Tag: nutrition (Page 1 of 7)

5 simple tips on actually managing your bulls

5 simple tips on actually managing your bullsBreeding 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.

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How to correctly know when to assist with calving

How to correctly know when to assist with calvingKnowing when to assist with calving can be a very tricky matter. It requires a delicate balance between not acting too quickly and not reacting too late. Finding this balance requires a lot of experience and a little bit of luck.

If you help too early, there is a chance that you will not need to help at all. Also, you run the risk of injuring the cow as well as the calf. Not to mention, it can impair the bonding process between mom and baby.

Waiting too long can have dire results as well. There is a particular possibility that you will lose both the calf and its momma at the same time, not to mention the expensive veterinary bill if it gets to the point of needing surgery to get the calf out.

So, to help you find the right balance between when to take action or not, I have provided some information to get you on the path to success.

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Calf scours: what to watch for, how to treat it

Calf scours: what to watch for, how to treat itCalf scours is something that is concerning for all cow/calf producers. It causes more financial loss to producers than any other health problem in their herd. It can come out of nowhere and spread throughout your herd much like wildfire. The main issue with this disease is that it can be confusing for some people.

The trouble with calf scours is that it is not a single disease that causes it. Instead, it is a clinical sign that is associated with several diseases. Despite its many causes, one common sign is your calves having diarrhea. Regardless of what is causing it, diarrhea prevents the absorption of fluids in the intestines. Because of this, the onset of calf scours is very serious.

As any producer will tell you, it is severe. Calf scours is the primary cause of death in calves from 2 to 30 days of age. However, despite the seriousness of this disease, it is relatively treatable. The leading cause of death from this disease is dehydration from fluid loss. Let us look at ways to treat and prevent calf scours from taking their toll on your calf herd.

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4 simple ways to avoid extra costs with hay

4 simple ways to avoid extra costs with hayWinter is finally here, though here in Texas, it doesn’t feel like it too much. But with this time of year, producers will put hay out to feed their animals. Depending on how you get it, hay is typically one of the cheaper options when it comes to supplements.

An issue we currently face across most of the country is that the amount of hay available this winter will be low due to the dry conditions. The Texas AgriLife extension service says that the hay crop this year will be bleak due to the extremely dry conditions and the high costs of inputs like fertilizer. Though you may have to stretch your inventory, hay is still a better option, all things considered.

Under normal conditions, hay that is bought is brought in and fed without issue. Using hay is a normal cycle that many produce know well. It would be best if you also kept an eye on things. The “sticker price” of the hay is generally the 1st thing people look at when buying hay, but there are other costs to consider. Here are four potentially added costs that you need to keep in mind.

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Some simple guidance for developing heifers the right way

Some simple guidance for developing heifers the right wayHeifer development can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding tasks on the ranch. The very basis of your future depends on your ability to develop the young heifers into productive mothers. But these challenges do not come without problems.

What makes this challenging is that the cost of producing these heifers takes place before you will get any return. This challenge can be risky for some producers because you are spending money in the hopes that she will be able to “earn her keep“. This type of investment may be challenging, but it can be simple. If you plan your heifer development right, it can be a straightforward procedure.

Here are some steps that you can follow to make this much easier for you and your sanity:

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How to improve production by avoiding 3 common weaning mistakes

How to improve production by avoiding 3 common weaning mistakesIt is weaning time again out on the range. Weaning is the time of year when you, as a rancher, see the fruits of your labor. Labors, such as with your breeding programs. But that does beg the question about success.

What does success or failure mean when it comes to weaning? That is a tricky question to answer because different people have different answers to this. It is up to the individual and their production goals to determine what is a successful weaning.

There may be different ideas on how to wean your calves, but the goal is still the same. You want to wean every calf you have with the minimum loss to your crop. It would be best to get your calves started off on the right foot to accomplish this.

Starting your calves off right is one of the most important things that you can do. Doing so will ensure that calf’s lifelong production success. The first 30-45 days after weaning are the most stressful in that calf’s life. In order to make it as smooth as possible with their transition, you will need to avoid three common problems.

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How to make that hay bale stay fresher longer

How to make that hay bale stay fresher longerHay is a very common sight in every cattle producer’s operation throughout the country. It is used during the winter to provide supplemental nutrition when forages are lacking. However, with the extremely dry conditions we have been having lately, getting hay bales is becoming harder and harder. With this difficulty, producers are looking for ways to make their current supplies last longer.

Making the perfect hay bale will only do you much good if you store them properly. Keeping it properly will maintain its high quality later in the year. How you hold your hay bale can make or break what you will be able to get out of it come wintertime.

Properly storing your hay bales is easier than it may seem. It really boils down to storing them in a way that will keep them dry and out of the elements as best as possible. Here are five rules you can follow to ensure you store them the best you can.

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How to actually manage your bulls with 5 simple tips

How to actually manage your bulls with 5 simple tipsBreeding season is a very important 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 make sure 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 it is also a good idea to get the bulls that you have ready too. After all, 50% of the genetics that each of your potential calves will have comes from just one animal, the bull.

With the important role, they will play you may be wondering just how you can go about making sure that he will be ready to service the cows. Well here are 5 tips that you can follow to do just that.

Continue reading

How to simplify your life when assisting calving

How to simplify your life when assisting calvingKnowing when to assist with calving can be a very tricky matter. It requires a delicate balance between not acting too quickly and not reacting too late. Finding this balance can require a lot of experience and maybe a little bit of luck.

If you help too early there is a chance that you did not need to help at all. Also, you run the risk of injuring the cow as well as the calf. Not to mention it can impair the bonding process between momma and baby.

Waiting too long can have dire results as well. There is a certain possibility that you will lose both the calf and its momma at the same time. Not to mention the expensive veterinary bill if it gets to the point of needing surgery to get the calf out.

So to help you find the right balance between when to take action or not I have provided some information to get you on the path to success.

Continue reading

Calf scours: what to watch for, how to treat it

Calf scours: what to watch for, how to treat itCalf scours is something that is concerning for all cow/calf producers. It causes more financial loss to producers than any other health problem in their herd. It can come out of nowhere and spread throughout your herd much like wildfire. The main issue with this disease is that it can be confusing for some people.

The trouble with calf scours is that it is not a single disease that causes it. Rather it is a clinical sign that is associated with several diseases. Despite it having many causes one common sign is your calves having diarrhea. Regardless of what is causing it diarrhea prevents the absorption of fluids in the intestines. It is because of this that the onset of calf scours is very serious.

As any producer will tell you it is something that is very serious. Calf scours is the primary cause of death in calves from 2 to 30 days of age. However, despite the seriousness of this disease, it is fairly treatable. The leading cause of death from this disease is dehydration from fluid loss. Let us look at some ways to both treat and prevent calf scours from taking their toll on your calf herd.

Continue reading

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