Fescue toxicity is the costliest grass-related disease in the United States. Cattle consuming endophyte-infected fescue experience production losses exceeding $600 million per year. Fescue is commonly grown throughout the mid-western and southern United States and accounts for over 40 million acres of forage land.
No flies allowed: Various CRYSTALYX fly control formulas
It’s the time of year we see more attention to the topic of good fly control whether it be from advertising, producer meeting and seminar topics, blogs such as this, and others. CRYSTALYX® has a variety of supplement formulas that deliver three different feed through fly control additives, Rabon® Oral Larvicide, Altosid® (IGR), and Clarifly®. They all work well but have some different applications depending on fly control strategies. Still, no matter the fly control compound being delivered, CRYSTALYX® is a convenient and effective way to combine fly control with a self-fed supplement all in one package.
Grazing management technology moves into the robotic dairy barn
CRYSTALYX® supplements are highly palatable which contributes to several benefits related to grazing management. Cattle like the stuff and will seek it out! Strategic placement of barrels can modify where beef cattle graze and impact resting behavior in pasture and open range settings. A dairy free stall barn is a much smaller and confined setting but recent finds show that where barrels are placed does impact cow movement and behavior, even when abundant quantities of a TMR diet is offered in a restricted housing environment.
Why fly control this year is important
The fly season has started in the southern US and will soon be working its way north as temperatures begin to warm up. There are several reasons why proper fly control can help increase your cow-calf returns primarily by impacting final calf weights. This can be a result of several factors like improved health, less energy expended on non-productive activities, cattle behavior, etc. More on these in a minute. The new VFD Veterinary Feed Directive may change how cattle producers had been typically supplementing their cattle on grass. This makes fly control this summer even more critical to manage.
Is sulfur an issue In CRYSTALYX?
I recently had a question about the amount of sulfur in a CRYSTALYX® block, and is that level something we should be concerned with? The short answer is “no”, but let’s dig a little deeper.
Better colostrum. Better calves.
As a popular pizza chain states, better ingredients make all the difference. The same can be said for our cattle. We need to give them the proper nutritional building blocks to allow them to perform as desired. As we are heading toward calving season, we need to think about making sure that our cows have the best supplements to deliver the nutrients necessary to birth and rear a healthy calf.
Maximize nutrition during calving
Change is in the air. That was one of the themes of the meetings I attended while at the Black Hills Stock Show this past week. Change with markets, change with the administration in Washington, DC and it can seem that uncertainty is the new normal. However, we can be certain of one thing, proper nutrition and supplementation of your cattle herd is more important than is has ever been. With the cattle markets down, it can be tempting to look for places to cut costs. Nutrition should never be on that list, here’s why.
Continuing the convenience and cost savings of CRYSTALYX supplement programs
CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements offers a wide range of product options that economically deliver nutrients and additives to your cattle. The consistent and predictable intake control is the primary means of controlling cost. However, a big part of the economical delivery is due to reduced labor, reduced time invested, and NO need for additional equipment. The “barrel” is the feeding equipment.
Beef replacement heifers on track for breeding
Replacement heifers are your future cow herd and contribute yearly to the advancement of your genetics along with a significant impact on profitability. Genetics, nutritional development, health programs and breeding management will ultimately define your cow herd. Get them right and they will provide you years of successful returns to your cow-calf operation.
Time for CRYSTALYX Breed-Up products
The two most critical times of the year for proper trace mineral and vitamin supplementation in your beef cow herd are, prior to calving, and prior to breeding.
