As calves are weaned in late October and November for spring-calving beef herds, producers are encouraged to use this transition period to assess the body condition scores (BCS) of their cow herds. Weaning provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate...
By mid-November, most cow-calf operators in the U.S. are feeding hay or preparing to do so, as winter feed costs represent the largest expense in cow-calf production. Following a tight hay supply in 2022, 2023 saw improved production, leading...
Bovine Respiratory Disease (“BRD”) or “shipping fever”, also known as bronchopneumonia, continues to be the most common cause of illness and death in postweaned (stocker) calves despite significant improvements in the vaccines and antibiotics available today. Traditionally, disease prevention...
The initial two weeks in a feedyard are crucial for cattle health and performance. During this time, minimizing stress and following specific feeding, hydration, and processing protocols can help ensure a smooth transition.
Reducing Stress Upon Arrival
To reduce stress, cattle...
In cow-calf operations, the primary economic driver is maximizing the number of calves weaned per cow exposed, with calf weight and phenotype following as additional factors. Calf health plays a critical role in ensuring growth, performance, and profitability, and...
Source: Alabama Cooperative Extension System
The success of a beef cow-calf operation depends on the number of calves produced and marketed each year. Fewer calves to market will reduce gross income and negatively affect profitability.
Reproductive performance can potentially increase or...
Source: Merck news release
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the introduction of SENSEHUB Cow Calf, remote monitoring...
Source:Mississippi State University Extension
For a cow-calf operation, good reproductive rates are critical to operational success and profitability. It is generally expected that each breeding-age female in the herd produces a healthy calf each year and successfully raises each calf...
Source: Oklahoma State University, By David Lalman
On average, nearly 40% of total operating costs in cow-calf enterprises are associated with nutrition because purchased and harvested hay and concentrate feeds make up the majority of that cost. Consequently, the nutritional program...
Source: Zoetis news release
A successful preconditioning program will set calves up for optimal future health and performance while enabling producers to command full market value on their calves, said Phillip Kesterson, DVM, with Zoetis beef technical services and based...
