Beef calf producers are always on the look for ways that they can improve their operation and their bottom line. They are always searching for ways to both improve their calf crop’s well being as well as their revenue. Creep feeding their calves to increase weaning weight is one strategy that has been used.
Tag: cow (Page 14 of 15)
Typically when it comes to selling a cull most producers don’t give it much thought. They just take it to the auction barn or packing house and get whatever price they get. If you are wanting to increase the revenue from your ranch then how you sell your culls can not be overlooked.
Revenue from selling culls generally range from 15% to 30% of a ranch’s annual income. That is almost a quarter of all the money that comes in from the cows you don’t want anymore. Properly marketing your culls can be like any other plan that your operation has. If planned and executed correctly can improve your return on investment.
A well planned out preventative health plan is important for any operation. It prepares weaned calves for the next stage of the production cycle. When it is running correctly they receive a leg up and perform better than those from a less than effective one. Keeping vaccines effective is a very important part of any animal health plan.
Course the greatest plan in the world won’t work properly if each step is not handled correctly. This goes for how you handle and administer the vaccines. Improper handling or administration of the vaccines can render it ineffective. As the saying goes “a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link”. Here are some steps you can follow to make sure that your vaccines aren’t that weak link.
In order to produce beef efficiently cattle producers know it is important what you feed your cows. A nutritionally balanced diet will allow the cattle to perform at their best. Sometimes forages alone are not gonna meet the demands of your herd, sometimes you will need to feed a supplement.
Cattle feed accounts for 60%- 80% of a producers total production cost. With this high of a percentage it is vital that a rancher should calculate the most cost-effective ration that they can. There are 4 steps that you can follow to ensure that you are getting the best feed for the best price.
As with most of the country we had a fairly wet winter here in Texas. The grass has begun to grow better than it has for a few years. It may be tempting to turn the cows out on what looks like a lush green field. Though that may not be the smart thing to do. With a rapidly growing forage the chance of grass tetany is also very high.
There are some things that you will need to take into consideration before you let the cows out to graze to prevent any health problems from occurring:
Calving season can be a very stressful time, for both you and the cow. Addressing the nutritional needs of your cow is very important after she has had her calf. There are many nutrient demands that she must take care of before she will be able to be rebred.
If you were to ask any producer about which nutrients they are concerned with chances are they would tell you protein, energy, and minerals. Now while these are important there is another that is just as important: water. Ensuring that cattle have an adequate amount of clean water is necessary for them to function.
Water is an essential part of life. A certain amount of water is needed for growth, fetal development, lactation, and overall production.
A beef cattle ranch can be a viable option for people that own a small amount of land. With their rumen cows are able to make use of areas that are only suitable for forage production. However it does come with it’s own challenges as well.
One of those is how someone can get started with raising cattle. With the price of land ever increasing and the volatility of the market it can be extremely difficult to make any money doing it. Notice I said very difficult but not impossible.
Education is one of the most valuable resources and the investment that pays the highest dividend. Being able to produce top quality beef in today’s world requires a rancher to be a life long learner.
With the wide selection of information available out there in books and on the internet it can be a little confusing trying to find the correct information out there. Here I compiled a list of the 5 best books that could help you in improving your operation.
Imagine an ideal scenario: just one type of mineral would solve all of your problems. You could just put it out, forget it and your cows would be at the peak of health.
Despite how good that would make you feel I hate to be the bearer of bad news put that type of scenario just doesn’t exist here in the real world. Here there is no such thing as a “perfect” mineral program.
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