How did increased 2021 exports impact the domestic cattle industry?

– Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

A recent question I received had to do with what the record quantity and value of beef exports in 2021 really means to the domestic cattle industry.

The question was slightly more technical than this, however, the basic concept is that trading beef internationally provides a broader demand for domestically produced product. The more product that is moved, the more price is supported. From a value standpoint, it is all predicated on the price of beef, which is influenced by total demand for beef. This simply means eat more beef to support prices.

Another Volatile Spring for Cattle Markets

– Dr. Kenny Burdine, Extension Professor, Livestock Marketing, University of Kentucky

While spring is typically the high point for calf prices, 2022 marks the third straight year that something significant has taken some steam out of the markets. A global pandemic hammered feeder cattle prices in 2020 and kept our calf market from reaching the levels that were expected. Some of that also spilled into 2021 and was combined with sharply higher grain prices. As we move into spring of 2022, we have the implications from the war in Ukraine, which is impacting the market in many ways.

James did a great job walking through these implications on the cattle markets in last week’s article. Rising feed costs, domestic demand concerns from higher fuel prices, increased transportation costs, and several other factors are impacting cattle prices as you read this. The markets have been attempting to price in these uncertainties for the last few weeks, which has led to a lot of volatility. Markets were generally improved last week, as can be seen in the table below. But, volatility is likely to stay with us as things continue to evolve and the market processes what those Continue reading Another Volatile Spring for Cattle Markets

Estrous Synchronization in Natural Cattle Breeding Programs

Brooks Warner, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension

Calves born in a shortened calving season will be heavier, and more uniform in size and weight.

Estrus synchronization often is used in the artificial insemination industry.

Typically, we do not talk about synchronization with natural service operations. However, it still can be a very useful management technique in natural service situations.

A common question is “can my bull effectively breed each cow or heifer when everyone comes into heat at once?”. The answer is yes. Bulls should have experience, about 3+ years, have a BCS of at least 6, and have a scrotal circumference of at least 34cm. The bull should have also been through a breeding soundness exam. If the bull has each of these characteristics, he will be able to breed eleven cows per day.

The economic implications of synchronization can be seen when you bring a pot load of calves to market. Larger groups of like type and like size cattle bring more money. The value difference in pot load-sized groups of calves versus smaller groups can be seen nearly daily in sales across the state and the U.S.. The table above shows the potential of different sized calves born to cows that were not synchronized and outlines calf weights between calves born in the first cycle vs. calves born in subsequent cycles. Obviously, calves born in a Continue reading Estrous Synchronization in Natural Cattle Breeding Programs

Join us March 21 for a Herd Health Management Update with Dr. Justin Kieffer

Join us virtually on March 21st

Many health challenges on the farm can be avoided with proper herd health management, including vaccinations, treatment, and biosecurity. On Monday, March 21st  Dr. Justin Kieffer, Clinical Veterinarian for the Department of Animal Sciences at OSU will be providing a Beef Herd Health Management update. Starting at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Kieffer will discuss vaccination protocols for both cows and calves, and how to best implement a vaccination program. Also, some emerging herd health issues including pink eye, anaplasmosis, and antimicrobial use will also be covered. If you have questions regarding cattle health, bring them with you to ask Dr. Kieffer after his presentation.

If you’ve not yet registered for the 2022 Virtual Beef School sessions, go here now: http://go.osu.edu/beefschool22

Pastures for Profit, Offered Virtually Beginning March 31st

Anyone wanting to learn more about pasture management will enjoy this!

Building off a successful online launch in 2021, the Pastures for Profit program will be offered as a virtual course again this year during March and April 2022. Anyone interested in pasture management and forage production is welcome to join the course. One live webinar will be offered each week for three consecutive weeks along with “work at your own pace” videos and exercises that accompany each webinar. The Pastures for Profit program is a long-standing collaboration between Ohio State University Extension, Central State University, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council.

Each webinar will be offered live on Zoom at 7 P.M. and feature three presentations in a 90-minute span. Attendees will Continue reading Pastures for Profit, Offered Virtually Beginning March 31st

Expanding your Herd? Frequently Asked Questions about Johne’s Disease and How to Keep it Off the Farm

– Dr. Michelle Arnold, Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, University of Kentucky

Figure 1: Recently calved cow with signs of Johne’s disease; dull hair coat, profuse watery diarrhea, and weight loss. Photo from “Management and Control of Johne’s Disease in Beef Sucker Herds” by Drs.Isabelle Truyers and Amy Jennings. In Practice July/August 2016/Volume 38, page 348.

What is Johne’s Disease?
Johne’s (pronounced Yo-knees) Disease is a slow, progressive disease of profuse, watery diarrhea and weight loss or “wasting” in adult cattle (Figure 1) caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, also known as “MAP”. This disease begins when calves (not adult cattle) are infected with MAP-contaminated colostrum, milk, feed, or water, most often around the time of birth. Once MAP enters a calf, the organism lives permanently within the cells of the large intestine where it multiplies and causes the intestinal lining to slowly thicken. Over years of time, the thickened intestine loses the ability to absorb nutrients, resulting in watery diarrhea and weight loss despite continuing to eat well. There is no blood or mucus in the feces, no straining, and no fever. These symptoms do not show up in adult cattle until 2-5 years of age or even older. There is no treatment available, and the animal eventually dies due to starvation and dehydration.

Why should a commercial beef producer care if they have Johne’s Disease in the herd?
Economically, Johne’s disease can be costly in a beef operation. It is believed that Continue reading Expanding your Herd? Frequently Asked Questions about Johne’s Disease and How to Keep it Off the Farm

Posted in Health

Ukraine-Russia Conflict and the Implications for Cattle Markets

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

I want to start this article by recognizing that what is happening in Ukraine is a humanitarian crisis. I do not want to overlook those important aspects of the war in Ukraine. That said, I am not a geopolitical expert or war strategist. Many well-informed individuals can offer you a better perspective on those issues.

In this article, I want to discuss the far-reaching implications of the Ukraine war for cattle markets. Inflation, grain markets, and energy markets are the main focus. Fertilizer is another big one. There are also domestic beef demand concerns that we need to discuss. Cattle markets are reacting to all of these.

Perhaps the most noticeable impact of the conflict in Ukraine, at least initially, is market volatility. Uncertainty equals price volatility. The war in Ukraine presents markets with a significant degree of uncertainty. As new information arrives, markets incorporate it into prices. What we know today is different from what we will know tomorrow, next week, next month, etc. Markets are trying to work through that Continue reading Ukraine-Russia Conflict and the Implications for Cattle Markets

Cull Prices Skyrocket, Calves Fall

– David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Cow and calf prices have taken divergent paths in recent weeks due to the uncertainty of war, rising feed costs, record cattle on feed, and shifting consumer purchases. Heavier feeder cattle, 750 lb. steers, have dropped dramatically over the last two weeks from about $165 per cwt to $156 per cwt. They remain well above last year’s $138. Lighter weight steers, 550 lb and 450 lb, exhibited little decline and were about $199 and $213 in the first week of March in the Southern Plains. Country auctions further away from feedlots have been hit even harder on price.  Much higher fuel costs are certainly a factor in lower calf prices.

Cull cow prices hit $75 per cwt in the Southern Plains last week, up from $55 in early February. A year ago, 85-90% lean cull cows averaged about $46 per cwt. The five-year average price for the first week of March was about $59 per cwt.

Cow prices are increasing in spite of Continue reading Cull Prices Skyrocket, Calves Fall

Selecting Your Next Herd Sire

Brooks Warner, OSU Extension Educator, Scioto County

We are in bull sale season and many of you are looking for a new herd sire.

Before making sire selections, I encourage you to ask yourself, “What are my operation’s goals?” and select your next herd sires with your operation goals in mind. Operations should buy the bulls you need and not the bulls you want.

Wanting to go for the stylish bull, the thickest bull and/or the biggest weaning and yearling weights is easy. However, beauty is (sometimes) only hide deep, and single-trait selection is never a good idea.

For most operations, the main goal is profitability, and a few different aspects come together to help you achieve a profitable beef herd. Some of the most important aspects of the profitable beef herd equation are:

  • Live calves
  • Fertile, easy keeping, productive cows
  • Optimal performance at the farm and ranch, in the feed yard, on the rail and on the consumer’s plate

Sire selection should be a combination of Continue reading Selecting Your Next Herd Sire

Weather and Climate, and the Impact on Beef Cattle Performance

The second session of the 2022 Ohio State University Extension Beef Team’s Virtual Beef School was hosted via ZOOM on February 23rd. During that second session the focus was squarely on the weather and climate including recent trends, speculation on what our weather in the coming years might look like, how the performance of our cattle are impacted by the mud we’ve experienced in recent winters, and considerations for managing those weather related performance concerns. Featured speakers for the evening were Dr. Aaron Wilson who serves as the OSU Extension Climatologist, and OSU Animal Sciences’ PhD candidate Kirsten Nickles.

What follows below is that evenings’ presentations in their entirety.