UNL BeefWatch

Understanding and comparing all of the costs of harvesting and storage as well as the value of nutrients in a corn crop allows for accurately comparing and pricing the options of harvesting it as silage or as grain.

Foot rot is a common cause for lameness in cattle, but there are other sources as well. Recognizing the common signs of foot rot and steps for working with a veterinarian to develop a treatment plan for lamness is discussed.

Ultrasound can be used as early as 30 days after breeding to detect pregnancy in cattle. It also can be used from days 60-75 of pregnancy to identify the sex of calves and see twins.

Kendall Seibert from near Henderson shares his experience from incorporating summer and winter annuals as a forage for cows in a corn and soybean rotation and things he plans to try going forward.

Recognizing risk factors for summer pneumonia, and working with a veterinarian to develop a prevention and treatment plan can help minimize the impact on health of calves.

The different options available, including spring, summer and winter annuals that can be used for harvested forage or grazing are discussed.

Veterinary toxicologists from Kansas State University discuss what conditions contribute to an algal bloom, why they are dangerous and practices that can prevent poisoning of livestock.

An analsyis of the historic performance of LRP by ag economists at Utah State University and the implications for producers who utilize the insurance is discussed.

Recognizing the market value of females in the herd by age can reveal where there may be opportunites to reduce cow depreciation. Reducing replacement cost to get a cow into the herd and capturing more value from a cow when she leaves the herd are two practices discussed.

A new approach to protecting native grasslands from woody plant invasion is discussed.

Knowing where Leafy Spurge is and a timely practices to control it are important. Strategies and tools to map and manage Leafy Spurge are discussed.

Discussion of research at NDSU examining the impacts of mineral status on measures of production in first-calf heifers and the daughters born to them calving through weaning and beyond.

Shade can provide heat stress relief, especially to cattle in feedyards. Placing these structures in the right location and making sure they are designed appropriately will optimize the benefits.

The bite of the long horn tick can cause people to develop an allergy to red meat. The cause of the allergy and practices to minimize risk are discussed.

Several diseases can spread from cattle to humans. Good hygiene practices and understanding risks help to minimize the likelihood of contracting the diseases.

If pastures are grazed to early, it can have detrimental impacts on grass health and productivity. When pastures are safe to graze and strategies to limit negative impacts if grazing needs to occur earlier than preferred are discussed.

Dr. Derek Scasta with Wyoming Extension discusses plants on rangeland and pastures in the High Plains that can be poisonous to livestock and management practices that can be utilized to help reduce the risk to grazing animals.

Dave Boxler discusses research that has examined feeding garlic to cattle to reduce the incidience of horn flies feeding on them.

A shortage of feed, both hay and pasture, is making the option of using wheat for forage, either through grazing or harvesting as hay or silage, competitive options.

Recent research with producers documented the importance of getting the right moisture content when packing silage to ensure proper fermentation, maintain quality and minimize dry matter loss.

Manure can be an excellent nutrient source for crops and pasture. The process for measuring fertilizer value in manure and matching that to crop nutrient needs is discussed.

Dr. Jared Decker from the University of Misssouri discusses research examining how genetic traits that impact cattle resilience in a specific environment can be impacted by the use of selection decisions and artificial insemination.

Trich is a venereal disease that can result in a high percentage of early stage loss of pregnacy and non-pregnant cows. How the organism is transmitted and management practices to identify and remove it from the cow herd are discussed.

Estrus synchronization can be utilized in both artificial insemination and natural service breeding. Resources to select and implement different protocols are discussed.

Harsh winter weather can impact bull fertility. A breeding soundness exam can help producers know if a bull is still a potential breeder.