Calving first-calf heifers is full of sleepless nights and fraught with challenges. One of the most important decisions a producer can make is when to intervene if a heifer is having difficulty birthing a calf. Buddy Faries, Jr., veterinarian with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, explains what to look for and when to step in....More

Research is revealing how important fetal programming is to the productivity of the calf. Researchers are learning that the nutritional level of the cow during the third trimester of pregnancy has significant influence on the animal’s ability to gain efficiency and reach the Choice grade if it’s a fed steer, or produce calves that meet the ranch’s production goals if it’s a replacement heifer....More