So What’s the New Normal?

Some may say what is normal, period?  An average can be the mean of two extremes; I guess put another way it translates to volatility.  The new normal in the feed and livestock business would probably be defined as higher costs/prices and ever increased volatility or price swings.  This has definitely been the case in the past 4-5 years and one could write volumes on the reasons why; some are short term causes (drought) and others long term (market demand driven, political, etc...).  These higher costs and values are basically the upward shift into a new level we see today and are likely here to stay.  This volatility can create opportunity but can also pose great danger.  Just ask anyone in the grain trading business.

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Cows grazing cornstalks, it’s a common practice in the Midwest, albeit some information is being written about it as though it was a new practice.  It isn’t. However much has been learned with more recent research data and the ability to efficiently utilize this resource has improved with different strategies.  This season, with the drought conditions plaguing a large area of beef cattle production, grazing not only cornstalks but other crop residue will have a new value component.

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Traditionally, the use of CRYSTALYX^® supplements has been in fall and winter months with running age beef cows.  This is still where the vast majority of product volume is used but growth within other segments of beef cow production and during spring and summer months has been growing.  Earlier blog articles have described the benefits of using CRYSTALYX^® as a vehicle to deliver not only protein and energy but mineral/vitamin programs in the summer, additives for fly control and growth promotants, etc…

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In many areas of the central and northern plains states, spring has sprung early this year. I’ve heard locals in these areas comment that grasses, trees and shrubs are anywhere from 2-4 weeks ahead of normal; certainly the temperatures would agree with that. I was in the Canadian province of Ontario the last week of March and I heard that some folks had already planted small grains and even corn, just to say they did it in March. Grass (native or tame pasture) is truly a crop and livestock are the harvesting equipment. With the early spring and green up occurring, it is tempting to let the grazing begin now. High forage costs also make it tempting, but let’s take a closer look.

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It’s a new year, 2012, and the optimism in the Cattle Industry continues. Spring calving is just around the corner and thus a great percentage of the 2012 Calf-crop is in the 3^rd trimester of fetal development or very close to it.Over 85% of fetal growth occurs during this stage of gestation, and nutritional demands of the mother cow are increasing at a rapid rate.Protein and energy demands increase nearly 20% just during the last month of pregnancy (see chart below). 

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