Tag: cow (Page 11 of 15)

Reduce feed costs in 5 steps

June 5, 2020 /

reduce feed costs in 5 stepsFeed costs remain the single largest expense for any cattle producer. This expense can easily be half of the total annual expenses for a rancher.

Now that amount can vary depending on the time of year and depending on the forage conditions. In a drought situation feed costs can total 70% of the total yearly costs of raising cattle.

It may seem difficult to reduce feed costs without sacrificing production. There are some that would have no problem with that but the profitable producer knows that productivity is the key to a successful operation. But all is not lost, there are 5 steps that you can reduce feed costs without sacrificing productivity.

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4 common cattle internal parasites

May 24, 2020 /

4 common cattle internal parasitesAnyone involved in cattle production is aware of the danger of internal parasites in cattle. Internal parasites, such as lung worms and coccidia, live in the gastro-intestinal tracts of cattle. They will cause decreased production and in some cases even death.

Through proper management you can get this parasites under control. The thing to remember is that cattle internal parasite control is not a once-a-year thought that only occurs before spring grazing. The different types of parasites will emerge at different times of the year so your management plan must be year round.

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4 steps to summer pasture management

May 20, 2020 /

4 steps for summer pasture managementHaving a good summer pasture management plan in place can save you a lot of headaches later on. It will give you a chance to put out any potential fires, not literally, before they can occur.

As the days begin getting longer now is the time to get that plan figured out and put into place. Because of different variations that can occur you do not want to wait till the last minute on this one,

During this time your pastures will be the base for all of your cattle’s nutritional needs. The thing is that while it may be able to meet all of their demands now that may not be the case in a couple of months. As anyone that has been involved in ranching will tell you, the weather can change on you on a dime. What was once lush and green can turn to brown and nonperforming in a matter of a couple of weeks.

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The Insider’s Guide to Cattle Summer Mineral

May 12, 2020 /

the insider's guide to cattle summer mineralWill your cattle meet their mineral requirements this summer? That is a question that producers everywhere should be asking themselves. Most usually just go with a basic all around mineral while that may work some of the time it may not meet all of their needs as they graze summer pastures.

As I have mentioned many times before different parts of the country will have different mineral contents that they provide. There have also been cases where even 2 operations in the same county will have different mineral types present in the soil. One thing to remember is that if it isn’t in the soil then it won’t be in the forages.

Insufficient mineral intake can result in performance losses with your cattle meaning less money for you. Along with this cattle not getting enough of the right kinds of minerals can also result in various clinical deficiencies. These can include things like reduced pregnancy rates, poor libido, and poor calf performance.

But just how can you tell if the mineral that you are putting out for your cattle will meet those needs. Well here are 3 things for you to consider when making that decision.

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How to treat cattle pinkeye

May 8, 2020 /

how to treat cattle pinkeyePinkeye is a very common as well as a highly contagious disease in cattle. Once it shows up if you do not take proper steps it can quickly affect all of your cattle.

It is possible that it can hit year round but for the most part it is a pretty seasonal affliction. This disease usually increases in spring, peaks during summer, and then it will decrease during the fall. Like most bacteria it prefers warmer weather to cold.

It can be very labor intensive to treat and as I mentioned a couple of lines ago it can spread quickly if not taken care of in time. No matter the severity it is best that you quarantine all of the cattle that have it so you can prevent it from getting to the others.

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Getting cows ready for breeding season

April 30, 2020 /

getting cows ready for breeding seasonBreeding season preparations is a very important task for a cow/calf producer’s bottom line. The steps that they take now will determine if they will have a good calf crop or not. Having good quality calves to sell is the defining factor between a successful and a not successful rancher.

Creating a successful breeding season starts with making the right management decisions before and during calving season. The steps that you take now will determine if you will be going into the season on the right footing or you having to play catch up (which will be more expensive in the end).

In order for a cow to produce a calf every year she will need to be rebred 80 days after she has calved. Now this may not seem like that short of a time but you will have to remember that she will not be going into estrus for at least 30 days after that calf is born so your window is a little shorter.

So what can you do to prepare for an outstanding breeding season? Well here are 3 things that you can look at to improve your chances of having a large calf crop.

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How do you control flies on cattle?

April 26, 2020 /

how do you control flies on cattle?Trying to control flies that are on your cattle can be a very frustrating endeavor to say the least. It can often feel like an uphill climb with no rest in sight. No matter what you seem to do they just keep coming back year after year.

As we move into the warmer time of the year these pests will be coming out in full force. They will be coming out of their dormant stage to feast on your cattle negatively affecting your herd’s production. But what is a rancher to do?!

Though you will never fully get rid of them there is a way to get them under control. In order to be the most effective it will require a multi-prong approach. It will require all of them because just using one will not get the results that you are looking for.

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Does creep feeding pay?

April 22, 2020 /

does creep feeding pay?Creep feeding can be an excellent tool for improving the overall weaning weights of your calves. It can be a good management and economic option for improving your bottom line.

There are many factors to consider when looking at creep feeding such as calf prices, price of the feed itself, and the labor you are able to commit to it. Since this is not a one-and-done type of thing it is something that you will have to look at every year. This is because the factors involved, such as market prices, will change from one year to the next.

It is important to look at the factors that will matter to you because like many other things that are involved with raising beef cattle it is not a blanket option. What works for one operation will not always work for another.

So what are the options that you should look at when deciding to start creep feeding? Well here are some things that you can look at to decide if it is right for you.

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What mineral supplement is best for cattle?

April 18, 2020 /

what mineral supplement is best for cattle?Using a mineral supplement is one of the most important yet overlooked parts of cattle management. Sure, we all are concerned with the amount of protein or energy they are getting but what about meeting their mineral needs?

Though the amount that cattle need is very small it can play a very important role in their overall production and their well being. Selecting a correct mineral supplement is needed for optimal growth and reproduction health.

When mineral requirements are not being met cattle do not perform as efficiently as they could. One problem here is that the signs of a deficiency may not be visible till it becomes a serious problem.

When a deficiency is present you will see things like decreased weaning weights, decreased milk production, and lack of cows being bred to name a few.

But what type of mineral supplement should I be providing you may ask. Well I may not be able to tell you exactly which one will work because I do not know your operation. I can however give you some tips to look for when trying to decide which one will work best for you.

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What’s that hay bale worth?

April 14, 2020 /

what's that hay bale worth?Using a hay bale to supplement your cattle is a tried and true method that many producers use. It is reasonably priced compared to other feedstuffs. Though just like other feedstuffs the quality can vary depending on many different factors.

While looking at using a hay bale many people tend to just look at the upfront cost. While this may be good initially it is not always best to be the only way. You will want to look at how much that particular will cost per unit of energy or protein.

Like with other feedstuffs it is always a good idea to break the price down into these simple units so you can compare apples to apples. This is because though a hay bale may look to be a good deal initially it may not be really. Once you have broken down the price into those units you will find it will actually cost you more.

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