Beef Tips

Tag: KSUBeef.org

Upcoming learning opportunities

We hope you will take advantage of various opportunities to engage K-State Research and Extension Beef Specialists, county and district agents and other professionals at the meetings planned in the coming months. KSUBeef.org is one source of those details in addition to county/district websites and social media outlets. For programs hosted by KSU Ag Economics department and various county/district meetings see the upcoming events at AgManager.info.

Feeding Cows in a Drought
Jan. 3 – Yates Center
Jan. 10 – Severy

Calving Schools
Jan. 4 – Stafford County Annex, St. John
Jan. 9 – Haskell County Fairgrounds, Sublette
Jan. 11 – Northeast Kansas Heritage Complex, Holton
Jan. 18 – West Elk School, Howard

Hoxie Calving Clinic
Jan. 10

Check back at KSUBeef.org as more information becomes available for meetings Jan. 10th in Hays, Jan 29th in Larned, Feb. 5th in Seneca, Feb. 6th in the Post Rock District and Feb. 20th in Eureka.

Grid Pricing Improves Fed Cattle Profits and Consumer Beef

Katy Doumit, graduate research assistant and Ted Schroeder, agricultural economist

Premiums and discounts for US fed cattle have evolved over time in response to changing consumer demand for beef. Cattle producers have benefitted from grid pricing by receiving elevated prices for higher quality beef. Consumers have benefitted from having exceptional beef quality they prefer. Grid pricing refers to valuing a lot of cattle based on carcass merit, including premiums or discounts for traits such as quality grade, yield grade, preferred weight, special branded programs, and more. Continue reading “Grid Pricing Improves Fed Cattle Profits and Consumer Beef”

Disease Concerns with New Herd Introductions

AJ Tarpoff, DVM, Extension Veterinarian

Most Kansas producers have been impacted in one way or another by the drought over the past few years. With El Nino on its way, many producers are weighing the ins and outs of restocking as forage conditions allow. Anytime new additions are brought in from an outside source, disease introduction potential control should be a key part of any rebuilding plan. Continue reading “Disease Concerns with New Herd Introductions”

Evaluating Alternative Feedstuffs for Cattle

Justin Waggoner, Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City

The term “alternative feedstuff” conjures images of a variety of post-production food products (i.e. bakery waste, potato products, candy remnants, brewery waste etc.) that can be fed to livestock. However, I would contend the term would also apply to a variety of specialty or vegetable crop residues (dry beans, chili peppers etc.). Alternative feedstuffs can provide economical sources of nutrients in cattle rations. Continue reading “Evaluating Alternative Feedstuffs for Cattle”

Supplementation Considerations for Bulls Following Breeding

Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist

For cow-calf producers that limit the length of the breeding season, the period of rest after removal from females is key for management of herd bulls.  During this time, it is not uncommon for bulls to be observed less frequently and attention to them often falls, albeit unintended, to the bottom of the priority list.  As with females, the time in between breeding seasons represents the opportunity to regain body condition and weight if needed, and this length of rest is certainly reduced when bulls are used in multiple breeding seasons. Continue reading “Supplementation Considerations for Bulls Following Breeding”

Planning for the Third Trimester

Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby

The third trimester of pregnancy is a crucial period because of the rapid growth the fetus undergoes and because it is our opportunity to improve cow body condition prior to calving if needed. It is easy to forget those things when we can’t see the growing fetus and a growing winter coat may be deceptive when it comes to body condition.

The table below is a simple reminder of when the 3rd trimester begins based on various dates for the start of the spring breeding season. Continue reading “Planning for the Third Trimester”

Forage analysis: Don’t guess…Test!

Justin Waggoner, Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City

Forage growing conditions across Kansas ranged from exceptionally wet in some regions to drought in others. The much-needed rainfall in the western regions of the state were a welcome change but also created an increase in weed pressure in hay fields and made timely harvesting of forages challenging. The rapid on-set of drought in the central and North-central region of the state stressed forages and crops mid-season. All of these conditions could potentially affect forage quality and may greatly increase the risk of mold and nitrates in harvested forages, which can be harmful and toxic to livestock. This is the year to test your harvested forages! As the old saying goes “don’t guess…test”. Continue reading “Forage analysis: Don’t guess…Test!”

Accounting for the environmental impact of grazing cattle: appreciating our ecological niche

Logan Thompson, Sustainable Grazing Systems

Today, the beef industry is increasingly facing calls to act on its perceived impact on climate change and other negative ecological impacts that occur from production activities. This includes greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, eutrophication of water ways (accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients) and a decrease in biodiversity. It may come as a surprise to some that the largest source of greenhouse gases from beef production arises from our grazing operations. Chiefly this is from the cow-calf sector and primarily in the form of methane produced during the ruminal fermentation process (Rotz et al., 2019). If we consider that methane production is primarily driven by level of intake and quality of the diet, then this does make sense as many cows are grazing for the entire year, generally, all the while consuming a lower quality diet than fed in confinement operations and weaning approximately 0.85 calves per cow exposed per year. However, these estimates may not tell the complete story of the ecological niche that grazing cattle play in our grassland ecosystems or how their emission estimates compare to historical or current wildlife populations. Continue reading “Accounting for the environmental impact of grazing cattle: appreciating our ecological niche”

Technology in Beef Production Systems

Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist, Colby

Artificial intelligence has increasingly been in the spotlight. At the American Society for Animal Science meetings this summer there was a notable increase in technology related presentations. So, what does this mean for the beef industry? This article will highlight some of the potential tools available now and give insight into others that may come. Continue reading “Technology in Beef Production Systems”

A Look into Fall 2023 Weather

Christopher “Chip” Redmond, Kansas Mesonet, christopherredmond@ksu.edu

A prominent high pressure has once again built back in across the Central Plains with much warmer than normal temperatures returning. With a third heatwave this summer, many are interested in what the fall will provide in terms of harvest and planting weather. We will provide a very brief summary of the past, a look at the current and how that all plays a role in the coming months. Continue reading “A Look into Fall 2023 Weather”