Emma Briggs, beef production systems, Hays
Testing your forage and feed is one of the most valuable steps you can take to make sure your cattle are meeting their nutritional needs. By collecting good samples, choosing the right tests, and understanding the results, you can save money, improve animal performance, and avoid unexpected problems. Continue reading “Forage and Feed Sampling & Testing: A Practical Guide”
Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby and John Holman, cropping system agronomist, Garden City
Plants in the sorghum family are known to be a potential risk for prussic acid (also known as hydrogen cyanide, HCN) poisoning. Many plants contain a compound known as dhurrin that, when exposed to enzymes, is converted to hydrogen cyanide. The hydrogen cyanide interferes with oxygen transport and, if enough is consumed, can quickly result in shortness of breath, convulsions, and death. Continue reading “Good News and Bad News on Prussic Acid”
Jason Warner, cow-calf specialist
If I asked 10 different producers this question: “How good of quality do you think is your CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) forage for grazing?”, I would expect that 9 would respond with something to the extent of “Not much better than trees!” or “About like corn stalks after harvest!”. Maybe the other 1 person would say something like “Don’t waste your time!”. The reason for the proposed question is because that is exactly what KSU Extension Agents and Beef Specialists across the state have been working on to better understand recently. Continue reading “Knowing What’s In Every Bite: Understanding CRP Forage Quality”
This study examined the differences in color stability between three different muscles cooked to varying degrees of doneness by taking color readings at four different time points.
Steaks from longissimus lumborum (LL), psoas major (PM), and semitendinosus (ST) were cooked to medium rare (MR), medium (MED), or well done (WD) degree of doneness (DOD). Color was measured at 0, 3, 6, and 9 minutes to observe color stability changes. Continue reading “The Impact of Degree of Doneness, Muscle Source, and Bloom Time on Cooked Color and Cooked Color Stability”
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Navigating the unknown for the stocker operator and fueling performance from the inside out are among topics planned for the 2025 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 25. The conference will take place at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit. Continue reading “26th Annual K-State Beef Stocker Field Day scheduled for Sept. 25”
Joint KLA/KSU Field Days were held at the Larson Ranch in Wichita County and the Wells Ranch in Woodson County in August. Both events were well attended and provided great information and fellowship. You can access the speaker materials for each of those meetings here. Continue reading “Proceedings Material from KLA/KSU Field Days Available”
HAYS, Kan. — In the cattle industry, experience matters—but for many women gaining that hands-on experience can be a challenge. Whether they’ve married into an operation, desire a career in beef production systems, or are trying to start their own herd from scratch, women often find themselves expected to help manage livestock without ever having been taught how. That gap in access to training and support is what Cow Camp 2025 aims to close. Continue reading “Cow Camp 2025 prepares women to lead in cattle industry”
Dates have been set for the 2025 KLA/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Days. Larson Ranch, owned by Brady and Kyla Larson, will host the first event August 21 in Wichita County. The August 28 field day will be held in Woodson County at Wells Ranch, owned by Terry Wells. Please mark your calendars for this year’s events. Continue reading “2025 KLA/KSU Field Day Save the Date”
Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby
Producers know the importance of reproductive performance to the bottom line. Those who use artificial insemination (my type of AI) want to maximize the number of AI-sired calves. This raises the question: what are reasonable expectations for AI and season-long pregnancy rates? While industry-wide data on fertility is limited, several pieces of information shed light on this question. Continue reading “Striving for Improvements in Reproductive Performance”
Chip Redmond, Meteorologist and Kansas Mesonet Manager
Just wait a few minutes and the Kansas weather will change…is a common phrase I hear as a meteorologist in the Great Plains. Sometimes it is true, but in times of a drought, those changes usually aren’t good changes. When we have moisture, we tend to under appreciate the timeliness and benefit it has, especially in Kansas summer, where we are always two weeks away from a flash drought. Continue reading “Current Weather Trends and A Look into the Forecast”