– Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County
It is easy to see the importance silage plays in ruminant livestock rations by observing the number of bunker silos and silage piles that are on area farms. Feeding out that stored silage requires management. Silage management can be discussed from two perspectives, one being how to manage the removal of Continue reading Silage Pile Feeding Management and Safety
– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) held their fourth annual Replacement Female Sale on November 25 at the Muskingum Livestock Auction Company in Zanesville, Ohio. A large crowd was on hand to bid on 102 high quality females in the sale. The sale represented an excellent opportunity for cow-calf producers to add quality females with documented breeding and health records to their herds.
Buyers had the opportunity to evaluate Continue reading 2016 OCA Replacement Female Sale Results
– Michelle Arnold, DVM (Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, UKVDL)
A scours outbreak in baby calves on a cow/calf operation can be a nightmare in real life. Ask any producer who has been through this ordeal and he/she will tell you it made them want to quit the cattle business. Once the outbreak begins, it spreads quickly throughout all of the youngest calves. Bacteria, viruses and parasites can attack the lining of the calf’s intestine and cause diarrhea and dehydration. Without a healthy gut lining, essential nutrients are not absorbed from milk which leads to weakness and weight loss. During a scours outbreak, each day begins with Continue reading “Scours” Vaccine – Give it Now for Protection in the Spring
– Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee
FED CATTLE: Fed cattle traded $3 higher on a live basis compared to a week ago. Prices on a live basis were mainly $110 to $111 while prices on a dressed basis were mainly $172 to $173. The 5-area weighted average prices thru Thursday were $111.06 live, up $3.14 from last week and $172.91 dressed, up $2.99 from a week ago. A year ago prices were $123.22 live and $195.00 dressed. In a short week of trade, finished cattle prices continued to increase sharply. Cattle feeders have gained leverage over packers as the number of cattle ready for slaughter has declined and as the number of cattle on feed has Continue reading Weekly Livestock Comments for November 25, 2016
– David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Fed cattle prices finally surged higher last week to $108-110 per cwt in many cash markets. High beef live-to-cutout spreads over the last couple of months, seasonal trends, and seemingly overdone price declines all indicated prices should be higher. The wholesale market, as measured by the Choice beef cutout is higher as well, starting this week up almost $3 per cwt to $185.68. The primal rib cut led the way, climbing to $368.39, its highest value since June 14th. Cattle slaughter to date in November is Continue reading Fed Cattle Prices Surge — Finally
– Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Extension Cattle Reproduction Specialist
One of the most asked questions in the cattle industry in the Southern United States: If I “pull” the bulls out for part of the year, won’t I lose an opportunity to get a few calves? Should I leave the bull out with cows year-round?
Here is the answer: A research analysis of 394 ranch observations from Continue reading Why Have a Calving Season??
– Dr. Les Anderson, Extension Professor, Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky
After a few years of record market highs for feeder calves, the markets have suddenly corrected and times have certainly gotten tougher. We can’t control the markets but we can control our productivity and our efficiency of production. The primary factor that reduces production efficiency for beef cow-calf producers is a low reproductive rate.
The first step to increasing reproductive rate is establishing and limiting the breeding season. Controlling the breeding season increases revenue and Continue reading As You Tighten Your Belt, Think of Tightening Your Breeding Season
– John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator
This is your final reminder to attend the fourth annual Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Replacement Female Sale. The sale will be held this Friday, November 25 at the Muskingum Livestock sale facility located at 944 Malinda Street in Zanesville and will begin at 6:00 p.m. This sale represents an Continue reading Replacement Female Sale, Final Reminder
– Dr. Kenny Burdine, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Kentucky
While the word recovery is not appropriate, there are a few encouraging signs in the cattle market. Feeder cattle futures have gained around $10 per cwt from their mid-October lows. Kentucky calf markets, which usually make their lows around this time of year, have gained ground similarly over the last few weeks. Just the fact that the downtrend has been broken provides some room for optimism.
I have been saying that I thought the cowherd would be Continue reading Kentucky Beef Cattle Market Update
– Clif Little, Ohio State University Extension, Guernsey County
As the development of shale energy continues, pipelines and related infrastructure are spreading across farmland. New gathering lines now extend out to wells that have come on-line in recent years. In addition, intrastate and interstate transmission pipelines are being built so that more natural gas can move from settings where it is extracted to distribution networks serving homes, businesses, and other end-users.
Though much of this infrastructure is constructed to the satisfaction of rural landowners, complete with restoration of pastures and crop fields, complaints are Continue reading Pastures, Woodlands and Pipelines