By Chris Cassady, Ph.D. We have a symbiotic relationship with grazing cattle, in which they convert cellulose and other inedible fibrous material into a wholesome protein product for human consumption. There are many types of production systems, cattle breed types and available resources across the domestic cow-calf sector, but the basic nutritional demands are somewhat standard across the board. In lay […]
Feeding for Success: VitaFerm® Provides Options to Help Cattle Producers Reach Goals
The start of a new year means setting new year’s resolutions. But if you are in the beef business, you are probably already used to setting goals throughout the year, based on the production cycle, not solely based on the flip of a calendar page. One thing that should be more consistent than most people’s new year’s resolutions is a […]
Bull Buying Season: Be Excited, but Realistic
By Chris Cassady, Ph.D., Technical Sales Field Manager BioZyme® Inc. Bull sales are in full swing for spring calving producers, and what an exciting time to find that next source of genetic progress for your herd! Finding the right herd sire is crucial because his genetic influence will represent half of the genetic background in next year’s calf crop. Purchasing a […]
Tips for Being Successful in the Cattle Business
For outsiders looking into the cattle business, they might think it’s like the Dutton Ranch on the popular series “Yellowstone.” However, in real-world operations not every set up has brand-new, never dented or scraped panels with abundant labor – six or seven hired men – wondering what to do next. The Dutton family could learn a thing or two from hard-working progressive […]
Counting my Beef Industry Blessings
By Shelia Grobosky I honestly cannot think of a better way to have grown up than to be raised on cattle ranches. Although I no longer have cattle of my own, I still get to tell the stories of beef producers and help provide them educational pieces through the written word, all while seeing the neighbor’s cattle out on pasture […]
Why Quality Cow Nutrition is Vital Pre-Calving
Calving time is much anticipated across the country. It’s a time of renewal; it’s time to see how those mating decisions panned out and to watch those cows turn into maternal miracles for another season. Preparing for calving season doesn’t just happen by getting some fresh bedding and making sure your calf pullers are nearby and clean, “just in case.” Progressive […]
Get Weaned Calves Straightened Out Quicker
Sometimes the biggest challenges to livestock production are out of our control, but as producers we still look for ways to work around those obstacles. That is the case for one cattle operation in Northeast Louisiana where heat and humidity are at a peak as they approach weaning time. “The humidity down here is the […]
A Guide to Grazing Corn Stalks
If you’ve driven throughout the rural Midwest in the last week or two, you’ve likely noticed a significant difference in the landscape. Where tall corn fields once stood, you can now see for miles, as harvest is in full swing and only the stalks remain. “In the upper Midwest and in the Plains, there is an […]
How to Identify the Fall Mineral that is Right for You
Fall could undeniably be one of the most complex seasons of the year. There are crops to harvest, calves to wean, some operations are calving and yet others are preparing for their next spring calf crop. All those production cycles have various nutrient requirements on the herd, all while forages are in varying stages. Add in the mood swing Mother Nature throws out with temperature […]
How to Make Early Weaning Work in your Operation
By Jack Oattes, M.S., BioZyme Inc. The concept of early weaning in beef cattle has long been considered a management strategy that can potentially benefit cattle producers and their cow herds, although there are several considerations to make when deciding whether or not to implement this strategy. The goal of this article is to discuss some of the relevant historical […]
