Livestock

Preparing for breeding season means there are important things to think about when it comes to the fertility of your bulls. Decisions made now can greatly impact breeding according to Extension Specialist Kacie McCarthy.

Getting your young calves off to the right start is critically important throughout the life of the animal. Nebraska Extension Specialist Karla Wilke talks about the importance of water intake and how that effects rumen development. 

Stronger cattle markets have endured for quite some time. Oklahoma State Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel says there are a number of factors that have helped keep the market strong and talks about what he sees in the future. 

Free choice mineral mixes are commonly used to provide the mineral that grazing cattle need, but over consuming can be a big problem for nursing calves. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski talks about strategies to help calves get the minerals they need. 

Producers can take several steps to encourage cows to return to estrus faster after calving, boosting conception rates and ensuring calves are born earlier in the next calving season. Nebraska Extension Cow-Calf Specialist Kacie McCarthy talks about helping late calvers come back to good performance after calving season.

Coccidiosis is a common parasitic disease that causes bloody diarrhea in calves. Nebraska Extension Beef Veterinarian Lindsay Waechter-Mead discusses how the disease is contracted and ways to control it in your heard.

Wildfire is a natural component of Northern Great Plains grassland ecosystem, and most pastures and rangelands will comeback with proper management. Nebraska Extension Educator Bethany Johnston talks timing and grazing management, following a fire.

Making the most of high prices in the cattle markets means producers should be paying close attention to price slides. Extension Specialist Elliot Dennis and UNL Grad Student TaraLee Hudson talk about a few price strategies to help producers take advantage of certain market conditions.

On today’s Almanac, Extension Educator Brock Ortner talks about making sure your cattle have proper magnesium supplementation to counter grass tetany. He says it’s a common issue when turning out cows to cool season pastures but also points out, different cattle have different mineral needs. 

Eastern red cedar trees can quickly take over pasture and rangeland if not monitored properly. Extension Educator Bethany Johnson talks about how red cedar trees spread and what farmers can do to stop the takeover. 

Grazing cornstalks during the winter can save feed costs as well as help the landowner with cleaning up the fields. Dr. Halden Clark from the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center talks about his experiences with custom grazing on rented cornstalks.

Salt is an effective intake regulator in self-fed supplements. But Montana State Extension Beef Specialist Sam Wyffels says beef cattle consuming low-quality forages with high salt diets may result in lower intakes and less efficient rumen fermentation.

It’s important to establish a good vaccination plan in your operation to insure cattle health. Nebraska Extension Beef Veterinarian Lindsay Waecher-Mead talks about what should go into your operations vaccination plan.

Dry conditions throughout the winter may mean it’s a good idea to secure feed supplies right now. On Today’s Almanac, Extension Specialist Karla Wilke talks about how ranchers should be stocking up on certain feed supplies if conditions remain dry.

Enterotoxemia in calves is a bacterial infection that can come on suddenly and be fatal. On today’s almanac, Nebraska Extension Educator Lyndsay Waechter-Mead talks about symptoms and prevention.