– Steve Boyles, OSU Beef Extension Specialist Backgrounding is a term used to describe a phase of growing calves being prepared for feedlot placement. As compared to wintering programs, backgrounding emphasizes a faster rate of gain, with relatively more grain and less roughage. An example of a typical backgrounding operation would be to feed 400 [...]
– Mike Estadt, AgNR Educator, OSU Extension, Pickaway County (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman early fall issue) Summer annuals such as sudangrass or sudangrass X sorghum hybrids are likely near ready for harvest. This month I drove across I-70 interstate to Kansas City, Missouri. Along the way I observed at least a dozen semi-trailers [...]
– Mark Sulc, OSU Extension Forage Specialist Valuing a standing forage crop can be a challenge, especially when a variety of ‘cover crop’ species could be on the market this fall. How to value a standing hay crop is challenging. Assigning an appropriate value includes the buyer and seller agreeing on the market value for [...]
– Brenda Boetel, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin-River Falls The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA, NASS) released their monthly Cattle on Feed report on Friday August 23, 2019. The latest numbers released by the USDA showed aggressive marketings and were neutral in total numbers on feed and [...]
– Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee FED CATTLE: Fed cattle traded $2 to $3 lower compared to last week on a live basis. Live prices were mainly $103 to $107 while dressed prices were mainly $170 to $172. The 5-area weighted average prices thru Thursday were [...]
– Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension The recent packing house fire in Kansas could cause a backlog in feedyards that pressures feeder calf prices this fall. Backgrounding calves for later sale is an alternative. Typically, when feed prices go down, we see feeder calf prices begin to climb as a corresponding move. That [...]
– Jason Jones, Grassland & Grazing Coordinator, Quail Forever Warm season grasses such as indiangrass and big bluestem can provide forage at a time when cool season grasses might be in a July/August summer slump. The “Fescue Belt” is land dominated by non-native cool season grasses, primarily tall fescue. Cool season grasses, such as fescue [...]
– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension The more tools we have that maximize the days our animals graze while minimizing the days we feed hay, the better! Years like 2019 can test farmers and ranchers to the brink of insanity. People in this profession have to be resilient to [...]
– Steve Boyles, OSU Beef Extension Specialist Consider a number of factors before retaining calves for backgrounding. Backgrounding is the growing of steers and heifers from weaning until they enter the feedlot for finishing. Backgrounding and Stocker cattle are similar although backgrounding is sometimes associated with a drylot, and stockering cattle is thought of as [...]
– Michelle Arnold, DVM-Ruminant Extension Veterinarian (UKVDL) Water is the most essential nutrient in the diet of cattle and during hot and dry weather, it is especially important to monitor water quality if using farm ponds for livestock. What is a “harmful algae bloom” or “HAB”? During periods of hot and dry weather, rapid growth [...]
