Production

Virtual fencing’s greatest value may be its ability to make grazing management practices that require frequent fence movement or additional cross fencing more practical. Over the past few years, we have conducted three studies evaluating virtual fencing in different grazing situations. The studies addressed three questions:  Can virtual fencing replace ...

Many producers have considered starting to wean their calves early this year due to drought and declining forage quality. Early weaning is an effective drought-management tool to reduce the nutrient requirements of the cowherd, preserve cow body condition and reduce forage demand. Weaning is a stressful event in a calf’s ...

To keep or not to keep . . . that is the question facing many producers today when making the decision about weaned heifers. Many producers may wish they would have kept some heifers back two years ago to have calves to sell today, but record-high prices for feeder heifers ...

Setting replacement heifers up for cowherd longevity is more than achieving a first pregnancy.  It requires building females that remain productive within the constraints of their production environment (forage resources, climate, and management).   Research across a range of development systems demonstrates that similar pregnancy rates can often be achieved ...

Castration remains one of the most important management practices in beef production, yet the timing and method continue to generate discussion among producers. Castration is a key component of calf preconditioning programs, which are designed to reduce stress, improve health, and enhance performance after calves leave the ranch of origin. ...

Our expectations of first-calf heifers are high. We ask a 2-year-old cow to calve for the first time, rebreed on time to maintain a 365-day calving interval and continue growing all at the same time. On top of that, there is significant financial pressure on this animal. She has not ...

The segmented nature of the beef industry naturally leads to production and economic inefficiencies. Management and nutrition prior to feedlot entry have long-lasting implications on performance during the finishing phase. In the past few weeks, I have discussed observations on the increase in cow mature body weight and its impact ...

Over the past 60 years, mature cow body weight has increased at an annual average of 7.7 pounds per year, but it has not increased at a constant rate. The following chart shows the average annual estimated cow live weight estimated from USDA reports for monthly cow carcass weights. When ...

If you recall, last year, new records were set basically every month for retail beef prices. The Retail All Fresh Beef Demand Index is an economic indicator that measures U.S. consumer demand for fresh beef by combining per capita consumption, retail beef prices, and inflation adjustments to capture how much ...

While quantity has declined, quality certainly has not. The final reports summarizing 2025 cattle slaughter numbers and total beef production, and 2026 herd inventory, will be released towards the end of January. However, data available through the end of November provides a clear picture of tightening cattle supplies, declining slaughter ...