Month: July 2024

Mechanically Controlling Weeds in Pastures

– Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension, Perry County (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman)

Maintaining high-quality pastures is crucial for Ohio’s beef producers. Weeds compete with forages for nutrients, water, and sunlight, potentially lowering the quality and quantity of the forage available to grazing livestock. Weeds can significantly impact pasture quality and even cause livestock health issues if poisonous species are consumed. Traditional weed control methods include mechanical (mowing), chemical, burning, and biological controls. In 2021 we finished a three-year study focused on mechanical mowing, aiming to understand how different mowing schedules impact weed and forage growth.

In this project we had eight different treatments and were replicated four times. Treatments consisted of a Control (no mowing), mowing one time in June, July, August, September, mowing twice in June/August, July/September and mowing monthly June to September. Each plot was 15×20 feet with a one-foot border. Forage and weed samples were collected at the beginning of each month from June to September. Cattle grazed the paddock between sample collections, and plots were mowed to a height of four inches after grazing. Weights of dry matter (DM) from weeds and forages were recorded to compare the impact of different mowing schedules.

The following table shows the results for the three year average Dry Matter (DM) for forages and weeds.

Monthly mowing significantly reduced weed presence but is not Continue reading Mechanically Controlling Weeds in Pastures →

Knapweed in Bloom Amidst Drought

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

Don’t confuse knapweed (bottom) with chicory (top).

Driving the roads of Southeast Ohio last week was like getting a “while you were out” memo after returning from a week in Texas. The difference a week can make in the landscape can be drastic. The impacts of severe drought are visible, and we are all wishing for more rain. Hopefully this week will bring some relief and we’ll see pastures, hayfields, and lawns green up again soon.

Nothing lasts forever, but even when conditions improve, the impacts of this dry season will continue to cause a ripple of impacts over the next six months. As many livestock producers are already dipping into their hay supplies to supplement poor pasture conditions and second cutting is skimpy, I am concerned about what will happen with our winter hay supplies. If you are looking for resources pertaining to drought, visit https://go.osu.edu/ohiodrought for the latest updates on drought conditions in Ohio and click on the tabs pertaining to your areas of interest to find suggestions for coping with the stress drought can cause.

One plant that doesn’t seem phased by drought is our dreaded foe- Spotted Knapweed. The magenta blossoms it Continue reading Knapweed in Bloom Amidst Drought →

Animal Disease Traceability Rule Part 2: Eartags

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

The new Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule, entitled “Use of Electronic Identification (EID) Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison”, was published in the Federal Register on 5/9/2024 and will be effective on 11/5/2024. This final rule, available at https://www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2021-0020-2011 is an amendment to the animal disease traceability regulations already in place as of January 2013. One stipulation in the new rule requires eartags to be both visually and electronically readable to be recognized as official eartags for interstate travel for cattle and bison covered under the regulations. This final rule does not require exclusive use of eartags; the regulations continue to list eartags as one of several forms of authorized official identification, which also include tattoos and brands when accepted by State officials in the sending and receiving States. This article will address questions about eartag differences with regards to the new rule. For more in-depth information, there is a new guidance document entitled “OFFICIAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (AIN) DEVICES WITH THE “840” PREFIX”, published 5/14/2024, available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/media/document/64512/file .

What does it mean that an official tag must be “visually and electronically readable” for interstate travel? Are the RFID “button tags” considered visually readable or will flop tags/panel tags be required?

All tags must be readable in cattle, but USDA now has Continue reading Animal Disease Traceability Rule Part 2: Eartags →

Posted by at Posted in Health

Regional Beef Cow Slaughter

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

USDA reports weekly slaughter statistics for different classes of cattle. Beef cow slaughter this year through 28 weeks totals 1.56 million head. Beef cow slaughter has been historically high in the previous two years. During the same period, beef cow slaughter in 2023 and 2022 totaled 1.86 and 2.10 million head, respectively. So far, beef cow slaughter this year reflects a 16 percent decline compared to 2023. Lower beef cow slaughter this year reflects improved forage conditions and higher cattle prices.

One reason for the large decrease in beef cow slaughter is Continue reading Regional Beef Cow Slaughter →

Pasture and Rangeland Condition Update

– Will Secor, Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Masters of Agribusiness (MAB) Coordinator, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Georgia

Pasture and rangeland conditions remain close to year-ago levels

Pasture and rangeland conditions in the U.S. remain close to year-ago levels this week. Approximately 30 percent of pasture and rangeland are in poor to very-poor conditions. However, these conditions are not uniform across the U.S. Drought gripped the Southeast U.S. starting in June and has continued into July. More than 60 percent of the Southeast (AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, and VA) is experiencing drought. These drought conditions have hurt pasture and rangeland conditions in the Southeast. According to the USDA in mid-July, about 30 percent of the pasture in the Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) are in poor or very poor condition.

Some drought conditions exist in other areas of the country, as well, including approximately half of Texas, 60 percent of Oklahoma, 70 percent of Tennessee, and over 90 percent of Wyoming and Montana. Approximately 25 percent of Oklahoma and Texas pasture and rangelands are in poor or Continue reading Pasture and Rangeland Condition Update →

Continuing to Do the Little Things Right

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman)

Have you developed a marketing plan?

Summer is here, and there is no shortage of things to be done around the farm to keep producers busy. Spring born calves are growing and bulls are either turned out or will be in the near future. Summer is a time to manage pastures and continue making stored forages.

This is the time of year to start thinking about what your marketing plan for the spring calf crop may look like. It’s never too early to have this discussion. As calf prices remain high, I have gotten the question a couple of times asking about the return on investment with regards to preconditioning cattle in 2024.

My answer remains the same. “If it is the right thing to do when cattle prices are lower, it is still the right thing to do when cattle are selling high.” It’s your reputation and the perception of your cattle management program at stake. While cattle are selling well in the current market, any value-added practices implemented now will reduce the risk of Continue reading Continuing to Do the Little Things Right →

Play the Short, Medium, and Long Game Strategies to Maximize Returns

– Kevin Laurent, Extension Specialist, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky

A method to control the calving season is to use CIDR inserts.

The current state of the cattle market is providing unique opportunities for producers to capitalize in a variety of ways by employing a variety of short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to maximize returns.

What does “Play the Short Game” mean?

Producers play the short game by maximizing pounds prior to marketing whether you market off the cow or after weaning, extra weight is extra dollars. So, how do we get extra weight?

Implant, deworm, and fly control for nursing calves: Research has shown that implanting nursing calves can result in an additional 10-30 lbs. at weaning, deworming an added 10-40 lbs. and fly control an additional 10-15 lbs. We cannot logically expect all three practices to be completely additive in response, but what if we employed all three strategies and gained a conservative estimate of an additional 30 lbs. In today’s market that extra 30 lbs. could be worth and additional $80-100/head depending on the weight class of the calf. All three of these strategies can be done for under $7.50/head. Not a bad return on the time and labor to work the calves in the midsummer.

What does “Play the Medium Game” mean?

Producers play the medium game by employing strategies this breeding season to have a tighter calving distribution and Continue reading Play the Short, Medium, and Long Game Strategies to Maximize Returns →

Costs and Returns for Illinois Beef Producers in 2023

– Bradley Zwilling, Illinois FBFM Association and Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois

Total returns in 2023 for Illinois beef feeding enterprises exceeded total costs by $2.04 per 100 pounds of beef produced in preliminary findings for farms enrolled in Illinois Farm Business Farm Management. The 2023 returns were lower than the 2022 total returns above all costs (2022 was the highest since this study began) by $19.73 per 100 pounds produced.  Total returns have exceeded total economic costs in five out of the last ten years.  The 2023 level of return above all costs was $1.89 per 100 pounds beef produced above the average return above all costs for the 2014 through 2023 period.  Figure 1 illustrates average returns, cash operating costs and total costs for this same period.


Higher Total Returns
The higher prices received contributed to the higher total gross returns for these enterprises. Total gross returns per 100 pounds produced increased from $141.65 in 2022 to . . .

Continue reading Costs and Returns for Illinois Beef Producers in 2023

EDITOR’s NOTE: Producer’s wishing to participate in Ohio’s Farm Business Analysis and Benchmarking program may reach out to Clint Schroeder, Program Manager, at 567-242-6693 or via email at schroeder.307@osu.edu.

Cattle and Beef Market Definitions

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

Necessary terms a cattleman should know.

I received some questions from a gentleman recently concerning some of the terminology used to describe cattle. These questions had to do with certain classes of cattle and what weights of cattle fall into certain categories. This certainly spurred some thoughts in how important is for cattle producers to not only be familiar with cattle terminology, but fully understand the meanings of industry terms.

Several years ago, I put together a publication with common terms in the cattle industry – Cattle and Beef Market Definitions. This is not an exhaustive list of cattle and beef market terms, but it contains many of the necessary terms. It is certainly a list that anyone in the industry should know and understand well. Knowing these terms can assist in communicating effectively with others in the industry when it concerns cattle and beef. These terms can also help in communicating with those outside the industry.

Growing On-Feed Inventory, Lower Placements and No Sign of Heifer Retention

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

USDA’s July Cattle on Feed report was released on Friday July 19th. These monthly reports estimate inventory in US feedlots with one-time capacity exceeding 1,000 head, which represent more than 80% of total on-feed inventory in the United States. The July report is also a quarterly report that includes data on the steer-heifer mix in feedlots. This brief article will walk through last week’s report and some of the implications of it.


Total on-feed inventory declined during the month of June with July 1 inventory estimated at just over 11.2 million head. This trend is normal as on-feed numbers tend to decline seasonally from winter to late summer. Compared to 2023, July 2024 inventory was actually about 0.5% higher. On the surface this seems odd given the recent declines in the size of calf crops, but I maintain that Continue reading Growing On-Feed Inventory, Lower Placements and No Sign of Heifer Retention →