Smaller producers often simply accept as fact that their production costs are going to be higher than their larger counterparts. However, there are ways to become more cost-effective and profitable.

A new era of calf prices begs the question: What’s one more worth? An extra weaned calf can be a result of improved reproductive success in conjunction with reducing morbidity and death loss.

Anybody who has raised cattle for any length of time has probably had to deal with lame cattle. The odds are great that the animal was either suffering from foot rot or a physical injury to the leg or foot.

For nearly 40 years, the alliance has been connecting those involved in getting food from the farm to our forks and arming them with the resources necessary to respond to emerging issues facing the animal agriculture community.

Over recent decades, cattle disease management, prevention and treatment have changed dramatically. Vaccines, antibiotics, technology and even diseases have altered course.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” While he was referring to strategy in the boxing ring, the same holds true for starting lightweight (sometimes called peewee) calves.

For the past several years, the U.S. dairy industry has continued to reduce antibiotic and antimicrobial residues in milk and dairy beef. To support producers in the dairy industry’s commitment to antimicrobial stewardship, the FARM Program released its 2024-25 Milk & Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Reference Manual.

When an antibiotic is administered, susceptible bacteria may be eliminated, allowing resistant bacteria to thrive, and become dominant. This can make the antibiotic ineffective for future treatments and can therefore increase the risk of infections persisting in the afflicted animal and spreading to other animals in the herd, or to humans.