By, Alise Nolan, The Ranch Kitchen Before long summer will be here, and for this educator, my fellow teachers and students everywhere, it can’t come soon enough! Nothing beats a little time off and fun in the sun. At our ranch each summer, we go take a mini-vacation before the summer shows begin and school […]
The Importance of Mineral Supplementation
The major nutrient requirements for livestock are: water, energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. In many cases, producers do a good job of providing enough water and adequate energy and protein sources. However, many producers fall short in providing the best nutritional program possible by purchasing “cheap” vitamin and mineral source or failing to provide a […]
VitaFerm HEAT Now Available in 3 Formulas
Heat stress impacts the performance of cattle with millions of dollars of annual economic losses. Animal responses to heat stress include reduced dry matter intake, decreased average daily gain, decreased milk yield, and decreased fertility and poor reproduction. Many producers also don’t realize that heat stress can begin a temperatures as low as 70 degrees. […]
Reduce Silage Spoilage with Amasile
Silage is a staple in many livestock rations. However, if not fermented properly, silage can lose valuable energy, protein and fiber components that are often destroyed during the ensiling process. BioZyme® Inc. has developed a natural silage additive called AmaSile™ which is scientifically formulated to reduce the time required by silage to properly ferment, minimize […]
Recipes from the Ranch :: Cajun Creations
Alise Nolan, The Ranch Kitchen Easter weekend when our older daughters came in, we decided to cook one of our very favorite meals, Jambalaya (pronounced – JUM-bə–LY–ə). This Cajun – Louisiana Creole Spanish dish is much like a paella where rice and traditional meats like Andouille sausage (I used Eckridge Smoked Sausage), chicken and shrimp […]
Donor Cow Nutrition
Thoughts of next year’s breeding decisions are in full swing. In addition to natural service and A.I., you may be considering embryo transfer. Flushing those cows with superior phenotype and genetics can be an easy way to make rapid improvements in the quality of your cowherd. However, flushing and embryo transfer comes with an elevated […]
Preparing For Successful Lambing Part II
By Ben Neale In Part I of our Preparing For a Successful Lambing series, we discussed pre and post-lambing nutrition and the importance of having the right facility set up. When lambing season begins, there are several things that you should have on hand to make sure the process goes smoothly. There are also animal health […]
Tips for Successful Lambing Part I
A little preparation can go a long way in the prevention of problems during lambing season. In order for a ewe to do her job, deliver strong healthy lambs, and have sufficient milk to raise those lambs it is important to provide proper gestation management. Maintaining ewes on a quality vitamin and mineral program prior […]
How to Keep Water Tanks Clear in Winter
Cold weather and water never make for a good combination. You may have seen pictures floating around the internet of salt water bottles in water tanks to help keep them from freezing completely over. The idea is that even if the tank forms a layer of ice on it, your cattle could push the bottle down […]
Mineral Supplementation Proven to Optimize Reproductive Performance of Cattle
For cow/calf producers, there are certain times that significantly impact the operation’s profitability. Failure to manage the nutrition of the cow herd during these critical times can hurt productivity in ways that producers often do not think about. Supplementing the herd with important vitamins, minerals and proteins before calving and through breeding has been research-proven […]
