May 18, 2023
The South Poll cows were red and slick. At their side — an equal number of 1-month-old or younger calves already grazing on spring fescue in a Savannah-like setting...


March 31, 2023
When it comes to cow-calf production, it’s important to think about the big picture and how all decisions impact the operation. Is the goal to create a primary income for someone, generate supplementary income, or just for enjoyment with minimal losses? While it is tempting to look at gross income, the focus should be on net income and risk management...


March 31, 2023
The development of forage harvesting equipment and silage bags has improved and facilitated the preservation of forages as silage. This technique allows us to preserve the excess forage production of the summer to bridge the gap during forage shortages. Additionally, ensiling forages offers a reduced weather risk and allows for greater quality feed compared to dry hay. However, labor and equipment costs can mount as larger volumes of silage are preserved and fed...


Feb. 1, 2023
When we combine the beef cow inventory of Tennessee with Kentucky, the number of cows managed pushes these states into the top five beef cow-calf states. The beef cow-calf sector of the southeastern U...


Jan. 3, 2023
The holidays, which offer a brief but welcomed distraction to winter feeding chores, have come and gone. For many during the past two weeks, we’ve experienced seasonal weather, followed by snow and...


Nov. 1, 2022
Due to drought and the lack of forage growth that comes along with it, hay inventories for the upcoming winter will be below normal expectations in many areas of the Midwest and Southern Great P...


Aug. 10, 2022
With high feed costs and areas plagued with drought, cow-calf producers are looking at options like early weaning, early pregnancy diagnosis to market open females sooner...


April 26, 2022
It’s difficult to separate the animal and forage components of a pasture-based cow-calf system. Forage production and quality have peaks and valleys throughout the year, and the same can be tr...


April 25, 2022
Drought has had a large impact on feed inventories and prices, causing many operations to assess and reduce feed costs...


March 10, 2022
Performance of grazing animals is primarily affected by forage quality, the animal’s ability to select plant parts, and forage intake...