Management

Virtual Beef School, session 4; Heifer Development and Implementing Genomic Testing on Your Farm

Don’t miss this last session!

With feeder calf values at historical highs, now is not the time to save or improperly develop a replacement female that in coming years simply isn’t going to improve the overall productivity of the herd. With that thought in mind, session 4 of this year’s virtual Beef School will focus on properly selecting and developing only those heifers that fit the goals of the herd.

If you’re contemplating saving and breeding replacement heifers now or in the future make plans to join us during next Wednesday’s fourth and final session of this year’s Virtual Ohio Beef School. We’ll explore the use of genomic testing on your farm to aid in the seedstock selection process, and the proper development of those heifers that are selected and retained.

If you still need to register in order to receive free log-in details, visit: go.osu.edu/beefschool25.

OSU’s Forage Quality Analysis Service

– Emma Matcham, OSU Extension Integrated Forage Systems Specialist

Forage testing packages beginning at $22.50

The Forage Quality Analysis Service at the Sustainable Agroecosystems Lab has updated their forage testing packages. They utilize near-infrared scanning technology to assess forage nutritive value, which provides consistent, fast results. This lab is run by Dr. Marília Chiavegato on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. The new package options include . . .

Continue reading Forage Quality Analysis Service

That First Calf Heifer is not a Mature Cow – So why would we treat her like one?

– Dr. Katie VanValin, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Figure 1: Nutrient partitioning for heifers and cows.

Developing and first calf heifers are not the same as mature cows. While that seems like an obvious statement, there is still a common belief that heifers should be able to “get by” under the same management as mature cows. The thought is that we are selecting heifers that match available resources when we should be selecting heifers that will become cows that match our resources. Because heifers still have additional nutrient requirements for growth, they require different nutritional management than cows.

In the beef industry we talk about selecting “heifer-acceptable” bulls all the time, because we understand the need for emphasis on calving ease in heifers compared to mature cows. If we are going to keep back our own replacements or develop heifers, we also need to think about Continue reading That First Calf Heifer is not a Mature Cow – So why would we treat her like one? →

Was the grass dead or dormant?

– Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County (also published in Ohio Farmer on-line)

This tall fescue pasture has been resting since August 2024 and is greening up in March 2025.

Prolonged drought in much of the state during 2024 led to many conversations about how bad the observed condition of pasture actually was and if it would bounce back when precipitation comes. Three months into 2025, we are still waiting for the answer.

Back in July and August, I answered those questions with the response of “Right now, the grass is dormant. It is saving resources to rebound when moisture comes.” Moving into in October and November, I became less confident that the brown and crusty grass we saw was dormant. Some of it was dead and some was dormant. We are still waiting to see which Continue reading Was the grass dead or dormant? →

Register for the upcoming Certified Livestock Management (CLM) webinar series!

Register to view the remaining sessions live.

The OSU Extension’s water quality team is back for the 4th year of their Certified Livestock Management webinar series. Including the next session on April 7 and continuing on June 2, August 4, October 6, and December 1, these webinars will cover topics relevant to Certified Livestock Managers, as well as Certified Crop Advisers. Each webinar will be recorded and posted to the OSU Agronomy Team’s YouTube Channel for later viewing.

Following the presentation, each webinar will provide an avenue for audience members to ask questions of our unique panel of speakers for that day’s event. Each webinar will provide 1.5 CLM continuing education credits as well as 1.5 credit hours for CCAs. These webinars will offer Continue reading Register for the upcoming Certified Livestock Management (CLM) webinar series! →

Beef School Session Focuses on Open Cows and Culls

Register today, it’s free!

All things considered – drought followed by mud followed by the coldest mid winter in years, plus temperatures that have gone from one extreme to another . . . multiple times – the past 6 to 8 months have collectively been some of the most stressful conditions experienced in Ohio in years. Regardless if calving in spring or fall, that stress can prove to be devastating on the pregnancy rates of a cow herd.

If you own cows, make plans to join us during next Wednesday’s third session of the Ohio Virtual Beef School when we dive into two questions that should be on every cattleman’s mind: Why Are My Cows Open? and Open Cows – Keep or Cull?

If you still need to register in order to receive free log-in details, visit: go.osu.edu/beefschool25.

2025 Off to the Races

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension

There’s are opportunities during this ‘bull’ market.

“They’re coming around the stretch and heeeere they go!” Over the past couple of summers, I have found myself chauffeuring my parents to several county fairs watching the harness racing programs. While I am not a horseman by any means (that’s my father to some degree), I do enjoy watching them race. Most of the time it’s a fast paced competition, and usually a thrilling finish, unless the horse I wagered $2 ends up off stride and out of the money.

So far this cattle market in 2025 has been that kind of exciting, with every week as of late setting a track record. Who would have every thought we would see Continue reading 2025 Off to the Races →

The Top Ten New Years’ Resolutions for Cow/Calf Producers

– Dr. Michelle Arnold, DVM – Ruminant Extension Veterinarian (UKVDL)

Figure 1: The UK Beef Cow Forage Supplement Tool can be found at http://forage-supplement-tool.ca.uky.edu/

The Top Ten New Years’ Resolutions, first published in January 2022, serves as a good reminder of the management practices that almost always need fine-tuning in cow/calf operations. As winter gives way to spring, try to incorporate one or more of the following resolutions, updated for 2025.

In 2025, I resolve to . . .

1. Improve the water the cattle drink: Water is exceptionally important, relatively inexpensive, and readily available but it is often the most ignored nutrient. Water consumption varies depending on age, breed, stage of pregnancy or lactation, and outdoor temperature and humidity, but it can reach as high as 25-30 gallons per day during hot weather. Water-related health problems are seldom due to what is in the water but rather the decrease in water intake because of the poor quality, bad taste and offensive odor. Decreased consumption is just as harmful as not having enough water available. When cattle do not drink enough, feed intake and milk production drop, heat stress worsens, and overall immunity suffers. If cattle are allowed to stand in their water sources such as in ponds, fecal and urine contamination will decrease water quality and certain diseases (for example Continue reading The Top Ten New Years’ Resolutions for Cow/Calf Producers →

Adding cull cows to drought contingency plans

– Rob Ziegler, Extension Specialist, College of Agriculture Life Science and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming

This time of year offers the first opportunity to add cows to the cull list based on conformation or temperament.

At this time of year, calving season is likely top of mind for many cow-calf producers across the High Plains. This period also offers the first opportunity to add cows to the cull list based on conformation or temperament. Although cull cow marketing may be lower on the priority list right now, capturing seasonal highs in the market can potentially boost revenues.

Market seasonality is evident in most agriculture markets due to production calendars, biology, or increased consumer demand during certain times of the year. The cull cow market is arguably one of the most seasonal markets.

The five-year average price for breaking 75-80% cows in Wyoming shows a steady increase in prices starting in January, peaking in August, and declining through Continue reading Adding cull cows to drought contingency plans →

Return on Investment; Is it the same today?

– Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension

This old project book caused thoughts about ROI.

Each year as I work through the pile on my farm desk at tax time, I come across the first Supervised Occupational Experience project book I completed when I began Freshman ag. Considering what we’ve sold cattle for this past year, this time it really caught my eye.

That old Livestock Production Enterprise record book showed that I purchased two Hereford crossed steers in November of 1965 for less than a quarter a pound, totaling just over $100 each. I sold them 8 months later for about $260 each. As I think about some fed cattle in Ohio auction barns recently selling for $3000 or more, and quality feeder calves commonly bringing $1500 plus, I wonder if perhaps it’s time to take a fresh look at return on investment in the beef cattle industry and the value it represents during this time in the cattle price cycle.

Return on investment, or what we might commonly know as ROI, has always been Continue reading Return on Investment; Is it the same today? →