Dr. Emma Briggs is the new Beef Production Systems Scientist (70% research and 30% extension) and assistant professor at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center in Hays, Kansas. In this role, she collaborates with range scientists and agronomists, leveraging a cow herd and feedlot to conduct applied research that directly supports Kansas cattle producers. Continue reading “Briggs joins the Western Kansas Agricultural Research and Extension Centers as Beef Production Systems Scientist”
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Considerations for Replacement Heifer Management
Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby
Heifer development is an expensive enterprise for which the return on investment does not begin until the first calf is weaned. The management decisions made during that development period can have a major impact on her productive lifespan and correspondingly cow herd profitability. Costs of production continue to increase and are one of several items of consideration when producers are making plans for raising or purchasing replacement females. Continue reading “Considerations for Replacement Heifer Management”
Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture
In case you missed it, the recording of the 2024 Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture by Peer Ederer, Founder and Director of the Global Observatory for Accurate Livestock Sciences is now available. His talk was entitled Scientific Evidence Behind the Role of Livestock and Meat Production in a Global Society
Continue reading “Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture”
Making the Most of Grazing Grain Sorghum Residue
Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist
Fall is a wonderful season for agriculture and a time to, hopefully, reap the bounty of the year’s production. With grain harvest, weaning calves, and pregnancy checking all in full swing, combine that with a little Wildcat football and volleyball and there’s no shortage of things to do. If producers have access to crop residue fields following grain harvest, then preparing to turn cattle out to graze such acres is one task that deserves to be near the top of the priority list. Grain sorghum or milo residue represents an excellent opportunity to extend the grazing season into the winter thereby reducing the need to feed harvested forages. However, there are several important management considerations that need to be kept in mind with grazing sorghum residue. Continue reading “Making the Most of Grazing Grain Sorghum Residue”
Johne’s Disease: No Longer Just a Dairy Disease!
By Gregg Hanzlicek, DVM, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
In a 2017 USDA NAHMS survey, cow-calf producers were asked about their knowledge of Johne’s disease. Over 70% reported “never hearing of it” or “recognized the name, but not much else”. Veterinarians have been discussing Johne’s disease with dairy producers for many years. This is not true concerning cow-calf producers.
Johne’s disease (pronounced Yo-knees) was first discovered in the U.S. in 1908. It is caused by a bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, known as MAP. In cattle and small ruminants, this organism causes chronic, non-treatable bowel disease. Continue reading “Johne’s Disease: No Longer Just a Dairy Disease!”
Body Condition Scoring — A Herd Management Tool
by Justin Waggoner, KSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Garden City, KS
Body Condition Scoring is one of the most valuable management tools at the disposal of the cattle manager. The number associated with a condition score gives us a direct indication of a cow’s previous plane of nutrition and future
reproductive capability. Although the individual body condition scores are important. We don’t manage individual cows, we manage groups of cows. Thus, it is important for us to look beyond the individual scores and look at the distribution of body condition scores within the herd. Continue reading “Body Condition Scoring — A Herd Management Tool”
Late summer and fall insect pest control in cattle and horses
Cassandra Olds, extension entomologist
As we move into the latter part of the growing season, it is time to consider late summer and fall pests as well as your plans for next year. Both stable and horn fly populations tend to decline over the dry, hot part of summer but can resurge in late summer into fall if sufficient rainfall occurs. Continue reading “Late summer and fall insect pest control in cattle and horses”
Forage Risk Management and PRF Insurance
Jenny Ifft, Agricultural Policy Extension Specialist
Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance is a tool for managing rainfall or drought risk. While individual producer experience varies, PRF has made substantial payouts during drought years. In 2023, producers paid an average premium of $5.11 per acre and received an average payout of $10.06 per acre. The deadline to sign up for PRF insurance for the 2025 calendar year with a crop insurance agent is December 1, 2024. Some producers may be concerned about the degree to which PRF will cover actual forage losses on their operation. This article summarizes these concerns and two approaches to considering them. Continue reading “Forage Risk Management and PRF Insurance”
Feedlot Heart Failure: Where are we, and what have we learned?
AJ Tarpoff, DVM, Extension Veterinarian
Feedlot congestive heart failure (CHF) has been recognized as a growing threat to our feedlot industry. It is important to differentiate this condition from other known causes of heart failure in cattle. Congestive heart failure is a non-infectious condition that occurs at low to moderate elevation (separating it from traditional high-altitude disease) and has observable signs such as edema (fluid) build up in the brisket area, jugular vein distension, abdominal swelling, difficulty breathing, sway back, and abducted elbows. This condition is considered 100% fatal. Continue reading “Feedlot Heart Failure: Where are we, and what have we learned?”
How Does Moisture and Composition Affect Feedstuff Costs?
Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist
In the previous edition of KSU Beef Tips (July 2024; How Much Does Water Cost? – Beef Tips (k-state.edu)), the importance of the fundamental concept of dry matter (DM) was discussed along with how to price feedstuffs on a cost per unit of DM basis. While understanding the impact of feedstuff DM is critical for making informed management decisions, we also must consider how differences in nutrient composition, in addition to DM, influence feedstuff cost scenarios. Continue reading “How Does Moisture and Composition Affect Feedstuff Costs?”
