Cow / Calf Corner

Hay Quality Indicators

By : Christine Gelley, AgNR Educator, Noble County, OSU Extension The drastic swing in temperatures from one day to the next last week should remind us all that it truly is autumn and that winter is coming. The challenges of the 2019 forage production season continue to add up. With droughty conditions across the state…

Here’s the beef: Basics for selecting a bull

Courtesy of animalscience.tamu.edu Bulls provide the biggest proportion of calf crop genetics, so it is important to select a herd sire that can produce desired offspring. Basics to consider in selecting a bull include breed type, parentage (pedigree), physical appearance, performance records and genetics. Each one of these factors was discussed by Joe Paschal…

Ergot in Western Wheatgrass and the Potential Effects for Winter Grazing

By : Sean Kelly, SDSU Extension Range Management Field Specialist, Courtesy of extension.sdstate.edu 2019 has been a year fraught with challenges for ranchers across South Dakota. Abundant precipitation is usually a blessing, however, wet conditions coupled with a cool spring followed by warmer temperatures has caused another problem across the rangelands of South Dakota:…

Wheat Still in Fields Raises Concerns

Courtesy of NDSU Extension Wheat remains unharvested in parts of North Dakota. Heavy rainfall or snow has prevented wheat from being harvested in parts of North Dakota this fall, leaving producers wondering what to do with their crops. Vomitoxin is one of the concerning issues. Vomitoxin, also known as deoxynivalenol (DON), is a mycotoxin…

Developing a Herd Health Program

By : Steve Boyles, OSU Beef Extension Specialist There are Key Practices to Develop a herd health plan that conforms to good veterinary and husbandry practices: Provide disease prevention practices to protect herd health including access to veterinary medical care. Follow all FDA/USDA/EPA guidelines and label directions for each product. Use FDA-approved feed additives including…

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