Month: December 2021

Kentucky rising above tornado aftermath

Over the weekend all of us were shocked and also saddened by the loss and destruction resulting from the tornado outbreaks, particularly those that devastated much of Western Kentucky. Not only were there many devastating personal losses in communities across Kentucky, but also significant damage to agricultural infrastructure.

The video below shows the remains of the University of Kentucky research center at Princeton that was destroyed by the tornadoes. This research station has a heavy focus on crop, forage, and beef production.

Many have ask how we can help. The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association office has been in touch with local, state and national contacts to determine what needs there are and how we can assist. Presently they are accepting donations for Tornado Relief through their Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation. All donations will be used to help local producers in need of farm supplies. These donations can be made by Continue reading Kentucky rising above tornado aftermath →

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Monthly Reports Update

– Josh Maples, Assistant Professor & Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University

A few key USDA monthly reports were released last week relevant to cattle and beef markets. The monthly Livestock and Meat International Trade dataset was released last Wednesday. The monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report was released on Thursday. Additionally, the Meat Price Spreads dataset was released last Friday. In this week’s article, I want to touch on some of the data from these reports.

First, from the trade data, the graph above shows beef and veal exports through October. Beef exports have been exceptional throughout 2021 and are on pace for the Continue reading Monthly Reports Update →

Cattle Trade

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

Roughly 80% of Canadian federal slaughter capacity is consolidated between two companies and three facilities: two in Alberta and one in Ontario. One of these plants, Cargill High River plant in Alberta Canada, averted a strike with successful negotiations, and not only Canadian, but also American fat cattle producers can feel relieved that another packing disruption did not occur. The labor contract negotiations at Cargill High River plant in Alberta, Canada, have some questioning why Canadian labor issues would affect American cattle supply and prices. A brief look at the integration of the North American beef industry and the importance of imports to US feedlots and slaughter plants might help answer that question.

The US has three sources for imported cattle, including Canadian slaughter cattle (steers, heifers, cows, bulls), Canadian feeder cattle and Mexican feeder cattle. In 2020, US imports of Canadian slaughter cattle were 528,518 head. Imports for 2021 are 9.6% below 2020 levels. Although imports of slaughter cattle are down in 2021, partially due to the declining Canadian herd, the supply of cattle coming to the US from Canada has been relatively stable ranging from 480,000 to 580,000 head per year during 2016-2020. Note though that the US federally inspected annual cattle slaughter during this same time of 2016-2020 averaged 31.9 million head, with 25.4 million head being steers/heifers. Canadian slaughter cattle imports account for an average of 1.6% of Continue reading Cattle Trade →

Valuing Bedded-Pack Manure

– Glen Arnold, CCA, Field Specialist, Manure Nutrient Management

Manure as a soil nutrient source

Due to the increase in fertilizer prices, there is renewed interest in the nutrient value of manure. This article will discuss bedded-pack manures that involve straw, sawdust, or wood chips to absorb moisture. The nutrients and organic matter in pen-pack manure are an excellent addition to farm fields.

The most com mon types of bedded manure are beef, dairy, and sheep or goats. Small ruminant bedded pack manure contains the most nutrients per ton followed by beef manure and dairy manure.

Pen-pack manure contains the macro nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash along with a host of micronutrients. The nutrient content can vary depending on species, feed products fed, and the amounts of straw or sawdust used for bedding. The farm’s manure handling and storage practices also impact the nutrient content of manure. Manure stored under . . .

Continue reading: Valuing Bedded-Pack Manure

 

Adding Value to the Calf Crop Through Reproductive Technology

– Dr. Pedro Fontes, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Georgia

A companion article by Dr. Fluharty in this newsletter highlights the changes in carcass quality that have observed in the beef industry, where over the last couple of decades, our industry has substantially increased the proportion of carcasses grading Choice and Prime. More importantly, while the proportion of superior carcasses have increased, the consumer demand for a higher quality product continues to grow. Cow-calf producers have traditionally struggled to capture value when marketing calves with superior genetics for terminal traits. However, today, this scenario is changing.Cattlemen that produce genetically superior calves that will perform well in the feedlot and produce superior carcasses can take advantage of value-based marketing opportunities to differentiate themselves and add value to their calf crop.

Artificial insemination (AI) is currently the most effective way to rapidly introduce superior terminal genetics into commercial beef herds and consequently increase the genetic merit of the calf crop for carcass-related traits. Cattle producers that utilize AI benefit from the widespread . . .

Continue reading Adding Value to the Calf Crop Through Reproductive Technology

Free Online Tool to Help Producers Incorporate Artificial Insemination in Beef Herds

– Dr. Pedro Fontes, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Georgia

The development of estrus synchronization protocols has facilitated the use of artificial insemination in beef cattle. These protocols allow producers to inseminate cows or heifers at a fixed time without the need of estrus detection. Several different protocols are currently available to synchronize beef females and producers are often overwhelmed with the complicated terminology and large numbers of protocols.Different factors will influence the selection of an estrus synchronization protocol. For example, protocols recommended for cows are different than protocols for replacement heifers. Within the protocols recommended for cows, protocols for Bos taurus breeds are slightly different than protocol for Bos indicus–influenced cattle. To overcome the challenges associated with the selection of an estrus synchronization protocol, Extension personnel across the U.S. developed different tools to facilitate the selection and use of these protocols. The purpose of this article is to objectively guide Georgia producers through the use the EstruSynch planner, an online free tool that helps producers plan and budget their artificial insemination program.The EstruSynch planner was developed from a collaborative effort between the Southeast Cattle Advisor,Iowa Beef Center, and the Beef Reproduction Task Force. The planner can be accessed through the ugabeef.com website under the Tools tab. Producers can access this tool by clicking on the “Estrus Synchronization” link. This tool allows producers to plan their breeding seasons in . . .

Continue reading Free Online Tool to Help Producers Incorporate Artificial Insemination in Beef Herds

Winter Feed Costs

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

Feed costs are higher this year, and we expect them to remain high through the winter. As an example, I have included a table below that summarizes prices for various livestock feeds. This year, prices range from 16% higher for whole cottonseed to 57% higher for grain sorghum. Hay prices are also higher this year, averaging $144/ton or 9% higher year-over-year. Alfalfa hay is averaging $194/ton or 12% higher year-over-year. The point is that prices are noticeably higher for all feedstuffs.

For feedlots, higher feed costs will impact feedlot cost of gain (COG). The first graph below is from K-State’s Focus on Feedlots monthly report. The data are COG estimates for steers in Kansas feedlots. The COG averaged $110/cwt in October, a 45% increase year-over-year. Feedlot COG has trended higher each month this year and is Continue reading Winter Feed Costs →

Markets Continue to Show Strength

– Stephen R. Koontz, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Cattle markets continue to show gradual strength and price improvements.  After the price break in late-August and early-September, all live cattle futures contract prices have returned to and pushed into life-of-contract highs.  Feeder cattle contracts have not pushed into new highs, and likely won’t, given the feed costs situation but all contracts show very strong prices.  Underlying cash cattle and calf markets have followed suit.  The 5-Market weighted average has pushed into the $130s, the first time since 2017 (and without mandatory cash trade I might add), and while feeder cattle and calves have shown little of the typical seasonal weakness.  Small calf prices have pushed into levels similar to what was seen this spring.

The Markets

What does the technical picture say?  This week should be interesting.  Most contracts have broken Continue reading Markets Continue to Show Strength →

The Skinny on Fat

– Haley Zynda, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension, Wayne County

Propionate is the only fatty acid that can be converted to glucose in the liver and greater glucose production leads to greater average daily gains and marbling deposition.

For those of you who eat beef, fat is flavor. For those of you feeding beef, fat is money. Well, a certain type of fat (intramuscular fat/marbling) is money because it increases your chance of selling higher quality grade beef. The three grades you’ll hear most often are prime, choice, and select, in descending order. Prime beef has abundant marbling and is currently only about 3% of the whole beef market. The intramuscular fat increases juiciness, tenderness and flavor of the meat cuts. Choice is most regularly seen in restaurants or grocery chains and select is the lowest grade commercially available in retail. Select grade beef has the least amount of marbling and is therefore less tender and juicy. If increasing quality grade is a goal of your operation, understanding how fat deposition occurs can be helpful in knowing how to best feed your cattle.

Before getting into details, there are a few important distinctions to make. Intramuscular fat is marbling, the fat within the muscle. Subcutaneous fat is the fat under the skin; most likely you’ve heard this when discussing backfat thickness or the “bark” an animal has. Subcutaneous fat mainly increases through hypertrophy, the act of each fat cell getting larger in size. Marbling mainly accumulates through hyperplasia, the act of the fat cells multiplying without necessarily growing larger in size.

We know that both intramuscular and subcutaneous (sub-q) fat begin to Continue reading The Skinny on Fat →

Winter Grazing Offers Unique Challenges

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Unrolling hay on pasture. A good option if soil conditions are good.

I’ve enjoyed several good autumn days and quirked, “it can just stay this way and then turn nice,” but, winter is coming. I do enjoy the different seasons with each providing some traditional features, but my least favorite season is probably winter. Don’t get me wrong, there are some beautiful winter days – pristine, clean looking landscapes monotonously all covered white, hiding the scars of prior days and sometimes poor decisions.

My wife and her sister quite often refer to and compare winters to the “winter of ’78.” To them, it’s not only noteworthy weather wise, but also a bit of an age factor indicator. I’ve certainly not forgotten that winter. Literally mountains of snow that had to be dug through, not plowed, and multiple tractors gelling up, creating the need to feed silage completely by hand. No other winter since has dared to compare – that’s a good thing.

Lots of things have changed since then – winter weather is Continue reading Winter Grazing Offers Unique Challenges →

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