Purchasing bulls is a large initial investment for an operation — but, unfortunately, these animals do not often receive the attention they deserve, especially outside of breeding season. Much like a good athlete, your bull should prepare in the off-season to perform at their best during the season.
Maintaining gut health: Preventing scours during this muddy calving season
Dealing with mud this calving season? The excess moisture we've seen in many areas will increase the risk of calf scours. We can't change the weather, but there are several things we can do to help minimize the risk of scours.
Cow-calf profitability by the numbers
These days, we often see popular news segments describing topics “by the numbers.” Let’s see if we can apply this “by-the-numbers” format to some important aspects of cow-calf profitability.
Fighting the fescue toxicity battle
Much has been written about Kentucky 31 (KY-31) tall fescue over the last few decades, including in our previous blogs. Most cattle producers living in the approximately 35-million-acre fescue belt — which encompasses Missouri and Arkansas, the mid-Atlantic states and most of the Southeast — understand the negative effects KY-31 tall fescue grass can have on production.
How bred cow nutrition affects body condition
Are you gearing up for spring calving? A bred cow's body condition affects everything from nutrition to performance. Jon Albro explains the importance of body condition scoring and why now is the best time to put weight on your cows.
Hay waste: Get the most out of your harvested forage
Winter is well on it's way and for many producers that means feeding hay supplies. What's the best hay storage method and how can you minimize hay waste? Jill Larson has some tips to help you get the most out of your stored forages this winter.
Rumen forage fiber digestion: The ruminant advantage
Many parts of the country have experienced a rather abrupt shift toward winter-like weather. Overnight low temperatures have been below freezing in Kentucky and are even reaching regions as far south as Georgia.
CrystalBlox is made for protein season
As the days get shorter and cooler, many of us think of hunting season and perhaps dream of snagging a trophy buck or bagging some pheasants. If you have a beef cow herd, it is also the start of “protein season".
Beef cow supplementation: Is there a right choice?
“Which protein product do I need?” This question comes up with some frequency when speaking with producers or dealers about the many CRYSTALYX® protein options available. Since we are entering the primary protein season of the year, I thought it would be wise to share a short refresher about the differences between livestock diet protein sources.
A 21st-century supplement for 21st-century cattle
Technology is advancing at breakneck speed for all industries, including agriculture. We will likely see as many changes and improvements in the next 10 years as we’ve seen over the last three to five decades, particularly in the field of digital technology.
