– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension
#1 consideration: Invest in facilities!
I was recently asked to contribute to an article titled Top 10 Best Practices for Farm Managers in 2026. Considering that effort here is a similar list for Ohio cattle producers. In true David Letterman fashion, lets count down from 10 to 1:
10) Crunch the numbers on freezer beef production. With increased cattle and beef prices cost per pound of beef will dictate buying decisions for some consumers. A whole, half, or quarter of beef is a significant amount of money for many households. Make sure that you are accounting for the time and effort required to market direct to the consumer.
9) Expand the herd? The question on the minds of many. Before doing so, do you have enough feed? Does it make financial sense? Can you effectively raise a greater number of replacements? All three of those answers should be positive before moving forward with an expansion plan. Key word: Plan.
8) Get serious about herd health. What do old needles, ticks, and new cattle purchases all have in common? The ability to transmit disease. A large number of needles can be purchased for the cost of an open cow due to anaplasmosis. The threat of Asian Longhorned Ticks and theileria has become a reality for some herds. Biosecurity and quarantine for new animals is often lax on many beef operations. Preventing disease should be the goal versus treatment.
7) Cull under performing cows. Ever have a cow wean a calf that is significantly lighter than the rest. Or the cow that is a late calver each year. With strong cull prices, and the premium for uniformity in the feeder market, there is a good place for those under performing cows. Get them a one way trip in front of the local auctioneer.
6) Increase calf crop consistency. We already have addressed under performing cows, once they are accounted for, narrowing up the breeding season to 60 days at the most will add value to a calf crop. With synchronization and timed A.I. a 45 day breeding season gives a cow three chances to get bred.
5) Manage risk. As we have seen in this latter part of 2025 the cattle market can be very reactive to non-cattle related issues. Volatility is hard to predict. Cattle producers should consider ways to protect revenue. Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) for feeder cattle, or forward contracts for loads of fed cattle are user friendly options.
4) Buy quality bulls. A bull is 50% of the calf crop and at minimum will influence a herd’s production for a decade. Bulls this spring will be more valuable than ever given the price of cattle. You get what you pay for in some regards, there is a difference between a herd sire and a cow settler.
3) Test forages for quality or lack thereof. Making quality hay in Ohio is hard. Of the 180 hay and baleage samples I analyzed in 2025 only one would support a lactating 1,200 pound cow at maintenance. If look to wrap hay, do it intentionally. Plastic will not improve forage quality.
2) Improve production and financial record keeping. Know your production costs at the farm level first. Once the big picture is in place, look towards refining those costs. A set of scales will pay for themselves in short order by simply monitoring animal performance.
1) Invest in facility improvements. As I wrap up my ninth year in Extension, facilities, chutes, corrals, water, and fence have been the most talked about topic in Extension beef programs all nine of those years. The cattle business has been profitable for the past few years. Instead of buying iron to dodge the tax man, it’s time or reinvest in infrastructure to improve cattle handling, performance while setting up the next generation of beef producers to be successful.
2026 looks to be another profitable year for the cattle business. The above list are examples of cattle management decisions that will allow for a solid foundation for the new year and beyond.