This past year was a challenge for many cow-calf producers across the United States due to a lack of rain, too much rain, or unexpected weather conditions. Here are four keys that helped livestock pro
The beef industry has been an extensively managed production system for decades. Small profit margins have supported the necessity to minimize input costs
Grazing livestock in Northern regions where winters are long and harsh can prove challenging. For some producers, bale grazing has become a cost-effective, time-saving strategy to break past the pasto
It’s understandable why the U.S. Naval Academy is located near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Md. But also near those same shores, on the other side of the bay, is a herd
Silage shrink can cause silage to go from an economical source of feed to one that doesn’t make sense or cents. Shrink is the dry matter (DM) that is harvested but lost before feeding
Ruminants have a distinct advantage compared to other livestock because of their ability to process highly fibrous, otherwise nonutilizable, feedstuffs into a marketable product
All cattle are “grass-fed” until they reach the finishing phase. Calves are usually sent to a feedlot for finishing, where they’re put on a high-concentrate diet to add marbling
In the Midwest, planting winter-hardy cereal grasses such as winter rye or triticale after fall-harvested corn or soybeans can provide both soil benefits and a grazing resource in the spring
With rising market prices for live calves, staying up all night to supervise first-calf heifers during calving season is well worth the effort to many producers
We’re different in every respect.” The phrase seemed only fitting coming from Steve Carr, owner of 3D Valley Farms in Depauw, Ind., as he tended to the draft horse team he still uses around
In recent years, there has been a broader choice in finished beef available to consumers. The supply of “grass-fed beef” has risen, and it always raises some controversy within the industry
The success of a grass-fed beef operation relies on getting average daily gains of at least 2 pounds per day. Animals will need to maintain a body condition score of 6 or better
Ammoniation of crop residues can turn a low-quality forage into a medium-quality forage that can maintain a dry cow without supplementation. Given the drought in the Northern Plains and eastern
The author was the 2016 Hay & Forage Grower summer editorial intern and is a senior at South Dakota State University. When corn prices are high, corn silage may be a more economical feed to
A common practice for many producers during the fall is to look for the cheapest protein and energy supplements to go along with their hay for winter feeding
It makes sense to cover the ground and protect our precious soil and water resources, especially after harvest of corn silage; but why not also produce additional forage?
