cattle parasites

A Guide to Cattle Parasites 

Cattle parasites come in varying shapes and sizes: short, skinny, long, brown or white. Unfortunately, most go undetected until symptoms appear. As winter temperatures approach, cattle producers should prioritize parasite control.  Due to environmental conditions and management practices, cattle are susceptible to certain parasites in winter. As temperatures decrease and cattle get hairy and bunch […]

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Cattle Drench Research

VitaFerm® Cattle Drench Research Proves Increased Health, Performance 

Stocker operators and backgrounders want their calves to get the best nutritional start possible. They often receive loads of calves. Sometimes those calves are from multiple locations, often transported hundreds of miles. Maybe they come from a livestock auction market, fresh weaned from their mamas. Early stress, such as weaning or hauling, can take a […]

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cold-stress-feature

A Guide to Cold Stress in Cattle 

Zip up the overalls and strap up the insulated boots. The temperatures are about to dip. As cattle producers, we know how to bundle up and face the bitter cold. However, your cow herd can’t put on the extra layers required when the temperatures dip below freezing and the snow begins to blow.   Although cattle […]

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winter cattle shelter

How to Provide Winter Cattle Shelter for your Herd 

Providing adequate winter cattle shelter is essential for herd health and well-being during the coldest months of the year. Yes, cattle are fairly cold-tolerant. However, the combination of wind chill and moisture can lead to cold stress, which leads to lowered performance and decreased immune response.   At VitaFerm®, providing quality nutrition is our main priority. […]

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when to wean cattle

When to Wean Cattle

Weaning is an essential process in cattle management for both the cow and the calf. It teaches the calf to be independent and allows it to go out on its own, often like sending our kids off to college. For the cow, weaning allows the reallocation of nutrients away from a nursing calf, giving the […]

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weaning calves

How to Make Weaning Calves Stress-Free  

Weaning Calves Weaning calves is perhaps one of the most stressful times in a cow-calf operation. The bawling calves are stressed, their mama cows are confused, and the producer is trying to make sure everyone stays where they need to be.  However, with proper preparation, good management practices, and a solid plan, you can lessen […]

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cattle diet plan

How to Develop a Cattle Diet Plan for Your Herd 

Cattle Diet Plan Raising cattle isn’t as simple as it once was. Generations ago, our great-grandparents likely bought some cows from a neighbor, purchased a bull from another neighbor, and hoped for the best. Their cattle diet plan probably didn’t exist, as they fed the feedstuffs that they raised on their farm – corn and […]

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what to feed cows

A Year-Long Planner: What to Feed Cows 

What To Feed Cows Cow nutritional requirements fluctuate throughout the calendar year and the annual production cycle. Fortunately, cattle producers have a variety of management systems to choose from. They can select calving times, weaning protocols, nutrition programs, and marketing scenarios.  However, when it comes to what to feed cows, the production cycle of the […]

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how soon will a cow breed back after calving

How Soon Will a Cow Breed Back After Calving 

We expect a lot from a cow. She spends roughly 283 days in gestation, delivers a calf, and then we prepare her for breed back and expect her to conceive problem-free during her first heat. That is a lot for the body to handle, and the cow does it, hopefully, year after year after year.  […]

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Progress is Constantly Evolving in Cow-Calf Business

 Fifth in a Series based on 1980s Ads Featuring BioZyme® Founder   Have you ever wondered why the windshield is significantly larger than a rearview mirror? The road in front of you has greater importance than where you came from. That is progress. You need to know where you are going, but you also need to be […]

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