Month: July 2017

How Early is Too Early to Wean?

– Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Can I wean 90-day-old calves that weigh 300 pounds?

The answer is yes. Dry weather has made this – and variations – the question of the day.

In an ideal world, mother and calf should enjoy green pastures from birth until weaning at about 7 months of age. The typical weaning age is 192 days for producers in the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance System (CHAPS) program. However, some calves are weighed along with the administration of preweaning vaccinations prior to the actual weaning day, so the average age at weaning could be a few days older.

The CHAPS profile shows steers weigh 566 pounds, heifers 535 pounds and Continue reading How Early is Too Early to Wean? →

Cow Size

– Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist

Increasing Mature Body Weight of the United States Cow Herd: There has been a 30% increase in cow mature size over the last 30 years. From 1975 to 2015, cow numbers have decreased by 35%, but beef production has been maintained at a level similar to 1975 In response to the low cow numbers carcass weights have increased. These relationships suggest that the progeny of small cows, similar to the weights observed in the 1950s and 1960s, would not have the potential to produce the carcasses necessary to maintain beef production at the current level with the number of cows currently in the national beef cow herd, unless they take part in a postweaning growing period.

This phenomenon is explained by the increased Continue reading Cow Size →

Weekly Livestock Comments for June 30, 2017

– Andrew P. Griffith, University of Tennessee

FED CATTLE: Fed cattle traded $2 to $3 lower on a live basis compared to last week. Prices on a live basis were mainly $118 to $119 while dressed trade was mainly $188 to $190.

The 5-area weighted average prices thru Thursday were $118.65 live, down $2.86 from last week and $189.95 dressed, down $3.85 from a week ago. A year ago prices were $122.48 live and $195.94 dressed.

Somedays a person is the hammer and some days a person is the nail. Feedlots may be the Continue reading Weekly Livestock Comments for June 30, 2017 →