Month: March 2023

You Get What You Pay For, Until You Don’t

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension

Are you getting what you pay for?

There are many things I could write about for the Expo issue of the Ohio Cattleman, buying bulls (more on that later), mud (it’s been everywhere), cost of raising replacement heifers (not cheap if done right). Instead let’s talk about a topic that’s been on my mind and the minds of others recently given the economy and other issues: Value.

Meriam Webster defines Value in several different ways 1) the monetary worth of something: MARKET PRICE, 2) a fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged, 3) relative worth, utility, or importance.

To determine Market Value, I subscribe that it’s up to a buyer and the seller/provider to determine value themselves for a good or service and it’s up to the buyer to know where their cost threshold is. I would also propose in many instances that you get what you pay for, until you don’t. Let me provide Continue reading You Get What You Pay For, Until You Don’t →

Presynchronization and Improving Fertility of Beef Cows

The second session of the 2023 Ohio State University Extension Beef Team’s Virtual Beef School was broadcast via ZOOM on February 8th and focused on improving fertility and getting cows bred. More specifically, to lead off OSU Grad Student Alex Crist shared her research during her presentation entitled Presynchronization and Improving Fertility of Beef Cows. Following that OSU Extension Educator Dean Kreager presented on Estrus Synchronization While Utilizing Natural Service.

Embedded below is Alex Crist’ presentation Presynchronization and Improving Fertility of Beef Cows.

Recent Developments in Estrus Synchronization Protocols

– Pedro Fontes, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Georgia Extension Specialist

A new breeding protocol called 7&7 Synch has been added.

The 2023 sire directories from genetic companies are now available to cattle producers. In addition to including a wide variety of new sires, these directories also include an updated estrus synchronization protocol sheets that contain both old and new protocols that have been validated and are endorsed by the Beef Reproduction Task Force (beefrepro.org). This article will provide an overview of the 7&7 Synch protocol, which was recently added to list of protocols for use with conventional semen, and summarizes the research that evaluated this protocol in controlled settings. What is different about the 7&7 Synch?

The newly added protocol, the 7&7 Synch, can be utilized for both heifers and cows and is an adaptation of the industry-standard 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. The only difference is that the . . .

Continue reading Recent Developments in Estrus Synchronization Protocols

What is a Mineral?

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about proper mineral supplementation.

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic element or compound that has an orderly internal structure and characteristic chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties. Sometimes minerals are described as rocks. But rocks are actually aggregates of one or many minerals bound together. Minerals primarily make their way into our diets through plants that draw them from the soil or through animals that ate those plants.

We all know that vitamins and minerals are important things to include in our diets so that our bodies function and are healthy. The same is true for our pets and livestock. Knowing how much is needed and how to supply them can be challenging to understand, especially when the answer is- “it depends”.

Mineral needs vary vastly due to many factors including where you live, what you eat, your life stage, and even your genetics! Fortunately, in the United States we have access to many food items that supply most of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that we need and if Continue reading What is a Mineral? →

Ohio Beef Expo to Celebrate 35th Anniversary March 16-19

When: Friday, March 17, 2023
9:30 a.m. – Reception
10:00 a.m. – 35th Anniversary Recognition

Where: Ohio Expo Center – Voinovich Building, Expo trade show, sale ring
717 East 17th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43211

Who: Speakers include:
Tom Karr, President, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association
Brian Baldridge, Director, Ohio Department of Agriculture
Elizabeth Harsh, Executive Director, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association

What: The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association coordinates the Ohio Beef Expo, the premier event for Ohio’s beef industry. It attracts an annual attendance of over 30,000 people and over 1,500 head of cattle between the various sales and shows.

The 2023 Expo features nine breed sales, a Continue reading Ohio Beef Expo to Celebrate 35th Anniversary March 16-19 →

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Be Opportunistic as a Margin Operator

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

While there are always a number of factors that can impact cattle markets, things appear to be setting up well for stocker operations in 2023. First, high feed costs are likely to result in very high value of gain on calves this year. The chart below shows estimated feed cost per lb of gain from Kansas State’s Focus on Feedyards newsletter. Note the estimated cost of gain for January was over $1.45 per lb. And secondly, there is an incredible amount of carry in feeder cattle futures markets. As I write this, the November contract is trading at a $30 premium over March (see the chart at the bottom, updated from last week). This means that the expectation is for heavy feeder cattle prices to increase throughout the year, which will only add to the value of pounds that are added through growing programs. And we are starting to get a clearer picture of what calf values are going to be this spring.

Astute margin operators are regularly running budgets for their programs. They use the futures market to predict the value of feeder cattle when sold in the future, estimate the cost of growing calves until sale, and use that to determine what can be paid for those calves at placement. In truth, these returns will vary depending on the type of calves that are placed into their programs. Some operators like to Continue reading Be Opportunistic as a Margin Operator →

Very Strong First Quarter

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

Cattle markets are approaching the end of the first quarter of 2023 on a very strong note. Animal prices across the board have been very robust. Fed cattle have traded above $165, 7-8 cwt feeder cattle have traded above $190, and 5-6 cwt calves have traded just short of $235/cwt. Live cattle futures approached within $11/cwt of all-time high prices established in November 2014. However, feeder cattle are well below their records due to the strength in the forage and feedgrain markets. Cow-quality hay is routinely above $200/Ton and corn has only recently shown enough weakness to press below $6/Bu on the board. Cash basis in the southern plains continues to hold at $1 over.

It is rather possible that this strength is the usual spring seasonal rally come early. There may be more up moves for the second quarter but that would likely require changes in the fundamentals not see now. Recent beef export news has been disappointing whereas pork and chicken exports have been strong. The relative protein prices do much to explain this result. While retail margins have remained wide, in contrast, packer margins narrowed considerably through the fourth quarter of 2022. These margins are large compared to Continue reading Very Strong First Quarter →

Managing Asian Longhorned Ticks on Pasture

– Tim McDermott DVM, OSU Extension Educator, Franklin County (originally published in Farm and Dairy)

The Asian longhorned tick attacks wild and domestic animals and humans. Photo: Anna Pasternak, UK entomology graduate student

Ohio is on the forefront of expansion of ticks and tick-vectored disease going from one tick of medical importance to humans, companion animals, and livestock twenty years ago to five now, adding two new in the past few years. The tick I mentioned way back in the July 23, 2020, edition of the Farm and Dairy article, “The Threat of Asian Longhorned Tick Continues,” was initially discovered on a rescue dog in southern Ohio in summer of 2020. A second detection of Asian Longhorned tick (ALHT) was on a cattle and sheep farm in a neighboring county in the spring of 2021 when the animals were tick-checked while running them through the chute.

Last year right around this time I wrote an article for the March 17th, 2022 All About Grazing column titled “Asian longhorned tick suspected in cattle deaths in southeast Ohio” that detailed the deaths of three head of cattle and noted we had three counties in Ohio with ALHT.  Since that time, we have added four more counties bringing our total up to seven. Asian Longhorned ticks have been found so far on cattle, a dog, a grey fox, and a human so far in Ohio.  I want to provide a little information so that livestock producers can do their best to keep their animals safe.

Asian Longhorned ticks have the ability to reproduce via parthenogenesis meaning the female can spontaneously Continue reading Managing Asian Longhorned Ticks on Pasture →

Strategies for Multi-Species Grazing

This recent presentation by OSU Extension Educator Christine Gelley offers suggestions on multi-livestock species grazing.

How much can I afford to pay to get my pastures right?

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

How much can I afford to pay to get my pastures right?

My question back is if a person can afford not to get their pastures in good shape. Over the past several years, there have been many pastures where broomsedge has become the dominant specie or where blackberries or other woody species have become invasive and reduce forage production. Anything that reduces forage production then reduces carrying capacity and thus revenue production.

This brings back the question if a person can afford not to improve their pastures. There are several methods of improving pasture. Some methods are more capital intensive while other methods may take a little more time. Regardless, producers should consider their pasture conditions and determine if pasture renovation of some sort is appropriate.

Regardless of which route a person chooses to renovate pasture, it will come at a cost. However, the cost of renovating a pasture can pay for itself if utilized and maintained appropriately in future years.