Mineral mixes and supplements can be formulated with several trace mineral sources, each with advantages and disadvantages. There are some commonly held perceptions around trace minerals and their “benefits” that need attention in order to optimize performance, health and feed costs.

It is hard to have blanket recommendations for producers across the U.S., as environments and production practices vary so much between regions and even producers within regions. Nonetheless, there are some basic principles and practices that will give your calves the best chance at navigating the weaning process.

Ranchers are constantly striving to maximize the productivity of their native rangeland, as raising and selling heavy and healthy calves is key to profitability. Helping producers enhance calf weight gain while maintaining the optimum body condition of the cow herd is critical to keeping operations profitable.

It has been nearly 15 years since we wrote our first press article on the use of “herbs and spices” in cattle. Where have we been and what have we learned? What does the future hold for this technology? And most importantly, how do you decide what the value is for your cattle?

Feeding yeast can be a valuable part of a well-designed dairy feeding program. Primary end effects include the reduction of stress, improvement of performance, and improvement in gut and overall animal health. Since there are a fairly large number of different types of yeast products on the market, it is important to carefully research which products may be the most effective and economical for any given dairy.

As the field of cattle science progresses, we delve deeper into a previously unexplored domain: the ruminant gut microbiome. Each animal hosts a distinct set of organisms, many of which remain unknown in terms of their specific functions and interactions.

It’s no secret: Feed has always accounted for, by far, the biggest production expense of beef cattle production.

If cows could just tell us when they get an upset tummy, maybe we could help them get through the episode without a hitch. Before we can discuss rumen dysfunction, we need to understand what normal rumen function looks like.

Rumen health is the cornerstone of a successful cow-calf operation, impacting calf health, maternal performance, feed utilization and, ultimately, economic profitability.