Beef Tips

Author: Sandy Johnson

Forage analysis: Don’t guess…Test!

Justin Waggoner, Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City

Forage growing conditions across Kansas ranged from exceptionally wet in some regions to drought in others. The much-needed rainfall in the western regions of the state were a welcome change but also created an increase in weed pressure in hay fields and made timely harvesting of forages challenging. The rapid on-set of drought in the central and North-central region of the state stressed forages and crops mid-season. All of these conditions could potentially affect forage quality and may greatly increase the risk of mold and nitrates in harvested forages, which can be harmful and toxic to livestock. This is the year to test your harvested forages! As the old saying goes “don’t guess…test”. Continue reading “Forage analysis: Don’t guess…Test!”

Accounting for the environmental impact of grazing cattle: appreciating our ecological niche

Logan Thompson, Sustainable Grazing Systems

Today, the beef industry is increasingly facing calls to act on its perceived impact on climate change and other negative ecological impacts that occur from production activities. This includes greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, eutrophication of water ways (accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients) and a decrease in biodiversity. It may come as a surprise to some that the largest source of greenhouse gases from beef production arises from our grazing operations. Chiefly this is from the cow-calf sector and primarily in the form of methane produced during the ruminal fermentation process (Rotz et al., 2019). If we consider that methane production is primarily driven by level of intake and quality of the diet, then this does make sense as many cows are grazing for the entire year, generally, all the while consuming a lower quality diet than fed in confinement operations and weaning approximately 0.85 calves per cow exposed per year. However, these estimates may not tell the complete story of the ecological niche that grazing cattle play in our grassland ecosystems or how their emission estimates compare to historical or current wildlife populations. Continue reading “Accounting for the environmental impact of grazing cattle: appreciating our ecological niche”

Technology in Beef Production Systems

Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby

Artificial intelligence has increasingly been in the spotlight. At the American Society for Animal Science meetings this summer there was a notable increase in technology related presentations. So, what does this mean for the beef industry? This article will highlight some of the potential tools available now and give insight into others that may come. Continue reading “Technology in Beef Production Systems”

A Look into Fall 2023 Weather

Christopher “Chip” Redmond, Kansas Mesonet, christopherredmond@ksu.edu

A prominent high pressure has once again built back in across the Central Plains with much warmer than normal temperatures returning. With a third heatwave this summer, many are interested in what the fall will provide in terms of harvest and planting weather. We will provide a very brief summary of the past, a look at the current and how that all plays a role in the coming months. Continue reading “A Look into Fall 2023 Weather”

2023 K-State Beef Stocker Field Day scheduled for Sept. 28

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Beef cattle outlook, latest research into top pharmaceutical technologies yielding the highest economic return in stocker cattle and fine-tuning bunk calls in the grow yard are among topics planned for 2023 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 28. The conference will be hosted at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit. Continue reading “2023 K-State Beef Stocker Field Day scheduled for Sept. 28”

Spring 2023 Webinars Available on Your Schedule

Kansas State University beef extension specialists hosted a series of producer-oriented webinars this spring to address cattle production challenges amid ongoing drought throughout Kansas. If you missed the live events, recordings are now available on KSUBeef.org.

Keith Harmoney, rangeland scientist at the Agricultural Research Center in Continue reading “Spring 2023 Webinars Available on Your Schedule”

Annual Forage Insurance: New Policy Options and 2022 Performance

What is Annual Forage Insurance?

Annual Forage (AF) insurance is a rainfall index product for annual crops produced for forage.[1] AF insures against reduced forage yield due to less precipitation than normal. When rainfall falls below a set amount, a payout or indemnity is made. Precipitation (rainfall) is measured locally, in an approximately 14×16 mile area called a “grid”. A producer selects the months (intervals), weight (importance) of months, and % precipitation (coverage level) they want to insure for. Continue reading “Annual Forage Insurance: New Policy Options and 2022 Performance”

KLA/KSU Ranch Management Field Days Planned for August

Kansas State University and the Kansas Livestock Association have planned two field days to help cow-calf producers enhance their management strategies.

KLA/K-State Ranch Management Field Days are set for Aug. 10, 2023, hosted by Mushrush Red Angus of Strong City, KS, and Aug. 17 hosted by Carpenter Cattle Company of Brewster, KS. Continue reading “KLA/KSU Ranch Management Field Days Planned for August”

Summer Burning Reduces Caucasian Bluestem Frequency

by Helen Giefer, ASI graduate student with KC Olson, ruminant nutritionist

While Caucasian and yellow bluestem – collectively referred to as old-world bluestems – continue to spread across the state of Kansas, promising new research may provide landowners with new hope for controlling the invasive species. Upon the discovery that late-summer prescribed fire (August 1 to September 21) successfully set back yellow bluestem, a similar study is now underway for Cacausian bluestem. Continue reading “Summer Burning Reduces Caucasian Bluestem Frequency”

Feeding and Managing (Early) Weaned Calves

Justin Waggoner, Ph.D., Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City

Weaning is our opportunity as cattle producers to prepare calves for the next phase of the beef production cycle. Regardless of if it is an early-weaned calf (less than 180 days of age), or an older calf. The goal of weaning is to produce a healthy calf that is comfortable without its dam, readily consumes feed and has successfully acclimated to a new environment. The primary barriers to this goal are the stressors experienced during weaning which are: 1) maternal separation 2) a new environment 3) unfamiliar feedstuffs and 4) reduced immune function resulting from the aforementioned stressors. There are several different management practices that may be implemented on an operation, depending on the resources available to more effectively prepare calves for weaning. A few of these practices are listed below. Continue reading “Feeding and Managing (Early) Weaned Calves”