Month: September 2016

Corn Silage Crop in Ohio, 2016

– Maurice Eastridge and Bill Weiss, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University

The weather conditions have been variable in Ohio this summer. Some areas have been extremely dry and other areas have been very wet during the past two to three months.  Thus, corn silage yields will likely be quite variable across Ohio this year. For those areas that have been very dry, yields will be adversely affected, but generally the concentrations of protein and energy will be better than average. Therefore, many dairy as well as beef farmers in Ohio may need to purchase additional corn for silage or identify other ingredients to replace corn silage in the diet. Now is the time to make such decisions while some Continue reading Corn Silage Crop in Ohio, 2016 →

Love Your Wife and Kids, Not Your Cows!

– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator (This article first appeared in the Early Fall 2016 issue of the Ohio Cattleman magazine)

The title of this article is a phrase I have used over the years in my Extension programming.  Part of the title seems fairly obvious; Of course we love our wives and children!  The second part of the title may seem a bit questionable to some of you.  Most cattlemen would not raise beef cattle if they didn’t genuinely have the animal’s best interests in mind in terms of daily management that contributes to animal welfare.  However, the second part of the title serves as Continue reading Love Your Wife and Kids, Not Your Cows! →

“Form and Function” in the Cow Herd

– Dr. Roy Burris, Beef Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Replacement heifers are critical to the success of your herd. Open (non-pregnant), unsound, aged cows or animals that die need to be replaced annually to maintain herd size. Since it can be difficult to find a source of mature cows that are problem-free, many producers direct their efforts toward producing or purchasing yearling replacement heifers.

Should you raise or purchase your replacements? That depends upon Continue reading “Form and Function” in the Cow Herd →

OSU Eastern Agricultural Research Station 50th Celebration

Eastern Ohio is fortunate to have one of the premiere agricultural research stations.  This year EARS otherwise known as the Eastern Agricultural Research Station is celebrating 50th year of conducting research as part of The Ohio State University.  An Open House will be Continue reading OSU Eastern Agricultural Research Station 50th Celebration →

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2016 Fall Beef School Begins on Oct. 4th

– Clif Little, OSU Extension Educator, Guernsey County

OSU Extension and the Eastern Agriculture Research Station has made plans for the 2016 Fall Beef School.  The dates for the school are Tuesday, October 4 & 11th starting at 5:30 p.m. to 8 pm and on Oct. 15th   the program will run from 10 am, until 2 pm. The programs will be held at the Continue reading 2016 Fall Beef School Begins on Oct. 4th →

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Kentucky Beef Cattle Market Update

– Dr. Kenny Burdine, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Kentucky

The feeder cattle market took yet another hit over the last month. The April 2017 CME© Live cattle futures contract lost around $10 per cwt from mid-August to mid-September and that decline resulted in another $10 to $15 drop in calf prices. Steer calves (550#) have moved into the $130’s per cwt on a state average basis. Feeders above 700 lbs have generally held their ground better, but have also Continue reading Kentucky Beef Cattle Market Update →

Feedlot Profit Situation

– Glynn T. Tonsor, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University

Given the multitude of adjustments underway in the cattle markets it is useful to assess most recent estimates of closeout returns offered in K-State’s Kansas Feedlot Net Return series to extend understanding of the current situation faced by feedlots. (1)  This most recent report, which provides both historical and projected return information, indicates expected returns have eroded notably since Continue reading Feedlot Profit Situation →

Slump Busters: Summer Forage Pinch Hitters

– Mike Estadt, OSU Extension Educator, Pickaway County (This article first appeared in the Early Fall 2016 issue of the Ohio Cattleman magazine)

Major League Baseball players are infamous for trying strange practices to get out of hitting slumps. Not shaving, not showering, and trying to keep the routine they used when the bat was finding the ball. Grazers in part of Ohio typically have a period of time called the “summer slump”, usually in late July and early August when hot and dry weather force cool season grasses into partial dormancy. Quite often we become like baseball players trying the same routine.

Estadt1

Initial grazing at 45 day after emergence

Sometimes we as grass managers need to Continue reading Slump Busters: Summer Forage Pinch Hitters →

Using Cover Crops with Fall Manure Applications

– Glen Arnold, OSU Extension Manure Management Field Specialist (This article first appeared in the September 2, 2016 on-line issue of Ohio’s Country Journal)

Livestock producers will soon be applying manure following corn silage harvest. Both soybean and corn harvest will be about normal this year. To best capture the nutrients in manure, livestock producers should incorporate fall applied manure and also consider using cover crops.

Fall cover crops have been planted in Ohio for many years. While primarily used to help control soil erosion, cover crops can also recapture nutrients in Continue reading Using Cover Crops with Fall Manure Applications →

Corn and Feeder Cattle Price Relationship

– Brenda Boetel, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Historically feeder cattle prices have been determined by several factors, with corn price and fed-cattle price having the greatest impact.  The corn price has typically had an inverse relationship to both fed and feeder cattle prices.  This means, as the price of corn increases, the price of feeder cattle decreases.  This assumes that all other factors have remained constant, including other feeding costs as well as fed-cattle price.

Several years ago, Continue reading Corn and Feeder Cattle Price Relationship →