Livestock

The first frost may be welcome for knocking back flies, but for cattle grazing annual forages frost events can bring serious risks. Nebraska Extension Educator Ben Beckman says, planning ahead, delaying grazing after frost, and using testing and supplements when needed can ensure that the welcome relief of fall frost doesn’t turn into a costly challenge for your herd.

After several years of dry conditions, moisture and moderate temperatures are setting up the potential for some extra grass growth heading into the fall. Nebraska Extension Educator Ben Beckman says while it’s tempting to use this forage right away, taking time to think through fall grazing strategies can pay dividends for both short-term feed needs and long-term pasture health.

Calves with blemishes are usually cut off when taken to a sale barn and sold for a reduced price. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator Randy Saner talks about how you can still make a profit from calves that might not look like all the others. 

With 9 million corn acres and 1.8 million beef cows, corn residue grazing is a tremendous feed resource for cattle in Nebraska. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski says it’s important to estimate the amount of residue in a field to determine stalking rates and feed supplementation needs.

A new tick found on cattle can cause severe blood loss, weakness, and even death. Nebraska Extension Entomologist Dave Boxler says the Asian Longhorn Tick will soon spread into Nebraska and cattle producers need to know how to manage and control them.

Corn residue is a tremendous feed resource for cattle in Nebraska. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski says corn stalks can be an excellent, economical resource for late fall and winter grazing in many parts of the state. 

Asian Longhorn Ticks are an invasive species that can transmit bacterial, viral, and pathogens in cattle. Nebraska Extension Entomologist Dave Boxler says producers in the eastern part of the state should be on the lookout for this new insect pest. 

Putting cattle out on recently harvested corn is a great feed option, but there are some protentional health hazards that producers need to be aware of according to Extension Beef Educator Lindsay Waecher-Mead. 

Hay forage is a traditional source of food for cattle, but there have been recent reports of a plant that could be toxic to livestock. Extension Educator Ben Beckman says whorled milkweed won’t be touched by cattle, but it could be a serious problem if it has been incorporated with hay that you’ve already put up for the season. 

The University of Nebraska is conducting a study on cattle pregnancy detection and reproductive performance. Extension Cow-Calf Specialist Kacie McCarthy explains that this ongoing research will help producers make better management decisions during pregnancy to enhance cow performance.
 

As strong cattle markets continue to trend upward, other areas of the industry point to good economic outcomes. Nebraska Extension Livestock Marketing and Risk Management Specialist Elliott Dennis says historically high calf and cull cow prices, an aging producer base, and a severely reduced national cowherd inventory has kept the markets strong.

Cattle prices continue to rise as consumers continue to have strong demand for beef, despite it increasing retail price. Nebraska Extension Livestock Marketing and Risk Management Specialist Elliott Dennis says beef has remained the number one protein choice for consumers. 

Cattle producers that are set up to feed calves in a bunks may want to consider limit-feeding a high energy diets as a cost-effective option for growing calves this fall and winter. Nebraska Extension Educator Erin Laborie says while limit-feeding is not a new concept, current forage prices may make this an attractive alternative to feeding high roughage diets.

Making silage from late season hail damaged corn could be a great option for many producers. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski talks about the advantages and risks of feeding hail damaged corn silage and earlage. 

Record-high calf prices have left many cow-calf producers wondering how to reinvest profits in their operations. Nebraska Extension Livestock Systems Educator Brock Ortner and Farm and Ranch Management Analyst Glennis McClure say these markets offer an opportunity to improve long-term profitability, but  also bring the temptation to spend pre-tax earnings on items that may not enhance operational efficiency or performance in future years.