Dealing with cattle herd anaplasmosis
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Summertime brings factors that lead to anaplasmosis in cattle operations,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Anaplasmosis can affect cattle operation performance due to calf abortions, decreased weight gain, bull infertility and animal death.
Native warm-season grass pasture walk in Polk County set for July 22
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Native warm-season grasses can be an important forage as cattle operations move to the summer months,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Heatstroke can kill quickly in hot cars
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When the news has another tragic story about a child accidentally left in a hot car, parents might believe they could never make a mistake like that. “It’s not just negligent parents or indifferent caregivers. When juggling the demands of work, parenting and daily life, it’s easier than you might think to make a simple but fatal mistake,” says Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension health and safety…
Spring SW Missouri bull breeding soundness exam day results
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Bull breeding soundness exams (BSEs) are important to make sure bulls are ready for the upcoming breeding season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The exam evaluates bull physical and reproductive soundness. Using bulls that fail this exam can lead to poor conception, pregnancy, calving and weaning rates, which results in poor operation productivity and profitability,…
Records set at SW Missouri Show-Me-Select heifer sale
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Record prices were seen at the southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on May 17,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Management strategies to reduce pink eye in cattle
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Warm weather brings on environmental factors that can lead to pink eye in cattle,” says Patrick Davis University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Pink eye can lead to reduced cattle performance, which affects profitability.
Severe-weather resources from MU Extension
News releases, videos, publications and more. Publications In-depth information is available from these MU Extension publications, which are available for free download. (To access publications, use the links below or go extension.missouri.edu/publications/ and search by publication number.)
Strong market results in strong bull sale in Springfield
STOCKTON, Mo. – There was a strong showing at the Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Test Bull Sale on March 25 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center in Springfield, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Use heifer pre-breeding exams as a culling tool and to prepare for breeding season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “As cattle producers rebuild their cattle herds, the focus may be to retain heifers as replacements,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Breeding season will soon be upon us, and it is important to retain heifers that are good breeding prospects.
Use summer annual forages to build your grazing forage base
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Summer annuals are a good way to add diversity and build pasture stands for the upcoming grazing season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Summer annuals are a tool to improve thin pastures stands, help begin the renovations process and add forage diversity to improve cattle productivity. Davis will discuss some summer annuals that can help improve cattle grazing pastures…
Should cattle producers retain fall calves as stockers?
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Should cattle producers retain fall calves as stockers?” This is a question asked by University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis and cattle producers as they think about weaning their fall calves. Davis will discuss considerations for cattle producers as they weigh the options to retain their fall calves as stockers.
Prepare bulls for the upcoming breeding season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “It is time to begin preparing for the upcoming breeding season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. In preparation for the upcoming breeding season, Davis will discuss management strategies to make sure bulls are ready for a successful breeding season.
Things to consider when early weaning fall calves
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Markets as well as limited feed resources may lead to early weaning fall calves,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Cattle producers may be limited on feed resources, and early weaning will help reduce cow herd nutrient need. Furthermore, early weaning may help cattle producers prepare to market their fall calves a little earlier than normal because of financial…
Remove open heifers following their first breeding season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Reproductive efficiency is important to the productivity and profitability of your cattle operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. One way to promote optimum cow herd reproductive efficiency is to cull open heifers following their first breeding season. Davis will discuss why culling these heifers improves reproductive efficiency, resource utilization and operation…
SW MO Show-Me-Select™ Replacement Heifer Program Sale
The Missouri Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program educates cattle producers on heifer development strategies in the areas of management, reproduction, and genetics to create a reliable source of quality replacement heifers. On November 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Pick Up Your Redbook
Recordkeeping is important to make management decisions for optimum cattle operation productivity and profitability. Therefore, cattle producers should consider purchasing the 2024 shirt pocket size record book called the “Redbook” to aid in their record keeping practices. These books are available at your local MU Extension Center for $7 per book.
Management strategies to be successful in heifer development
Drought has led to historic declines in cattle numbers in Missouri. As weather and cattle price become favorable for cattle herds to rebuild, add value to a cattle operation through heifer development. This article will discuss cattle management strategies of the Missouri Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program that will help cattle producers be successful in heifer development and adding value to their…
Utilizing corn stalks in beef cow rations
The spring grass hay crop was extremely poor across many regions of the state. Beef cattle producers are turning to alternative feeds in order to find winter forage for their herds. Baled corn stalks are going to be one of the more available forage sources for many producers. A discussion of their quality and use is certainly appropriate.
Rebuild your herd through the Fall SW MO Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program Sale
Stockton, Mo.- As cattle producers look to replenish their cattle herd look to the Fall SW MO Show-Me-Select™ (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program Sale on November 17th at Joplin Regional Stockyards. The program will be selling approximately 90 head of spring-calving SMS Certified bred heifers. The breed makeup of these heifers includes Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, SimAngus, Gelbvieh, and Beefmaster.
Bull development and management for optimum breeding season performance
STOCKTON, Mo. - Bull development and management is important to promote optimum breeding season performance. Optimum breeding season performance promotes optimum herd pregnancy rates which is important to cattle herd productivity and profitability. Therefore, this article will provide tips in selection, development, and management of bulls for optimum breeding season performance.
Time to Elevate
CAMDENTON, Mo. – Next March, University of Missouri Extension in Camden County will host “#Elevate: An Empowering Experience for Women,” a free, one-day event offering educational sessions, a keynote luncheon, health screenings and an exhibit hall featuring vendors and services specifically for women.
Now is time for 911 emergency forages
This is part of an MU Extension series to help row crop and livestock producers manage drought. BOONVILLE, Mo. – Forage producers searching for options amid sustained drought should consider emergency forages, says Todd Lorenz, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.The drought is not going away and producers need to find a way to fill feed gaps, he says. Three years of back-to-back drought leave producers searching for…
Early weaning calves to reduce nutrient needs during drought
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Early wean calves to reduce cow herd nutrient needs to match drought-limited feed resources,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. In addition, early weaning can improve calf performance because calves are put on a more nutritious diet following weaning.Davis discusses strategies to help cattle producers be successful in early weaning calves:
Missouri SBDC continues to “Elevate” second-stage businesses
This spring, five Missouri small businesses began the journey to grow beyond the second stage. Through the Missouri Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC’s) Elevate program, these five business owners, at no cost to them, are gaining knowledge from various experts that most small-business owners rarely have access to.
Missouri youths compete at 2023 State 4-H Poultry Day
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Thirty-six youths from across Missouri attended the 2023 State 4-H Poultry Day, June 10 at the University of Missouri Animal Science Research Center in Columbia.Competitions included a poultry judging contest, quiz bowl, egg demonstration contest, photo contest and dozen egg contest.