Extension specialist gives 4 O's for 'crazy' cows
CLEVER, Mo. – Load ’em up and ship ’em out. That’s the advice University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Andy McCorkill gives on “crazy cows.” He spoke to livestock and forage producers March 7 at the Christian County Livestock & Forage Conference at Clever, Missouri.
MU Extension Feedlot School set for March 22-23, Kirksville
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Missouri cattle producers interested in feeding out their cattle are invited to attend a two-day University of Missouri Extension Feedlot School, March 22-23 in Kirksville.
MU Extension to host free cattle grading workshop in Maries County
VIENNA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a free cattle grading workshop 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, at South Central Regional Stockyards in Vienna.“Producers may wonder how their cattle grade as compared to others and how this affects their price,” said Anita Ellis, an MU Extension livestock specialist in Fulton. The workshop will help cattle producers determine the grade of their animals.
Forage expert gives 4 top reasons to frost seed legumes
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Early February is the time to frost seed legumes into most Missouri pastures, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. Frost seeding, a method of broadcasting seeds onto frozen pastures, improves poor pastures at a low cost, Roberts says.
Show-Me-Select heifers average more than $2,600 per head in fall sales at Fruitland
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The market for spring calvers in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program proved strong at fall 2022 sales, with top buyers paying in the $3,500 per head range at some sales.Buyers paid an average of $2,638 for Show-Me-Select heifers on Dec. 2 at the SEMO Livestock Sales auction in Fruitland. The average was an impressive jump from the 2021 average of $2,112, says sale coordinator Erin Larimore of University of…
Boost profits by frost seeding legumes now
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Add legumes to fescue and other cool-season pastures at the right time to add pounds and profits to cattle. The right time is when pastures are frozen and snow-covered, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. Snow makes the seeds easier to see. Seeding on frozen ground also lessens the chance of rutting or compacting soils.
Beef producers: 'Get your house in order' in 2023
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Beef producers should approach 2023 with cautious optimism – matched with resolutions of good management and investment in infrastructure, says University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist Wesley Tucker.
Fescue foot reported in Missouri cattle
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists recently received several reports of Missouri cattle dying due to fescue foot, says MU Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts.These significant losses show why beef producers should check herds for warning signs of fescue foot in early January, when it most often occurs, Roberts says.
Start the year on the right foot with your cattle record-keeping system
STOCKTON, Mo. – As the year ends, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis urges cattle producers to evaluate their record-keeping system to determine if it was successful.“Record-keeping starts with proper cattle identification,” Davis said. Two nationally known identification systems are the four-digit system and the letter and three-digit system.
Prepare cattle for frigid temperatures
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Extremely cold weather is forecast this week, putting cattle at risk. Temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit are predicted, with the wind chill factor much lower in many parts of Missouri this week. As temperatures drop, producers need to ensure their cattle are kept safe in the harsh weather, said University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey.
How you feed hay this winter is more important than ever
GALENA, Mo. – With a shortage of standing forage for cattle and the low availability of hay, it is more important than ever this winter to reduce waste when feeding hay.Hay waste is normal, but it can be controlled and minimized, said University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg.
Calculating winter feed costs for beef cows
SEDALIA, Mo. – Escalating costs for hay and supplements has many cattle producers concerned, especially in the face of very poor pasture conditions and limited hay supplies in some areas of the state.
Make sure bulls are ready for fall breeding season
STOCKTON, Mo. – Make sure bulls are physically and reproductively sound before the fall breeding season, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis.
Plan to meet weaning challenges
SEDALIA, Mo. – Weaning spring calves may be more of a challenge this year because of short pasture supplies and the questionable nutritional value of this year’s hay crop.“Pay very close attention to body condition score in September and be prepared to wean, if necessary,” said Gene Schmitz, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist in Sedalia.Schmitz recently worked through a feeding scenario for a producer that highlights…
SW Missouri no stranger to drought in forages
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Southwest Missouri farmers and livestock producers are no strangers to drought. In 2022, livestock owners face short-term and long-term challenges growing pastures for grazing and winter feeding.
Short forage supplies require producers to make tough decisions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dry weather and short pastures have reduced forage supplies, prompting livestock producers to ponder “could have, would have, should have” scenarios, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eric Meusch.Producers should try to match their herd needs to anticipated forage supplies, Meusch says. This requires planning before a drought. Many factors will be out of your control if you wait until drought…
Nitrate, prussic acid poisoning follow drought
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nitrates and prussic acid build up in forages to levels dangerous to livestock during drought.Livestock face severe illness and even death after eating affected forages, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Jamie Gundel.Nitrates tend to concentrate in the bottom third of the plant. It shows in the plant’s stem and stalks more than leaves, Gundel says.
Tough culling decisions come with drought, forage shortages
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With dry weather and short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows.Give careful thought to which grass eaters go first, says Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. Under drought stress, identifying those cows becomes urgent.
Corn silage as a forage
COLUMBIA, Mo. – An emergency feeding situation is shaping up for Missouri’s beef producers because of the drought. University of Missouri Extension recently hosted University of Wisconsin agronomist Joe Lauer on the MU Extension Forage and Livestock Hour to discuss his research on corn silage as a forage.
Water, shade help prevent heat stress in cattle
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This is the time of year when cattle producers need to pay extra attention to heat stress in their operations, says University of Missouri Extension beef specialist Eric Bailey.
Cattle mineral and vitamin supplementation strategies
“Vitamins and minerals are a small portion of the diet, but important for normal cattle body function which results in optimum health, growth, and reproduction,” says Patrick Davis MU Extension Regional Livestock Field Specialist. Davis will discuss strategies to promote optimum cattle mineral and vitamin status, which will result in optimum cattle operation performance and profitability.
Pasture management now leads to better grazing-season performance, profitability
“Pasture is the cheapest feed resource in a cattle operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Proper pasture management in the late winter and early spring will help optimize forage production during the grazing months and will have a positive impact on production and profitability, Davis says.
Reducing grass tetany in cattle
“With lush grass growth coming in the spring, it is time to manage cattle and implement mineral supplementation strategies to reduce the incidence of grass tetany in your cattle operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Cattle grass tetany symptoms result from low blood magnesium levels.
Performance bull sale averages $3,678
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Forty-four performance and genomically tested bulls averaged $3,678 on Oct. 25 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole.
New MU beef reproduction manual is basis of fall workshop series
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new manual, Whole System Management of Beef Cattle Reproduction, is available through University of Missouri Extension, said Jordan Thomas, extension state beef reproduction specialist.Spiral-bound copies are available for purchase, but PDFs of each chapter are also available for free download, said Thomas.