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July 2012 Magazine Issue

Highlights in our Weaning & Preconditioning Issue include:

Specialists Provide Advice On Early Weaning Calves

Developing A Ranch Biosecurity Plan

Study Examines Cow’s Protection Behavior

Preconditioning Of Calves Is A Win-Win-Win Equation

Weaning

  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Specialists Provide Advice On Early Weaning Calves

    Sometimes weaning calves early can benefit both the pasture and cattle. Greg Lardy, North Dakota State University Animal Science Depart-ment head and professor, says early weaning can be an effective drought-management tool, as well as a way to save feed costs....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Hay Shortage Prompted Weaning And Calving Changes 1

    Maxwell Ranch near Fort Collins, CO, utilizes early weaning as a way to reduce costs. Joel Vaad, who manages the ranch, says he’s been weaning calves at 4-5 months of age; pulling them right off the cows to sell. “I wean my replacement heifers at the same age and they do fine,” he says....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Drought-Ravaged Texans Depended On Early Weaning In 2011

    Early weaning was one option drought-ravaged producers in Texas employed last year. Many will have to do it again in 2012. Ron Gill, Texas A&M University Extension beef specialist, says some producers who early-weaned calves in his area sold them right off the cow, while others kept and fed them....More
  • Jun. 21, 2012
    Article

    Kentucky/Tennessee CPH Moves To 60-Day Weaning 2

    The venerable Certified for Preconditioned Health (CPH) program that began in Kentucky 27 years ago and is today known as the Kentucky-Tennessee CPH, is upping its 45-day minimum weaning requirement to 60 days. CPH, which was among the first programs that...More

Genetics

  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Study Examines Cow’s Protection Behavior 1

    Numerous studies show that selecting beef cattle for a calm temperament improves weight gain and meat quality. Over the years, however, several ranchers have reported an increase in poor mothering among their cows. Perhaps this is the result of intensive selection during the last decade for calmer, more docile cows....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Survey Shows Producers Tolerate Aggressive Cows 3

    Each year, beef producers are injured by overly aggressive cows at calving time. In fact, 23 people were killed by cows over a recent 15-year period in Canada. In the U.S., injury reporting by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 14% of fatalities caused by cattle are due to beef cows with calves....More
  • Jun. 18, 2012
    video

    Wanted: Protective Mother Cows 7

    Numerous studies show that selecting beef cattle for a calm temperament improves weight gain and meat quality. Over the years, however, several ranchers have reported an increase in poor mothering among their cows. Perhaps this is the result of intensive selection during the last decade for calmer, more docile cows....More

Health

  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Developing A Ranch Biosecurity Plan

    Consider the term “biosecurity” and what do you think of? People running around in hazmat suits conducting chemical warfare on some dreaded disease? In its most extreme, that is biosecurity. The reality, however, is that implementing a biosecurity plan for your ranch isn’t difficult....More

People

Columns

  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Scratching My Head Over “Frack-Free” Beef 4

    This issue is important to U.S. beef producers because it’s important to every American. Higher-priced energy leads to higher-priced goods and services. That not only raises production costs, but suppresses demand for a lot of goods and services, not the least of which is beef....More
  • May 31, 2012
    blog

    Five Things I Would Pay More For 5

    We’re all interested in holding down our costs, but experience has taught me that there are five areas I won’t skimp on. That’s because the extra quality either brings more end value or costs less in the long run....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    blog

    Preconditioning Of Calves Is A Win-Win-Win Equation 1

    It’s hard to argue with win-win situations in life. Even better are win-win-win situations. Preconditioning (PC) calves fits the win-win-win scenario. The first win of PC is the calf’s health and welfare. The research studies are solid on the health and welfare benefits to PC calves – there’s less morbidity and less mortality in the feedlot....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    blog

    Calves Will Be Fewer, And More Expensive

    “As we (the industry) keep heifers back and we work through the tail end of last year’s drought cattle, we’re just now on the verge of supplies getting tight,” says Jackie Moore, owner of Joplin Regional Stockyards in Carthage, MO. Think of that. That’s despite beef cows numbers having declined every year, and 9% overall, since 2007 (January to January). And 2007 was a time when beef cow numbers were already sucking dregs by historical standards. ...More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    blog

    What’s The Real Cost Of Heifer Development?

    Today’s high market prices are stimulating talk of herd expansion. Ranchers can either raise or purchase their replacement females, but the most tend to raise them. In fact, my last two columns have focused on this internal expansion decision....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    blog

    A Pitch For Operational Simplicity 1

    It’s probably apparent from my previous articles that I have a strong bias toward operational simplicity. When considering war on cost, the best place to start is overhead. From ranches I’ve seen, here’s how I’d describe a low-overhead ranch. Let’s assume that a husband and wife with children still living at home are running 600-800 cows with a good number of the calves held over to run as yearlings. Some will be kept as replacement heifers and some will be sold....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    blog

    Cull Cow Value Skyrockets In Today's Market

    Americans’ appetite for ground beef is great news for cow-calf producers. Given the tight supplies of lean manufacturing beef, cull cows have become almost as valuable as gold. Demand for cull-cow beef is outstripping the domestic supply, which has meant record-high prices for lean boneless beef (90CL), cow carcasses and the cows themselves. Cull cows historically have accounted for 20% of a cow-calf producer’s annual income. This might have risen a notch or two over the past year, although calf prices have also hit record levels....More
  • Jun. 22, 2012
    Article

    Wheat Pasture Management Tips

    Daily gain among wheat pasture stockers was increased by nearly ½ lb./day with the use of Rumensin® in a mineral supplement or block, and an implant. The net return of these technologies is substantial in today’s market and shouldn’t be overlooked....More

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