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Prepare for your calving season: start testing now

September 9, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Prepare for your calving season: start pregnancy testing now Early pregnancy detection is a powerful tool for increasing profits in your herd. As a producer, knowing early if your replacement heifers or cows are bred can save you a significant amount of money by preventing the wastage of supplements for non-producing cows.

While it may not seem like it, the cold nights of calving season will be here before you know it. Now is the time to start preparing for the arrival of the 2025 calf crop. September is a good month for pregnancy testing your cow herd. Finding out which cows are pregnant and which are not will keep you from feeding a cow all winter, only to find out she will not provide a calf.

Understanding the two categories of pregnancy detection tests, direct and indirect, empowers you to make the best choice for your needs. Whether it’s feeling or seeing the pregnancy directly or using chemical markers like blood tests, the decision is in your hands.

Shrinkage in cattle: what you need to know

September 5, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Shrinkage in cattle: what you need to know Understanding shrinkage is a crucial aspect of managing your cattle. It’s not just a reduction in sales weight, but also a potential decrease in the price you’ll receive. However, with the right knowledge, you can make informed decisions and mitigate its impact.

The thing is that some shrinkage is to be expected, but too high of levels can indicate a problem. Abnormal levels of shrink can often be used as a health indicator for calves. Places like receiving facilities at stocker operations, grow yards, and feedlots use this to determine which calves may need more care.

Experienced buyers and sellers in the cattle market are well-versed in the concept of shrinkage. They use this knowledge to make fair adjustments in cattle pricing. As a cattle owner, understanding the factors that contribute to shrinkage will help you negotiate fair prices for your cattle.

How to win the battle against pasture prickly pear

September 1, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

How to win the battle against pasture prickly pear Prickly pear, along with other cactus species, is a pressing issue in pastures. The proliferation of these cacti can impede livestock movement and pose serious health risks.

Prickly pear can rapidly overtake a pasture, choking out more desirable forages. Once established, controlling it is a labor-intensive, long-term endeavor. Complete eradication is unlikely, even with significant effort.

Because of this, they pose a very serious problem for livestock producers wherever they appear. Here are some things to consider before controlling this troublesome plant.

Tackling Bovine Respiratory Disease: What You Need to Know

August 28, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Tackling Bovine Respiratory Disease: What You Need to Know BRD, or bovine respiratory disease, is a general term for any respiratory disease in cattle. A range of factors can cause this disease. The common names usually used for this disease are pneumonia or shipping fever. Stocker and feedlot operations are often where this disease occurs. It occurs more often there because of the extreme stress that calves are put under from weaning and then being shipped.

This disease has multiple causes and develops due to complex interactions between various factors—environmental factors, host factors, and pathogens. Environmental factors include weaning, transport, commingling, and crowding, to name a few. These factors serve as stressors that adversely affect calves’ immune systems.

While feedlot and stocker operations are usually affected by this, it can also happen to cow/calf producers. Almost 20% of cow/calf operations experience nursing-calf pneumonia. It is the leading cause of death for calves three weeks of age and older. To keep your calves right on track, consider these four tips to keep BRD under control.

These are the fall tips to have better cattle

August 24, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

These are the fall tips to have better cattle With fall and cooler weather right around the corner, it’s essential to give your cows their best chance going into winter. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle and keep feed costs reasonable.

As with other seasons, a cow’s nutrient requirements differ during this time of year. Of course, the requirements depend on what production cycle you have them on. If you are on a spring calving timeframe, they will need requirements met to grow the calf inside the cow. The requirements are on top of the cow’s regular needs, as well as keeping the cow’s body warm during the colder times of the year.

But fear not; this article is here to help. You can use some things to get your cattle on the best foot going to winter. Here are some things that you can do to help your cows going into the later part of the year:

Announcing the best reasons to supplement cattle this fall

August 20, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Announcing the best reasons to supplement cattle this fall It’s hard to believe that we are almost to September, which means that summer is almost over. The temperatures will be getting cooler (somewhat), and the days are getting shorter. Fall is undoubtedly a time of year when a lot of transitioning will be going on. Now is also the time to consider what supplements to provide for your cattle.

Most people are focused on weaning their calves at this time of year. They are also looking to get their cows rebred for next year’s calf crop. With all of these changes, there is also a change that is going on with your cattle’s nutritional requirements.

Because of these increases in your herd’s nutrition needs, it is essential for you to have a supplement program in place during this time of year. As you may have noticed, your forages are changing as well. With these changes, they may not provide all the nutrition you need. There are various types of supplements, such as protein, mineral, and energy supplements, each serving different nutritional needs. Here are some reasons for you to feed supplements this fall.

How to actually maximize feed efficiency: hay sampling tips

August 16, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Though the weather may not feel like it, temps are still in the 100s with no end in sight here; the fall season is almost upon us. The soon-to-be-changing weather reminds us of the changing season. Along with a new season comes a further need for supplementation for your pasture cattle. But did you know there is a way to use hay to improve your efficiency?

During this time of year, many producers are hauling hay to their storage lots to use for winter. On top of this, they are also pricing and buying any additional hay that they may need. It seems everyone has it figured out, though they may not be aware of problems lying just below the surface.

One of the significant challenges for producers is the wide variation in hay quality due to several conditions. However, accurate hay sampling and testing can provide a clear understanding of its nutritional value, offering a promising solution to this issue and ensuring the quality of your feed.

It would be best if you did not guess at the nutritional value. Using values from previous years or a “book value” can be costly since a producer may incorrectly develop a ration using values that aren’t even present. Here are some tips to follow in order to get an accurate hay sampling.

How to actually safeguard your herd from nitrate toxicity

August 12, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Despite the time and equipment costs, growing your own feed can be a powerful strategy. It allows you to maintain an inventory, reducing the risk of short supplies and protecting you from seasonal price fluctuations. Moreover, it empowers you to tailor energy and protein production to match your herd’s feed requirements, giving you a strong sense of control and confidence in your operations.

However, despite all of this, there is still the risk of the weather turning against you. Weather events in the weeks, days, and even hours leading up to the harvest can ruin your best efforts. They can transform a carefully raised feed source into a nutritional time bomb. If you are not careful, they can reduce your production and endanger your animals’ lives.

Times of extreme stress, like during a drought, can cause a build-up of nitrates. While consuming some of them is not bad for your animals, if they eat too much, it can become deadly. Here are some things to look for to prevent this from happening.

5 simple ways to surge calf growth during weaning

August 8, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

5 simple ways to surge calf growth during weaning Weaning is one of the most critical times for cattle producers. It is a period when all their hard work begins to pay off with an excellent large calf crop. This challenging yet promising time assures long-term benefits and a thriving herd, instilling a sense of optimism and motivation in cattle producers.

It is also considered one of the most stressful times in a calf’s life. During this time, the calf is exposed to various stressors that include being removed from the momma, physiological changes, castration, vaccination, dehorning, and the list goes on. With all of this going on, it is no wonder that calves often suffer from all sorts of maladies.

These various stressors can result in tremendous challenges to the calf’s short-term and long-term health and performance. Studies have shown that calves that get sick or become sick during the first 30 days of weaning typically have lower daily gains and increased costs of growth.

Given the pivotal role weaning plays in a calf’s life, it is crucial to start it on the right foot. The steps taken now can have a lasting impact, underscoring the responsibility and proactive approach required from cattle producers. But how can you ensure this? Here are five tips to guide you in this important task.

5 simple steps before actually buying protein tubs exposed

August 4, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

5 simple steps before actually buying protein tubs exposed Introducing protein tubs into your pasture is a convenient way to provide additional nutrition. Once it’s in place, you don’t need to check it daily, which is particularly beneficial for those with other commitments, such as a job in town, who can’t be on the ranch daily.

A benefit it can provide for both the full-time and ‘part-time‘ rancher is that a protein tub can improve the overall grazing in a pasture. You can move them into areas where the cattle don’t usually graze, which we refer to as ‘underutilized areas ‘, to encourage cattle to move to those areas.

Doing your homework before making any decision is prudent when making any investment. So, before you run off to the local feed store, I have five things you can look at before you buy your first protein tub.

West Texas Livestock Growers