Feedlot

Tips for Managing Hospital, Chronic and Rail Pens in Beef Feedlots

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:43:53 GMT

Special pens are designed to improve outcomes. But in many feedlots, they quietly become a source of drag on both health and performance.

“There’s a lot of philosophy around special pens, and not a lot of science,” says Dr. Brian Warr, veterinarian with TELUS Agriculture. “But the goal is to have as few animals as possible in each pen. We’re trying to keep it a truly special place, somewhere cattle can go and get better.”

In practice, that is not always what happens. Over time, hospital, chronic and rail pens can evolve into a catch-all for anything that does not fit elsewhere. Lame cattle, poor doers, repeat pulls and animals with unclear diagnoses accumulate in the same space. The result is not just inefficiency, it is a loss of structure.

“I see special pens that are like my top dresser drawer, you open it up and it’s just everything I don’t know what to do with,” Warr says. “In my book, if it’s in there, it should have a reason.”

To reclaim efficiency, we must stop viewing these pens as waiting rooms and start seeing them as active decision points. Every hour an animal spends in a special pen should move it toward a defined outcome:

Recovery (Return to home pen)
Reclassification (Move to chronic/salvage)
Euthanasia (Welfare intervention)

By shifting the mindset from storage to movement, veterinarians can turn a source of drag back into a high-performance tool for health.

Start with One Principle: Treat and Go Home

“We treat the animal and then the question becomes, now what?” Warr says. “The philosophy that’s come out of this is ‘treat and go home.’ Once they’re treated, we send them back to their home pen whenever we can.”

This approach challenges a long-standing instinct in feedlot management, which is to hold cattle back for observation after treatment. While that instinct is well intentioned, it often overlooks how strongly the environment influences recovery.

The home pen offers familiarity. Cattle return to known pen mates, an established social hierarchy and consistent access to feed and water. It also helps avoid disruptions in diet, which can be important in high-energy finishing systems.

By contrast, moving cattle into a shared hospital environment introduces what Warr describes as the “hospital effect.”

“When we put all the sick cattle in one place, we’re increasing infectious disease pressure,” he says. “We’re also introducing stress. It’s a new environment, they don’t know where the feed or water is, and the social order has to reset.”

Those stressors influence intake, behavior and immune function in ways that can counteract treatment.

Warr’s field experience comparing treatment protocols has supported this idea. Cattle treated with the same antimicrobial performed better when returned to their home pen than when held in a hospital pen.

This does not mean special pens are unnecessary, but it does mean they should be used selectively, not routinely.

Define the Role of Each Pen

Clarity in special pen management starts with defining what each pen is actually for, and just as importantly, what it is not for.

1. Treatment (Hospital) Pen

The treatment pen is intended for cattle that require active, short-term management. These are animals that need to be brought back through the chute for multiple days of therapy or require close observation due to the severity of their condition.

In many operations, this pen also becomes a holding area for cattle that are “too something”: too sick, too lame or too light to return to their home group. That can be appropriate, but it should be intentional.

The priority is maintaining flow. Every animal in the treatment pen should be moving toward a defined outcome. Some will complete therapy and return to the home pen. Others may transition into the chronic group. A small number may require euthanasia.

2. Chronic Pen

The chronic pen is where management discipline becomes most important — and where it often breaks down.

“When you walk into a chronic pen, you’re looking at the worst cattle in the whole feedlot,” Warr says. “It can feel defeating. But these are a small percentage of the total population, and we need to manage them deliberately instead of losing track of them.”

Without structure, that is exactly what happens.

“The big thing is don’t let it turn into an ‘I don’t know’ pen,” he adds. “If you don’t have a system, cattle just stay there and no one knows where they came from or where they’re going.”

Introducing a simple evaluation system can restore clarity.

“If I walk into that pen today, I might not know if that animal is getting better or worse,” Warr says. “But if I have a weekly data point, like weight, I can make that decision.”

That combination of objective and subjective assessment allows for more consistent decisions. Cattle can return to the home pen if they are improving and able to compete. Others may move to salvage if they are unlikely to finish. Some will require intervention from a welfare standpoint.

3. Rail Pen

The rail pen represents an endpoint in the system, but it still requires active management.

Tracking these outcomes clearly provides feedback on earlier treatment and management decisions. Without that information, it is difficult to evaluate how protocols are performing over time.

From a practical standpoint, this pen requires attention to withdrawal times, fitness for transport and clear entry criteria. These decisions often involve both economic and welfare considerations, so consistency is important.

4. Buller (Rider) Pen

The buller pen is designed to address mounting behavior, but it should remain temporary.

“We’ll give those cattle a cool-down period and then try to send them back,” Warr says. “About a third may come back again, but two-thirds will stay. If we don’t try, we just end up building bigger and bigger buller pens.”

Holding cattle too long in these pens can recreate the same social pressure that caused the issue in the first place. Reintroduction should be the default approach whenever possible.

Redefine the System: From Performance Drags to Biocontainment

The failure of a special pen is rarely complex. It is usually the result of overcrowding, poor footing and inconsistent management. These persistent issues don’t just slow recovery, they can actively create new health crises.

Beyond physical stressors, feeding strategy remains one of the most common blind spots in special pen management.

“When cattle go from a lower-energy hospital ration back to a higher-energy home ration, we can create acidosis,” Warr warns. “The clinical signs can look like a BRD relapse, and then we end up treating something that wasn’t BRD at all.”

This metabolic whiplash can lead additional losses that are difficult to explain on a necropsy report.

Correcting these nutritional gaps is the first step, but the larger opportunity lies in shifting toward a culture of biocontainment. While perfect biosecurity is often an unreachable goal in a feedlot, practical biocontainment — limiting the spread within the yard — is achievable. This shift opens the door to high-impact operational changes: adjusting treatment orders, separating high-risk cases and planning ahead for disease events. In high-performing facilities, this is simply part of the culture: the last animal isn’t out of the chute before the crew is already cleaning the alley.

The Bottom Line

Special pens should improve outcomes, not concentrate problems. For veterinarians and managers, the opportunity is in creating clarity: define the purpose of each pen, set clear movement criteria and build systems crews can follow consistently.

In the end, the goal is to use special pens deliberately — and as little as possible.

Mystery Respiratory Virus in Texas Panhandle Feedlots Is Fake News

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:10:35 GMT

Tuesday morning, false information about a mystery respiratory virus in Texas Panhandle feedlots was circulating online. According to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), these claims are false.

Dr. Bud Dinges, TAHC executive director and Texas state veterinarian, says, “Texas animal health officials have confirmed with Amarillo region staff and partners at USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and Texas Cattle Feeders Association that no reports of cattle with an ‘unknown’ respiratory virus in the Texas Panhandle have been received and no regulatory action is being taken at this time.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall addressed the rumors issuing a strongly worded release:

“Spreading unverified information like this is not only irresponsible, it is harmful to cattle producers, the beef supply chain and consumer confidence in a safe and wholesome product. Our industry depends on transparency, science-based animal health protocols, and strong collaboration with state and federal animal health authorities. We encourage everyone — producers, media and the public — to rely on credible sources and verified information. NCBA and state affiliate partners will continue working closely with animal health officials to monitor any legitimate concerns and ensure the continued health of the U.S. cattle herd.”

Are Record Carcass Weights Pushing the Supply Chain to Its Limit?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:04:00 GMT

Has the beef industry hit the tipping point when the unintended consequences of animal size outweigh the benefits? Industry leaders say rising carcass weights have boosted beef supply and efficiency, but they have also increased bruising, mobility issues, heat stress and economic risk.

Kevin Good, CattleFax vice president of market analysis, says carcass weights the last two years have gone up by 52 lb., with carcasses now averaging 975-990 lb.

“That’s an offset of 2 million head harvested,” he explains.

While the added weight has helped fill the supply gap due to the reduced cow herd and fewer cattle on feed, Jessica Lancaster, NCBA senior director of product quality and safety research, says these huge incremental shifts in carcass weight can certainly cause challenges.

Lancaster was a guest on “AgriTalk” Thursday, discussing carcass size research as well as foreign object research results.

Shown is the “Bigger Cattle, Bigger Decisions: Managing Health and Welfare as Cattle Size Increases” panel including: Lily Edwards-Calloway, Colorado State University associate professor of animal science; Scott Pohlman, Cargill director of beef supply chain sustainability; and AJ Tarpoff, Kansas State University Extension veterinarian.

(Angie Stump Denton)

Today’s Bigger Animals Are Testing Transport and Plant Limits

The Cattlemen’s College session “Bigger Cattle, Bigger Decisions: Managing Health and Welfare as Cattle Size Increases” featured industry experts Scott Pohlman, Cargill director of beef supply chain sustainability; Lily Edwards-Calloway, Colorado State University associate professor of animal science; and AJ Tarpoff, Kansas State University Extension veterinarian.

From longer days on feed to tougher transport and processing, the panelists discussed how a more efficient, heavier animal can strain welfare, infrastructure and profitability. They all agree proactive management and research are critical to dealing with the rising carcass weights.

Here are some key takeaways from their conversation:

1. Structural Shift: Fewer Cows, Bigger Cattle

Pohlman says the U.S. cow herd is at its lowest level since the Roosevelt administration.

Feedlots have compensated by adding days on feed and pushing carcass weights sharply higher — approaching 975-990 lb. — resulting in similar total beef supply with fewer animals but much larger individuals.

2. Efficiency Gains Are Real, and So Are the Risks

According to Tarpoff, the larger, heavier cattle and longer feeding periods have improved overall efficiency: more beef with fewer animals, less total feed and water per pound of beef. This has helped “backfill” lost production from the smaller cow herd.

However, longer time in the system means:

Higher probability of adverse outcomes.
Rising death loss and greater economic risk per head, because each animal is more valuable.

3. Welfare: Tipping Point Concerns Around Size

Welfare is framed around biological functioning: growth, health and reproduction, the ability to express normal behavior and the freedom from discomfort, fear and distress.

Edwards-Calloway says there is a particular concern for animals at the extremes of the size bell curve, whose welfare can be “pretty compromised.”

The industry must proactively address welfare challenges associated with larger cattle to maintain consumer trust. Edwards-Calloway says if consumers think the industry knew about a welfare problem and didn’t act, that’s seen as worse than making an honest mistake and fixing it.

4. Transport and Packing Plants: Systems Not Built for Today’s Cattle

Edwards-Calloway explains transporting from feedlot to packing plant is still one of the most stressful phases, even with best practices.

Research has often controlled for size rather than explicitly asking how large size affects outcomes. She says evidence suggests larger‑frame cattle have more traumatic events and bruising on certain trailer types.

Not all fed cattle are fit for transport; there’s a call for mobility scoring at loading, not just at the plant, she adds.

Pohlman says the frequency of bruising in the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit was the highest on record, with major/critical bruises increasing. He stresses the economic impact is significant at about $110 million from loin bruises alone.

He also says mobility scores at arrival have worsened.

Processing facilities built decades ago are struggling to accommodate today’s larger cattle. Plants are having to modify pen densities, single-file alleyways, restrainer sizes, intervention cabinets and even re-engineer rail systems to handle the increased weight and size of modern cattle carcasses.

5. Heat Stress, Dark Cutting and Seasonal Losses

Heat stress represents a more than $650 million annual loss to the industry, with heavy, near-slaughter cattle at highest risk. Larger animals have increased difficulty with thermoregulation, making heat-stress management increasingly critical as cattle weights continue to rise.

Tarpoff says summer heat correlates with higher dark‑cutting rates, causing additional carcass‑value loss.

6. Call to Action: Upgrade Infrastructure and Management for a ‘Different Animal’

Today’s cattle are heavier, bigger‑framed and take up more space per head than 10 to 20 years ago. Now is the time to reinvest in infrastructure: pens, water systems, shade and heat‑stress mitigation, transport equipment and plant modifications.

Tarpoff says the industry needs to be nimble enough to make individual outcome decisions because every animal is a bigger financial and reputational stake.

He encourages the industry to consider welfare investments — comfort, health, mobility and heat mitigation — as economic investments with real returns in performance and risk reduction.

Tarpoff stresses that now is the time to adapt systems to the realities of larger cattle so the industry can keep delivering high‑quality, efficient beef without eroding welfare or consumer trust.

Zoetis Launches First Commercial BRD Genetic Predictions to Help Build More Resilient Beef Herds

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:34:06 GMT

Zoetis Inc. today announced the launch of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) genetic predictions in INHERIT^® Select for commercial cow-calf operations and as an upgrade to its INHERIT Connect test for seedstock. This marks the first time that cattle producers can select replacement females and evaluate sires based on genetic predictions for BRD health and survival.

BRD costs the beef industry nearly $1 billion each year due to calf and production losses and increased treatment expenses. Until now, producers had no way to evaluate and select for the genetics that influence calf BRD health and survival after weaning.

“This is a breakthrough for the beef industry,” says Brett Bristol, head of Zoetis Precision Animal Health. “For the first time, producers can make selection and breeding decisions based on Genomic Expected Progeny Differences for BRD health and survival, in addition to production traits. Long-term, this innovation is expected to have meaningful economic impacts on commercial cow/calf producers and downstream backgrounders and feeders.”

Genetics That Compound Over Time

As the rebuilding of the U.S. cow herd begins and replacement costs are at historic highs, producers are looking for ways to build cow herds that last longer, raise healthier calves and deliver predictable value. Genetic advancement from testing and selection compounds over time; the breeding decisions made today influence future herd health and productivity.

INHERIT Select and INHERIT Connect with the BRD Upgrade include three BRD genetic predictions in the form of Genomic expected progeny differences (GEPDs):

BRD Health (BRDH) GEPD: Predicts genetic differences in the likelihood that calves (progeny) will stay healthy after weaning without requiring treatment for BRD. Higher BRDH and lower percent rank are better.
BRD Survival (BRDS) GEPD: Predicts genetic differences in the likelihood that calves (progeny) will survive from arrival for backgrounding to harvest without dying from BRD. Higher BRDS and lower percent rank are better.
$BRD Economic Index: Combines BRDH and BRDS into a single dollar value that estimates revenue impact per calf (progeny). Higher $BRD and lower rank are better.

These predictions are based on feedlot health and performance data from a commercially representative population of more than 50,000 head of cattle across North America. These phenotypes, along with continual genetic data additions, are updated weekly and included in the Zoetis Multi-Breed Genetic Evaluation.

Select Replacements That Build Healthier Calf Crops

“GEPDs for BRD and $BRD bridge an economically important gap in current beef genetic evaluations,” says Kent Andersen, Zoetis Precision Animal Health
director of beef technical services. “BRD predictions give us a way to select for post-weaning BRDH and BRDS and related economic impact that we couldn’t before. That matters when used along with predictions for maternal, feedlot, carcass and adaptability traits, and simplified via economic indexes.”

With BRD genetic predictions in INHERIT Select, commercial cow-calf producers can:

Select replacement heifers with stronger genetic potential across all major economically important traits to set the stage for healthier and more productive calf crops.
Identify and invest in genetics for greater profit potential and less health risk that compounds over time.

Using the population of more than 440,000 commercial animals tested using INHERIT^®, researchers compared the top versus bottom 25th percentile rank based on GEPDs for BRDH, BRDS and $BRD. The comparison shows progeny of the top 25th percentile that are genetically:

25% more likely to stay healthy and not require treatment for BRD from feedlot arrival to harvest
14% more likely to survive and not die from BRD from feedlot arrival to harvest
$12 per calf advantage in net return from combined genetics for BRDH and BRDS

Evaluate Bulls for BRD Health Genetics

For seedstock, the INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade provides a powerful way to evaluate bull batteries and potentially differentiate sale bulls based on BRD GEPDs and $BRD.

With the INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade, producers can:

Potentially differentiate sale bulls with BRD predictions that benefit commercial buyers and downstream backgrounders and feeders
Evaluate A.I. sires and bull batteries to benchmark genetic merit for BRD and identify favorable and unfavorable outliers
Document genetic merit for BRDH and BRDS and position future calf crops for premium prices

When comparing bulls tested using INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade, bulls in the top 25th percentile rank for $BRD have a $1200 predicted advantage over bulls in the bottom 25th percentile rank, assuming they sire 100 calves during their lifetime.

Producers can contact their Zoetis Genetics representative or visit beefgenetics.com to learn more and get started with testing.

Second Screwworm Detection 120 Miles from U.S. Border

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:54:05 GMT

There was a new detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, approximately 120 miles south of the Texas border.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the case in a 22-month-old bovine transported from Veracruz to a feedlot in Nuevo León.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in a press release emphasized that Texas remains free from detection, but that state officials and agriculture leaders cannot be complacent.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today issued the following statement after being notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of a new detection of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, approximately 120 miles south of the Texas… pic.twitter.com/Wb3uIwW3gf
— Texas Agriculture (@TexasDeptofAg) December 3, 2025

“We will keep working shoulder to shoulder with USDA, Mexican animal health authorities, and our own state agency partners to defend our border and Texans from this dangerous threat. We will protect our livestock, safeguard our economy, and do everything possible to keep the New World screwworm at bay,” Miller says.

He also encourages Texas producers to remain watchful for suspicious wounds, unhealed tissue, or maggot activity in livestock, wildlife, and pets, particularly in locations near the border.

Producers who suspect NWS should immediately contact their local veterinarian and state authorities. Early detection, strict livestock movement controls, screwworm fly suppression and rapid response are the best tools to combat this serious threat.

This detection marks the northernmost active case currently found in Mexico. It is also the second detection at the same Nuevo León feedlot since October. No additional cases were linked to the October detection, and both events appear tied to livestock movements from southern Mexico.

For more on NWS, including a current list of NWS detections within 400 miles of the U.S. visit Screwworm.gov .

Your Next Reads:
Next Step in the Screwworm Fight: USDA Announces Opening of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Tampico, Mexico
The Smell You’ll Never Forget: A Calf Infested with New World Screwworm

Connecting the Dots: Feedlot Success Starts With Calf Health

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:19:58 GMT

Today we have robust capabilities to ingest and provide intelligence from animal health data.Through machine learning and artificial intelligence, we will be able to use data to predict in calf health which will allow targeted interventions to manage cattle better from birth to slaughter.

“Diagnostics need to be used more in beef cattle medicine. We need to quit guessing,” says Dr. Dan Thomson. “So many times we just guess why we have a swollen joint or why the calves broke with BRD. A 200-head pen of cattle today, it’s a half a million bucks. Investing slightly in better understanding the cause of disease will allow us to improve vaccine protocols and treatment outcomes for our cattle.”

Thomson, a PhD nutritionist, DVM and managing partner of Production and Animal Consultation (PAC), was the featured guest in “ The Future of Beef Show ” podcast episode 10.

“Many times we miss more by not looking than we do by not knowing,” he says. “Good stockmanship is about taking the time to find sick cattle, pulling them to the chute for a good clinical exam which includes lung auscultation, body temperature and recording clinical signs.Good early diagnosis of disease improves our treatment success rates tremendously.Treating the right animal, with the right dose, at the right time.”

According to Thomson, “redundancy is our friend,” highlighting the importance of consistent, repeated good animal health practices. He also stresses how veterinarians are critical partners in animal health, offering more than just treatment; they provide ongoing guidance, preventative strategies and a holistic approach to animal care.

Five key takeaways from the podcast are:

1. Animal welfare is critical: Proper animal health involves more than just treatment; it’s about preventing disease through vaccination, nutrition, shelter and low-stress cattle handling.

“We must build trust in cattle with caregivers. Cattle that don’t trust people hide their clinical signs until much later in the disease process, which decreases treatment success. Acclimating cattle builds trust and allows us to visualize cattle illness or disease sooner,” Thomson explains.

He emphasizes the importance of understanding cattle from birth, particularly highlighting the critical nature of colostrum intake.

“By six hours of age, we could tell if that calf was going to be failure of passive transfer,” he says, underscoring the importance of early health interventions.

2. Diagnostic testing is essential: Veterinarians should focus on understanding the root causes of health issues through comprehensive testing, rather than just guessing or treating symptoms.

3. Antibiotic stewardship matters: The goal is to use antibiotics judiciously — getting the right antibiotic to the right animal at the right time, while understanding the broader context of animal health.

“Antibiotics are incredible, essential tools for human and animal health. We need more antibiotics,” he says. “Antibiotic stewardship is getting the right antibiotic in the right animal at the right time. The core to antibiotic stewardship is a veterinary client patient relationship.”

4. Technology and human interaction must work together: New technologies like active tags and artificial intelligence can help improve animal health, but they cannot replace the importance of hands-on care and veterinarian-producer relationships.

“Just because you have a baby monitor doesn’t mean you don’t need a mother,” he says.

Thomson sees technology as a tool to enhance, not replace, human care. Active tags and wearables can help identify sick animals earlier, but they require skilled interpretation.

5. Holistic approach to animal health: Success comes from understanding the entire life cycle of cattle — from cow-calf operations through feedlots — and addressing health challenges at each stage through communication, proper management and continuous learning.

Thomson says it all starts with breeding the cow herd with a tight calving window. He says this results in more calves the same age at branding and weaning that are the proper stage to receive vaccines.

Colostrum is key to calf health throughout its life. He stresses the importance of newborn calves getting colostrum in the first six to 12 hours. Past that time there is little passive immunity absorption.

“I’m talking about improved health of that calf throughout its life, that’s where it all starts,” he adds. “The industry continues to do a better job of vaccinating and preconditioning and preparing cattle for the feedlot.”

To decrease stress and morbidity at the feedlot, Thomson suggests preconditioning. This includes getting calves bunk broke and used to the water tank before sending them to the feedlot.

“There’s two reasons why animals get sick,” he says. “One, an overwhelming dose of a pathogen, that they’re naive to or, two, suppressed immune system.”

In summary, Thomson sees tremendous potential in integrating data, improving diagnostic capabilities and developing more targeted health interventions. However, he cautions progress requires patience, collaboration and a willingness to challenge existing practices.

He is optimistic about the future of the beef industry, particularly its ability to produce a versatile food product.

“Beef feeds every socioeconomic strata,” he explains, from ground beef to the white tablecloth restaurant where consumers celebrate the biggest and greatest days of their lives.

Be sure to check out the podcast to learn more about what it really takes to build a connected, resilient health system from cow-calf to packer.

3 Ways To Help Producers Be Ready If ICE Shows Up At The Farm

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:31:23 GMT

Many aspects of U.S. food production have the hands of immigrant labor involved in the process today. That fact is a key reason bovine veterinarians can benefit from considering how to help their beef and dairy clients be prepared if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials show up at farms and other facilities.

“Many of [the] employees are unfortunately undocumented, and farms have been the subject of ICE raids,” says Fred Gingerich, DVM, American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) executive director.

Gingerich addressed the topic and offered some practical recommendations during a recent AABP Have You Herd podcast with program guest Rick Naerebout, executive director of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. The association is a producer owned and governed organization in Idaho, representing dairy farm families throughout the state.

Here are three of the key takeaways from their discussion:

1. Encourage beef and dairy producers to proactively put legal counsel in place that is specific to immigration — has that as a specialty in their practice.

Do this first step as soon as possible, Gingerich and Naerebout encourage.

“…Make sure that you have legal counsel lined up and you have that phone number readily available for anybody that you anticipate that might be that first point of contact with ICE if they show up on the facility,” Naerebout says

2. Establish a chain of command (COC) on the farm that all employees are aware of and know how to articulate to ICE officials.

Coach employees on how to implement the COC.

“…Guys, have a strategy worked out in advance, so you’re not trying to make it up on the fly,” Naerebout advises. “Because everything that has been reported to us in terms of what the experiences have been with ICE coming onto facilities these last few months is that those are very intense situations, and you typically don’t have the luxury of time or convenience on your side.”

Within that strategy, Naerebout recommends coaching employees who are not authorized to speak for the facility to be able to tell ICE officials that and how to reach the owner or key manager.

3. Encourage clients to post signage that clearly delineates between private and public places within facilities and/or on the farm.

Naerebout says such signage can help guide where ICE officials can go, depending on the type of warrant they show up with. He explains there are two common warrants ICE officials might have in-hand when they arrive:

One is an administrative warrant. The other is a judicial warrant:

An administrative warrant is going to come from, typically, the Department of Homeland Security and is not signed by a judge.

“With an administrative warrant, they can only go into public places,” Naerebout says.

As a simple rule of thumb, tell producers to consider wherever a UPS or FedEx driver can go to deliver packages on the farm or facility as a public place. Post signage designating those areas, as such.

A judicial warrant is going to be signed by a state or a federal judge, and that will give ICE authorization to go into private places within your client’s farm or facilities.

Naerebout says understanding the difference between those two warrants, and the access they provide, is a key piece that you need to try and make sure your clients and their employees have a clear understanding of at the onset.

“Again, [if ICE shows up] this is going to happen very rapidly, very aggressively, from what we’ve been shared with, so you want to really coach employees and have a strategy in place beforehand, so it’s somewhat second nature if it does happen on one of your facilities,” he says.

Gingerich asked Naerebout about what are an employer’s and an employee’s rights if they’re questioned by an ICE agent.

“Sit down with your legal counsel and really talk through what those rights are for the employees and the employers to understand, what they can and cannot do, and don’t have to answer,” Naerebout emphasized.

“I will say that the different ICE raids that we’ve seen around the country, and what’s been reported back to us, is typically they are coming in and they’ve got arrest warrants for individuals, and they are arresting those individuals,” he adds.

“In those situations, you have all your same Miranda rights that any of us would have. But again, I would strongly encourage this, talk through these situations with your legal counsel and have a good understanding of who’s going to talk to ICE and what they have to say.”

For more insights that you and livestock producers can use to prepare for a visit from ICE, AABP provided links to the following organizations:

National Immigration Law Center
American Immigration Council
American Immigration Lawyers Association

Your next read: Rural America is Facing a Mounting Labor Crisis

Are Beef-on-Dairy Animals Really Worth the High Price Tag?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:07:17 GMT

Beef-on-dairy calves are no longer just a trend; they’re a business strategy for producers aiming to squeeze more value out of every breeding decision. For dairy farmers, they offer a way to turn lower-producing cows into a new revenue stream. For feedlots, they promise improved feed efficiency and more desirable carcasses.

“Dairy producers are breeding lower milk production cows to beef sires to increase calf revenue,” says Melanie Concepcion, a Ph.D. student at Michigan State University, who recently presented on the economics of beef-on-dairy animals. “The idea is to add more value to existing Holstein calves by improving muscling, hide quality and market desirability.”

According to CattleFax, beef-on-dairy crosses started showing up in the fed slaughter mix around 2019. Today, they represent an estimated 2 million to 3 million head annually, contributing roughly 15% to 20% of total U.S. beef production and signaling a major shift in how dairy genetics can serve the beef supply chain.

“They’re here to stay,” Concepcion adds. “And the number of beef-on-dairy cattle is only expected to grow.”

Study 1: Feedlot Gains and Carcass Traits
To measure how these crossbreds stack up, Concepcion launched a study evaluating 75 Holstein and 75 beef-on-Holstein steers from Michigan calf raisers. Raised under identical conditions, the steers transitioned from starter to finishing diets and the performance differences were not surprising.

Beef-on-dairy steers:

Reached market weight 21 days faster
Converted feed more efficiently
Posted a 20% larger ribeye area
Scored lower yield grades, signaling better muscling

“They’re more feed efficient and have a greater ribeye area and fat thickness than the Holsteins,” Concepcion explains. “Their yield grade is also lower, which is a good thing because it means more yield and muscling.”

However, liver health raises red flags. Concepcion finds that 39% of the beef-on-Holstein steers develop liver abscesses, some severe enough to adhere the liver to the carcass.

“In those cases, you see trimming losses,” she says. “And that hurts overall carcass value.”

Premiums and Pitfalls: Are Crossbreds Priced Right?
Economically, the study shows that beef-on-dairy calves bring greater value but also come with a price tag that’s tough to justify.

“We pay $310 more per calf for the beef-on-Holsteins, but our data shows we should have only paid $273 more,” Concepcion says. “Yes, they should be worth more, but not as much as we paid.”

With some day-old beef on dairy crossbreds fetching upward of $1,000, Concepcion says the numbers simply don’t justify the premium in many cases.

“These calves clearly have more value than Holsteins, but not to the degree that some buyers are currently paying,” she says. “We’re still seeing inflated calf prices that don’t reflect actual feedlot performance or carcass returns.”

Study 2: Corn Silage and Liver Health
Looking to address liver concerns, Concepcion led a second study focusing on dietary fiber. The hypothesis: increasing corn silage in the finishing ration could help reduce liver abscess incidence by supporting better rumen health.

The study included 65 Holstein and 65 beef-on-Holstein steers. Each breed was fed a finishing diet with either 20% or 40% corn silage.

“We wanted to see if increasing fiber through higher corn silage inclusion reduces abscess rates,” she says.

The findings were clear:

Steers on the 40% corn silage diet had significantly fewer liver abscesses
The diet change did not affect feed efficiency or cost of gain
Beef-on-dairy steers continued to outperform Holsteins in carcass traits, regardless of diet

“Increasing corn silage inclusion effectively reduces the amount of liver abscesses in cattle, regardless of breed,” Concepcion says.

Carcass Performance Remains Strong
Even with the shift in diet, beef-on-Holstein steers continue to demonstrate a clear advantage in carcass traits and processing yield compared to purebred dairy steers. These crossbreds exhibit:

Higher hot carcass weights
Greater dressing percentages
Larger ribeye areas
Lower kidney, pelvic and heart (KPH) fat

“Adding beef genetics to Holsteins results in more muscling,” Concepcion notes. “And that leads to higher carcass value.”

Interestingly, marbling and quality grade remain similar between breeds and diets. Most cattle grade in the low to mid-choice range, offering acceptable quality without excessive feed costs. Additionally, the lower KPH fat and higher dressing percentages give processors more saleable product, further boosting the overall economic benefit.

“Even with differences in feed and frame size, beef-on-dairy cattle continue to show consistency in carcass composition,” she adds. “This predictability is valuable for both feeders and packers.”

Feedlot Advantages Might Not Justify Current Calf Prices
Despite the performance benefits, the pricing issue resurfaces. In the second trial, beef-on-Holstein calves cost Concepcion $353 more than Holsteins, but break-even data shows they should only cost $281 more.

“We overpaid again, just like last time,” Concepcion says. “These studies show us that beef-on-dairy calves should be priced at a premium, but not as high as the current market suggests.”

Feed costs were actually lower for beef-on-dairy steers, thanks to shorter days on feed. And while the 40% corn silage diet increased feed cost slightly, it didn’t impact the cost of gain, making it a viable strategy for improving liver health without compromising efficiency.

Looking Ahead
While beef-on-dairy calves offer clear advantages in feedlot performance and carcass quality, Concepcion notes the market still needs tools to match pricing with actual value.

She continues to explore what drives health, gain and grading in these crossbreds, and her latest work includes studies on gut and liver health as well as comparisons across breed types like Simmental-Angus, Holstein and beef steers.

“The more we understand how these cattle grow, grade and ultimately eat, the better we can manage and market them,” she adds.

Your Next Read: How to Keep Good Hay From Going Bad: Barn Storage Tips That Protect its Quality and Value

To watch Cocepcion’s full webinar, click here:

Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Thu, 01 May 2025 15:46:11 GMT

Reducing stress during livestock handling can increase productivity, maintain or improve meat quality, reduce sickness and enhance animal welfare. Implementing low-stress handling techniques when working with cattle is important to reducing stress.

As producers prepare for spring processing, Beth McIlquham, University of Wisconsin-Madison regional livestock educator, encourages producers to consider these low-stress handling strategies.

“While temperament in cattle is moderately heritable, environment does play a role and even cattle that are less docile will benefit from low-stress handling methods,” Mcllquham says. “A good handler can help reduce fear in an animal, which is the primary driver of negative consequences associated with handling stress.”

Even if the animal is not experiencing any pain, fear can still cause physical responses in the body, such as high cortisol levels. These responses can ultimately lead to increased susceptibility to illness, lower meat quality and overall lower performance.

Mcllquham says one negative handling experiences can affect future handling situations.

Identifying stress through body language
Cattle in a state of fear or under stress can be identified through their body language. Obvious signs of fear in cattle are running, kicking, vocalizing and aggressive behaviors toward handlers. Subtle signs of fear are heavy breathing and showing the whites of their eyes. Stressed cattle can cause serious injury to themselves and humans. Relaxed cattle are quiet and walk or trot calmly. When low-stress handling techniques are used, the risk of injury is lowered.

“Besides increasing performance and lowering sickness and injury rates, consumers have indicated that they care that their food is humanely raised,” McIlquham explains. “Implementing low-stress handling is a great place to start and comes with many other benefits. Although it may sound like a daunting task, utilizing low-stress handling techniques can be done in smaller steps.”

Step 1: Put away the electric prod
“Our first step is to put away the electric prod,” she says. “To decrease use, place electric prods away from where you’re handling cattle but still be accessible in an emergency. This way, instead of instinctively reaching for it, the inconvenience of going to grab it can decrease electric prod use.”

Step 2: Understand cattle’s natural instincts
“We should utilize these instincts to work for us instead of against us,” she says. “The fact that cattle are prey animals drives a lot of their behaviors.”

Cattle are herd animals and like to be in groups. When moving them, keeping cattle in small groups (two to five head) can help keep them calmer and easier to handle. Additionally, cattle want to see you. Humans are naturally predators, and because cattle are prey animals, their instinct is to be able to keep handlers in sight.

Cattle want to go toward lighted areas and will resist going into darker areas. It is easier to see any potential threats in areas that are light. Keep in mind shadows can reduce cattle flow through an area.

Step 3: Study and use cattle’s natural flight zone
Good handlers study and use cattle’s flight zone and point of balance, McIlquham explains.

Two concepts are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Flight Zone and Point of Balance

(Beef Quality Assurance Cattle Care & Handling Guides)

Walking into the flight zone makes the animal move away from the handler. Stepping out of the flight zone will take pressure off and remove the animal’s desire to continue to move away. Note that the size of flight zones varies between animals. The point of balance allows handlers to move the animal forward or backward. Stepping into the flight zone in front of the point of balance will make the animal move backward. Stepping into the flight zone behind the point of balance will drive the animal forward.

Keep in mind cattle have a blind spot directly behind them. If you approach the animal in the blind spot, they could get spooked. Walking in a zigzag pattern behind cattle helps let them know you are there.

Extra tip: Taking breaks
Calm cattle are easier to move than stressed cattle. Fearful cattle are more reactive, more easily injured, and more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors. If a handling situation does get intense, take a little break and release pressure on the cattle.

“Even taking a brief break can help both the animal and handler calm down and come back to the situation in a more positive light,” Mcllquham summarizes.

Your next read: Effective Needle and Syringe Strategies to Ensure Spring Processing Success

Monitor Heifer Nutrition When Transitioning from Dry Lot to Pasture

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:19:01 GMT

Heifer development guidelines recommend development to promote the early onset of puberty and to develop heifers to a target body weight at the time of breeding. However, research indicates that nutritional status during the first 21 days of the breeding season may be as important as prebreeding. Heifers who gain weight during the first 21 days of the breeding season have been shown to have increased conception compared to heifers who lose weight during this timeframe.

Research from South Dakota State University found negative implications on embryonic development and survival when heifers are transitioned to a reduced gain diet directly after AI breeding. This should be considered when transitioning heifers from a dry lot to pasture, as this transition can cause changes in body weight and composition just before or at the initiation of the breeding season.

In a recent heifer development study conducted at Iowa State University’s McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm, the pregnancy rates of heifers in two dietary groups were compared: a restricted group, developed to 55% of their mature body weight at breeding, and a non-restricted group, developed to 65% of their mature body weight at breeding. Due to 2023 drought conditions, heifers in the restricted group were developed on a lower energy diet in a larger pen area until adequate pasture growth for turn out 3 weeks before AI breeding. Heifers in the non-restricted group were developed in standard dry lot conditions until breeding. After AI breeding, all heifers were managed as one group on pasture.

Body weight and condition changes were collected using carcass ultrasound measurements before breeding and at the final pregnancy ultrasound diagnosis, thirty days following a 45-day breeding season.

Figure 1 shows the change in body weight and carcass ultrasound measurements for ribeye area (REA), backfat (BFAT), rump fat (RUMP), and intramuscular fat (IMF) taken in May before AI breeding and in September at the final pregnancy determination. On average, the non-restricted group lost weight while managed on pasture compared to the restricted group who continued to gain weight.

Both groups, on average, lost condition for REA, BFAT and RUMP measurements, with this decrease being larger in the non-restricted group. Interestingly, both groups continued to gain IMF while on pasture. Pregnancy results from this study found that final heifer pregnancy rates (AI bred and natural service bred) did not differ between the two groups. Numerically, more in the non-restricted group were bred by AI compared to the restricted group, but this difference was not statistically significant.

These results highlight the importance of developing heifers based on the specific management practices and goals of a cow-calf operation. Developing heifers to higher body weights resulted in more AI bred, but these heifers lost more body condition when transitioned to pasture management.

The total number of bred heifers did not differ between the groups. Developing heifers to lower body weights resulted in less extreme body condition loss when transitioned to pasture, continued weight gain, and saved $76 per head in feed costs. Final pregnancy rates did not differ between the two dietary groups. When determining the optimal body weight to breed heifers, nutritional availability and operational goals should be considered to maximize reproductive rates and operational profitability.

Your Next Read: Developing Heifers: Expectations for the Next Generation

Build A Biosecurity Plan Like You Would Eat An Elephant – One Bite At A Time

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:41:02 GMT

If biosecurity plans were easy to develop, perhaps most U.S. beef producers would have done one long before now, but there is no easy button for such a plan, and the task can be daunting.

The best strategy to get started is to tackle the challenge like you would eat an elephant, says Lisa Pederson, Extension beef quality specialist with North Dakota State University (NDSU) and North Dakota beef quality assurance (BQA) coordinator. How do you do that?

“One bite at a time,” she says.

Pederson addressed how to develop a practical biosecurity plan in a recent webinar, “Building A Resilient Cowherd,” which was sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The webinar also featured Dr. Julia Herman, NCBA beef cattle specialist veterinarian, and Casey Fanta, seedstock manager for Wulf Cattle, based in Morris, Minn.

Prevention Beats A Cure
Biosecurity is the cheapest and most effective means of disease prevention, according to Pederson. She points out that trichomoniasis is a good example of a disease where biosecurity is the most important preventive measure.

(Lindsey Pound)

Herman shares three benefits of biosecurity: 1. Fewer disease challenges mean better animal health. 2. A decreased germ load also results in better animal health. 3. Better animal health means improved potential for economic gains.

Financial implications
Pederson says producers who might have balked in the past about developing a biosecurity plan are more interested today, because of the economic value of cattle.

“Bred cows, four to five years of age, are selling for $2,500 to $3,000 each and maybe more,” Pederson notes. “Bred heifers have pretty easily been selling here in the North for $3,000 to $3,500. All weights of feeder cattle have been selling for $2,000 to $3,000 each. Finished cattle are selling for well over $3,000 a head.”

Fanta says good vaccination and nutritional programs have been foundational to the enduring success Wulf Cattle has experienced in the beef industry.

“Whatever your program is, I feel it’s very important to have protocols in place, a system for the health and well-being of those cattle from the time that they’re born,” Fanta explains. “It all equates to the long-term health and success of your operation.”

Increased risk potential from foreign disease entering the U.S. is another reason veterinarians and beef producers can benefit from developing biosecurity plans.

“The majority of producers have not dealt with a new, highly contagious disease,” Herman says.

The health risks to the beef industry, and the U.S. livestock industry overall, are real and concerning. One is the new world screwworm, which is currently advancing through Central America and into southern Mexico. NCBA has undertaken extensive education efforts with producers in recent months regarding this threat

Another concern, Herman references, is the potential for foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease to enter the U.S. FMD was first discovered in the U.S. in 1870 and eradicated in 1929. Herman says while FMD is not a human health or food safety threat, it would have a significant economic impact on the country’s livestock industry.

This map shows the location of FMD as well as disease-free countries. The disease was found in a water buffalo in Germany in January. More recently, FMD has been found in Hungary.

(WOAH)

NCBA has worked with industry stakeholders on the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan to help producers voluntarily prepare for FMD. If an outbreak does occur, Herman says having an enhanced biosecurity plan in place will help prevent exposing “naïve” cattle to the disease during an outbreak. More information from NCBA is available at Biosecurity Resources

More information specific for veterinarians is available from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners at aabp.org

Producers Need Help
Bovine veterinarians are in a position of trust and leadership to help beef producers understand the importance of a having biosecurity plan and how to create one. Pederson encourages producers routinely to work closely with their veterinary practitioner.

“A strong relationship means more than preg testing and Bangs vaccinating, and calling with calving problems,” Pederson says. “Strong relationship means you use veterinarians for their brains and disease knowledge. Engage them to help you identify biosecurity strengths and weaknesses of your operations.”

For producers who have not started developing a biosecurity plan, it’s a case of veterinarians helping them walk before they can run. Pederson references an elephant cartoon she once found online.

“I like to think about where you can take easy bites of the elephant to eat first,” she says. “Pretty soon, with one bite at a time, you can have that elephant eaten.”

With a biosecurity plan, the point is it can’t be developed all at once, but it can be accomplished one small step at a time when producers, especially with their veterinarian’s help, stick with it until it’s completed.

Five Easy Bites
Here are five factors that are important to consider in a basic biosecurity plan.

1. Help producers identify and develop their team of partners and advisers.
Sit down with producers and talk about the benefits of a biosecurity plan, advises Pederson. Discuss who would be good to include on their team, which might include veterinarians, key employees, nutritionists, Extension specialists, BQA state coordinators, state veterinarian and others.

Build a team that can help you identify risks and how to address them.

(Lisa Pederson)

2. Create a basic communications plan, one that will be straightforward to implement when a crisis does occur.
Help producers create the plan in advance of any crisis, emphasizes Herman.

“We really need to be prepared ahead of time,” she says.

Some of the topics to include in the plan and questions to answer are: Why is there a need to communicate? Who needs to be reached? How will the producer communicate and who with internally and externally? Who needs to know about the plan?

Make sure the plan is written down, so everyone is working off the same document. Also, help the producer decide if the plan needs to be posted in a break room, barn or other facility on the property for quick reference.

3. Address low-hanging fruit. Consider the biosecurity practices that can be adopted with some careful thought but little or limited expense.

The single most important one, Pederson says, is to have separate footwear and clothing for wearing on and off the farm/ranch.

Diseases and pests hitch rides on dirt, dust, manure, critters, shoes, clothes, vehicles and so much more. Remove manure, mud and other organic matter regularly and disinfect as well. As Pederson says: “You can’t disinfect a turd.”

First things to consider implementing are those practices that are of little cost but offer a high reward.

(Lisa Pederson)

4. Have a quarantine/isolation plan for new animals coming on the farm or ranch, whether purchased or acquired.
Isolate new cattle and other livestock for at least 21 days, ideally without the option for nose-to-nose contact. Do not allow for shared feed or water. The isolation can allow you and producers time for observation, testing, vaccination and revaccination, Pederson says.

There are many ways a disease can enter a farm, Herman adds. “Wildlife, rodents and birds are just a few examples,” she says. “That’s why an integrated pest management plan is important.”

5. Help producers adopt good record-keeping practices, if they haven’t done so already.
Pederson says items to keep track of include livestock purchases and sales, as well as livestock movements to exhibitions, rodeos and shows. Good records will be imperative to have should a novel disease outbreak occur, she adds.

Your next read: Hungary Confirms Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in Cattle

A Review of Feedlot Structure and 2024 Marketings

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:11:18 GMT

The latest USDA-NASS Cattle on Feed report pegged the Feb. 1 feedlot inventory at 11.716 million head in feedlots with 1,000+ capacity, down 0.7% year over year. January marketings were 101.4% of one year ago and placements were 101.7% of last year. The report was well anticipated with values close to pre-report estimates.

The February report also contained a summary of 2024 feedlot production and the structure of the feedlot industry coming into 2025. The total U.S. feedlot inventory on Jan. 1, 2025 was 14.297 million head, including 2.474 million head in feedlots with capacity less than 1,000 head (Table 1). Since cattle inventories peaked in the mid-1970s, feedlot inventories have represented a growing percentage of cattle inventories (Figure 1). Feedlot inventories represented 16.5% of total cattle inventories on Jan. 1, 2025, down fractionally from the peak of 16.6 percent last year.

(USDA/Peel)

Table 1 shows the size distribution of feedlots and their contribution to total feedlot production. A total of 2105 feedlots with capacity of 1,000+ head (included in monthly Cattle on Feed reports) accounted for 82.7% of the Jan. 1 feedlot inventory and 87.2% of total feedlot production in 2024. A total of 24,000 feedlots with less than 1,000 head capacity accounted for 17.3% of feedlot inventory on Jan. 1 and 12.8% of total feedlot marketings in 2024. Feedlots with capacity over 50,000 head made up 3.8% of feedlots over 1,000 head capacity but accounted for 34.8% of inventory and 35.1% marketings last year. Over 50% of feedlot inventories on Jan. 1 and annual marketings in 2024 were in feedlots over 32,000 head of capacity, 6.9 percent of feedlots with 1000+ head.

Table 1. Feedlot Size Distribution, Inventory and Marketings.

Feedlot Capacity	Feedlots	% of Feedlots >1000 Hd.	Inventory Jan. 1, 2025	% of Total Inventory	Marketings 2024	% of Total Marketings
Head	Number		1,000 Head		1,000 Head
<1,000	24,000		2,473.7	17.3	3,180.0	12.8

1,000 – 1,999	740	35.5	363.0	2.5	610.0	2.5
2,000 – 3,999	530	25.2	630.0	4.4	1,220.0	4.9
4,000 – 7,999	370	27.6	930.0	6.5	1,790.0	7.2
8,000 – 15,999	190	9.0	1,040.0	7.3	1,990.0	8.0
16,000 – 23,999	85	4.0	940.0	6.6	1,840.0	7.4
24,000 – 31,999	45	2.1	760.0	5.3	1,550.0	6.2
32,000 – 49,999	65	3.1	2,190.0	15.3	3,920.0	15.8
>50,000	80	3.8	4,970.0	34.8	8,720.0	35.1

Subtotal >1,000	2,105		11,823.0	82.7	21,640.0	87.2

Total	26,105		14,296.7		24,820.0

The estimated total feedlot capacity (1,000+ head) on Jan. 1, 2025 was 17.2 million head, up fractionally from the previous year. Total feedlot capacity has not changed significantly in recent years and has averaged 17.13 million head since 2011. Figure 2 shows the Jan. 1 feedlot inventory as a percentage of feedlot capacity.

(USDA/Peel)

The cattle on feed percentage of feedlot capacity on Jan. 1, 2025 was 68.7%, down from 69.8% in 2024 and from the recent peak of 70.4% in 2022. For the past fifteen years, feedlot inventories have averaged 66.7% of the feedlot capacity (red dotted line). The percentage dropped significantly from 2014-2017 during herd expansion. Ever tighter feeder cattle supplies and the prospect of heifer retention for herd rebuilding mean that the percentage is likely to decrease in the future.

Ag Meterologists Worry More Drought Lies Ahead

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:17:03 GMT

As Eric Snodgrass looks six weeks out to the end of March, he doesn’t like the weather pattern he sees shaping up for spring – more dry conditions.

Varying levels of mild to moderate drought have dogged much of the upper Midwest, West and Southwest since last fall, and the outlook is for more of the same, according to Snodgrass, a leading U.S. meteorologist.

Check out the soil moisture deficit currently in the upper Midwest.

(Eric Snodgrass)

“I’m concerned about the way the central United States and the western Corn Belt, in particular, are going to be dealing with the risk of drought building into spring,” Snodgrass told livestock producers and farmers attending the Top Producer Summit in Kansas City last week.

History shows that drought tends to beget drought. In six of the past 10 years with a really dry fall, Snodgrass says the spring to follow was also dry.

The current weekly U.S. Drought Monitor echoes his observations. The Monitor released last Thursday (Feb. 20) says drought is impacting 34% of the beef cattle inventory area, 27% of the dairy area and 49% of U.S. alfalfa hay production acres.

Current conditions are dry in many of the regions where beef and dairy are produced.

(U.S. Drought Monitor)

Arctic Air Is Contributing To Drought Conditions

Snodgrass spells out what usually happens in late winter to create the moisture livestock producers and farmers need for U.S. grain and livestock production.

As the jet stream moves across the Pacific Ocean, it typically splits and sweeps into the West Coast from two positions – one from the northern North Pacific Ocean and the other from the southern North Pacific Ocean, close to Hawaii. The two portions of the jet stream usually then scream across U.S. western mountain ranges, picking up moisture they then deposit in portions of the West, Southwest and Midwest before moving on to the East Coast and exiting the U.S. in Maine.

This year, the portion of the jet stream that normally comes from Hawaii has veered from its usual course and possibly even stalled. One indicator of that happening, Snodgrass says, is a drop off in ocean temperatures in the Baja of California and the Gulf of Alaska. The result is dry, arctic air has been moving into portions of the U.S.

For some parts of the U.S. the cold, arctic air has brought snow along with it. But the snow holds little moisture that would help alleviate the frozen dry soils. “We have some deep snow in areas right now, but it’s only got maybe two-tenths of an inch of liquid in it,” Snodgrass explains.

That’s bad news for livestock producers and farmers who need a full profile of soil moisture going into spring and don’t have one.

Similar concerns were voiced by Drew Lerner, founder and president of World Weather, Inc., during the Top Producer Summit.

“If we continue bringing these cold shots of air through North America, we will have a below-normal precipitation bias [in western states] as we go forward through spring planting season,” Lerner explained during the taping of the U.S. Farm Report.

This map shows what the precipitation could look like in March. But remember, Mother Nature is unpredictable. She could change course and bring moisture.

(Eric Snodgrass)

That’s not the meteorologists’ expectation for the East and Southeast. Much of those regions have had an over-abundance of moisture recently. Lerner and Snodgrass agree those areas are likely to continue having plenty of moisture going into spring.

More Weather Trouble Brewing For Summer

If current cold conditions continue through March, which Lerner and Snodgrass anticipate will be the case, what will likely occur is a knee-jerk reaction in the atmosphere: a warming trend will start in late March or early April and build through late spring and into early summer.

“If we warm up quickly in the spring, which is a high possibility, we could end up falling behind the eight ball a little bit more on soil moisture,” Lerner says.

While some meteorologists point to this year’s La Niña as a cause of the continued move to dryer conditions, Snodgrass and Lerner say that’s not the case.

“La Niña will be gone by the time we get into mid-March,” Lerner predicts. “This La Niña hasn’t lasted long enough to really have a big footprint in the atmosphere. As we get into April, it’ll be pretty much a non-event.”

Keep An Eye On The Pacific Decadal Oscillation

Lerner and Snodgrass believe a negative phase of what scientists call the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) could be a primary contributor to ongoing drought and higher temperatures by April. The PDO is a long-term climate pattern that affects the temperature of the Pacific Ocean and can influence weather patterns across the globe.

While the PDO has not had what Lerner calls a “tremendous amount of impact” in past years in the U.S., it’s looking more influential for the 2025 spring and summer.

“I’m seeing some additional cooling off the West Coast of North America that may end up leading us into a greater ridge building with all the dryness that’s in the soil and that negative PDO,” Lerner says. “I’m not ready to go all the way over with [that prediction], but that’s where I’m headed.”

The Surprising Solution To Drought

If Mother Nature continues on her worrying course, Snodgrass says continued low temperatures in the Gulf of Alaska would be a signal in early summer.

“If we get into June and it’s cool there, that is telling me that the atmosphere is not moving. And if it doesn’t move, well, all of a sudden we could find ourselves in a situation in late June into July with more drought and excess heat,” Snodgrass says.

Another worrying sign he says to watch for is where the active spring weather pattern falls. If areas of Kansas and the Great Plains see an active tornado season, Snodgrass says that means the weather pattern is more favorable for rains to fall across the Midwest and West. But if tornado warnings blare across the Southeast, Snodgrass says that’s a signal drought could be a problem this summer.

There is a solution to the troubling weather patterns, he adds, one most beef and dairy producers understandably won’t welcome – a big, wet snow on the Northern Plains.

“The No. 1 thing I’m praying for right now is an April 4 blizzard. I want a foot of snow,” Snodgrass told producers and farmers, many of whom laughed.

Snodgrass laughed, too, and added, “You’ll hate me for about a week, and then love me through the rest of May.”

Beef-on-Dairy: A Critical Solution to the Shrinking U.S. Cattle Herd

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:04:57 GMT

The U.S. beef cattle herd is the smallest it has been in 64 years, and there’s little indication that rebuilding will happen anytime soon. Persistent drought and strong cattle prices have discouraged beef producers from retaining heifers, further tightening supply. As a result, the beef industry has increasingly turned to dairy farmers to produce beef-on-dairy crossbreds to help meet growing demand.

USDA NASS says as of January 1 2025, there were 86.7 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms.

(Lindsey Pound )

Beef-on-Dairy’s Growing Role in the Industry

During the 2024 MILK Business Conference, Dale Woerner of Texas Tech University highlighted the impact beef-on-dairy has had on the industry.

“Ultimately, these crossbred animals have improved the conventional straight Holstein steer so much, and they’ve offered more volume and a really high-quality product into the beef industry,” he said. “With low native cattle numbers, the industry has to have these cattle. Not only do they have to have them, but they have to have them grade prime or choice.”

Woerner believes that beef-on-dairy crossbreds have added immense value to the beef supply chain and should be seen as a long-term solution. “Beef-on-dairy crossbreds have added enough value to the beef supply chain that we should never change what we’re doing. We should continue creating these crossbred cattle for the future.”

A Reliable and Consistent Supply of Cattle

With native beef cow numbers dwindling in recent years, beef-on-dairy crossbreds have stepped in to fill a critical gap, offering both consistency and quality during a time of supply uncertainty. Despite inevitable market fluctuations, Woerner is confident these crossbred cattle are here to stay.

“While we can’t promise that we’ll always see $800-$900 for a beef-on-dairy calf as we do today, I don’t think we’ll ever return to the low value of purebred Holstein steers from the past,” Woerner added.

Feedlots have become especially reliant on these crossbreds. “Feedlots need these animals – they’re a top commodity,” Woerner noted. “Over the years, many feedlots have gained experience in feeding beef-on-dairy cattle, optimizing their efficiency and performance. From a feedlot perspective, these cattle are in higher demand than ever before.”

The Value of Traceability

Looking ahead, Woerner thinks it’ll take at least three to five years to rebuild the beef herd, depending on weather and market conditions. But even with that, beef-on-dairy crossbred calves are still going to be a valuable part of the industry. One big advantage he sees with these animals is the traceability they offer, which adds extra value and transparency throughout the supply chain.

“Even when native cattle numbers rebound, the traceability system in place with beef-on-dairy crossbreds will continue to offer a level of accountability that sets these animals apart in the marketplace,” he added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if feedlots and packers start offering a premium for that kind of information.”

Challenges Ahead

While the native beef herd has reached record lows and prices have skyrocketed in recent months, beef-on-dairy crossbred cattle have stepped in to help fill the gap. Woerner noted that these crossbreds have provided much-needed consistency and quality during a time of uncertainty. And although the beef herd is expected to gradually rebuild over the next few years, it’s clear that the beef industry will continue to rely on these crossbred animals to meet demand and keep the pipeline full.

Even though the beef herd is expected to rebuild in the coming years, analysts warn that it won’t happen overnight. Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX, pointed out that the industry hasn’t even started rebuilding the breeding herd yet. “The next takeaway is that we have not started rebuilding the breeding herd. As such, perhaps we have a little higher numbers over the next half year or so, but then things get tighter, and more significantly tighter once we actually do start holding back heifers,” Suderman explained.

A Long-Term Solution

With native cattle numbers still under pressure, beef-on-dairy crossbreds are providing the industry with a critical supply of cattle. Their value—through efficiency, consistency, and traceability—ensures they’ll remain an essential piece of the beef supply chain, even as the market continues to evolve.

Your Next Read: Navigating Uncertain Waters: The Impact of New Tariffs on U.S. Dairy Farmers

McDonald’s USA, Syngenta and Lopez Foods Collaborate to Help Grow U.S. Beef Sustainability

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:29:00 GMT

McDonald’s USA, Lopez Foods, a multi-protein producer and long-term supplier to McDonald’s, and Syngenta North America, a leader in agricultural technology, announced that they are collaborating to increase feed efficiency, a move that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions released per pound of meat produced, as part of efforts to improve the overall sustainability of beef production.

The partnership leverages Syngenta’s Enogen^® corn, an exclusive in-seed innovation, shown to increase feed efficiency in cattle and thereby help reduce emissions intensity compared to other corn.

“At Syngenta, we’re convinced improving the sustainability of the global food system can be accelerated through innovation and collaboration,” says Justin Wolfe, President of Syngenta Seeds. “We’re proud of the great attributes of our Enogen^® corn, and how our work can help enable McDonald’s and their beef supply chain to deliver impact.”

“McDonald’s is starting with a priority ingredient for our company – beef,” says Kendra Levine, Director of U.S. Sustainability for McDonald’s. “We believe the innovative collaboration with Syngenta is an opportunity to help us make progress toward our science-based climate targets.”

The science behind Enogen^® corn is an alpha amylase enzyme that quickly converts starch to usable sugars, thus delivering more engergy to cattle while being easily digestible. University research has shown that feeding Enogen^® as silage or grain can improve feed efficiency by about 5%, according to Syngenta.

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) shows potential for environmental savings resulting from this increased efficiency, including lower emissions of greenhouse gases and lower use of land, energy, and water per unit of production.Specific findings show that, per 1,000 head of beef cattle, this collaboration could potentially achieve annual savings of:

196 tons (178 metric tons) CO2e in GHG reduction
69 acre reduction (28 hectare) in land use for growing feed
6 million fewer gallons (22 million liters) of water used
231 thousand kilowatt-hours energy savings

McDonald’s plans to scale this program to help deliver over 164,000 metric tons CO2e per year.

Iowa Cattle Operation Turns Focus To The Future, Invests In Fall Feedyard Expansion

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:36:06 GMT

With farm income projected to be lower for 2024 and 2025 due to lower commodity prices, one bright spot this fall is the cattle market.

Kennedy Cattle Company in Atlantic, Iowa is expanding from its current size at just under 1,000 head to more than 3,700. It’s indicative of the optimism they have for the cattle business.

The beep, beep, beep of loaders in reverse has been a familiar sound at Kennedy Cattle Company for the last few months. Construction crews are working to add pens and grow the 990-head feedlot started in 2012.

Zak Kennedy manages the Kennedy Cattle Company with his family in Atlantic, Iowa.

(Provided by BarkleyOKRP)

“As you can see in the background we’re in the process of putting an expansion on and we’re going to triple that size here,” explains Zak Kennedy. “We hope to be done in the next couple of months.”

He says with cattle numbers at historical lows and cattle prices at historical highs that means high risk for expansion, but also possible high reward.

“We just decided it was time to bring some more outside cattle home and try to feed more of our homegrown feeds,” Kennedy says. “We’re working to be more in control of what’s going on.”

For Kennedy and his family, including his brother Mitch, this expansion provides a better opportunity than trying to buy land in Iowa and their growth plan reflects his outlook on the cattle business.

“I’m bullish in the cattle business, especially in the upper Midwest,” Kennedy says. “We raise a lot of feed here and we’ve got some packing capacity. I also think there are some folks that, for whatever reason, probably won’t be feeding cattle here going forward. I think we can fill that void.”

Kennedy Cattle Co. is expanding their feedlot to take advantage of current market conditions

(Provided by BarkleyOKRP)

Kennedy says to grow they had to overcome the regulatory challenges of becoming a concentrated animal feeding operation or CAFO.

“We worked with a really good engineering company that knows the regulations inside and out as well as with our manure management company,” adds Kennedy.

The operation calves 150 head of commercial Angus-based cows that they use to stock their feedyards and they custom feed.

“We’re open to everything,” Kennedy says. “We do a lot of retained ownership with some cow-calf outfits where we feed their calves for them. We do feed a lot of yearlings. I always say we’ll feed about anything.”

Kennedy says they paid financial and mental tuition as the bull cycle in 2014-15 ended abruptly. So, this time they’re risk-proofing their operation.

“From a company standpoint we’re doing a lot better job on our hedging, marketing and in managing the financial aspects of what we do,” Kennedy admits.

One of the biggest differences from 2014-15 are the costs. Kennedy says operating and borrowing costs have skyrocketed and so they’re offsetting that with feed they grow on 1,500 rented acres and being sure to watch the bottom line.

Kennedy Cattle Company is growing more of its own feed to help improve margins.

(Provided by BarkleyOKRP)

“It’s like anything,” Kennedy says. “You’ve got to manage it and knowing your costs is obviously the biggest part of that process.”

They’re also protecting their investment through Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) protocols and comprehensive disease prevention.

“I think it’s so important for what these cattle cost that those protocols don’t cost much,” Kennedy says. “We’re going to spend the money to try to be on the front side of health and not have a wreck on the back side.”

He says the goal is with nearly two-thirds of their cattle marketed on either a grid or dressed basis that the work will pay back in quality premiums and strong closeouts.

“I think we’re going to be sitting in a pretty good place here for a while,” Kennedy adds. “Calves cost a lot and I get that, but there is still margin. We’re going to try to run with it.”

Hopefully, the work today will help them build for the next generation.

The Truth About Mature Cow Size and Ranch Profitability

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:35:05 GMT

The objectives of reducing input costs and increasing stocking rates are frequently approached with the mentality – how do we spend more days grazing and less days supplementing feed? While this is certainly a contributing factor to ranch profitability, it is not the entire picture. When focusing on moderating costs and avoiding the need to artificially modify environments to increase production, it is critical to understand what factors impact cow efficiency and how to select for these traits.

David Lalman, Ph.D., Extension Specialist for Beef Cattle and Professor of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University, has conducted various studies related to mature cow size and feed efficiency with the intent of helping cattlemen and women someday be able to cost-effectively sort for the best cows for their herds. He started with these two measurements because in general, a high mature cow weight corresponds to high feed intake.

“My ideal cow is one that is resilient and productive in the best environment and still productive in the worst of years,” Lalman says. “A good cow is expected to have a calf each year, provide adequate milk while maintaining body condition and not eat her way out of a profit.”

Production also plays a role in how efficient a cow or bull is. Year over year cattle producers have been selecting for higher growth bulls and replacement females to sell calves with higher weaning and yearling weights. Consequently, this led to a yearly increase of 7 lbs. in average mature cow size since 1978.

“A person who had a 30-year career in the cattle industry and selected for industry average growth traits each year should be grazing about 13% less cows today than 30 years ago,” Lalman says. “That’s impact of cow size on stocking rate over time based on overall industry average.”

While this old rule of thumb for cow efficiency still carries some weight, it is not the end all be all. Advancements in genomic and feed intake research are sorting out the outliers and providing cattlemen with more information to select for their ideal cows.

When Lalman evaluates groups of cattle for overall efficiency, he breaks the data set into 4 quadrants:

Individuals with above average Feed Intake EPD and above average Mature Weight EPD
Individuals with above average Feed Intake EPD and below average Mature Weight EPD
Individuals with below average Feed Intake EPD and above average Mature Weight EPD
Individuals with below average Feed Intake EPD and below average Mature Weight EPD

Ultimately there are cows and bulls that fall into each quadrant. Which type is best for you depends on the resources you have available and the goals of your operation.

“We haven’t gotten to the point yet where we can point to one genetic selection tool to evaluate for efficient cows in a herd, but there are pieces available that are helpful,” Lalman says.

He encourages cattlemen and women to use a combination of mature cow weight and feed intake data when selecting for efficient cattle. Another factor to consider when considering mature cow size is your cull cow marketing strategy. Smaller cows will offer less cull cow weight.

There is no one size fits all approach for selecting efficient cattle (pun intended), but mature cow size and feed intake are important considerations for both seedstock and cow-calf producers.

“If you aren’t paying attention to mature cow size, feed intake and their ability to maintain or add weight; you may create a less resilient cow herd when times get tough,” says Lalman.

Take it back to the basics of knowing your finances, resources and goals to select cows and bulls that will produce profitable progeny for your operation.

Lalman’s final thought to share with ranchers is, “I encourage people with a priority breeding objective to control cow cost to use AI sires or bloodlines with high accuracy for these two traits. And for them to encourage their seedstock suppliers to collect these phenotypes and turn them into the breed associations. Over time, this will improve commercial producers’ ability to control cow cost and improve cow efficiency.”

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.

Your next read: Iowa Cattle Operation Turns Focus To The Future, Invests In Fall Feedyard Expansion

Is Beef Breeding Derailing the U.S. Dairy Industry?

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:27:30 GMT

Beef-on-dairy breeding has revolutionized the U.S. cattle industry, shored up dwindling fed-beef cattle supplies, and added considerable black ink to the bottom lines of dairies in recent years.

But is it a phenomenon gone too far? Regardless of industry, mega-trends can carry with them unintended consequences. Veteran dairy data expert and thought leader Steve Eicker, DVM, fears the lure of lucrative near-term cash-outs on beef-cross calves may be altering the course of the U.S. dairy business to damaging degrees.

Eicker, co-founder of Valley Agricultural Software and its popular Dairy Comp 305 herd management software, acknowledged that beef-cross calves have plugged many holes in the nation’s beef animal supply. At just over 28 million head, the U.S. beef cow herd size is at a 70-plus-year low.

Feedlots have welcomed beef-cross calves to keep their pens full, and at premium prices to boot. This past summer, newborn beef cross calves sold for as high as $1,000/head or more, with $600-800/head the norm.

But at what true cost to the dairy industry? Eicker believes the chinks in the armor are beginning to show and will become more apparent in the months and years ahead. The factors that are being affected include:

Heifers are in short supply – Creating more beef-cross calves has resulted in less opportunity to produce dairy heifer calves. In just two years, from the start of 2022 to 2024, the total number of replacement dairy heifers in the U.S. has dropped more than 10%, part of a 7-consecutive-year decline in the nation’s heifer inventory. At slightly over 4 million dairy heifers, the national supply is at a 20-year low. What’s more, just 2.59 million heifers are projected to calve and enter the nation’s lactating herd this year -- by far the lowest inventory in 22 years of USDA projections. Commensurately, heifer prices have climbed precipitously through 2024 as dairies scramble to secure them.
Removals have slowed – Marketing dairy cows for beef has also hit record-low territory. Because dairies are having a hard time finding enough heifers to keep their stalls filled, they are hanging onto cows longer. In the week ending July 6, 2024, just 40,189 dairy cows were slaughtered nationwide, the lowest total in any week since Christmas 2009, and more than 20% lower than the same week in 2023. By August 17, only 1.74 million head of dairy cows were sold for beef this year, compared to 2.04 million head in the same time period last year. Eicker said the detrimental effects of this data are three-fold. First, dairies give up the potential of introducing the most current genetics into the herd that heifers deliver. Second, “those cows that are removed are in far worse condition, and thus bring less income at salvage,” noted Eicker. Consequently, the beef supply is also shorted by those lighter cows that are in worse condition. Third, he is concerned that delaying the removal of market cows will negatively impact their condition and welfare.
Milk production is down – “U.S. milk production is dropping because we have far too many low- producing cows that we cannot replace,” declared Eicker. Again, the numbers tell the story. Total milk production has flatlined at just over 225 billion pounds annually since 2021, after growing incrementally each year since 2014. In the most recent USDA Milk Production Report , average milk production per cow dropped 13 pounds/head for April-June 2024 compared to the same window in 2023, and total milk production for the quarter was down 624 million pounds year-over-year.

Eicker said the beef-on-dairy movement may prove to support the old adage of, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” And he is fearful that the current inventory situation will prevent dairies from maximizing their ability to capitalize on currently rising milk prices, because they simply will not have the animals to do it.

“That short-term increase in calf revenue is dwarfed by the fact that they will be forced to keep their market cows many months longer,” he noted. Plus, with rising heifer values, there is real money to be made again raising and selling heifers. “What dairy would want $600 now instead of $1,600 in two years?”

Your Next Read: Beef-on-Dairy: How to Make Successful Semen Selection Strategies

K-State Beef Stocker Field Day Set for Sept. 26

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:42:40 GMT

Beef cattle outlook, coccidiosis: the silent thief robbing profits in your stocker operation and future trends in the Kansas cattle feeding industry are among topics planned for 2024 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 26. The conference will be hosted at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit.

“This year’s program reflects the challenging landscape our industry is experiencing,” says Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and beef cattle extension specialist. “The experiences and thoughts of our assembled speakers and panelists will provide insights as we progress into an unknown future.”

The day will start with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude around 4:30 p.m. Sponsoring this year’s event is Huvepharma.

Topics for this year’s agenda include :

Beef Cattle Outlook
Coccidiosis: The Silent Thief Robbing Profits in your Stocker Operation
Recommendations for managing calves the first 30 days on feed
Future Trends in the Kansas Cattle Feeding Industry
Rethinking your pasture burning plans: Save time, Save Money, and Improve Range Conditions

Registration is $25 and due Sept. 13. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register go to KSU Stocker Field Day . For more information, contact Katie Smith at 785-532-1267 or katiesmith@ksu.edu.

Press On - Fear The Crowd

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:42:28 GMT

“In short, people make each other crazy. And when times are bad…they depress each other.”

Howard Marks, Oaktree Capital Mgmt

It never fails, when I include that quote in a presentation, someone comes up after the meeting and mentions it. I typically use it in reference to importance of staying out of the coffee shop – because you rarely leave feeling better, more optimistic, or most importantly, listened to. After all, it’s never really a discussion, it’s usually just “talk” or “gossip” generally dominated by the most bombastic (and often negative) person at the table.

Wherever there’s group think, there’s never much room for thoughtfulness. So, Marks reminds us to tread carefully; we all have a propensity for getting caught up in the wave of crazy making and conventional thinking. And all that gets amplified in bad times.

Seneca also spoke to that reality: “There are more things…likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” Negativity is pervasive and can easily take up residence in our heads.

Therefore, Seneca challenges us (just like Howard Marks), to tune out the opinions of others: “Do you ask what you should fear or avoid most of all? A crowd.” The admonition being both literal and metaphorical.

In the end, there are really two principles at work here. One, discernment is invaluable! That is, ability to sort through lots of loud and authoritative talking (that’s more true than ever because of social media – we’re being bombarded by all sorts of noise). And two, staying true to yourself. Just do you – even if it doesn’t match the crowd.

Nevil Speer is an independent consultant based in Bowling Green, KY. The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect, nor are associated with in any manner, any client or business relationship. He can be reached at nevil.speer@turkeytrack.biz .

Training Labor to Detect BRD Early is Critical, and a Challenge

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 21:03:05 GMT

“We know that the earlier we detect bovine respiratory disease (BRD), the better the prognosis will be,” said Nathan Meyer, DVM, PhD, Boehringer Ingelheim. “Getting the right treatment into that animal early and quickly will increase your chance of a successful outcome.”

One reason for that is because by the time the animal shows clinical signs, the disease has already been incubating for several days.1 “If we detect clinical signs in the afternoon and think ‘I’ll treat her tomorrow,’ there could be a lot more damage to the lung by the time tomorrow arrives,” agreed Bob Smith, DVM, Veterinary Research & Consulting Services, LLC, which serves customers in California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. “The progression of the disease is rapid, and antibiotics cannot reverse the damage that’s been done. Early detection and treatment will help stop the infection so it doesn’t spread further.”

From spreadsheets that show herd data year over year, to software that tracks historical disease incidence on the farm, there are some systems and tools that allow for better identification of high-risk groups of cattle, but they don’t offer detection help for individual animals.

Detecting disease

New technology to help diagnose BRD is in the early stages of development including remote detection systems, temperature-detecting ear tags and time management monitors. However, most are cumbersome or expensive, and in their infancy stages.

For now, it still comes down to a trained human eye. And that poses challenges, too.

“Trained labor who can spot BRD early is the key, but it’s tough,” Dr. Meyer explained. “Early signs are very subtle, but not always linked to BRD. How can a rider see a cough or sneeze and know it’s BRD, versus pulling and overtreating an animal that doesn’t need it?”

“Detecting sickness is as much an art as it is a science,” Dr. Smith offered. “We have scientific observation cues like the D.A.R.T. scoring guide, but it is also subjective.”

He provided a few pointers.

• Look back at a pen of cattle after you’ve ridden through, after they all settle down and are likely to show you how they really feel.

• Don’t get in too big of a hurry, because you’ll be more likely to miss a sick calf.

• View the cattle from your truck to get a different perspective.

• Focus is critical. If a pen of cattle generally looks good, a rider may be lulled into complacency. If a rider’s mind starts to drift, it’s time to back up and look at that pen again.

Dr. Smith reminds riders that if they think they’re losing focus, get off the horse, stretch a bit, remount and pick up where they left off.

He then advised gaining as much information as possible about the calf to help make treatment decisions.

• What is the calf’s age? The younger the calf, the more susceptible it is to respiratory disease.

• How long ago was the calf weaned? A weaned calf that has not had sufficient time to recover from the stress is more susceptible to disease.

Dr. Meyer added that once a calf has been diagnosed, using the appropriate treatment is crucial. “To optimize treatment success, look for a fast-acting, broad-spectrum antibiotic that provides coverage against all the major BRD-causing bacteria.”

Training pen riders

The quantity and quality of labor can vary, depending on geography and size of the operation. Smaller, family-run operations raise their family members in the business. Larger operations may have to train people who haven’t had a lot of experience with cattle.

“Something as basic as good horsemanship skills — making sure the pen rider is comfortable in the saddle — may need to be taught, and allows him or her to focus on looking at the cattle,” Dr. Smith said.

The answer to “How can a rider spot BRD early on?” lies in purposeful training. Drs. Meyer and Smith offered up several ideas:

• Match up a new employee with an experienced one to shadow.

• Well-trained employees should review all they are seeing as they ride or walk pens together.

• As new employees start making their own observations, continue to check animals together so their trainers can provide in-the-moment coaching.

• Adjust how long the training period is to how much experience an employee has.

• Schedule follow-up trainings after a newly trained employee has been on their own for a bit.

• Set up learning time with a veterinarian or consultant, riding pens but also classroom training with videos and images.

Part of Dr. Smith’s role is to help train feedlot staff in southwest Kansas, the upper portion of the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma. In addition to identification training, they also analyze data by pen rider, checking temperatures and illness status of the calves they pulled.

“Detection is tricky; it takes a very astute individual with good training to be able to see the early signs of BRD,” Dr Meyer said. “It’s always a good idea to work with a veterinarian on training and treatment protocols.”

“They all want to do a good job,” Dr. Smith added. “It’s important to look for ways we can help them improve their skill set, and stay positive and encouraging when they do succeed.”

Purina Animal Nutrition Releases Comprehensive Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 18:04:40 GMT

Purina Animal Nutrition has announced the release of its Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report, a collaborative effort featuring beef-on-dairy research, contributions from industry-leading experts and actionable insights for improving beef-on-dairy programs.

This comprehensive report is tailored to help producers make informed decisions, offering valuable information about genetic selection, management practices, nutrition strategies and market dynamics associated with beef-on-dairy production.

Contributing to this in-depth analysis are Dr. Kirsten Nickles of Certified Angus Beef; Dr. Sara Place of AgNext at Colorado State University; Dr. Robert Weaber of Kansas State University; Dr. Dale Woerner of Texas Tech University; along with Purina Animal Nutrition experts Dr. Troy Wistuba, Dr. Olivia Genther-Schroeder and Ted Perry, M.S.

“We are seeing calf prices like we have never seen before with day-old calves bringing nearly $900. This opens doors of opportunity for producers to maximize their profit potential and meet the rising demand for high-quality beef,” says Laurence Williams, dairy beef cross development for Purina Animal Nutrition. “By partnering with these industry leaders, we aim to foster collaboration across the supply chain and provide resources to dairy producers and cattle ranchers that help drive success for their beef-on-dairy programs.”

The Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report can be downloaded at purinamills.com/dairy-beef .

New Diagnostic Program Developed for Feedlot Employees

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:45:48 GMT

A new cattle health initiative has been developed by Production Animal Consultation (PAC). The Certified Sampler program was developed to train feedlot personnel to obtain ante-mortem and post-mortem samples from cattle for surveillance and diagnosis of pathogens that impact the health, performance and profitability of cattle. The program is a day-long training session conducted at the participating feedlot where personnel enjoy classroom sessions augmented with bilingual video examples followed by hands-on sessions in the processing barn and at necropsy with PAC veterinarians and trainers. The morning session focuses on taking ante-mortem samples such as nasal swabs, blood samples, ear notches and more for disease surveillance, while the afternoon session focuses on necropsy techniques, gross pathology common to feedlot cattle and tissue sampling. The training concludes with proper sample preparation and how to get samples safely to the diagnostic laboratory.

“Implementation of this program gives timely and precise health assessments which will advance our disease management strategies and elevate our animal health in the short term,” says Dr. Taw Fredrickson. “In the long term, the PAC group is able to provide the most current recommendations and advancements which reflects our commitment to industry leading practices and sustainable livestock management.”

“This program will help our team be able to detect early disease, so we are better prepared to help our customers achieve better cattle performance,” said Francisco Rodriguez, manager at High Choice Feeders Yard 2 and program participant. “By detecting disease sooner, we ensure healthier cattle and sustainable practices within our facilities.”

The program mimics a similar program in the swine industry. The Certified Swine Sample Collector project was initiated by Iowa State University to train people on-site to sample in the case of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. The goal is to have people already at the site prepared to take samples efficiently, improving response time to such a natural disaster while not requiring outside people to become contaminated on-site. While PAC’s Certified Sampler program for beef could be used for timely Secure Beef FAD sampling platforms, the focus today is surveilling and diagnosing common diseases that impact feedlot cattle health, food safety and food security every day.

Certified Sampler will be a collaborative project with the veterinary diagnostic laboratories at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Veterinary Diagnostic Center director, Dr. Dustin Loy, indicated, “One of the largest challenges in cattle diagnostics is the timely collection of proper samples to be submitted to a laboratory for testing. Having highly-trained personnel that are already heavily engaged with animal health be able to collect and submit those samples immediately allows for more prompt treatment and informed implementation of mitigation measures. Early identification and rapid response to diseases are key to ensuring healthy cattle.”

PAC has an elite feedlot database that has tracked animal health and performance for over two decades. As surveillance and diagnostic samples are submitted, PAC will be able to study potential correlations between the pathogens present and individual cattle and lot level data. Why is this important? The feedlot industry has tracked cattle health and performance, and feedlot veterinarians have sporadically diagnosed pathogens in feedlot cattle health outbreaks. However, it is time to combine surveillance and diagnoses with cattle health and performance outcomes. This will allow veterinarians and feedlot operators to better understand disease impacts which will lead to potential disease management interventions in the future.

One such intervention in the future could be the use of prescription vaccines. Therefore, a natural partner for this PAC initiative was Medgene, a vaccine company located in Brookings, SD. Medgene’s technology allows them to take bioinformatics from currently isolated viruses and develop a prescription vaccine to match strains of pathogens encountered in the field today.

Medgene’s Executive Vice President, Dr. Gary Bosch, stated, “We are pleased with our partnership with PAC and excited to support their industry-leading Certified Sampler program. Bioinformatics represent the engine in our prescription platform vaccine technology. Certified Sampler represents the fuel to ensure that the vaccines we provide to the veterinary community are timely and relevant, as opposed to vaccines based on viruses that occurred years ago that have long since mutated beyond effective treatments.”

While this is a long-term partnership between PAC, veterinary diagnosticians, feedlot operators and Medgene, the immediate results are promising. Samples are rolling into regional diagnostic laboratories from certified samplers in feedlots across Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Iowa. Much will be learned over the next five years towards understanding the impact of pathogens and better field diagnosis on cattle performance, health and profitability in our operations.

Production Animal Consultation veterinarians provide health and well-being services for cattle from birth to harvest. In addition to providing veterinary health services, PAC conducts cattle research and data analysis, hosts educational opportunities on animal stewardship and facility design, and provides bilingual consultation for livestock producers both domestic and international. PAC veterinarians strive to provide industry leaders with opportunities to improve their operations through collaboration and science. Visit www.pacdvms.com to learn more about Production Animal Consultation.

Cargill Invests $1 Million in Research on Methane Reduction in Cattle

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:58:19 GMT

In an effort to help fund research studying sustainable animal agriculture practices and reducing the environmental impact of the beef industry, Cargill has issued a $1 million grant to Colorado State University and the university’s AgNext research program.

“Working closely with industry partners like Cargill, researchers and producers, AgNext is helping develop innovative, scalable solutions that move the livestock industry toward a more sustainable future,” said Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of AgNext and Co-Pl. “An important part of that is developing robust baseline greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.”

In a release from the company, Cargill states the $1 million grant will address a critical agricultural challenge: enteric methane emissions from feedlot cattle, which are naturally produced during the digestive process.

While current USDA guidelines rely on assumptions about the effects of different feeding strategies on methane emissions, such as grain processing combined with other feed additives, AgNext will conduct several experiments to collect empirical data to support those assumptions.

Studies will take place at Colorado State University’s Climate Smart Research Facility during the next two years.

The research will help determine the impact of different ingredients and additives in cattle diets on enteric methane emissions in beef steers fed typical finishing rations. It will also explore the additive effect of these ingredients and additives to determine if additional methane reduction is possible.

“Cargill is committed to working with researchers, farmers and ranchers to advance creative sustainability ideas and accelerate best-in-class conservation practices within the industry,” said Eliza Clark, Cargill Protein & Salt Sustainability Leader. “The knowledge generated from this innovative research will pave the way for testing new technologies in cattle feeding and continue to improve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the beef supply chain.”

New Beef-on-Dairy Feedlot Set to be One of the Largest in Country

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 16:30:16 GMT

Despite the smallest U.S. cowherd in 73 years and corresponding tight feeder cattle supplies, the largest cattle feedyard north of the Rio Grande is under construction in Nebraska. When complete, Blackshirt Feeders near Haigler in the far southwest corner of the state, will have a capacity of 150,000 head, all standing on a concrete pad covering a full square mile, replete with an accompanying biodigester.

None of that previous paragraph defies logic, provided you know the track record of the principals involved and understand the growing beef-on-dairy (BxD) phenomenon that has captured the attention of stakeholders throughout the chain — feedyards, dairies, backgrounders, seedstock providers, feed companies and packers. In short, the BxD segment has provided a new profit opportunity for cattle feeders and seedstock suppliers, a lifeline for some dairies, and promises to revolutionize the way the beef industry accepts, captures and uses animal ID and the data it provides.

CLOSED LOOP

The BxD production model offers a unique opportunity for innovators to utilize every available tool and management practice to foster improvement. Specifically, this new model links the semen provider to the dairy to the feedyard in what is called a closed-loop system.

“We’ve long dreamed about this type of system,” says Lee Leachman, CEO of Leachman Cattle, now part of the URUS group of companies. “We supply the semen, and Alta or Genex distributes it to a dairy, then the dairy signs a contract with GK Jim Farms to sell those calves either as day-olds or after a growing period, then they are shipped to the feedlot for finishing.”

Th e contracts stipulate that every calf is tracked from birth with sire, health and performance data. That information is used to determine future matings to improve performance and reduce undesirable characteristics.

“This is a game changer,” Leachman emphasizes. “This enables progress like what we’ve seen in poultry and swine. If you don’t have the loop with the data you can’t make the progress.”

The closed-loop system is already operational at several U.S. feedlots, including five operated by GK Jim Farms in Colorado and Texas.

Blackshirt Feeders - Construction Timeline

(Lindsey Pound)

Veterinarian Kee Jim, principal at GK Jim Farms, says as his company began expanding their beef-on-dairy model they sought to acquire feedlots, but none were available at the scale they desired.

“Three years ago we began investigating what we believe would be the best site to build a new feedlot,” Jim says. “We looked at availability of grain, the climate, proximity to available feeder cattle and proximity to packers.”

That led to the selection of the construction site near Haigler, Neb., in the southwest corner of the state that joins both Kansas and Colorado.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Designed to be much more than just a large-scale feedlot, Blackshirt Feeders has several unique features that will make it the “most environmentally friendly feedlot on the planet.” That is how it’s described by veterinarian Eric Behlke who is both a founding partner of Blackshirt Feeders and project leader for its construction.

First among the new yard’s unique characteristics is the compressed rolled concrete that will cover every feeding pen. The concrete offers several advantages but is essential to capturing the manure for the biodigester that will be built adjacent to the site.

“The concrete allows for the collection of the manure without contaminating it with dirt, which is essential for a digester,” Behlke says. “But the concrete is impermeable, which provides superior protection for both the groundwater and the surface water. All of the ponds will be lined with high-density HDPE liner, a synthetic liner which is also impermeable, to prevent leaching of nutrients.”

Behlke says Blackshirt Feeders is committed to leveraging the latest technologies and feedlot construction to make the new yard as environmentally sound as possible.

“These efforts will help change the narrative about beef production and make it a much greener process,” Behlke says.

All of which sounds good, but like most agribusinesses today, finding labor is likely an issue, especially in a remote area. The company is already working to ease that problem, Jim says.

“We have plans to construct housing in Wray, Colo., about 20 miles away,” Jim says. “The first 24 units are under construction now.”

DATA AND SCALE

It can be easy for observers to focus on the massive size of Blackshirt Feeders, but it’s much more than an effort by a large player to further capitalize on efficiencies of scale, though that is important.

“What makes our system unique is that our large and ongoing investments in data collection and analysis are what have allowed us to scale our business,” says Holt Tripp, DVM, MBA, director of cattle operations for GK Jim Group of Companies.

Tripp says the company has used rigorous, large-scale, field trials to better understand the biology of the animals they are feeding.

“In turn, we have been able to make consistent incremental progress that allows us to make calculated bets on how, when and where to deploy risk capital in our system,” he says. “We are not using data to describe a system that has already come to scale — we are using data to get to scale. In our minds, anything else would be putting the cart before the horse.”

It’s ironic that an offshoot of the dairy industry might be the catalyst that could drive the beef industry toward expanded use of animal ID and data capture.

“I think eventually these (beef-on-dairy) calves may be better than the average beef-on-beef animals,” Leachman says. “AI’ing millions of dairy cows is a big advantage. We get so much selection pressure. If we don’t have a data feedback loop on beef-on-beef calves, then it will be harder to keep up. If we don’t have data feedback, we won’t be able to make progress as rapidly on the most important traits. Having ID and feedback on economically relevant traits is critical.”

The closed-loop system will eventually find its way to the native beef-on-beef segment.

“Cattle feeders will likely increasingly want to adopt that sort of model,” says Nevil Speer, industry consultant based in Bowling Green, Ky. “Knowing more about the feeder cattle they purchase and subsequently also providing feedback (and payment incentives) based on cattle performance (both in the feedyard and on the rail).”

Data, of course, is the key driver. “There’s more opportunities all the time for beef producers who are willing to embrace participating in a specified supply chain,” Speer explains. “It means giving up some independence, and it requires more accountability, but ultimately willingness to do so will likely also establish new opportunity to maximize the value of genetic and management inputs made at the ranch.”

Angus Association to Host Webinar Addressing Bovine Congestive Heart Failure

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 13:23:17 GMT

Bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) is a clinical disorder that results from cardiac dysfunction with subsequent fatal outcomes in most cases.

As cattle are fed to heavier end points, the incidence of BCHF is increasing. It has been estimated that congestive heart failure is responsible for 4% of the mortality cases in feedlots today.

More Questions Than Answers
Epidemiologic results from research released in 2022 by Simplot Land and Livestock and also Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center (GPVEC), at Clay Center, Neb., indicates there is a genetic component to the disease.

The factors contributing to BCHF aren’t fully understood, however, and the beef industry continues to look for answers that can lead to solutions.

The American Angus Association has been working to address the issue and is hosting a webinar for producers and veterinarians at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 9. The focus of the webinar will address what is being done today to answer questions about BCHF from a research perspective.

Bring Your Questions
Angus Genetics Inc. President Kelli Retallick-Riley is leading the discussion. Some of the questions that will be answered include:

*What are the signs and symptoms of BCHF?

*Could new research efforts help cattlemen make better production and selection decisions?

There will be a live question-and-answer session, and webinar participants are encouraged to bring their questions to the event. Go here to register for the program.

If you have questions but are unable to attend live, you can submit them to Jessica Hartman, communications specialist, prcomm@angus.org. Hartman says to register to be notified when the recorded webinar is available.

These articles offer more information about bovine congestive heart failure and what the beef industry is doing to address it:

Congestive Heart Failure an Issue in Finishing Cattle

Angus Tackles Bovine Congestive Heart Failure

Bovine Congestive Heart Failure Work Continues

Tips for Dealing with Wet, Muddy Feedlot Conditions

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:18:10 GMT

In unexpected warm, wet winter conditions cattle face challenges accessing feed, water, or a place to lie down. Muddy conditions affect requirements for maintenance, according to this UNL study . Even if feed intake is not affected by muddy conditions (cattle can reach the bunk and water trough and consume a full ration daily), mud depths of less than 9 inches increase maintenance requirements up to 80%. This means that cattle consuming a finishing diet containing 1 Mcal NEm/lb will require nearly double the amount of feed to meet their maintenance requirements or 19 lb for a 1,400-lb steer. In many cases, intake is affected by muddy conditions and 19 lb may not be achievable, leading cattle to lose weight.

That’s why it’s important to reduce the effects of mud and standing water in pens as soon as possible. Inherently, pen conditions are dictated by siting, orientation, fence type, and percentage of solid surfacing around bunks, water tanks, access points and loafing areas. Therefore, strategies to reduce the effect of mud and standing water on cattle performance are listed below for worst to best pen conditions:

Suggestions for worst pen sites

(flat, heavily stocked or with standing water and/or with less than 1/3 of the pen are as solid surfacing):

Remove lightweight cattle to pastures or corn stalk fields stocking at a rate of 1 acre per head on hilly ground or 2 or more acres per head on flat ground.

On pens made available by this strategy, scrape solid surfacing to the bare material (concrete or bituminous) and bed heavily before permitting access to heavier or newly received cattle housed yet in adjacent pens (continue to feed only the home pen).

If this is not possible, simply lay whole round bales of bedding or even hay on areas with less mud. Cattle will work the material off, using it for bedding and feed. Continue this strategy until weather conditions improve.

Suggestions for average pen sites

(with some slopes for loafing areas, stocked lighter and/or more than 1/3 of the pen are as solid surfacing)

All aprons and surfaced areas, scrape down to the surface. This is a minimum to let cattle find a spot to lie down.

Aprons need to be scraped two to four times weekly. On wide aprons (over 20'), lay bedding down heavily after scraping in areas beyond the first 20’ behind the bunk.

If forming a bed pack, only bed when pack begins to seep. Dry or sticky packs are still functional as bedding.

Scrape any scattered (not heavily wet) bedding onto bed pile. Bed on top of it.

To make additional “emergency” hard surfaces (applicable to both pen conditions described above):

Potential areas to enhance surfacing: behind bunk or water tank aprons or on top of mounds if accessible (don’t attempt to build a hard surface on hillsides unless machinery can safely drive over it).

Alternatively, consider ground-cover mats like this or this used to move heavy construction equipment over a ground surface. Make sure this “path” is in place before attempting to improve a site within the pen.

Scrape down below surface line about 1', attempting to remove excess accumulated manure and mud.

Lay down recycled concrete to the depth of 6". Bed heavily on top of this. A 25' by 25' area filled to a 6" depth will need 16 ton of recycled concrete (one short truck load; about $500 for concrete).

Alternatively, one might consider using railroad ties to create the base. About $30 each at retail price.

Dimensions are 8' x 7" x 9", so a 48' x 3' surface made from ties would require 24 ties or $720.

A square design is recommended for recycled concrete (to prevent excess scattering), while a long rectangle shape is recommended when forming a base with ties to keep them tucked together in a narrow path.

Bed any emergency surfaced areas generously. The prorated rate of bedding to achieve a working bed pack is 4 lb per head daily or more. Any bedded areas must be rebedded regularly, particularly on areas with no surfacing. Lapses in bedding will create worse conditions even on surfaced areas.
Areas where recycled concrete is laid should be managed separately when cleaning manure from pens. They can be left installed permanently and managed as an extension of the apron (recycled concrete tends to “set” together with traffic and moisture) or power washed and surfaced with concrete when weather improves.

Ties can be lifted when weather improves (and before extending the area using concrete) and be used for other purposes.

Note: these are emergency recommendations to improve pen conditions rapidly and are not tested by scientific procedures. In the example dimensions provided above, and assuming 24 ft² are needed to fit one animal, no more than 25 head will be able to access this area at one time at a cost of between $500 to $1,000.

Yet, considering the value gain resulting from fed cattle prices increase since the beginning of the year results in a $75 increase in value per head. Investments at or below this level to preserve the performance and life of a $2,700 animal are well advised.

More resources about managing feedlot cattle in muddy conditions.