After a busy season of breeding, pulling bulls, pregnancy diagnosis and weaning, we’d like to hope cows can turn on autopilot for a few months during the winter. However, that’s not the case; cows are always working for us, whether that means lactating, raising a calf, preparing to become pregnant or gestating next year’s calf. It’s our responsibility to make sure they are in the proper body condition to do so.

In a recent article put out by the USDA, studies show beef cow-calf production continues to be a lifestyle choice for some farmers. The 2022 USDA Census reported 85% of the total U.S. cattle operations are cow-calf or seedstock, and the majority of these operations are small scale, with 55% having fewer than 20 cows.

Whether they’re man-made or natural disasters, emergencies such as tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, severe winter storms, severe dust storms, etc., may put people, property and animals at risk.

University of Missouri researchers have created the first-ever vaccine proven to protect cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a tick-borne cattle disease. The disease infects the red blood cells of cattle and causes millions of dollars in economic losses across the U.S. due to reduced cattle production, treatment costs and animal deaths.

Beef production business and ranch managers have been anticipating and preparing for the fall busy season including weaning, selling calves, vaccinations, fall calving, etc., for weeks. Now it is time for managers to be doers. Right? Well, yes and no.

Frustration continues to simmer as evidence continues to mount that legislators in Washington are unmotivated to move forward on a new farm bill.

Five species of lice parasitize cattle in the U.S. Four of these are blood feeders, and the fifth is a biting or chewing louse. Cattle with hair loss, an unthrifty appearance, and leaving hair on fences and other objects from rubbing may be a sign of lice infestation.

John Ferry of JY Ferry & Son Inc. in Corinne, Utah, has a different idea than most when it comes to protecting the environment and the role cattle can play in the process.

Vitalix® is an American family-owned company that specializes in quality low-moisture cooked molasses supplement tubs made from the best all-natural ingredients available. Since 1989, Vitalix® has been at the forefront of the tub business, committed to leading the way in how controlled consistent nutrition is delivered to almost all species of livestock.

In 2017, a New Jersey farmer discovered a significant number of ticks that were only on his sheep. Neither the sheep nor its owner had traveled from the farm or had come in contact with other livestock. Experts are scrambling to learn more about this latest invasive species.