Three-State Beef Conference Registration & Recap
Two live, online sessions remain of the annual Three-State Beef Conference.
The Three-State Beef Conference provides essential updates on cow-calf and stocker topics to beef cattle producers and industry stakeholders. With specialists from leading beef cattle land grant universities—University of Nebraska, University of Missouri, and Iowa State University—alongside insights from industry experts, the conference serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange.
Spanish:Vitamin A levels at calving can have a big impact on calf health
Vitamin A is one of the most important keys to a healthy immune system in newborn calves. Colostrum is the only way calves can get the vitamin A they need to fight off bacteria that will make them sick, said Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska—Lincoln beef systems specialist and associate professor. But not all colostrum contains enough vitamin A, and recent research suggests that “enough” is more than previously thought.
Spanish:Technology on the Ranch Roundtable planned in Kimball
Technology is being incorporated into the tradition of ranching more and more often. But producers need to consider the cost and whether it adds value.
Nebraska Extension in Kimball-Banner Counties is presenting a roundtable discussion with area producers and researchers to discuss the technology available and how it can be effectively applied to ranching.
Spanish:Summer Weather Outlook
Temperatures this summer are generally expected to be seasonally warm and total precipitation is expected to be average to below average statewide. Rapid drought development or intensification is not likely but cannot be discounted.
Spanish:Engaging Agriculture: Ideas For Estate and Transition Planning: Monetary Compensation
For many farm and ranch families, bringing children or grandchildren into the operation is the ultimate goal. Successfully bringing additional family members into the operation may require some creativity, as all parties need to maintain a viable standard of living. This series of articles will highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation.
Spanish:Chasing the Elusive Second Calf
Getting first time mother cows bred for the second time is probably one of the strongest challenges for most beef producers. It can be extremely frustrating at the time of pregnancy diagnosis to find a high percentage of those young cows, the future of the cowherd, to be open. More importantly, it is expensive.
Spanish:Deadline approaching for UNL’s paid Timmerman Feedyard Management Internship
From genetics to feed and management, everything the beef industry works toward comes together in the feedyard.
Students in the University of Nebraska—Lincoln’s Timmerman Feedyard Management Internship see how all those things interact and ultimately produce the beef that feeds millions.
Spanish:For Immediate Release: Resources available for producers affected by central Nebraska wildfires
Adjusting stocking rates, weed management and fire break recovery after a fire
A: Rainfall in May and June will be most critical and should be the guiding factor affecting stocking rate decisions. With adequate rainfall, adjustments to stocking rate are not necessary. Research from the Great Plains shows that dormant-season fires do not reduce above-ground herbaceous production. In fact, plant regrowth following fire is considerably higher in quality which could lead to increased animal performance.
Spanish:Wildfire Response Continues in Central Nebraska
Grazing Management Following Wildfire
Spring wildfires that occur on range and pasturelands will happen when there is the right combination of high winds and low humidity. That has been the case here in 2024 and that threat will continue until we have new, green grass growth later this spring. Although the immediate aftermath of a fast-moving fire can look quite devastating, our perennial pasture grasses are resilient and will recover, especially since they are still dormant. Spring is also a time when many prescribed burns are conducted for the purpose of Eastern red cedar control. Of course, adequate m
Spanish:Bull Value Cow-Q-Lator: What is it and how to use it
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at Noon (CT)
Spanish:Engaging Agriculture: Extension hosting multistate emergency preparedness workshop series for rural families
An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families.
The program will be held at numerous locations across Nebraska and Indiana. The series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection, and hazardous materials. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT on March 5, 7, 12 and 14.
The program is a collaboration between extension women in agriculture programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.
Spanish:Bull evaluation & selection
Spring sale season in the Great Plains is in full swing. This is when seedstock producers get to showcase their program's progeny, and buyers can acquire bull power for the upcoming breeding season. The primary purpose of buying bulls is to improve herd genetics through an outside seedstock producers’ breeding program. Since nearly all herd improvements over time are a deliberate effort through purchased bulls or modern technologies such as artificial insemination, genetics are instilled in a herd through new bulls.
Spanish:Managing and developing young beef bulls
There are as many ways to feed and develop young beef bulls as there are seedstock producers. There are many and varied reasons that bulls are managed and fed the way they are. Whether bulls are developed on the ranch, in a commercial facility, or at a central bull test, they are usually fed to gain 2.8 to 4.0 pounds daily from weaning to one year of age.
Spanish:Bull selection criteria and cost
The spring bull sale season is underway. Producers are studying catalogs, comparing EPDs and individual animal performance numbers, and choosing which bulls will be the next herd sires. This article includes a link to a spreadsheet producers can use to figure actual bull costs, and addresses some of the things producers should consider before heading to the sale. Hint: It's more than just the lunch menu.
Spanish:Tips for managing calving in muddy conditions
Mud conditions in calving areas can lead to health concerns in both the cow and calf. Mud and moisture prevent the hair coat from insulating and maintaining body temperature, leaving newborn calves vulnerable to hypothermia. Mud also increases the energy requirements for the cow and may lead to decreases in body condition score (Nickles, et al. 2022).
Spanish: