1. 10 things your cattle buyer wants you to know (and do)
Greg Goudeau, owner and manager of Navasota Livestock Auction in Navasota, Texas, told a packed house at the 2019 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course what cattle buyers look for at the sale barn.
Goudeau shared with producers some key insights he has received from a lifetime of working in several facets of the cattle industry. He said marketing calves doesn’t take away the flexibility of selling calves whenever the time is right. “You can be a marketer and still bring them to the sale barn any given day.”
Read the full story at: 10 things your cattle buyer wants you to know (and do)
PHOTO: Livestock auction owner Greg Goudeau tells ranchers what a buyer really likes to see in the sale ring. Photo by Carrie Veselka.
2. Everything you never knew about freemartins
If you’ve been involved in the cattle industry for any length of time, you are likely familiar with the term freemartin, a heifer who is born a twin to a bull calf.
This is something most of us have been familiar with since we were young, and while we knew those heifers needed culled out, that they were going to be infertile, it’s sometimes interesting to know exactly why that is and what is happening to cause the freemartin phenomenon.
Read the full story at: Everything you never knew about freemartins
PHOTO: The fusion of the placenta is ultimately responsible for the freemartin process. Photo by Richard M. Jakowski.
3. 3 questions to ask your seedstock producer
As winter rolls around, people across the country are preparing for the holidays, but for beef producers, Santa and mistletoe aren’t the only highlights of the season – we have bull sales to look forward to.
While there are loads of data available to review prior to purchasing a new herd sire, there is also something to be said about putting your boots on the ground and spending some time at your seedstock producer’s operation to see how they manage their herds.
Read the full story at: 3 questions to ask your seedstock producer
PHOTO: As a potential customer, you can evaluate your seedstock producer’s cow herd and learn a tremendous amount about their genetic program. Photo by Cassidy Woolsey.
4. Overlooking overhead costs is costing you big
It is of no surprise when talking to cow-calf producers that overhead costs are a significant concern as there are substantial expenses that need to be covered by the beef cow herd. However, the productivity and profitability of the cow-calf enterprise can be greatly impacted by our management and evaluation decisions.
One important evaluation tool that is many times overlooked is recordkeeping. By implementing adequate and accurate recordkeeping, we can more easily evaluate the enterprise, measure the impacts of management changes, look for areas of improvement and justify purchases. It is important to keep in mind that we can’t manage what we don’t know.
Read the full story at: Overlooking overhead costs is costing you big
PHOTO: Understanding the overhead cost of owning equipment can help prevent “iron fever” or owning newer equipment than necessary. Staff photo.
5. Castrating calves: The younger, the better
There are several ways to castrate calves. Regardless of method, it’s generally less stressful for the animal at a young age.
Dan Thomson, Kansas State University professor of production medicine and epidemiology, says some people might think weaning weights will be lower if they castrate at birth, but research shows no difference between cattle castrated at birth and cattle left intact until weaning. “There’s no advantage in waiting, and if calves aren’t castrated before coming to the feedlot, there’s a huge increase in sickness and death loss.”
Read the full story at: Castrating calves: The younger, the better
PHOTO: Castration administered at a younger age can be better for younger calves that can recover quickly from pain. Photo provided by Heather Thomas.
6. Easing into artificial insemination
Artificial insemination (A.I.) is a great way to advance herd genetics. You can access bulls offering superior traits to what a herd sire might offer and gain the ability to sire more uniform calves.
At the same time, A.I. is often thought of as complex and hard to implement. But it doesn’t have to be that way – you can make it as simple as your situation calls for. Get some tips for adapting A.I. to your operation.
Read the full story at: Easing into artificial insemination
PHOTO: Students of various ages and skill levels participated in South Dakota State University’s A.I. breeding school last year. Photo by Wendy Sweeter.
7. Superior Livestock data show price trends since 1995
Big data, said Ken Odde, is hard work. It takes time, organization and consistency.
But the empirical evidence that comes from cattle sale data reveals an accurate picture valuable to ranchers nationwide.
Speaking to producers at the 2019 National Red Angus Conference in September, Odde, a Kansas State University professor of animal sciences and industry, presented Superior Livestock Auction data revealing trendlines on sales prices. The database covers 24 years, 82,793 beef calf lots comprised of 25 million cattle, highlighting which calf health programs, premiums and genetic breeds have an effect on prices.
Read the full story at: Superior Livestock data show price trends since 1995
8. Taking the stress out of picture day
A good photo is all about angles and lighting. A half step one way or another on the photographer’s end can change a picture (and ultimately the sale price) dramatically.
A photo is really only as good as the picture pen setup, as well as the help inside the picture pen and back at the barn. Here are five things breeders and photographers need to consider.
Read the full story at: Taking the stress out of picture day
PHOTO: Livestock photography is more than just luck; it takes careful planning, timing and a good setup on picture day. Illustration by Philip Warren.
9. 5 ways to prevent transportation stress in cattle
Transportation stress is an unavoidable factor for any beef operation. The effects of transportation stress in cattle is a challenge to rectify; however, the negative health effects incurred by transporting animals can be limited by implementing a number of good management practices.
These five key steps are simple and can be easily adopted by your operation today.
Read the full story at: 5 ways to prevent transportation stress in cattlestress in cattle
PHOTO: Careful management while transporting and receiving cattle can help mitigate the effects of transportation stress. Photo by Cassidy Woolsey.
10. Bad cows break budgets: The connection between cattle behavior and your bottom line
Did you know there is a direct correlation between cattle behavior and the success of your operation? The personality of your cattle can impact your bottom line in a variety of ways, ranging from processing delays caused by stubborn cattle to issues with livestock welfare and health.
Emerging research in the animal science sphere is focused on personalities of animals in domestic and zoo settings, but these findings can be applied to beef cattle operations as well.
Read the full story at: Bad cows break budgets: The connection between cattle behavior and your bottom line
PHOTO: Look beyond poor temperament to see how “bad cows” affect your bottom line. Photo courtesy of Arrowquip. 
—Compiled by Progressive Cattle staff
