MANHATTAN, Kan. – Vaccine management and storage will be one of the topics for the 2021 Kansas State University Winter Ranch Management Seminar Series. Hosted by three areas across the state of Kansas, the meetings will feature presentations and comments by extension educators to enhance management strategies employed by cow-calf producers. Continue reading “K-State’s Winter Ranch Management Series Set for Late January and February”
Category: January 2021
Heifer Development Program Considerations
By Justin Waggoner, Ph.D., Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City
Replacement heifers are likely some of the most valuable livestock on an operation, as they represent the genetic foundation of the enterprise for several years to come and significant financial investment. Producers should consider that the sale of several calves is required to generate sufficient calf-revenue to recover the costs associated with purchasing, developing and maintaining heifers. In most cases, the sale of 3-5 calves will be required to recover the initial investment and maintenance costs of a replacement female. Therefore, it is important to develop and manage replacement heifers in a manner that is sensitive to development costs, reproductive success, and longevity in the herd. Continue reading “Heifer Development Program Considerations”
Balanced Nutrition Helps Minimize Calving Difficulty
By Jaymelynn Farney, Beef Systems Specialist, Parsons
The most commonly dreaded period in cow-calf production for spring calving herds is about to occur – calving out heifers. There have been many strides from a genetic perspective that have reduced the proportion of heifers that need calving assistance. This has been primarily accomplished by using high calving ease sires, high accuracy sires through AI, and heifer selection tools such as pre-breeding exams to evaluate pelvic size and shape. All these tools help minimize the chance of calving difficulty. However, if nutrition and body condition are not appropriate at calving, even if you made the best genetic decisions, you can be setting yourself up for a wreck at calving. Continue reading “Balanced Nutrition Helps Minimize Calving Difficulty”
Tally Time – Data for Decisions
By Sandy Johnson, Extension Beef Specialist, Colby
The start of a new year is a common time for people to make resolutions to start or stop actions that are intended to make life better. If you reflect back on the cow herd, did you have the necessary information to make management or financial decisions? Is there room for improvement? Continue reading “Tally Time – Data for Decisions”
Sampling Grain for Mycotoxins
By Carlos Campabadal, Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Department of Grain Science and Industry
During the fall crop harvest season, one of the most common concerns of farmers, elevator personnel, and end-users is high concentrations of mycotoxins and more specifically, aflatoxin in corn. Depending on who addresses this issue, it is not uncommon to hear different ways on how to measure and handle mycotoxins. However, the reality is that mycotoxins are commonly present on the grain where their concentrations vary widely and, in some cases, exceed thresholds of concern for human consumption and animal feed. Continue reading “Sampling Grain for Mycotoxins”
