Replacement heifers can be opportunity in diversifying beef enterprises
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Beef heifers represent a great opportunity for increasing cowherd numbers and diversifying enterprises,” said Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension state beef nutrition specialist. Bailey will talk about this opportunity at the May 5-6 “Retain With Intention: Building a Better Missouri Cow Herd” program at the MU Beef Research and Teaching Farm in Columbia.
Expand the herd with the right replacement heifers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Most beef cattle operations in Missouri develop and breed their own heifers rather than purchase bred replacements. Because replacement females represent one of the largest costs in producing a calf, choosing and managing the right ones is critical for long-term herd success.
Why you shouldn’t try to get 'one more calf' out of past-prime cows
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Beef cow slaughter declined 19% in 2024 and another 17% in 2025 as producers held on to cows past their prime to get “just one more calf” from them, says University of Missouri Extension ag business specialist Wesley Tucker.
Bull management for breeding success
What's a bull worth? What is that future calf crop worth? Davis advises cattle producers to implement effective management practices for bulls as they transition out of the breeding pasture and prepare for future breeding seasons to safeguard their investment.
Learn to rebuild, retain a better cow herd
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold an educational program on rebuilding and retaining the cow herd May 5-6 at the MU Beef Research and Teaching Farm in Columbia.
Making sense of smart agriculture: Why trusted guidance matters
For Missouri farmers navigating the challenges and opportunities of rapid technological change, MU Extension offers unbiased, research-based guidance to help producers cut through the noise and make smart, practical decisions.
National survey looks at beef producers' bull-buying decisions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new national survey aims to better understand how beef producers make bull-buying decisions and how extension programs can better support those producers.
Cattle AI school equips producers with breeding skills
Producers sharpen cattle-breeding skills in a hands-on artificial insemination school, learning anatomy, semen handling, synchronization and herd-building strategies.
Favor older, earlier-calving bred heifers at auction this fall
University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey suggests a review of data shows that early-calving bred heifers pay off many times over in the long run.
Early pregnancy checking and culling open heifers improves efficiency, bottom line
Learn how early pregnancy detection and timely culling of non-pregnant heifers boosts herd efficiency, sale value, and feed resource use.
Genetics for a better cow herd
Use genetics and breeding strategies to improve cow fertility and build a stronger, more productive herd.
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.
Profitable cow-calf operations begin with early calvers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cows need to conceive and calve early to earn their keep. University of Missouri Extension beef cow-calf specialist Jordan Thomas says managing for a short or even an “ultra-short” calving season should determine which cows get to stay on the farm. Late-conceiving cows should go to market.
Evaluate your calving distribution this spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Record calf birthdates this calving season to track calving distribution.“Evaluating a calving distribution takes very little time but can provide valuable insight into reproductive performance and productivity of the herd,” says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne.Calving distribution is often expressed as the percentage of calves born at 21-day intervals, since 21 days is the average length of…
MU beef researchers find improved pregnancy rates with new synch protocol
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new estrus synchronization protocol evaluated at the University of Missouri greatly improves heat response and pregnancy rates to fixed-time AI in beef cows.