Castration
If male calves will not be kept for breeding purposes they should be castrated before 3 months of age. Castration of older, heavier animals causes greater stress and increases the …
Iodine Requirements and Supplementation in Beef Cows
Iodine is an important trace mineral that is involved in energy metabolism and other physiological functions. Very little data is available on the iodine content of forages and other feeds. …
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How Milk Production Shapes Nutrient Needs in Beef Cows
Milk production has a significant impact on cow nutrient requirements and thus feeding and supplementation strategies. In beef cows, milk production increases from birth to about 60 days after calving. …
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A Simple Step for Serious Prevention
Have you ever found a container of something in a barn and not been sure what it was? Items on a farm or ranch should never be stored in unmarked …
Fertilizing Cool-Season Forages
Cool-season annual forages like ryegrass, wheat, and oats are often planted to provide high-quality grazing. These forages require nitrogen fertilizer applied at the right time in the right amounts to …
Understanding Hay Probes: Tools for Accurate Forage Testing
Hay probes should be used when collecting samples to determine hay quality. Hay probes come in two main types, push type probes that are manually pushed into the bale or …
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Key to Safe and Effective Injections
When giving injections it is critical to make sure needles stay clean and sharp. Regardless of which brand or type of hub (e.g. plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, etc.), needles should …
The Healthy Herd Plan
A preventative herd health plan includes vaccination, biosecurity, proper nutrition, parasite management, and understanding common routes of pathogen exposure. Clostridial spores that cause black leg, red water, and other clostridial …
Smart Phosphorus Use in Pastures and Hayfields
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium also referred to as N, P, and K are primary nutrients plants need for growth. Grasses require much more nitrogen and potassium than they do phosphorus. …
The Importance of Hay Testing
A good hay test is critical to designing an appropriate and cost effective winter supplementation plan. When possible, it is good to wait at least 6 to 8 weeks after …