Livestock

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.

Corn residue is an outstanding forage resource for wintering cows, but is also an option for backgrounding calves or growing heifers. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski says winter grazing corn residue and providing supplemental distillers may be a and economic system to consider.

Both green and dried needles from ponderosa pine trees have been proven to cause abortions in pregnant cows. Nebraska Livestock Systems Extension Educator Bethany Johnston offers some simple strategies to avoid pine needle abortion.

Newborn calves need a healthy dose of vitamin A to help fight off any bacterial infections. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski talks about the process of proper feeding and timing to get vitamin A into calves.

First time heifers can sometimes experience problems getting bred for a second time. Nebraska Extension Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Specialist Management Karla Wilke discusses some of the reasons why getting a new heifer pregnant can be tricky. 

Cattle nutrition has a large effect on development and performance. Recent studies from Iowa State have focused on the importance of zinc in a cattle’s diet. Iowa State Feedlot Nutritionist Stephanie Hansen talks about zinc and how it helps in every stage of a cow’s development. 

Numerous factors have given some livestock producers optimism in the cattle market. Tyler Cozzens from the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver talks about what is driving current markets and what producers should be keeping an eye on in the future.

Nebraska Extension is offering a new video series focusing on proper mineral intake in beef cattle. Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist says minerals in cattle diets is among one of the most frequently asked questions by Nebraska livestock producers, and she aims to help educate with this new series.