– Garth Ruff, ANR Extension Educator, OSU Henry County Extension Q: What is BQA? A: Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management [...]

– Stephen R. Koontz, Colorado State University For the past three weeks the cattle markets have shown that they are not immune from concerns over trade disputes and the general volatility that has taken over in the equity markets. Cattle markets moved down sharply but possibly have turned a short-term corner higher. It is unlikely [...]

– Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County (originally published in Farm and Dairy) An unseasonably warm February led to mud management issues for many pasture-based livestock operations. Spring typically leads to our April showers and the “traditional” time of managing around mud. We just arrived in mud season a little earlier. All this mud [...]

– Dr. Les Anderson, University of Kentucky The easiest road to maximum breeding efficiency in the beef cow-calf industry is through estrous synchronization and AI (ESAI). Estrous synchronization helps shorten the calving season, increases herd pregnancy rates, and helps increase calf uniformity and weight (calves are typically older). Use of ESAI can improve productivity and [...]

– Victor Shelton, NRCS State Agronomist/Grazing Specialist Nobody is short of moisture. I look forward to just having firm footing again. When you can’t walk across the yard without splashing water up on you, it’s wet. A little bit of residual left from last year is a good thing! The livestock are also getting tired [...]

Recently on her WLRY 88.9 FM weekly radio show, The Farm Page, OSU Extension PA Connie Smith visited with Ohio State University graduate student Jerad Jaborek about the Jersey crossbreeding beef research project he’s been working on that also includes Wagyu, Angus and SimAngus genetics. That conversation evolved from a discussion about the human health [...]

– Levi A. Russell, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia The recent crop planting report provided a lot of surprises with regard to feed grains and soybean production for this year. Though quarterly stocks for both commodities were higher than expected, corn and soybean planted acres were both significantly below [...]

By Karla H. Jenkins, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management As drought conditions worsen through a large portion of the Great Plains, many beef cattle producers are starting to evaluate ways to stretch forage resources potentially in jeopardy. While all producers should have a drought plan which includes trigger dates for removing cattle from pasture [...]

Spring calving is a good time to grade your operation’s management efforts. By Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service Spring calving time is the most intense time in cattle operations. It also is the time to “grade” the managerial success. In school, we knew very well where we stood. If not, the pending parent-teacher [...]

Producers with an interest in the use of artificial insemination are encouraged to attend an upcoming program “Management Considerations to Improve Success of Artificial Insemination” by Dr. Rick Funston on Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30 PM MDT / 7:30 PM CDT. This will be an online meeting which can be accessed via the internet or [...]