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Beef Tips

Author: Sandy Johnson

Managing Your Breeding Season for a Uniform Calf Crop

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Emma Briggs, beef production systems, Hays

As spring arrives across Kansas and breeding season draws near, many cow-calf producers find themselves rethinking traditional calving dates. While we can’t control the weather, we can manage when calves hit the ground by setting a defined breeding window. A well-planned breeding season can better align with labor schedules, feed availability, and marketing goals – and ultimately strengthen the long-term success of your operation. Continue reading “Managing Your Breeding Season for a Uniform Calf Crop” →

Blue-Green Algae: Plan to Monitor this Grazing Season

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

AJ Tarpoff, DVM, extension veterinarian

Blue-green algae blooms (or Harmful Algal Blooms) are an issue that usually occurs  during the spring and summer. Calm, sunny, dry, and hot days of summer create ideal conditions for blue-green algae to thrive in our livestock ponds. Blue-green algae occurrence is sporadic making its threat unpredictable. Despite its name, these blooms are not algae, but a cyanobacteria. Some (not all) of these cyanobacteria can produce and release dangerous toxins that are of major concern for our livestock. Continue reading “Blue-Green Algae: Plan to Monitor this Grazing Season” →

Make 2025 your year to finally beat flies!

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

by Cassandra Olds, extension entomologist

With warming weather and cattle going out onto pasture soon, many of you may be considering your fly control options. Every year, stable and horn flies cause significant economic losses, but a good fly control program can minimize this impact. Although often grouped together, these are very different flies that need different control approaches. Continue reading “Make 2025 your year to finally beat flies!” →

Effects of Late-Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Introduced for forage and soil-conservation properties, old world bluestems began establishing and spreading through the Great Plains to the great detriment of native flora populations. While they are grazable grasses early in the growing season, rapid rates of maturation lead to unpalatability and decreased nutrient profiles much earlier than native warm-season grasses. Grazing, mowing, and spring burning seem to promote old world bluestem populations. When decreased cover of yellow bluestem was reported following late-summer prescribed fire treatment, our goal was to determine if similar effects could be found in Caucasian bluestem. Continue reading “Effects of Late-Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills” →

Effects on Stocker Steer Performance While Consuming Essential Oil or Ionophore Minerals

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Alternative methods to reduce the use of synthetic products in cattle production, as well as reduction in feeding antibiotics to cattle, have been a growing preference in consumer opinions. The objective of this study was to determine if essential oils produce the same performance for stocker steers as consuming an ionophore. Continue reading “Effects on Stocker Steer Performance While Consuming Essential Oil or Ionophore Minerals” →

greatOplus (Extruded Blend of Flaxseed and Nannochloropsis oculata Biomass) Improves Finishing Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in humans and is recommended by the American Heart Association as a preventative for CVD. Cattle diets can be altered to favor the deposition of desirable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in beef, providing an opportunity to address concerns over the contributions of beef to overall saturated fatty acid consumption by consumers. This study investigated feeding greatOplus (GOP), an extruded mixture of flaxseed and Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae biomass (NBO3 Technologies LLC; Manhattan, KS) on feedlot cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Continue reading “greatOplus (Extruded Blend of Flaxseed and Nannochloropsis oculata Biomass) Improves Finishing Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics” →

The Effects of Aging Period and Freezing Sequence on Consumer Palatability Ratings, Tenderness, and Color Stability of Longissimus Dorsi, Semitendinosus, and Biceps Femoris Steaks

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of freezing and aging sequence on palatability, overall tenderness, and objective color readings of three different beef muscles and two aging periods. Continue reading “The Effects of Aging Period and Freezing Sequence on Consumer Palatability Ratings, Tenderness, and Color Stability of Longissimus Dorsi, Semitendinosus, and Biceps Femoris Steaks” →

Influence of Degree of Doneness on the Alpha-Gal Content of Striploins and its Relationship with Red Meat Allergy

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an acquired sensitivity to galactosealpha-1, 3-galactose (α-Gal) after exposure to a bite from the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum). Affected individuals can experience a range of symptoms from mild itching to potentially fatal anaphylaxis after consuming products containing mammalian tissues that contain α-Gal. Little research has been done to examine the α-Gal content of different products; thus, the objective of this study was to establish the α-Gal content of striploin steaks cooked to varying degrees of doneness to evaluate if heat treatment reduces the α-Gal content of red meat. Continue reading “Influence of Degree of Doneness on the Alpha-Gal Content of Striploins and its Relationship with Red Meat Allergy” →

Evaluation of Calcidol (25(OH)D3) or Combination of Calcidol and Beta-Carotene on Feed Intake, Growth Performance, and Health in High-Risk, Newly Received Beef Heifers

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Vitamin D is critical to the normal development and growth of all cattle. Recent reports have shown a positive role for vitamin D in immune function of dairy cattle. Calcidol is a metabolite of vitamin D metabolism. It can be used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects on feed intake, growth performance, and health when calcidol [25(OH)D3] or a combination of calcidol and beta-carotene (precursor to Vitamin A) was supplemented in high-risk, newly received growing beef heifers. Continue reading “Evaluation of Calcidol (25(OH)D3) or Combination of Calcidol and Beta-Carotene on Feed Intake, Growth Performance, and Health in High-Risk, Newly Received Beef Heifers” →

K-State Research and Extension holding Cow-Calf Production Clinics across state in January, February

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Kansas State University beef extension specialists and agents will be hosting several cow-calf production focused meetings throughout the state in January and February.  The programs are a joint effort between state specialists and local extension units and aim to address various topics pertinent to local needs and conditions experienced by producers.  Specific program details will be made available at KSUBeef.org and county/district websites as events draw nearer, but dates and locations include: Continue reading “K-State Research and Extension holding Cow-Calf Production Clinics across state in January, February” →