Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1482 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week we focus on navigating a typical Ohio winter of variable weather extremes!

Articles this week include:

• Muddy Boots and Muddled Minds
• Winter readiness: A guide to protecting your farm, workers, and livestock
• What’s the future of technology in your feedlot?
• Dairy Beef Feeder 101, a look at health, nutrition, and management
• Cattle Prices and the Prospects of Herd Expansion
• A Preview of 2025 Cattle Slaughter & Beef Production

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1481 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

The winter beef webinar series begins Thursday evening. Are you signed up?

Articles this week include:

• Top 10 Things for Ohio Cattlemen to Consider in 2026
• Nutritional Considerations Going Into Calving
• Winter hay supplies getting low? Consider limit-feeding grain to your beef cows
• Dairy Beef 101, a look at health, nutrition and economics
• Cattle Market Fundamentals Back in the Driver’s Seat to Start 2026
• Cow-Calf Costs and Returns Update

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Four new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1480 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

As we close out 2025, this week its all about planning to have a great year – especially with forages – in 2026!

Articles this week include:

• Uncertainty as We Head Towards a New Year
• Winter is time for planning
• Don’t try to predict the next grazing season
• Native Warm Season Grasses – Drought Tolerant Forage Opportunities for Summer Grazing

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Four new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1479 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week we lead off with undated production budgets including one for alfalfa. Considering the quality concerns we seem to experience annually with grass-based forages, some may wonder why many cattlemen seldom grow alfalfa.

Articles this week include:

• New Alfalfa Enterprise Budget
• Not Ready Yet: Unfinished Beef
• Ohio Beef Council and Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation to Host BEEF 509 Program in Columbus
• Weekly Livestock Comments for December 19, 2025

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1478 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week John Yost explains why good stockmanship requires more than just good facilities.

Articles this week include:

• Good Stockmanship Begins with Understanding Cattle Behavior
• Weak Calf Syndrome – Not Just a Cold-Weather Concern
• Beneficial effects of feeding ionophores on feedlot cattle performance and health
• A Review of 2025 Beef and Cattle Markets
• Fundamentals & Perspective – The Glass Can Be Half Full

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1477 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week we dig into planning for next year!

Articles this week include:

• What is Your Plan?
• Don’t Ignore Cow Size When Comparing Calf Weaning Weights
• Selecting your Replacement Heifers to Meet Long-term Herd Goals
• Seasonal Retreat from Record Highs
• Can the cattle market expand the cattle herd?
• Determining cattle pregnancy status

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1476 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Again this week we’re talking about forage quality and nutrition concerns!

Articles this week include:

• Poor Hay Doesn’t Have to Equal Poor Livestock Performance
• Resources for Forage Planning
• Stockpiled Forage, the Backbone of Winter Grazing
• Beef Cow Slaughter this Fall is Down 19%
• 2025 OCA Replacement Female Sale Results

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1475 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Regardless the impact a drought may have, in Ohio it’s inevitable we will see mud at some point. This week Haley Linder explains why mud is much more than just an inconvenience.

Articles this week include:

• Managing the Winter “Mud Tax” in Cow-Calf Herds
• Utilizing Body Condition Scoring to Help Manage Nutrition
• When to Cull Bulls
• Cattle on Feed Updates Across Two Reports
• Ground beef may be acting as a loss leader!

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1474 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week . . . we finally have ‘reports’ and indications are barring unforeseen calamity, beef cattle values will remain strong for some time to come.

Articles this week include:

• Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop, December 11 in Bucyrus
• FAQs – Bovine Theileriosis
• Markets Will Always be Reactive, but Price Risk Management Strategies Must be Forward Looking
• Adding weight to market cows may add value
• The Fundamentals and [finally] a Little Data to Support Them

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County