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How to actually decipher the disinformation about sulfur blocks

April 2, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

How to actually decipher the disinformation about sulfur blocks Sulfur salt blocks have generated a love/hate relationship among many cattlemen. Some love them and swear by them, while others feel they are a waste of money. It can be a bit of a headache to understand either side truly.

The ones who love them say that it helps with external parasite control. While sulfur powder has been shown to help in that area, there is no evidence, as far as I’m aware, that the block does that.

As with everything, there are pros and cons to using them. While there is some benefit to feeding sulfur, one must also be careful. You need to weigh the options yourself and decide if it could work for you.

4 simple ways to get fertilizer costs under control

March 29, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

4 simple ways to get fertilizer costs under control Fertilizer costs have increased significantly over the last few decades, even more so over the last couple of years. For example, nitrogen fertilizer has doubled in just the last two years. With the way things are going, it does not look like they will change for the better any time soon.

Commercial fertilizer is the most expensive input in warm-season forage production. Since this is a costly resource, we need to use it efficiently. This action will ensure that a producer can optimize the return on the investment for the most profits.

I will tell you that when it comes to efficiency, that does not mean being the “cheapest.” Going with the lowest cost in the long run can actually end up costing the most. Here are four ways to optimize what fertilizer you put out while reducing forage production costs.

Important things to know about Bovine Leukemia virus

March 25, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Important things to know about Bovine Leukemia virus Bovine Leukemia Virus is a hidden but damaging infection. In fact, it could be in your herd right now, and you would likely not even know it is there. It already has a significant impact on the cattle industry at large.

This virus has already caused significant losses in the cattle industry, though currently more in the dairy industry than in the beef one. Your more direct cost will be due to loss of production, veterinary expenses, as well as replacement costs from the death of affected animals. Some of your indirect costs will be from loss of revenue due to the restrictions placed on your operation. A large Northeast slaughter plant that processes 350,000 cattle each year will condemn about 2,000 carcasses due to this disease.

Once it appears in your place, the ability to get rid of this disease will differ from herd to herd. The primary determining factor will be the producer’s ability to prevent it from horizontally transmitting. Having a good herd health plan in place will go a long way in preventing this from being catastrophic.

5 simple ways to get feed costs under control

March 21, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

5 simple ways to get feed costs under control Feed costs remain the single most significant expense for any cattle producer. Depending on different factors, this expense can easily be half of the total annual expenses for a rancher.

Now, that amount can vary depending on the time of year and forage conditions. In a drought situation, feed costs can total 70% of the total yearly costs of raising cattle. It may seem challenging to reduce feed costs without sacrificing production.

Some would have no problem with that, but the profitable producer knows that productivity is the key to a successful operation. But all is not lost. There are five steps to reduce feed costs without sacrificing productivity.

4 helpful strategies to make your cattle mineral effective

March 17, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

4 helpful strategies to make your cattle mineral effective Mineral supplementation is an essential component of any successful cattle operation. Minerals are the building blocks for growth, reproduction, and basic maintenance. It is important that your cattle get all of the minerals that their bodies need.

The problem is that your forages will only provide some of the nutrients that they need by themselves. No matter where you are located, something will always be lacking. This reason is why providing a year-round mineral supplement is mandatory.

However, deciding what type of mineral you need to provide can be a bit confusing if you do not know what to look for at the feed store. There are many different choices you can go with. There are some that may work, but some are just a rip-off. A producer needs to know what to look for before they make any purchases. Here are some things to consider when making that decision:

How to make the best cattle feed supplement plan possible

March 13, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

How to make the best cattle feed supplement plan possible Providing a feed supplement to cattle that are grazing in certain areas is expected, and for good reason. Cattle often cannot get enough from just rangelands to meet their nutritional requirements. Producers have many choices when it comes to feeding supplements. However, it is best to be careful when deciding what supplements to use.

Food costs are producers’ most considerable on-farm expense during the year. According to Oklahoma State, nearly 40% of total operating costs are associated with nutrition. If you are experiencing any type of drought conditions, then this expense can be even higher. However, we should still try to cut out every expenditure we can.

The problem with only looking at reducing costs is that it will affect your overall performance. You want to look at them more like investments and try to get the most return possible. It is more important to be efficient than just to be the cheapest. Here are some ways to obtain the most “bang for your buck” when it comes to using the feed.

Surprisingly simple ways to control flies on cattle

March 9, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Surprisingly simple ways to control flies on cattle Trying to control flies on your cattle can be a very frustrating endeavor, to say the least. It can often feel like an uphill climb with no rest in sight. No matter what you seem to do, they keep coming back year after year.

As we move into the warmer time of the year, these pests will be coming out in full force. They will be coming out of their dormant stage to feast on your cattle. This feasting will negatively affect your herd’s production. But what is a rancher to do?!

Though you will never fully get rid of them, there are ways to bring them under control. To be the most effective, it will require a multi-prong approach. It will need all of them because just using one will not get the results that you are looking for.

5 simple tips on actually managing your bulls

March 5, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

5 simple tips on actually managing your bulls Breeding season is a crucial time on the ranch. We begin with the hope of making a new calf crop to keep the ranch going. In order to have a good calf crop, you will need to ensure that all, or at least 90%, of your cows will be bred.

While many focus on getting their cows ready for this time of year, bringing the bulls you have ready is also a good idea. After all, 50% of your potential calves’ genetics comes from just one animal, the bull.

With the critical role they will play, you may be wondering how you can go about making sure that he will be ready to service the cows. Well, here are five tips that you can follow to do just that.

It’s important to know the signs of calf dehydration

March 1, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

It's important to know the signs of calf dehydration Dehydration among calves is a severe problem that is often overlooked among producers. It can be caused for many reasons, typically from the summer heat and scours. The time from recognizing the symptoms to providing treatment is crucial.

When it comes to treating dehydration, producers need to be ready to step in quickly. It does not take long for a dehydrated calf to deteriorate if not treated promptly. While scours is often the cause, if you do not rehydrate with fluids, you will lose the calf.

The degree of dehydration can be hard to recognize, so observation is the key. Producers should educate themself on what to look for and what treatments to do. Here are five signs to look for when diagnosing dehydration in your calves.

The uncommonly simplified guide to why cattle need salt

February 26, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

The uncommonly simplified guide to why cattle need salt Salt, along with other minerals, is necessary to sustain life in cattle. Much like with humans, they are essential building blocks for living beings to perform at their best. It is needed for the body to perform even the most basic of functions.

The interesting thing about salt is that cattle have a natural “urge” for it. This urge means that they will actually seek it out, unlike the other minerals. If they cannot find it, they will try to ingest it from different sources, such as tree bark, dirt, and even urine.

As mentioned earlier, salt is essential to the overall function of a cow. Along with aiding with milk production, it will assist with other functions. These functions are reproduction, blood flow, and even sweating (which should be obvious).

West Texas Livestock Growers