Management Intensive Grazing School is May 7-9 in St. Clair County
STOCKTON, Mo. – Efficient forage management and utilization is important to the profitability of a livestock operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The best way to promote efficient forage management and utilization in a livestock operation is by incorporating management intensive grazing practices.
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.
SW Missouri SMS replacement heifer sale offers 80 fall-calving bred heifers
STOCKTON, Mo. – “If you are looking to replenish your cattle herd consider the upcoming Southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on May 17 at 7 p.m.,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. This sale will consist of approximately 80 commercial fall-calving bred heifers.
Show-Me-Plus: A DNA option for Show-Me-Select
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program offers a DNA option for participants called Show-Me-Plus.
MU Show-Me-Select program had successful 2023
University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program had a successful year in 2023 for both buyers and sellers, even with some impact on fall sales from drought. The fall 2023 sale season wrapped up with 928 Show-Me-Select heifers marketed through six sanctioned sale locations with gross sales of $2,544,825.
Four SE Missouri cattle producers recognized
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Four southeastern Missouri cattle producers were recognized recently for their contributions to the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program over more than a quarter of a century each.The four were recognized prior to the most recent Show-Me-Select sale, says Erin Larimore, University of Missouri Extension animal science research specialist.
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…
Show-Me-Select lowers enrollment fees
COLUMBIA, Mo. – U.S. Marine Corps recruiters used to say they were “looking for a few good men.” University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole says he is “looking for a few good heifers” to help beef producers through the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program.
Show-Me-Select sale at Palmyra marks 25th year
PALMYRA, Mo. – Twenty-nine buyers bought more than $305,000 worth of bred heifers in less than 60 minutes at the June 5 Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program sale at F&T Livestock Auction in Palmyra.University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Daniel Mallory said 165 heifers averaged $1,851.
Buyers show confidence at Show-Me-Select heifer sales
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Spring Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sales saw heavy interest and strong prices, says Erin Larimore, sales coordinator for University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program.
Full house packs Show-Me-Select sale at Vienna
VIENNA, Mo. - The May 21 Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at South Central Regional Stockyards in Vienna, Mo., saw a full house with lively bidding.Eighteen consignors from Osage, Maries, Callaway, Gasconade, Crawford and Miller counties sold 159 heifers for $311,800, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis.Lenny Keilholz sold the top-selling lot for $2,400 per head. Two lots were purchased online via DV…
Lively bidding at revived central Missouri Show-Me-Select heifer sale
VIENNA, Mo. – The Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Vienna’s South Central Regional Stockyards on May 22—the first SMS sale in central Missouri since 2003—saw a large turnout and active bidding, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis, who coordinates the sales for central Missouri.
Show-Me-Select fall-calving heifer sale draws first-time buyers
PALMYRA, Mo. – The Northeast Missouri Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Palmyra’s F&T Livestock Auction May 30 saw a large turnout and active bidding on most lots, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Daniel Mallory.Sales receipts topped a quarter million dollars.
New fall-calving Show-Me-Select Heifer Sale draws first-time buyers
KINGSVILLE, Mo. – The Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Kingsville Livestock Auction May 16 saw a large turnout and active bidding on most lots, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist David Hoffman.The 151 heifers averaged $1,713. The AI-bred heifers averaged $1,752, fetching more than $110 more per head than 52 bull-bred heifers at $1,638.
Show-Me-Select heifer sale in Joplin shows solid results
JOPLIN, Mo. - The May 15 Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards saw a large turnout and active bidding on most lots, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole. The 215 heifers averaged $1,687.“The sale started off hot with four of the first six lots topping the $2,000 mark,” said Cole. The top price of $2,200 was paid for two red Angus heifers consigned by Kunkel Farms,…
A consistent presence
Eldon Cole has served Missourians through MU Extension for 50-plus years. A lot has changed in the 56 years that Eldon Cole has served as a University of Missouri Extension specialist, but one thing has remained incredibly consistent – Cole’s desire to build relationships with the Missourians he continually serves.
Cows heat stressed after breeding may have unseen pregnancy losses
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Prolonged heat stress this year may bring a smaller calf crop next year. Herd owners are seeing cows known to be pregnant coming back into heat to be rebred.Pregnancy losses are due to several reasons, says Scott Poock, University of Missouri Extension veterinarian. “The first is increased internal temperature of the cow.”
Show-Me-Select rules require genetically tested bull EPDs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – New sire selection rules for Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers improve reliable calving-ease genetics.“Bulls used in the heifer program will carry DNA-tested EPDs (expected progeny differences),” said Jared Decker, University of Missouri Extension geneticist.The rules going into effect Feb. 1, 2019, were set by the SMS governing board of farmers.“DNA tests add reliability to EPDs for selecting herd bulls,” Decker said.
MU Extension, NRCS offer warm-season grass workshop
BUFFALO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offer an evening workshop on warm-season grasses and cost-share programs on July 31.The pasture tour begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Ron Locke farm near Buffalo.
Drought cuts pasture growth, farmers face culling cow herds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In dry weather with 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.
MU Extension offers four-day tour for cattle producers
HERMITAGE, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension offers cattlemen a bus tour of cattle operations in Kansas and Oklahoma Aug. 6-9.MU Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis said the tour offers an opportunity to learn to manage herds better to make them healthier and more profitable. Registration deadline is July 15.Tour stops include:• Neosho Valley Feeders. This is a small feedlot operation based in Parsons, Kan.
Cool-season pastures start regrowth with arrival of warm-weather rains
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cool-season grasses such as fescue that dominate pasture grass in Missouri need warm weather to grow.The coldest April since 1907 set back forage for Missouri’s beef cow herds. Now, warm weather with rain creates forage for grazing and haying, said forage specialist Craig Roberts in a weekly University of Missouri Extension teleconference.New grass growth works best if an early crop of seed heads were clipped. That idea…
Cattle farm tour shows how shade improves profits
ST. JAMES, Mo. – Cattle producers are invited to attend a field day at the Mingo Farm in St. James to learn how to use natural shade to improve their beef operation.The field day begins at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, at the Mingo cow-calf operation, 25385 County Road 1000, St. James. University of Missouri Extension, MU Center for Agroforestry and MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources sponsor the event.
Dairy Month articles from MU Extension
EDITORS: June is Dairy Month. University of Missouri Extension offers a variety of news and feature stories on dairy operations in Missouri. These articles are free for you to use in any Dairy Month promotions or agriculture-related sections that you may have planned.
Show-Me-Select heifers average $1,787 in second sale of spring at Fruitland, Mo.
FRUITLAND, Mo. – The 135 bred heifers averaged $1,787 with a top of $2,400 at the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale, Friday, May 4.The second sale of the spring season averaged $252 more than the first sale of fall-calving heifers, April 20 at Farmington. Two more sales are set at Joplin, May 18, and Palmyra, June 2.