As a popular pizza chain states, better ingredients make all the difference. The same can be said for our cattle. We need to give them the proper nutritional building blocks to allow them to perform as desired.
CRYSTALYX Iono-lyx for low cost replacement heifer development
Raising replacement heifers has been studied a lot. As times and cattle have changed, so have some of the systems used to develop replacement heifers. A better focus on low cost development and selection for fertility and longevity makes economic sense. Traditional development programs recommend breeding heifers at 60-65% of their mature body weight as most heifers should have reached puberty by the time they reach this weight. More recently it’s been well documented that conception rates of 85% or greater can be achieved with heifers being bred at 50-60% of their mature weight. Perhaps heifers are reaching puberty earlier or at a lower percent of their mature weight today due to improved genetics, and larger mature cow size vs 20 years ago.
Insurance or fertilizer?
Having just returned from the Cattle Fax Outlook seminar last week, I would say the message for cow-calf producers was that 2014 and 2015 could be looked back upon as our most profitable years in the cow-calf business. That is not to say that 2016 forward will not be profitable, quite the contrary, but, as the cow herd (and calves marketed) begins to truly increase in 2016, there is certainly the opportunity for the old economic law of supply and demand to kick in. Of course, demand can always increase and change some of those projections. I believe we all know that developing countries have a greatly increasing desire for, and ability to purchase, animal protein. We usually think this market is most all pork and poultry, but there were certainly indications that beef will benefit from this increased need for protein. Suffice it to say, we have a number of very profitable years ahead in the cow-calf business.
Reinvest in your cash cows
It continues to be good times cattle business. A colleague heard from a neighbor in eastern Wyoming that they received $1.25/lb more for their calves this year compared to last year. If you assume a 600 lb calf, that’s an additional $750 per calf! With higher than average profits and prices for replacement heifers, it only makes sense to reinvest in your cows.
Reproductive efficiency in beef cattle: Long term heifer retention considerations
There is some apprehension about when the market will correct itself and who will be caught with expensive feeder calves. We should enjoy high feeder calf prices for a while given current market conditions. That said, the market will correct itself. When and how much are the real questions?
Winter is here! Time to make sure cows and calves adjust without a hitch
Winter has definitely made its appearance and it’s time to make sure Cows and Calves adjust without a hitch
Yes, the snow, cold winds and sudden drops in temperatures around the country have sent a sharp reminder that winter-like conditions are upon us. Extended weather forecasts show that it is not simply a flash in the pan, but will stay with us for at least a few weeks. Who knows where it will take us after that, but you can’t escape the winter months ahead. We all try to plan as best that we can for winter, but if you are like me, I always think I have a few days, maybe weeks to prepare for winter and as usual, I still have a few things to get done.
Cattle rustling is on the rise: Make sure you aren’t helping them rob you!
With record cattle prices comes record temptation. It is no surprise that cattle theft is on the rise this year. Unfortunately, in many cases, by the time producers realize that cattle are gone, they have already been sold at auction. These losses can be devastating. So what can you do as a producer to theft-proof your livestock?
We’re doing a lot of things right: Don’t let up now
Have you ever watched a football game where a clearly superior team was winning, only to let up late in the game and allow the lesser opponent get close or even make a stellar come-back to win? I love NCAA collegiate football and I’ve seen this happen. It’s either frustrating or exhilarating depending on who your team is, but regardless, no team should ever let up the fight on the field.
CRYSTALYX and the speed limit
A couple of weeks ago I was reading about some research conducted by Dr. Monte Rouquette, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research Scientist, at Overton, TX. The study used yearlings, and compared 3 different levels of DDGs supplementation on Bermuda Grass to a control treatment (no DDGs supplement). The DDGs supplementation levels were 0.25% of body weight, 0.5% of body weight and 1% of body weight/hd/d. The control cattle gained 1.53 lbs./hd/d. Both the 0.25% of body weight and the 0.5% of body weight treatments gained 2.22 lbs./hd/d. The cattle receiving 1% of their body weight of the DDGs supplement gained 2.53 lbs./hd/d. As you might expect, the article mentions that the 1% of body weight treatment (800 pound animals receiving about 8 pounds of supplement) was actually acting as a replacement for the forage. You will often hear us preach about CRYSTALYX® not being a replacement, but a true supplement for your forage, which is most always the cheapest source of energy for your herd. You can find the full article at http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Stocker-gains-more-than-25-pounds-per-head-per-day-realized-278377821.html
More than just barrels: Part 2
We talk a lot about products on this blog, but sometimes we need to remember that CRSTYALYX® is about more than just providing great supplements. We’re a company comprised of people who care about our customers, about your cattle and about the future.
