How Summer Conditions Affect Cattle Performance
Animal performance in the southern United States typically decreases during the summer. For grazing animals this reduction is due to a combination of lower feed intake and lower quality forage. …
Drought Management Strategies to Protect Forage and Herd Productivity
Poor drought management strategies can result in negative impacts on forage production and cow herd productivity long after the drought is over. During a drought it is important not to …
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Keep It Cool: Why Vaccine Temperature Matters
For maximum effectiveness, vaccines need to be maintained at the appropriate temperature. Most vaccines should be stored between 35 and 45 Fahrenheit. However, it is always important to double check …
Avoid the Mix-Up
When administering vaccines, it is important to make sure that syringes are labeled so that the products are not accidently mixed when refilling syringes. Mixing different products in the same …
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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