Producing heavy feeders that perform and provide quality carcasses start with cows that are able to produce that type of calf, and still work in the ranching environment, says Ken Olson, South Dakota State University Extension beef specialist.
Look at the genetic trend for performance traits in commonly used beef breeds and the steep, positive slope of improvement is staggering. But if you compare that to the pounds on the ground, and the ability of commercial cows to breed, calve, and wean a calf and then breed back, the lack of progress is just as shocking....More
Profits per cow grew in 2010 and preliminary data suggest profits per cow were up again in 2011. I project even higher profits for the next few years, all of which should trigger an expansion in the nation’s cow herd, right?...More
My husband and I started crossing Angus and Hereford cattle in the 1960s, breeding a Hereford bull to Angus cows. We felt this cross worked better than the reverse (Angus bull on Hereford cows – the traditional cross), since our Angus cows were good mothers and milked better than the Herefords we had at that time....More
I learned a lot about love and marriage from my parents. After 26 years of marriage, their love is still very evident. They laugh together, go on date nights and enjoy spending time together. One of the things they joke about is that there favorite date is taking pasture tours together to look at calves in the summertime....More
The drought of 2011 has turned many Southern Plains ranches into deserts, leaving some producers no choice but to cull their herds and flood auction sales and packing plants with a steady stream of open and bred cows and heifers. But Frontera Feedyard, Muleshoe, TX, is helping ease the pain....More
As calf prices continue upward, I receive more phone calls on beef cow leasing. Some are from investors hoping to capture the economic profits from beef cows. Others are from working ranchers looking to lease cows as an alternative to financing their herd expansion....More
During my years as a manager, the thing I liked the least was gathering information and doing analysis for decision making. However, I really liked having good information and the ability it provided...More
Salina, KS-area advocates for agriculture are making an extra effort to teach young students about farming and ranching, saying that too many of today's youngsters don't know enough about how their food is produced....More
