In the summer months, many students studying beef production, livestock industries and pre-vet medicine will flock to ranches and companies across the U.S. to gain some knowledge through an internship. Not only does this provide some extra labor, but it also gives seasoned professionals a chance to give back to the industry by helping bring […]
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There are many factors that influence fertility. Whether a heifer will breed quickly (reaching puberty at a young age) or a cow breeds back quickly after calving depends on a combination of genetics, nutrition, general health, reproductive disease, etc. Any of these factors can affect the fertility of the individual animal, or the herd. Genetics: […]
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Being in business for 20 years is quite the achievement for companies in any industry. But for companies within the cattle and ranching industry, reaching the 20-year milestone is part art, part science and requires a tremendous amount of hard work. Rawhide Portable Corrals is not only celebrating its 20th anniversary, but it is also […]
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Article courtesy of Behlen Country The National Weather Service is predicting a continuation of drought conditions for much of the western and southern parts of the US for the next few months. Not the optimal grazing conditions many of us were hoping for and making us take a good long, hard look at the expenses […]
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Some commercial cattlemen always keep replacement heifers and others never do—just purchasing bred heifers or young cows. There are many factors to consider when deciding to raise or buy replacements: feed costs, labor costs and availability, environmental factors, genetics, cattle prices, tax issues, etc. It’s not always easy to determine what might be best for […]
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A recurring subject in animal agriculture that is all too familiar is green-house gas (GHG) emissions, especially methane and carbon dioxide (CO2). As irritating as the misinformation and ongoing conversations can be, this subject won’t go away any time soon. Fortunately, cattle producers are in a unique situation to not only address the environmental situation, […]
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When it comes to selecting the best type of calving pen alternatives, it pays to do your homework and to evaluate some of the latest advancements in the calving housing industry. Paul Prekup, sales manager at Agri-Comfort, says that when purchasing calving pens and hutches, producers should look for options that are user friendly. Providing […]
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SORGHUM PARTNERS® BRAND PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY SORGHUM SEEDS THAT ARE PLANTED ON MILLIONS OF ACRES AROUND THE WORLD. Article courtesy of S&W Seed Company S&W Seed Company purchased Sorghum Partners® in 2018. S&W has been breeding alfalfa for over 30 years with a dominant position worldwide, and is now positioned to be a leader in both […]
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What makes a bull impactful? What makes him valuable? Ask these questions to any producers or stud company and you will likely get an assortment of different answers. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find some commonalities and basic markers to help you answer that question as it applies to your own operation.
It’s fair to say that high impact, high value bulls are those who improve genetics and economics. Those who are considered in the top 1% of their respective breeds according to genomics tend to excel in both of these. But of course, at the rapid pace of genetic progress the ideal and top 1%s for any given trait or overall index is a revolving door. What you need is to find sires who match your criteria at any given point. Selecting bulls who follow the patterns of breed and type index leaders in relation to your specific needs and goals can, however, help your cows at least trend towards those elite ideals.
Publisher of American Cattlemen and American Dairymen magazines. Founded over 30 years ago, Twin Rivers Media serves the information and marketing needs of America’s beef and dairy producers.
