Calving Cows on Cornstalks – Nutritional Considerations
Determining how much forage a beef cow needs per day
During calving season cow/calf producers are typically feeding harvested forages. A frequent question from producers is "how much will my cows eat on a daily basis"? Producers want to meet the cows' nutrient requirement, but sure don't want to over-feed expensive forages. With the dry conditions this past summer and harvested forages at a premium, closely estimating the amount of feed needed to get through the winter and early spring will be important to contain cost.
Spanish:Tips for dealing with winter stress
Amy Timmerman – Extension Educator, Glennis McClure – Extension Educator and Farm and Ranch Management Analyst, and Michelle Krehbiel – Youth Development Specialist
The start of 2024 had some major challenges for many across the state from cold temperatures, blizzards, and snow squalls. Now there are discussions of ice jams, rain and potential flooding. The Nebraska slogan, “Honestly, it’s not for everyone,” is holding true.
Spanish:How to use night feeding to increase daytime calving
Pasture & Forage Minute: Winter hay worries about magnesium deficiency (tetany) & nitrate poisoning
Grass tetany and nitrate poisoning are issues that we typically associate with animals grazing. However, both issues can be a problem in winter when animal diets are limited by what they are fed. Is your herd safe from possible hay worries?
Tetany occurs when an animal’s diet doesn’t have enough magnesium to meet nutritional needs. Complications with milk production and increased magnesium demand can make this imbalance even worse during lactation.
Spanish:Pasture & Forage Minute: Pasture lease considerations
As pasture grazing leases are getting finalized for the 2024 season, it is important to make sure that some of the key details are clear and in writing.
Traditionally, pasture leases are for 5 or 6 months from April or May through October. Specific starting and ending dates can be used, but there could be exceptions based on spring weather conditions or if there were drought conditions the previous year that might warrant delaying turn-out to allow some recovery of grasses.
Spanish:2024 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series
Pasture & Forage Minute: Reviewing last year and planning for this year
Too much cold and snowy weather can make even the most eager winter enthusiast look forward to spring. Once we dig out and are able to catch a breath, taking some time to review last year can help us when looking ahead to 2024.
Spanish:Certified Angus Beef and Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance collaborate on February meeting
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Volleyball Head Coach John Cook will be the guest speaker at the February Nebraska BQA workshop in Ashland, Neb. The free educational workshop will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Round the Bend Steakhouse and will include a Certified Angus Beef ® brand lunch, giveaways, and optional YQCA training for kids.
The event is made possible through the latest Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and Sysco partnership. In 2023, CAB and Sysco launched a cattle care partnership and a new campaign, Raised with Respect™.
Spanish:Farm Service Agency Offers Disaster Assistance to Nebraska Farmers, Livestock Producers Impacted by Recent Winter Storms
Heifer percent mature body weight at breeding: What does it mean for pregnancy rates and calf performance?
This article is a research summary of the 2024 Nebraska Beef Report, Impact of Heifer Percent Mature Body Weight at Breeding on Heifer Performance, Calf Production, and Subsequent Pregnancy Rates.
To remain in the herd, it is crucial for a replacement heifer to conceive and maintain pregnancy. However, since females within a herd offset input costs with a live calf born each year, focus should not only be placed on pregnancy rates as a yearling, but subsequent pregnancy rates as a cow.
Spanish:Cow Herd Report Card III: Calving distribution & pounds of calf weaned per acre
Check out the first two parts in this series focused on measuring performance in a cow-calf operation.
Spanish:What are replacement heifers worth in 2024?
Not every cow is going to be profitable, even when calf prices are high. It is important to consider the quality of cows as well as cost. Paying too much for good cows is as bad as paying very little for a horrible one. Producers who intend to be profitable must consider closely the relationship of current and future cost to current and future revenue, cow longevity and productivity.
Spanish:Staying safe in cold weather and how to recognize, treat and prevent hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot
As wintry, cold weather hits with sub-zero temperatures, there's not much room for error in cold weather preparedness. Cattle producers can't just stay indoors when the weather gets cold. However, since a producer's most valuable assets are the humans who have to be out in the cold, it's important to recognize when it's time to take a break and warm up, or adjust the work, equipment or gear to make sure the people are prioritized in cold weather.
Spanish:Winter weather challenges for bulls can affect breeding season
Livestock producers know winter can be a challenge for their cowherds, and Karla Wilke, Nebraska Extension cow-calf/stocker specialist, reminds them not to forget about their bulls in their winter management plans.
“Bulls are one of our bigger investments in the cow herd, and 90 percent of the cows are still impregnated through natural service with a bull rather than artificial insemination,” Wilke said. “So, they also require year-round maintenance.”
Spanish:Make Plans to Attend the 2024 Three-State Beef Conference
The annual Three-State Beef Conference gives beef producers and others a chance to spend an evening learning from top researchers and industry leaders. This year topics include corn residue grazing, heifer development and managing cows for longevity and profitability.
The conference features three presenters who travel to three states over three days, Jan. 16-18, discussing their research findings and practical ways to apply them.
Spanish:Winter cattle yard preparation checklist
This checklist is not comprehensive, but is a place to start for preparing for winter weather in a cattle yard.
Click here for a printable .pdf checklist.
Facilities
Spanish:Beef news and upcoming webinars from the Nebraska Center for Ag Profitability
On RFD-TV: Greg Ibach discusses beef efficiency and environmental impact
Livestock production has long been a cornerstone of American agriculture. That is certainly true in Nebraska, which is known as the beef state. During the Global Climate Summit earlier this month, world leaders recommended reducing worldwide meat consumption in order to help mitigate agriculture’s environmental impacts. But the research paints a more complicated story. Greg Ibach, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins RFD-TV to discuss.
Spanish:Husker team receives $5M grant to reduce methane emissions from cattle
A Husker research team has received $5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to research more sustainable dairy and beef production.
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