When should we be concerned about Vitamin A supplementation?

– Lawton Stewart, Ph.D., Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia

Are your cattle getting enough Vitamin A this winter?

Vitamins are a unique dietary component for beef cattle and are categorized into two groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Bacteria in the rumen synthesize water-soluble vitamins (e.g. B12, thiamin, niacin). Therefore, supplementation is generally not needed as long as the rumen if functioning properly. This leaves the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Of these, Vitamin A is considered the most important when feeding cattle.

What is Vitamin A and why is it important?
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a compound that is essential for growth, reproduction, maintenance of body tissue, and bone development. Technically, Vitamin A is not . . .

Continue reading When should we be concerned about Vitamin A supplementation?

December Cattle on Feed Report & Cautionary Note on “Demand Destruction”

– Glynn T. Tonsor, Ph.D., Professor Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University

On Friday, December 20th USDA NASS released the latest Cattle on Feed report (https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/m326m174z?locale=en). December 1st inventory was estimated at 11.98 million, on par with 2023. Placements in November were estimated at 1.80 million, down 4% from 2023 while marketings were estimated at 1.73 million, down 1% from 2023. Overall, this report was in line with pre-report expectations and likely will not be a market-mover with interest transitioning to 2025 reports including the January Cattle Inventory report.

I expect the January Cattle Inventory report to show some additional liquidation has occurred leading to a smaller calf crop in 2025. It seems most likely that the summer of 2026 is the soonest substantial national heifer retention may begin. While there is recently elevated uncertainty around international trade that should not be overlooked, most anticipate domestic beef availability to Continue reading December Cattle on Feed Report & Cautionary Note on “Demand Destruction” →

Dealing with Cold Calves

– Dr. John Yost, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Wayne County, Ohio State University Extension

I can’t say for sure, but I imagine that any cow-calf producer would trade frozen ground for mud.  The downside of frozen ground and newborn calves is the chance for hypothermia.  Cows aren’t stupid.  When the weather turns cold the herd will congregate where it is dry and sheltered.  Those cows that come into labor and look to isolate themselves are often left to go to the worst spot of the field to drop their calf. The sight of a new calf stretched out in a wet hole, will knot up your stomach and you know it is going to be a long night trying to get it warmed back up.

Newborn calves don’t benefit from heat generated by the rumen fermentation that helps their mother weather cold temperatures.  When air temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a calf is reliant on metabolic heat from the small fat reserves that are deposited prior to birth.  When a calf is born into an extreme cold environment, their normal 18-hour energy reserve can be quickly exhausted through shivering, leading to hypothermia.

A calf’s normal body temperature at birth should be Continue reading Dealing with Cold Calves →

Ionophore Toxicosis in Beef Cattle – Frequently Asked Questions

– Dr. Michelle Arnold – DVM, MPH UK Ruminant Extension Veterinarian

Heart and lungs from a cow with heart failure due to ionophore toxicosis. The lungs have a wet appearance compatible with pulmonary edema. Photo courtesy of Dr. Jennifer Janes, UKVDL.

Ionophores – what are they and why are they used?
Ionophores are feed additives utilized in the beef industry since 1975 as growth promoting agents and for control of coccidiosis. The approved ionophores for use in cattle in the US include monensin (Rumensin® – Elanco Animal Health; Monovet®90 – Huvepharma), lasalocid (Bovatec® – Zoetis) and laidlomycin propionate (Cattlyst® – Zoetis). Although all ionophores act similarly, this article will focus primarily on monensin as far more information is available due to its longstanding and widespread use in the beef industry.

Technically, monensin is a “monovalent carboxylic polyether ionophore antibiotic” produced by the fungus Streptomyces cinnamonensis. Ionophores are so named because they carry (the Latin root “phor” means carry) “ions” across normally impervious biological membranes, leading to disruption of normal cellular functions and cell death. When properly fed, ionophores beneficially alter the normal rumen microflora (bacteria, protozoa and fungi), resulting in increased efficiency of energy metabolism and improved nitrogen metabolism. In addition, monensin changes the ratio of volatile fatty acids in the rumen, increasing propionic acid production and reducing butyric and acetic acids, a change that ultimately provides more energy through increased production of glucose. Monensin is specifically labeled in beef cattle for 1) improved feed efficiency in mature beef cattle and cattle fed in confinement for slaughter; 2) increased rate of weight gain in stockers, feeders and replacement heifers; and 3) the prevention and control of coccidiosis in all classes of cattle (except veal calves) caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii. In addition to its label claims, feeding monensin to cattle is known to Continue reading Ionophore Toxicosis in Beef Cattle – Frequently Asked Questions →

At these prices, can bred females have a profitable life?

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

Can good, bred females be profitable at these prices.

There have been several heifer and cow-calf pair sales over the past several weeks. Given the price levels, some observers have asked if those females will have a profitable life or if the purchaser will lose money on those females.

First, the West Kentucky Select Bred Heifer Sale sold 193 bred heifers with an average purchase price of $3,264 per head. A couple of weeks prior to that heifer sale, I attended a bred cow and cow-calf pair sale. The biggest portion of those animals sold for more than $3,000, and I would make no claim that they were anything special. Given the information of where female prices have been recently, can the buyer make money with these animals?

The answer is always “it depends.” If calf prices remain elevated for three or four years and those females produce a calf each year then they will likely be profitable. Another way to be profitable may be to market the animals first calf and sell a bred female or cow-calf pair next year. If they fail to rebreed or lose a calf then profitability will be difficult.

Beefenomics: Cattle Market Update – Beef Demand Resilient Through 2024

– William Secor, Ph.D. University of Georgia Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics

Beef demand has been great this year. In 2024, the U.S. is estimated to consume the most beef per person since 2009. This comes amid the highest prices on record, with the all-fresh retail beef price averaging above $8 per pound for the last five months (Figure 1 below). This represents historically strong demand that has not been seen in years.

Figure 1.

Figure 2 plots beef consumption per person against the inflation-adjusted all-fresh retail price by year. Each year is represented by the last two numbers of each year (e.g., 1999 is the number “99” in the right-hand corner). The red circle area represents where . . .

Continue reading Beefenomics: Cattle Market Update – Beef Demand Resilient Through 2024

Strong Calf Prices Finish the Year

– Stephen R. Koontz, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Cattle and beef markets are wrapping up the fourth quarter on a very strong note – especially for smaller animals. Calf prices for 5-6 weight animals in the southern plains have advanced better than $50/cwt in the last four weeks. And prices for 4-5 weight animals have moved further. The fall run is apparently over.

Live fed cattle prices remain strong with cash trades better than $190 but prices for the year look range-bound to me between $180 and just better than $190. The boxed beef cutout value is holding better than $300 with a mix of performance at the primal level. Rib prices have been seasonally outstanding, and tenderloins have also been strong. Loins are showing some seasonal weakness as is ground beef. End meats are showing solid price levels but not much in terms of improvements. Once the market retreats from the strong rib purchases, and the Choice-Select spread seasonally softens, much will be determined by Continue reading Strong Calf Prices Finish the Year →

Livestock Water Development

– Mark Landefeld, Extension Educator (retired), Agricultural and Natural Resources, Monroe County and Jeff Bettinger, Lead District Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service

The tank should hold a minimum of 25% of the daily herd requirement and allow 5 to 10% of the animals to drink at one time.

Many factors need to be considered when developing watering sources for livestock. Adequate amounts of water are needed to maintain high levels of production. Limiting water intake reduces animal performance quicker and more drastically than any other nutrient deficiency (Boyles). Improving springs or seeps by excavating, cleaning, capping or providing a collection and storage area improves the distribution of water and preserves water quality.

The Water Trough or Tank
The trough or tank should have adequate capacity to meet the requirements of all livestock. This should include the stor age volume necessary for carry-over between periods of replenishment. The trough or tank, when installed, should be . . .

Continue reading the OSU Extension Fact Sheet Livestock Water Development

Getting the Most Out of Your Stockpiled Grass

– Dr. Chris Teutsch, UK Research and Education Center, Princeton

Figure 1. Strip grazing stockpiled grass can extending grazing by as much as 40%.

Stockpiling tall fescue is the is the most economical way feed cows during the winter months. Once stockpiled growth has accumulated, how you choose to utilize it can dramatically impact how may grazing days you get per acre. Research in Missouri showed that giving cows access to only enough forage for 3-days versus 14-days resulted in a 40% increase in grazing days per acre. The following tips will help to get the most out of your stockpiled forages.

Graze pastures that contain warm-season grasses first. Although we often like to think of pastures as monocultures, they are often complex mixtures of cool- and warm-season grasses, legumes and weedy forbs. If pastures contain warm-season grasses, use these first since their quality will Continue reading Getting the Most Out of Your Stockpiled Grass →

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While Looking for Signs of Heifer Retention, Don’t Ignore Production Levels of Competing Meats

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

The decrease in feed prices over the last two years has had a significant impact on the beef sector. Cheaper feed has incentivized cattle feeders to push fed cattle to higher slaughter weights. The combination of higher weights and increased imports of live cattle has resulted in a slight increase in beef production for 2024, despite the fact that federally inspected slaughter has been down by about 3.5%. This can be seen in the table below and stands in sharp contrast to the decrease in beef production seen in 2023 and what USDA-ERS is projecting for 2025. The table also shows year-over-year production changes for pork and broilers for the same time period.


While increased harvest weights are impacting beef production at the present time, long term production growth will come from increasing the size of the US cowherd. Analysts are closely watching female slaughter, heifers on feed, and other factors for signs of heifer retention, but those signs are not yet present. Once heifer retention is underway and the cowherd actually starts to grow, one can start to Continue reading While Looking for Signs of Heifer Retention, Don’t Ignore Production Levels of Competing Meats →