Unl Beefwatch

A written lease agreement should include a specified clause that addresses how drought and other natural disasters will be handled which provides clarity for both the land owner and person leasing the pasture.

Dr. Brittany Davis discusses research showing that the compound biochanin A, which is found in red clover, can mitigate the effects of ergopeptide alkaloids consumed by cattle.

Dr. Mary Drewnoski discusses the specific mineral needs of cow-calf pairs as well as stocker cattle grazing annual forages and key components that should be in a supplement.

Drought conditions continue for most of Nebraska and the High Plains. Developing a plan and aquiring forage and concentrate feeds now to feed the cow herd will give greater options should dry weather persist.

Annual forages can be used to help make up for the loss of range and pasture grazing due to drought. Dr. Volesky discusses options and cautions to consider when using these forages.

Dr. Parsons reviews the historic wide positive basis currently in place between CME feeder cattle prices and local cash prices in Nebraska and the basis risk to producers wanting to protect these high prices out into the future.

Dr. Farney discusses how an essential oil mineral performed when compared to a lasalocid mineral for steers grazing summer pasture in southeast Kansas.

Dr. Paul Beck discusses the differences in average daily gain and supplement efficiency for steers grazing native grass pastures in 2022.

Dr. Stephanie Hansen discusses 15 years of zinc research in receiving, growing and finishing cattle diets and the benefits they have seen.

Meeting the mineral needs of cattle can be challenging due to the dynamics that take place with production requirements, mineral content in feed and the impact of uptake inhibitors. Dr. Drewnoski explains in layman terms how to understand these dynamics and cost effectively meet cattle mineral requirements.

Supplying growing cattle on low quality forage with adequate bypass or rumen undegradeable protien can significantly improve average daily gain by meeting metabolizable protein needs.

Cows normally don't eat pine needles, but severe cold or snow can sometimes trigger consumption. Planning and prevention can help to mitigate the risk.

Research at the Meat Animal Research Center validates the value of heterosis with modern genetics for improving lifetime productivity of beef cows.

Research by Mississipi State University and Texas A and M has shown reduced mortality when high risk stocker cattle were supplemented with a Bacillus based probiotic on pasture.

Dr. Waechter-Mead talks about the online calving workshop on January 8, 13 and 15. The hands on workshops using the model cow January 21-23 are discussed as well.

In extended periods of cold wet conditions, cattle can benefit from bedding. Management practices to utilize this practice effectively are discussed.

Cow nutrition and body condition heading into calving as well as the environment at calving shape a calf's ability to respond to vaccine.

Understanding lower critical temperature and factors that impact it, cow body condition and feeding to meet cow requirements are topics discussed.

Vaccine development continues to advance with new technologies. Dr. McVey talks about historic and new methods being used.

Testing hay allows producers to match forage quality to cow nutrition needs and cost effectively purchase feed to complement hay inventory.