Summertime heat can be both a blessing and a curse to those in production agriculture. For those who have planted crops, and received adequate rainfall, the heat is the element that makes those crops grow and thrive. However, for the cattle producer, heat stress can wreak havoc on reproduction, growth and efficiency, as the cattle […]
A Guide to Reduce Heat Stress in Stocker Operations
As cattle producers, when the temperature rises, you begin to feel the pressure of keeping the herd healthy and efficient. The warmer it gets outside, the more your herd runs the risk of decreased performance, increased sickness and ultimately economic losses. And when you put yourself in the shoes of the stocker operator, this pressure […]
How to get the Maximum Value from Your Land
Farmers and ranchers are the original stewards of the land, and with good reason. For centuries, these agriculturalists have provided their own families, the country and the world with safe and nutritious food as a result of caring for the land. For many it is a passion passed down from one generation to the next; […]
Bringing the Heat to Optimize Operation
Imagine the anticipation of calving season to get one calf from your entire herd. The next year isn’t much better, but you double your pregnancy rates, and get two live calves on the ground. However, those two calves represent a small fraction of your herd. You’d probably start looking for a few answers. That’s exactly […]
Seeing is Believing When it Comes to Healthy Calves
For one progressive cattleman, seeing is believing. And seeing a program on RFD-TV several years ago, has made a difference in the way Tom Carter, Reidsville, North Carolina, backgrounds and markets cattle. Carter buys 300 head of calves throughout the year that he backgrounds on grass, hay and mineral. He puts the calves together and […]
How to Reduce Weaning-Time Woes
Weaning time in the cattle business is ultimately the most stressful time in the calf’s life. However, with proper preparation, good management practices and a solid plan, you can decrease the stress incurred on your calves and yourself at weaning time. When preparing for weaning and making a management plan, there are several conditions to […]
How One Progressive Cattleman Weathered the Storm
Livestock producers from across the country are reeling from the wrath of Mother Nature. From record rainfall amounts, to early-season tornadoes in the South, prolonged winter in the North, and the worst storm to ever hit Nebraska with the blizzard and floods from the “bomb cyclone” in March, producers could easily give up. But that […]
Matheny Herefords Embraces the Amaferm® Advantage
“I’m a big believer in Amaferm® and the advantages it gives your cattle in gut health, digestibility of forages, feed conversion and overall consumption.” Andrew Matheny understands and values the importance of a high-quality mineral program. His registered Hereford herd benefits from the Amaferm advantage through all phases of production, from conception to birth, weaning […]
Prepare for a Successful Embryo Transfer Program
Propagating superior genetics with the use of advanced reproductive technologies requires an investment in time, labor and finances. The outcome will often result in outstanding offspring that will share genotype and phenotypic make-up of the parents. If you are going to go to the time and expense of breeding cattle using a technology like Embryo […]
Summer Gains are Possible
Summertime. For cattle producers the season means turning cows out to green grass, having cows bred, and backgrounding weaned calves. However, expecting young calves to gain in extreme conditions can sometimes be a challenge. That’s why providing them with the best nutrition possible is imperative during this most stressful time of their lives. “During that […]
