Curt Arens
FIGURING OUT DROUGHT: The last thing beef producers want to do in the face of drought is depopulate their herd, but they also may consider supplementation or transporting cattle to feed. Producers need to look at all their options when grazing lands turn dry.
Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a two-part series of articles on caring for cows and calves during a drought.
Feeding cattle during a drought can be a tricky endeavor. Most farmers and ranchers first consider supplementing their cow-calf pairs as drought rolls along. But there are other options that Aaron Berger, Nebraska beef systems Extension educator, discussed during a recent University of Nebraska BeefWatch webinar.
Curt Arens
HIGH AND DRY: Drier-than-normal conditions offer special challenges to beef producers, including implementing range management strategies, as well as specific management practices to keep cows and calves fed and healthy. Producers can view presentations on strategies and research from Nebraska Extension specialists.
Mar 05, 2021
The University of Nebraska BeefWatch webinar series has been highlighting beef management strategies and research over the past several months, covering everything from the breeding herd, bull management, cow nutrition, calving and stocker management.
In March, the webinar series turns to managing the herd through drought and dry conditions.
On March 2, the webinar covered “Preparing to Make Decisions During a Drought,” presented by Jay Parsons, Nebraska Extension biosystems economist. Parsons discussed decision-making and the importance of early planning. He outlined a process for being better prepared to make
Curt Arens
SAVING CALVES: The Sandhills Calving System calls for moving pregnant cows every week forward to fresh calving pastures and leaving cows with newborn calves behind in previous pasture paddocks. This system reduces calf scours significantly by all but eliminating exposure of newborns to pathogens that cause scours. The Sandhills Calving System can save thousands of dollars for beef producers.
Recurring calf scours can be a real killer for cow-calf beef operations. It ranks among the top causes of mortality for young calves across the nation. Cattlemen know that scours can range from mild conditions with loose stool, all the way to severe dehydration and death.
Each session will feature experts and opportunities to interact and get questions answered.
Feb 01, 2021
In February, the University of Nebraska BeefWatch webinar series will tackle issues related to cow-calf and stocker production efficiency and profitability. Each session will feature industry experts and plenty of opportunities to interact and get questions answered. Each of the webinars in February will begin at 8 p.m. CST on Tuesdays.
The first session on Feb. 2 will cover highlights from University of Nebraska-Lincoln stocker systems research, offered by Jim MacDonald, UNL professor of ruminant nutrition. It will cover when, what and how much you should supplement stockers. McDonald will discuss some of the UNL research related to management systems and supplementation of stockers and yearlings.
Curt Arens
BEING PRODUCTIVE: When buying or retaining replacement heifers, producers need to be aware of the effect of several factors on the long-term economic implications from those heifers. Longevity or replacement rates within the herd are crucial in deciding what you can afford to pay.
One of the biggest decisions you can make that affects your bottom line for the cow-calf herd is deciding what you can pay for replacement heifers. If you pay too much, you are setting yourself up for a situation where those heifers cannot possibly pay for themselves over time.
At a recent University of Nebraska BeefWatch webinar, Randy Saner, Nebraska Extension educator, told participants that longevity or replacement rates within the herd are crucial in deciding what you can afford to pay and if a heifer made money for the operation, or cost money.