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Cowherd expansion considerations

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 12:36
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 Fall of 2024 is officially here! The U.S. beef herd inventory was at 28.2 million cows as of January 2024. During the last peak of the cattle cycle in January of 2019, the U.S. beef herd inventory reached 31.6 million cows. That is a drop of 3.4 million cows (11% of the inventory) in five years! Spanish: 

Avoiding Prussic Acid Poisoning in Grazing: When and How to Use a Quick Test

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 11:32
Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Is My Forage Sorghum, Sorghum x Sudangrass, or Sudangrass Safe to Graze?

Annual forages like sorghum, sorghum x -sudangrass, and sudangrass can accumulate nitrates, which should be evaluated before grazing. However, another potential risk is prussic acid poisoning (cyanide), which can be lethal if ingested.

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Winter Management Options for Weaned Calves

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 11:20
Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Many spring-born calves weaned in the fall are backgrounded through the winter prior to grazing summer grass or feedlot entry. There are many management options to consider for weaned calves depending on feed resources, labor, and subsequent management strategies. 

Cornstalk residue and winter range

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2024 Beef Innovation Workshop

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 09:57
Saturday, October 21, 2023 UNL Beef Innovation Annual Fall Workshop  October 23-24, 2024 

Great Plains Rooms B-C, East Campus, Lincoln 

Workshop goals 

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Test, don’t guess: Sampling and testing hay

Wed, 10/16/2024 - 09:08
Wednesday, October 16, 2024

 

Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get a real understanding of the nutritive value of feed. Using values from previous years or a “book value” can be costly since a producer may incorrectly develop a ration using values that aren’t representative.

Guidelines for sampling

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Many Beef Cows and Their Calves May Not Be Getting Enough Vitamin A in Their Diets

Tue, 10/01/2024 - 09:56
Tuesday, October 1, 2024

A new research article in Applied Animal Science details how beef cows and calves maintained in confinement and fed brown stored forages combined with grain or grain byproducts may not be getting sufficient amounts of vitamin A.

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How Grazing Corn Residue Affects the Soil

Mon, 09/30/2024 - 21:07
Monday, September 30, 2024 One of the most common concerns about grazing corn residue is that cattle will cause soil compaction. A long term grazing data (16 years) conducted at the University of Nebraska has shown no compaction when grazing in the fall or the early spring.Spanish: 

Simple Synchronization of Cows - One Injection, One Time through the Chute, and Bull Breed

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 15:10
Monday, September 23, 2024

Have you wanted to have more calves born earlier in your calving season, but did not want to deal with the increase in labor, cost and facilities to utilize estrus synchronization and artificial insemination?  The protocol shown (Figure 1.) can increase the number of cows coming into estrus early in the breeding season, with one time through the chute, one injection, and breeding using only natural service.

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Saying goodbye to metal bangs tags and hello to EID tags

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 12:45
Monday, September 23, 2024

If your heifers are bangs tagged, those orange metal clips will soon be a relic of the past. Starting November 5, 2024, your veterinarian will not be tagging with metal clips, but instead will use electronic identification (EID) tags.

Veterinarians used metal clips to identify heifers receiving the brucellosis vaccine (“bangs”), and to identify animals moving between states. 

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Determining a Fair Rent for Farm Buildings

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 12:10
Monday, September 23, 2024 Establishing a fair rent for farm buildings and storage facilities involves multiple factors. There isn’t a universal formula, as conditions vary depending on building type, usage, and local market conditions. However, a comprehensive evaluation of both fixed and variable costs, as well as cash and non-cash expenses, is essential.Spanish: 

Recognizing Economic Risk on the Ranch

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 10:05
Monday, September 23, 2024

Economic and financial risks on the ranch go hand in hand with other risks facing the operation. 

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Details & Registration for Upcoming Online Learning Opportunities

Thu, 09/19/2024 - 17:37
Thursday, September 19, 2024 Nebraska Beef Extension has planned several online learning opportunities that cover a variety of topics. Spanish: 

Plan Now to Purchase Your Hay Supplies

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 12:24
Friday, September 16, 2022

Hay production has been reported to be 50% of average or less in many areas of Nebraska. The U.S. hay supply is at a 50-year low (Table 1). Couple this information with rising costs (Figure 1) and it becomes prudent to plan fall, winter, and next spring’s hay needs sooner rather than later. Inventory your feed and hay resources now to know what you need. Checking prices and availability now will go a long way to reducing the anxiety of what we will feed our cows this fall and winter.

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Hold the Net Wrap and Twine

Mon, 09/16/2024 - 12:11
Monday, September 16, 2024 Net wrap is an efficient forage binding method and significantly reduces harvest and storage losses compared to twine. According to a forage binding survey conducted by South Dakota State University (SDSU), net wrap was the most preferred method of forage binding (67%) compared to twine (26%) or both (6%) depending on the crop harvested or livestock being fed. Spanish: 

UNL Heifer Development Center First Year Wrap-up

Tue, 09/10/2024 - 10:25
Tuesday, September 10, 2024

With the U.S. cowherd at historic lows, the University of Nebraska—Lincoln is focusing on how to grow the cowherd while advancing the quality of female genetics that are the foundation of the U.S. beef industry.

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Sustainable beef, early childhood projects lead Grand Challenges awards

Wed, 09/04/2024 - 12:08
Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Bold, audacious research ideas that will improve the lives of current and future generations of Nebraskans have been funded through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Grand Challenges Catalyst Competition. 

Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett and Sherri Jones, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation, announced nine new Grand Challenges projects Sept. 3. Projects include two catalyst awards and seven planning grants. 

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Upcoming webinar focuses on the basics of knowing, growing and grazing grass

Wed, 08/21/2024 - 11:49
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Ranchers and land managers can learn about forage production, stocking rates, managing risk, drought insurance and more in an interactive, online learning experience provided by Nebraska Extension.Spanish: 

When should ranchers start tax planning?

Fri, 08/16/2024 - 13:59
Friday, August 16, 2024 Does it seem too early to start planning for taxes? Even though calves await weaning, and crops still stand in the fields, September and October are excellent times to meet with your tax accountant and start looking ahead for tax purposes.Spanish: 

Haying and Cattle Grazing Areas with Hemlock

Fri, 08/16/2024 - 12:39
Friday, August 16, 2024

There are two different species of hemlocks in Nebraska that can be toxic to both livestock and people. Here is some information that is important for you to consider as you plan grazing or haying in areas with either of these two species of hemlock.

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Cashing in on your calf crop: Adding value at the auction block

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 10:42
Friday, August 2, 2024 As we near the feedlot fall run and cow/calf producers market their calves at the highest prices received to date, every additional pound of gain has greater profit potential. Spanish: