On the Blog

What is calving distribution?

With bulls entering breeding pastures in the weeks ahead, cattlemen can easily understand the impact of a good overall herd conception rate on their bottom line. However, another reproductive measurement that can directly affect ranch profitability is calving distribution. 

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Bouts of grass tetany could be just around the corner

Springtime can be a very busy time for most all cattlemen. When you look at the nutrients that are critical for spring calving herds, this can get very busy as well. As I write this blog, we are getting yet another dose of wet snow here in Western South Dakota. Looking forward, the 7-day forecast shows a good chance of precipitation most every day. While we can sure use the moisture, cattlemen need to be ready for grass tetany to rear up. 

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Innovations are not just nice, they are necessary

A couple of years ago, I posed the following question: What do BioBarrels®, 48 row corn planters, GPS and net wrap have in common?  They all allow one person to do much more than you could, 10 or 20 years ago.

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Why should I start feeding CRYSTALYX in September?

September is nearly here.  While some of us wonder where the Summer went, in reality, the quality of our pasture forages are falling like a North Korean missile test.

Here are 10 opportunities you should consider, before you decide to hold off on your fall supplementation program.  Remember that your cows are taking care of two calf crops until this year’s calves are weaned.

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Two points to remember in a drought

The Drought of the Central Dakotas is spreading to Nebraska and Eastern Montana.  The change from an El Nino to a La Nina, can mean that much of the rest of the summer could be very dry in the Western and Plains States.  Drier days are also likely ahead of us in the Corn Belt.

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The dummies guide to fetal programming

If you are in the beef business and have not read an article mentioning fetal programing, or, if you have not heard someone speak on fetal programming at an industry meeting, you may need to get out a little more.

I have written a more in-depth blog on fetal programming before, and I do not intend to re state all of those points at this time.  What I would like rather, is to make just a couple statements that should make for an easy take home message this week.

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Today, magnesium is king

Springtime can be a very busy time for most all cattlemen.  When you look at the nutrients that are most critical for spring calving herds, this can get very busy as well.

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Is sulfur an issue In CRYSTALYX?

I recently had a question about the amount of sulfur in a CRYSTALYX® block, and is that level something we should be concerned with?  The short answer is “no”, but let’s dig a little deeper.

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