Latest From News

Estrus Detection Aids and Timed Cattle Breeding
Estrus Detection Aids and Timed Cattle Breeding

The advent of timed AI protocols became a game-changer in allowing professionals, like AI technicians or veterinarians, to breed many females effectively and quickly.

Trace Mineral Verification Program Supports Optimal Performance
Trace Mineral Verification Program Supports Optimal Performance

One of the industry’s leading collaborations between Purina Animal Nutrition and Zinpro helps optimize cattle performance.

Westfahl Succeeds Borck as ILS Chairman
Westfahl Succeeds Borck as ILS Chairman

Innovative Livestock Services, Inc., announces leadership change for the company that represents eleven feedyards

Worth Ranch to Receive Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award
Worth Ranch to Receive Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award

The award honors farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Meat Institute Honors 2023 Environmental Achievement Award Winners
Meat Institute Honors 2023 Environmental Achievement Award Winners

More than 200 meat and poultry plants were recognized by The Meat Institute at the 2024 Environmental, Labor and Safety+ Conference in New Orleans for their positive environmental impact efforts.

The Pros and Cons of Multispecies Grazing
The Pros and Cons of Multispecies Grazing

Kevin Lynch shares the pros and cons of multispecies grazing as well as what beginners need to consider in Season 7, Episode 16 of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.

Moving Into the Next Stage of Panhandle Wildfire Recovery
Moving Into the Next Stage of Panhandle Wildfire Recovery

Donation intake closing as distribution continues for AgriLife Extension-operated Animal Supply Points.

CAB Insider: Prime Pops for Annual Quality Peak
CAB Insider: Prime Pops for Annual Quality Peak

Over the past five weeks the combined Prime and Choice carcasses harvested totaled 84.7%, a six percentage point increase over the September low of 78.7%.

Goodbye, El Niño. Hello, La Niña? The Big Transition to La Niña is Already Underway
Goodbye, El Niño. Hello, La Niña? The Big Transition to La Niña is Already Underway

There's now a 60% chance La Niña will develop between June and August and an 85% chance it's in effect by November 2024 to January 2025, according to NOAA.

John Deere Dream Job: Brock Purdy Leads Chief Tractor Officer Search
John Deere Dream Job: Brock Purdy Leads Chief Tractor Officer Search

John Deere is seeking its first ever Chief Tractor Officer with a little help from a new friend - 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

Profit Tracker: Major Shift in Feed Costs Boosts Livestock Margins
Profit Tracker: Major Shift in Feed Costs Boosts Livestock Margins

Cattle and hog feeders are benefitting from dramatically lower grain and feed costs this year while live animal sale prices are higher. Profit margins for both species have doubled in the past month.

Does Your Selection and Mating Program Create Profit Potential?
Does Your Selection and Mating Program Create Profit Potential?

One of the most important decisions cattlemen and cattlewomen face today is how to engineer their selection and mating program to add value to their next calf crop.

How to Know if Cover Crops are for You
How to Know if Cover Crops are for You

Steve Swaffar encourages producers to be prepared to plant cover crops in a wet year if they are looking to increase ground cover and extend days spent grazing.

Beef-on-Dairy Impacts the Overall Dairy Heifer Discussion
Beef-on-Dairy Impacts the Overall Dairy Heifer Discussion

As long as the beef market is hot, the key for producers will be maintaining the right number of lactating cows going through the parlor and ensuring the right number of replacement heifers can keep that pipeline full.

Wild Pigs Kill More People Than Sharks, Shocking New Research Reveals
Wild Pigs Kill More People Than Sharks, Shocking New Research Reveals

It’s not sharks, wolves, or bears that kill the most people—it’s wild pigs, and the numbers are trending up.

America's Top 34 Beef Cow Counties - Corrected
America's Top 34 Beef Cow Counties - Corrected

Thanks to a reader's observation, another county has been added to our list of those with more than 50,000 beef cows.

cow-swatting-flies
Controlling Horn Flies Starts Now!

Horn flies are a small black fly that feeds on the back, sides and belly of cattle and are the most common fly in beef cattle. Economic losses begin when fly populations reach 150-200 per animal.

BT_USDA_Beef_Hot_Carcass
Carcass Weights, Quality Grade and Yield Grade

Carcass weights have trended heavier for over 60 years with steer carcass weights increasing by an average of 4.0 pounds per year, up over 240 pounds from 660 pounds in the 1960s to over 900 pounds in recent years.

Mackey: Packers Win the Week as Futures Tumble
Mackey: Packers Win the Week as Futures Tumble

Declining cattle futures provided leverage for packers to collect inventory with softer bids.

It's Scary Dry in the Western Corn Belt, But a Drastically Different Story in the East This Year
It's Scary Dry in the Western Corn Belt, But a Drastically Different Story in the East This Year

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought coverage is now at its lowest level since spring of 2020, but USDA's topsoil moisture map shows it's still extremely dry in areas of the west and too wet in the east.

Markets: Cash Cattle Lower Still, Market Cows Higher
Markets: Cash Cattle Lower Still, Market Cows Higher

Negotiated cash cattle prices moved lower again under pressure from sinking futures markets. The red-hot hamburger market kept pushing most utility cows higher.

USDA is Discontinuing A Major Cattle Report, And it Could Now Spur More Volatility For Cattle Prices
USDA is Discontinuing A Major Cattle Report, And it Could Now Spur More Volatility For Cattle Prices

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it’s canceling the July Cattle Inventory Report. In the announcement, NASS blamed budget cuts from the most recent appropriations bills. 

Benefits of Estrus Synch and Artificial Insemination
Benefits of Estrus Synch and Artificial Insemination

Manipulating the reproductive process of your cow herd can result in shorter breeding and calving seasons with more calves born earlier in the season resulting in an older, heavier, more uniform calf crop when you wean.

Veterinarians Detail Ear Tag, Tattoo Equipment and Best Practices
Veterinarians Detail Ear Tag, Tattoo Equipment and Best Practices

Individual identification of cattle is important for many reasons, making it possible to identify a number of important management aspects.  

Sexten: To Fertilize or Supplement?
Sexten: To Fertilize or Supplement?

Fertilization requires the ability to use increased forage growth in a timely manner. That's more important for stockers than cow-calf operations as excessive early pasture growth is more efficiently used by mature cows.

Marketing Bulls as Feeder Calves? The Market will Charge You for It
Marketing Bulls as Feeder Calves? The Market will Charge You for It

Research indicates multiple animal performance benefits linked to earlier castration (birth to 3 months), including shorter initial weight loss periods, lower disease susceptibility, and higher post-weaning ADGs.

South Dakota Confirms First Case of HPAI in a Dairy Herd
South Dakota Confirms First Case of HPAI in a Dairy Herd

South Dakota Dairy Producers encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their herd veterinarian immediately if cattle appear symptomatic.

America’s Top 33 Beef Cow Counties
America’s Top 33 Beef Cow Counties

Cherry County Neb. remains the U.S. County with the most beef cows, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. South Dakota has seven counties ranked in the Top 33 while Texas has five.

Purina Offers $20,000 in Scholarships to Students
Purina Offers $20,000 in Scholarships to Students

Now, along with undergraduate students, current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry, are eligible to apply.

States Restrict Cattle Movement From Those With BIAV
States Restrict Cattle Movement From Those With BIAV

In an effort to prevent domestic cattle from being exposed to Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV), 17 states have restricted cattle imports from states where the virus has infected dairy cows.

Understanding the Push for and Impact of Implementing Regenerative Principles
Understanding the Push for and Impact of Implementing Regenerative Principles

Caitlin Word shares the difference between principles and practices in this week’s podcast episode as it relates to regenerative agriculture.

North Carolina Reports First Case of HPAI in Dairy Herd
North Carolina Reports First Case of HPAI in Dairy Herd

Steve Troxle, state commissioner of agriculture, said he is waiting for more diagnostic information from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and will work collaboratively with North Carolina dairy farmers.

NASS to Discontinue July Cattle Inventory, Other Select Data Collection
NASS to Discontinue July Cattle Inventory, Other Select Data Collection

NASS said the decision to discontinue select surveys was necessary given appropriated budget levels. NCBA noted its objections to the plan.

Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Exceeds $400
Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Exceeds $400

The margin spread between packer losses and feedyard profits expands as wholesale beef prices continue their retreat. Pork producer profits continue increasing.

Effective and Sustainable Deworming Through Combination Treatment  
Effective and Sustainable Deworming Through Combination Treatment  

The past few winters have thrown many curve balls at cattle producers. In addition to causing stress, these conditions are tough on cattle’s overall health, making deworming this spring even more important.    

Gardiner Angus Ranch Bulls Average $12,154
Gardiner Angus Ranch Bulls Average $12,154

Five-hundred-sixty-three bidders registered for the annual sale with 264 buyers from 31 states and Mexico competed for 670 lots.

King Ranch® Announces Strategic Investment into Cobalt Cattle
King Ranch® Announces Strategic Investment into Cobalt Cattle

King Ranch has acquired a 50% stake in Cobalt Cattle, the nation’s fourth-largest cattle feeding operation with six feedyards in Colorado, Kansas and Texas.

Power vs. Privacy: Landowner Sues Game Wardens, Challenges Property Intrusion
Power vs. Privacy: Landowner Sues Game Wardens, Challenges Property Intrusion

Government officials claim power over entrance, searches, and surveillance on private land with no restrictions.

Researchers Zero in on Liver Abscesses for Beef-on-Dairy
Researchers Zero in on Liver Abscesses for Beef-on-Dairy

Liver abscesses remain a singular, dark cloud over the otherwise sunny segment of dairy-beef-cross cattle. Several entities are performing research to try to solve this frustrating industry obstacle.

Ranchers Slam Regressive Endangered Species Act Rulemakings
Ranchers Slam Regressive Endangered Species Act Rulemakings

NCBA and the PLC oppose three finalized Endangered Species Act rulemakings that significantly expand federal overreach and roll back reforms that previously provided some relief to farmers and ranchers.

Robust Pork Exports Continue in February; Beef Export Value Increases
Robust Pork Exports Continue in February; Beef Export Value Increases

Strong global demand for U.S. pork has been been a bright spot for the industry. Fueled by growth in the Western Hemisphere, South Korea and Australia, U.S. pork exports posted another excellent performance in February.

Peel: U.S. Beef Trade Update
Peel: U.S. Beef Trade Update

Beef exports continue to face headwinds as beef production decreases and beef prices increase in the U.S. market. Beef imports are dominated by imports of lean processing beef to supplement supplies of nonfed beef.

Mackey: Feeders Continue to Face Headwinds
Mackey: Feeders Continue to Face Headwinds

Under pressure from negative margins, packers will continue to play their games but their activity last week led to the biggest harvest rate in seven weeks.

AABP Decides to Reference Cattle Disease as Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV)
AABP Decides to Reference Cattle Disease as Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV)

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is making the name change, as it more accurately reflects the issue.

Markets: Fed Cattle Lower; Market Cows Ignore HPAI News
Markets: Fed Cattle Lower; Market Cows Ignore HPAI News

Finished cattle, feeders, calves and the futures markets were all in retreat as the HPAI event becomes the latest beef industry black swan.

Six Questions One Industry Veterinarian Says She Is Asked Most Often About HPAI
Six Questions One Industry Veterinarian Says She Is Asked Most Often About HPAI

Kay Russo, DVM, Novonesis technical services manager for dairy and poultry, emphasized the situation is rapidly evolving and more clarity will come with time as researchers learn more.

Will We See a Hard Fall or Soft Landing? It's the Million Dollar Question for the Farm Economy This Year
Will We See a Hard Fall or Soft Landing? It's the Million Dollar Question for the Farm Economy This Year

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a gauge of economists’ views on the ag economy. While outlooks have grown weaker, it’s the erosion in the future outlook that is sprouting fresh concerns.

Remove the Guesswork From Choosing the Best Fly Control for Cattle
Remove the Guesswork From Choosing the Best Fly Control for Cattle

Pesky horn flies can become prolific during the grazing season. However, there are control tactics that can help keep horn fly populations under wraps.

Using Technology to Monitor Water on the Ranch
Using Technology to Monitor Water on the Ranch

Producers who are looking to minimize time spent checking water may consider investing in one of many modern water monitoring solutions.

Texas-Sized Problems Hit the Lone Star State, but Ag Commissioner says ‘Things are Getting Better’ 
Texas-Sized Problems Hit the Lone Star State, but Ag Commissioner says ‘Things are Getting Better’ 

Sid Miller, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, says the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza impacting beef cattle in the state's panhandle – where dairy cows have been infected – is minimal.