The Beef Cattle Research Centre has a calculator to help with the process of adding up yardage — the overhead for cow-calf operations.
Cow-Calf
Tracking cow-calf yardage can improve decision-making
The Beef Cattle Research Council has a calculator to help make the process easier
Drought preparation is better than reaction
Wayne Knight shares a step-by-step guide on building a drought preparation plan
Wayne Knight’s advice is to create a plan that makes a cattle producer prepared for any disruptions in their operation, and then stick to that plan.
Teamwork from a cow’s perspective
Costs of Production: How are you as a herd manager hitting the salary cap and identifying players that don’t fit?
Managing a herd of cows can be much like managing a sport team, as explained by Sean McGrath of Ranching Systems Ltd.
Mastering elastic band castration: techniques for a stress-free procedure
Manitoba rancher Jodi Suchoplas offers expert advice on the preferred castration method for cow-calf operations
When done properly, elastration is quick, requires minimal restraint, is less invasive than surgical methods, and eliminates the need for stitches. It’s also simply less stressful for both the animal and the handler.
Keep on top of pain this calving season
Controlling pain during calving can help keep both calf and mother healthy and lead to better outcomes
A more comfortable delivery generally jumpstarts the odds of a healthy cow and a calf that will pair well and start nursing without issue.
Reframing the view on heifer retention
Expanded screening tools can take the guesswork out of choosing replacement heifers
Replacing heifers based on visual phenotype and genetic merit, rather than early screening, leaves potential long-term herd retention on the table, University of Missouri animal scientist Jordan Thomas says.
How to manage Salmonella dublin on a cow-calf operation
Animal Health: The salmonella strain has become more common in Canada
Salmonella dublin is adapted to live in cattle, which remain the most important reservoir of this strain of the bacteria. It is also a strain of salmonella that’s very difficult to treat because it tends to be multi-drug resistant and will not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Feed an all-star diet to your beef cows after calving
Better Bunks & Pastures: It pays to invest in cows to get them from calving to their next pregnancy
For a cow to feed a calf and retain its own body condition requires a good solid intake of essential nutrients. First-calf heifers also need more of the same nutrients to gain a couple of hundred pounds of weight as they grow into maturity.
Castration via banding makes gains in popularity, safety
Animal Health: Pain relief in the bands can make the experience less irritating for young calves
The first castration banders were likely developed to replace knife or scalpel castration. They were easy to use and eliminated the complications of infections and blood loss. Castration with a knife or scalpel is harder to master and animal welfare issues must be considered. Banders have been around for a while; I recently saw an […] Read more
Calving season: Timing and transition
Beef producers talk about their motivations for changing calving timing
For many cow-calf producers, calving season is a favourite time of year. After waiting 283 days, farmers are finally able to see the result of their breeding decisions as well as welcome a new crop of animals that will likely become a large portion of their annual revenue. Looking at survey data over the past […] Read more
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