Shannon Williams

Colostrum: The ‘superfood’ for calves

Colostrum is packed with antibodies and proteins and includes energy and vitamins necessary for the future health and productivity of the calf, but it must be ingested within 12 hours of birth to be effective.

December 21, 2023

Shannon Williams

Colostrum is the “superfood” for calves, but it isn’t new. It has been around since the first cow calved. It was vitally important then, and it still is today.

Getting the most out of your hay

Take these steps to make sure the hay you're feeding is not only the most nutritious for your cattle but also the most profitable for your operation.

December 28, 2022

Shannon Williams

If you are feeding livestock, you know that the price of hay has gone up. Even if you raised your own hay, the cost to produce that hay has increased.

Practice scours prevention but plan for treatment

December 24, 2021

Shannon Williams

Scours! One of those words that will make most ranchers use “corral” talk immediately, regardless of who is standing around. Scours is a little like a wildfire.

3 keys to handling injectables when it is below freezing

December 15, 2021

Shannon Williams

While labels on most injectables say they require refrigeration, our cold-weather winters are just a little too cold. But since beef production is 24/7, 365 days a year at all temperatures, we need to figure out how to keep our injectables at the proper temperature.

Developing a treatment protocol for your operation

September 3, 2021

Shannon Williams

No producer wants to doctor an animal, but it is part of raising them. A producer can have the best vaccination program and biosecurity in the county, but sooner or later an animal is going to get sick and need to be treated.

Keeping the right production records for your operation

November 25, 2020

Shannon Williams

In today’s world of technology and recordkeeping, you can record mountains of information about your cattle herd. Recordkeeping is quick, generally easy, and most programs have a spot for the information you collect.

Choosing handlebars or hooves

May 22, 2020

Shannon Williams

Many ranches today utilize ATVs for jobs that historically were done on horseback, and some beef operations do not even own a horse.

Recommendations for preventing spread of COVID-19 during spring cattle work

April 24, 2020

Katie Hoffman, Shannon Williams, and Sara Chaplin

While some things in life can be put on hold during this time of COVID-19, spring cattle work is not one of those – at least not for long.

Make sure your calving barn doesn't carry a host of infections and diseases

January 14, 2019

Shannon Williams

Calving season is the beginning of our 2019 cash flow. Healthy calves on the ground lead to more cash in your pocket, while disease problems in the calving barn lead to increased expenses and less cash in your pocket.

BQA’ing your herd and spring cattle work

April 24, 2018

Shannon Williams

Every time you process your cattle, you have an opportunity to impact Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) for good or for ill. Your goal as owner and manager should be to impact it for the better.

Articles by Shannon Williams

Colostrum: The ‘superfood’ for calves

Getting the most out of your hay

Practice scours prevention but plan for treatment

3 keys to handling injectables when it is below freezing

Developing a treatment protocol for your operation

Keeping the right production records for your operation

Choosing handlebars or hooves

Recommendations for preventing spread of COVID-19 during spring cattle work

Make sure your calving barn doesn't carry a host of infections and diseases

BQA’ing your herd and spring cattle work

Considerations and concerns when looking into carbon markets

Progressive Dairy's top-25-read articles of 2024

Hot chocolate and Holsteins: Ontario family farm hosts annual open house

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