Prescribed burning, also known as controlled burning, is basically a fire set intentionally. Despite the word “fire” generally brings to mind very negative images a prescribed burn can be a good thing. It is a management tool used by land managers and landowners to improve diversity of their vegetation. It can also be used to control any invasive plants that are present in your pasture.
When used along with other management methods prescribed burning can be used to improve the overall health of your pasture. Getting the most of out prescribed burning takes more than just setting some fires. To ensure the safety of both you and your neighbors it requires some serious planning.
Trichomoniasis, or more commonly know as Trich, is a very serious economic problem for cattle producers. It is a reduced calf crop as well as lower weaning weights. It does this by causing infertility in your breeding cows and requiring a longer breeding season.
What does weaning success or failure mean to you? This is a tough question to answer because different people will have different answers to this. They can be as varied as the operations that raise cattle.
Distaff thistle as well as the other species of thistle are considered the most serious threat to range and pasture. Thick stands can completely crowd out other vegetation reducing grazing. The sharp spines can prevent access to both livestock and people. It is not able to be grazed due to the fact that it is unpalatable to livestock and wildlife. Once it is established it is very hard to get rid of because the seeds can survive for a very long time, some up to 8 years.
Feed costs remain the single largest expense for any cow producer. Generally this expense can equal up to half of the total yearly cost of raising cattle. And that is on a good year. If you are in a drought condition this total can go up to as high as 70%. With this in mind it is no wonder that feed costs is usually the main factor to determine if an operation will be profitable or not.
Hay season is upon us! As you have probably been aware now is the time of year when everyone is cutting and baling hay. Though many are only focused on just bailing not many are thinking about how to store the hay.
Producers tend to have a love/hate relationship when it comes to supplements. On the one hand they love how it improves the performance of their cattle but on the other they hate that it adds to their expenses. It is for this reason that producers tend to not feed supplements unless they absolutely have to.
Prickly pear as well as with other species of cactus are a common problem in pastures. They can interfere with the movement of livestock and cause serious health problems. Along with this they can overtake a pasture very quickly and strangle out more desirable forages. Because of this they pose a very serious problem for livestock producers wherever they show up.
It is never good whenever your cattle are suffering from a disease. It can rob you of performance while increasing your expenses.
Well it’s getting to be that time of year again. The days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting warmer…. yep, summer is on it’s way. Now is a good idea to have a summer pasture management plan in place.
