Livestock

As cattle prices climb, determining what qualifies as a “good” price for a bull becomes more challenging. Randy Saner, a Livestock Systems Educator with Nebraska Extension, says producers need to balance cost control with long-term herd improvement to protect profitability and sustainability.

Transportation of cattle is an essential component of the U.S. beef production system, but the stress caused with moving cattle is also associated with reduced feedlot performance and increased incidents of bovine respiratory diseases. Stephanie Hansen an Iowa State Feedlot Nutritionist says new research on strategic zinc supplementation is helping to fix this issue.

Body condition score, or the cow’s external fat layer, is a critical factor in a cow’s ability to handle cold stress. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski says proactive management during the late winter months is essential to reduce cold stress in cattle.

Cattle are naturally adapted to cold weather, but their ability to stay warm depends on factors such as their winter coat, body condition score, nutrition, and their ability to staying dry. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski says managing cows properly during winter is crucial to maintaining health and productivity. 

Most of the time, ranchers can handle the problems that come up during calving. In certain situations, a call to the vet is needed to get the birthing process done to avoid any problems. Veterinarian and Nebraska Extension Educator Lindsay Waecheter-Mead talks about when producers should call the vet for help. 

Given recent pricing and potential trends, there may be greater opportunities again for use of distillers that is priced competitively to other protein and energy sources. Nebraska Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Galen Erickson talks about the nutritional advantages of wet, modified and dry distiller’s byproducts.

With the production of ethanol here in the Midwest, distiller’s grains byproducts have become an important part of many beef cattle diets. Nebraska Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Galen Erickson talks about the nutrition value of byproducts feeds and how they have changed in the last few years.

Corn residue is an outstanding forage resource for wintering cows but can also be an option for backgrounding calves and growing heifers. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski says adding supplemental distillers to corn residue may be a low-cost protein rich system to consider.

Nebraska livestock sale barns function as both economic marketplaces and social gathering spaces for many producers. Marilyn Schlake and Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel from UNL’s Center for Ag Profitability discuss new research looking at how sale barns play an important role in rural communities.

Nebraska Extension is inviting feedlot owners, managers, employees, and allied industry professionals to attend the 2026 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series, set for Feb. 17–19 at three locations across western, central and northeast Nebraska. Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Galen Erickson says the series will feature research-based discussions on feedlot management, cattle health, nutrition, and market outlooks, offering practical information for participants to apply to their operations.

The right bull can make a world of difference in your breeding program. Nebraska Extension Beef Genetics Specialist Matt Spangler encourages producers to think about what they intend to do with calves before selecting bulls with favorable traits.

Cows and heifers have periods of high and low nutritional demands though out the year. Nebraska Extension Educator Troy Walz talks about using your competitive advantages such as meadows, irrigated pastures, windbreaks and proximity to crop residue to affordably meet nutritional challenges.

Cattle experience stress in the feedlot during handling events that can negatively impact morbidity, mortality, performance, and carcass outcomes. Extension Feedlot Specialist Jessica Sperber talks about research at Nebraska that is evaluating products that help mitigate stress and maintain performance. 

During any given production year, cows and heifers are faced with nutritional and environmental stressors. Nebraska Extension Educator Troy Walz talks about the value of body condition scoring and encourages producers to have a feed management plans in place for every circumstance. 

Winter Feedlot Management of Cattle
Cold temperatures, fluctuating weather conditions, and increased feed requirements can induce stress in feedlot cattle resulting in health complications. Nebraska Extension Feedlot Specialist Jessica Sperber talks about the importance of water, nutrition, windbreaks and monitoring animal health on your operation.