) to return to heat cycles in a short time frame.
10/09/2009 03:06PM
It was discovered in the early 1900s that under certain conditions
sorghums (including the forage sorghums) are capable of releasing
hydrocyanic acid or commonly called prussic acid.
10/02/2009 02:34PM
Before the fall breeding season begins, a few simple management
procedures involving the bulls can increase the likelihood of a high
pregnancy percentage among the cows.