K-State Research and Extension

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Beef Tips

Category: May 2021

Mineral intake and variability: Run the numbers

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

by Dale Blasi, stocker, forages, nutrition and management specialist

Pasture and supplemental feed inputs represent the lion’s share of a beef producer’s annual expenses and are an ideal starting place for initiating hard-nosed cost control measures. When environmental variation is combined with ever-changing animal nutrient requirements and pasture quality indices, lower feed costs represent a moving target that can only be bulls-eyed with appropriate planning and constant evaluation. An excellent starting place for many operations intent on maximizing return on investment is an evaluation of the existing pasture mineral supplement program. Continue reading “Mineral intake and variability: Run the numbers” →

Ranch management and drought monitoring

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

by Walt Fick, Extension Rangeland Specialist

Drought in the Great Plains is a normal occurrence and inevitable.  Drought occurs when an area receives less than 75% normal precipitation.  Kansas is likely to have a drought 3 out of 10 years. When 2021 began, over 81% of the state was experiencing some level of drought.  In the last report from the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu), only western Kansas, or about 36% of the state, was experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions (Figure 1). Continue reading “Ranch management and drought monitoring” →

Clean winter feeding sites to reduce stable fly pressure

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

By Joel DeRouchey, Environmental Management Specialist

To provide protection for cows and calves during the winter and early spring months, temporary feeding sites are often used.  While these sites can be used effectively, manure accumulation occurs in the areas around where they are fed over those months.  There are several reasons for cleaning the manure from these sites but the most important is to lower the impact of nutrient and fecal bacteria runoff to surface water and reducing stable fly production. Continue reading “Clean winter feeding sites to reduce stable fly pressure” →

Tally Time – Thoughts on the upcoming spring breeding season

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

By Sandy Johnson, Extension Beef Specialist, Colby

The timing and length of the breeding season are typically set and not reviewed on an annual basis.  However, things can change over time and the range of weather conditions we have experienced in the past several months give us other reasons to re-visit those plans. Continue reading “Tally Time – Thoughts on the upcoming spring breeding season” →

Mineral Supplement Selection Tips

Posted on by Jessica Jensen

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

One of the challenges cattle producers face is determining which mineral supplement they will use during the upcoming grazing season. Often this decision is based on the information provided on the mineral tag and price sheet. Although price is an important consideration, other factors such as the concentrations of the minerals in the mix relative to the animals’ requirements and sources of minerals used should be considered. Continue reading “Mineral Supplement Selection Tips” →