Law enforcement officials are hoping the public can shed light on who shot and killed 14 cattle near Hankinson, ND....More

As I travel and talk to the general public, I find that a grand majority of them, from omnivore to vegan, are concerned about the welfare of livestock. They care deeply about the way livestock are treated and they are appalled by the videos of abuse that are put out by various animal rights groups. They like to tell me about their dog, cat, or maybe even their horse, and how they couldn’t bear the thought of those animals being eaten.They wonder how ranchers feel about these animals and their welfare. Do we really care?...More

Figuring out markets has always been akin to estimating the speed and direction of unseen ghosts, more so since the commodity bubble and financial collapse....More

Since late February, cull cow have averaged about $10 higher than last year. Those high 2011 prices occurred despite a 15% higher slaughter rate than the five-year average, and were buoyed by strong demand for manufacturing grade cow beef and lower beef imports. Conversely, the higher cow prices in 2012 are the result of lower cow slaughter and continued strong demand for 90% lean boneless beef....More

Many groups in society, including politicians, activists, scientists, and stakeholders, are advocating significant changes to livestock production practices. These changes include modification of stocking densities, limitations on antimicrobial use, and requirements for outdoor "experiences." Such changes may affect animal health. Simultaneously, consumers are demanding virtually risk-free food, and they think food safety should be addressed on-farm as well as during processing. Understanding the complex relationship between animal health and food safety is critical....More

Of all the countries in the world, which consumes the most meat per person? The answer might surprise you....More

Every year, commercial cow-calf producers hit the road to attend bull sales, looking for the next group of herd sires that will move their genetics forward. But unless you have a carefully thought out breeding objective for your ranch, and have committed it to paper, you run the risk getting sidetracked in your selection criteria....More

The most frequently asked question that I receive from urban dwellers is, “How can you take care of animals for several months and then send them off to be killed?” Quite honestly, this is a question that I ponder regularly as I think about why I believe that it is an admirable vocation to raise food animals....More

Five years after the board of directors of the American Veal Association (AVA) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution calling for all U.S. veal farms to transition to group pens, a recent survey reveals that 70% of veal calves raised by AVA members will be housed in group pens by the end of 2012. The resolution, adopted by the AVA on May 9, 2007, took a leadership position on farm animal housing by calling for the veal community to transition all veal farms to group housing by Dec. 31, 2017....More