Livestock

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Beef breeding resources

Learn how reproductive technologies can increase productivity and profitability of your cattle herd.

Cattle breeding videos

Swine production

Find resources and link to knowledgeable specialists to learn more about Missouri’s top-grade pork commodity.

Get information about Missouri's swine industry

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Animal health

Keep current about animal health and production in Missouri.

News and articles

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Events

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Midwest Boar Stud Manager Conference 2021

Event date: Aug. 4, 2021 - Aug. 5, 2021

St. Louis, MO

The 2021 Midwest Boar Stud Managers Conference lineup includes experts on swine reproduction from Europe and the United States.Boar stud managers represent a unique part of the swine industry, MU extension swine specialist Tim Safranski said. Since ...

MU Extension Forage Livestock Town Hall

Event date: Aug. 5, 2021 - Aug. 26, 2021

These MU Extension Forage and Livestock townhall meetings are done weekly and discussing emerging issues for forage and livestock producers. These weekly townhalls begin at noon each Thursday. Below are the topics, dates and speakers for the month of ...

Fall Pasture & Beef Workshop

Event date: Aug. 5, 2021

Event time: | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Cook Station, MO

Participants will learn various topics surrounding fall management of beef cattle. Topics include management of fall calving cow herds, stockpiled forage strategies, and pasture economics. Please register online or call the Crawford county extension ...

Native Grass Pasture Walk

Event date: Aug. 9, 2021

Event time: | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Jasper, MO

Directions to the location:From 1-49/71 Highway in Jasper Mo. take H highway west approximately 8 mile and on the northside of the road will be the cabin/land where the pasture walk will beginDiscussion will involve - Landowner will ...

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Grow now, graze later to reduce winter feed costs

Published: Monday, July 26, 2021

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Grow now and graze later to get the most out of tall fescue pastures.Winter stockpiling cool-season grasses carries cow-calf operations through the winter, the costliest time to feed cattle, says University of Missouri Extension ...

Cattle losing adaptations to environmental stressors, MU researchers find

Published: Friday, July 23, 2021

As a fourth-generation cattle farmer, Jared Decker knows that cattle suffer from health and productivity issues when they are taken from one environment--which the herd has spent generations adapting to--to a place with a different climate, a ...

MU to hold feedlot school Aug. 4-5 in Trenton

Published: Thursday, July 15, 2021

TRENTON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a feedlot school Aug. 4-5 at North Central Missouri College in Trenton.Speakers will tell the “ins and outs of feeding cattle in Missouri,” says MU Extension beef nutritionist Eric ...

June Dairy Month proclamation

Published: Monday, June 21, 2021

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Surrounded by dairy farmers and industry leaders, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on June 8 proclaimed June as Dairy Month.The proclamation recognizes the hard work and contributions of our dairy farmers statewide, said Reagan Bluel, ...

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Publications

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Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) Insurance in Missouri

Publication date: June 1, 2021

Hair Shedding Scores: A Tool to Select Heat Tolerant Cattle

Publication date: April 1, 2021

Responsible beef breeding requires matching cattle genetics to production environment. This is necessary for at least three reasons: Profitability, animal well-being and improved environmental impact. Cattle that are well-suited to their environment ...

Herd Health Programs and Reproductive Efficiency of Beef Cattle

Publication date: March 1, 2021

An excellent herd health program is an important component of overall management for reproductive efficiency, as health can significantly impact the reproductive performance of cattle as well as the value of the calf crop. Failure to protect against ...

Determination of Pregnancy Status in Beef Herds

Publication date: March 1, 2021

Figure 1. Having a veterinarian perform a pregnancy examination can provide valuable information.Pregnancy examination provides valuable information, as it can enable cow-calf operations to make management decisions that both increase profitability ...

Production Records for Commercial Cow-Calf Operations

Publication date: March 1, 2021

If you are involved in cattle production, you recognize the importance of records for making management decisions. Some producers know what information they need to collect and how to use it to make decisions. Others are unsure where to start or may ...

Reproductive Management of Bos indicus-Influenced Beef Cattle

Publication date: March 1, 2021

Figure 1. A Bos indicus-influenced female with characteristically long ears and a large dewlap.Bos indicus cattle, sometimes referred to as zebu, were domesticated in the Indus valley region of modern-day Pakistan approximately 7,000 years ago. ...

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Missouri Backgrounding Cattle Budget (XLS)

Producers can use to estimate costs and returns for backgrounding cattle on a per head and per group basis. Additionally, a calculator can help estimate yardage cost for an operation.

Cash Rental Rates

Maps for USDA-NASS cash rental rates across Missouri counties for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland and pasture land.

Replacement cow scoring

An overview of frame, muscle and body condition scores on replacement cows

Livestock and poultry mortality composting

View presentations on efficient and effective poultry and livestock carcass composting.

Beef Newsletter — 2020-07 (PDF)

Late Kidding Goat Budget Tool (XLSX)

A budgeting tool to estimate economic costs and returns of 50 doe, spring kidding flock (March and April) with kids marketed between 50 to 60 pounds in July/August.

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Featured programs

Beef Extension

Comprehensive resources for the Missouri beef industry

Dairy Extension

The best source of practical dairy information targeted for Missouri's dairy producers.

Pasture-Based Dairy

New dairy systems use minimal concentrate feeding, optimal grass management and highly labor efficient parlors.

Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program

A program focused entirely on Missouri's farmers to improve production through increased use of existing technology and marketing education.

Swine Extension

Provides a wide array of swine production information and resources.

Veterinary Extension and Continuing Education

Provides continuing education opportunities for veterinarians and animal owners for CEUs via lectures and seminars.

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Livestock

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Beef breeding resources

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Featured programs

Beef Extension

Dairy Extension

Pasture-Based Dairy

Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program

Swine Extension

Veterinary Extension and Continuing Education

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