“I’ve noticed it before, not just in this cycle,” says Kenny Burdine, extension professor in livestock economics at the University of Kentucky. “There is a tendency with some producers, when prices are high, to almost become satisfied and to be less focused on adding value when they feel like they are getting a pretty good price for their calves.”

Before buying more inputs or trying to get a better price for what you are selling, make sure to take time to invest in yourself and ensure you are the best manager you can be.

Ranches are dynamic biological systems where numerous things interact with one another in the “whole” of the ranch. This makes decision-making for ranch managers challenging, as often the interaction of multiple factors needs to be considered in order to achieve a desired outcome.

The verdict is in – an open cow is among the top three financial liabilities for cow-calf operators. Calf sales are the largest contributor to annual income; cows that fail to wean a calf are a financial burden borne by the productive cows.

For ranching families, it is common for their household expenditures to be included in their operating budget and loan. With that, household budgets need to be managed differently for ranch families than for families who don’t utilize operating loans.

It’s time to talk more about controlling replacement costs from the perspective of the cow-calf enterprise.

Researchers suggest utilizing growth-promoting implant technologies for cattle marketed live and taking advantage of branded programs like NHTC that may benefit grid-based marketing schemes.