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 […]
Category: Management Practices
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 […]
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 […]
Prepare for Fall Calving
Fall calving cows are known to calve earlier than expected. With this year’s soaring temps, those calves might even have arrived earlier than usual. Hopefully you were prepared for your fall-calving cows; if not, here are a few tips and reminders. The Benefits of Fall Calving There are definite benefits to fall calving. A key advantage is that cows will spend […]
Making Weaning More Profitable
In a time of unpredictability in the cattle market, one thing remains predictable. The fewer days you have a calf on feed, the lower your input costs will be. With a great percentage of cow-country covered by drought, higher feed costs and a volatile market, finding profit in the cattle business is on top of mind […]
How to Make Fly Control More Efficient, Convenient with More Coverage
Fly control is an investment in your herd. Horn flies cost beef producers more than $1 billion annually, and face flies can contribute up to $150 million in losses per year. House flies can be responsible for the transmission of BVD and scours and influence BRD, while stable flies are a huge bite hinderance to […]
Steps for a Successful Sale
Pay day. It’s the day or days many Americans look forward to each month so they can pay their debts, put away some savings and live life. But for many livestock producers, pay day comes once, maybe twice a year. Pay day comes on sale day and making sure you have everything ready to ensure the biggest […]
Help your Herd Reach its Potential with Quality Nutrition
Every living being has a purpose. For the cows that graze Alder’s Ranch, at Midway, Texas, halfway between Dallas and Houston, their purpose is to convert grass to milk and pounds of beef. The diverse cow-calf operation is home to 1,800 mama cows – Angus and Angus Plus – that run on land that ranges […]
