10/08/2007 12:31PM
If things work right and calves survive the stocker pasture they will move on to the feedlot with less risk of sickness and death loss than the bawling calves weaned on the Interstate that you purchased. Even so, emerging industry reality indicates the folks who can document the health history of feeder
09/26/2007 08:57AM
There are many questions producers should ask themselves if they are considering whether they should invest in a preconditioning program for their calf crop. Here are just a few points to consider.
1. Do your homework! – Identify a legitimate program that fits your operation.
Cow/calf producers
08/28/2007 12:18PM
Since vaccine dosages aren’t dependent on the weight of the animal, it’s too easy for some folks to use the same standard-dose strategy when administering animal pharmaceuticals, which are dependent on weight.
Moreover, if weight is considered in dosing, veterinarians and animal health professionals
08/28/2007 09:09AM
While the concept of preconditioning is over 40 years old, the adoption rate of this management practice has been quite slow for a variety of reasons until recently. The primary reason cited by many cow/calf producers is the perceived lack of return between the costs associated with preconditioning and
08/27/2007 09:23AM
That’s somewhat of a chicken and egg question. Despite documented benefits of preconditioning programs, the cattle industry has been relatively slow to adopt such management on a widespread basis. That reluctance is the result of several factors. Overwhelmingly, though
08/21/2007 12:53PM
Unfortunately, we cannot look up “ideal stocker calf” in the dictionary and get a prepackaged answer to this important question. Is a particular breed combination the formula for success? Does management at the cow-calf level play a role in the future performance of a calf through a stockering phase
08/21/2007 11:25AM
The traditional method of procuring stocker cattle for a postweaning grazing program generally has consisted of the following: acquire the calves from one's own herd, from other producers, or from livestock auctions or order buyers; accumulate cattle until numbers are sufficient and time and resources
08/14/2007 09:06AM
Cow size varies tremendously across and even within beef cattle operations.
Size is routinely described in terms of both weight and frame. Frame size describes the skeletal size of cattle. Terms like large frame, moderate frame, and small frame are frequently used to indicate cattle size. While frame
08/07/2007 02:08PM
Of course, all experienced stocker operators understand there’s a compelling reason, besides time and buyer demands, to gather cattle during the cooler part of the day. The hotter it is, the more cattle shrink.
• Gathering Time
• Gathering Conditions
• Pre-gather Rations
• Cattle Handling
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