Tag: cattle chat

This episode features Nebraska cattle producer Rylee Blomenkamp, who discusses how her family’s operation manages a diverse mix of cattle, including feeder calves, yearlings, bred cows, open cows, bulls, and other opportunistic purchases. A central theme is the importance of identifying value in different classes of cattle and adapting management strategies to changing market conditions. Rylee explains that their operation succeeds by remaining flexible and taking advantage of opportunities that arise in local auction markets rather than focusing on a single type of livestock.

The discussion highlights the role of detailed recordkeeping in evaluating profitability across multiple enterprises. Rather than treating the operation as one large business unit, the family tracks expenses, feed costs, and returns for different classes of cattle, allowing them to determine where value is being created and which enterprises are most profitable. Experts emphasize that even cow-calf producers can benefit from separately evaluating replacement heifers, cull cows, and feeder calves to improve decision-making.

The group also discusses the importance of keeping cattle separated by age, size, and production purpose to better manage health and nutrition. Different groups require different feeding programs, health protocols, and marketing strategies, making thoughtful organization critical to success. Nutritional management is tailored to each class of cattle, from growing calves to bred cows and finishing animals, helping maximize performance while controlling costs.

A key takeaway is that successful producers combine strong records with practical experience, using both data and market awareness to guide decisions. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes that having a plan is important, but maintaining flexibility and adapting to changing conditions is often what creates long-term profitability and sustainability.

This episode is sponsored by Ambrook.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

This episode features a discussion with several Beef Cattle Institute researchers who share updates on current projects aimed at improving cattle health, welfare, and production efficiency. Topics include new technologies for semen evaluation, investigations into feeding patterns associated with interstitial pneumonia and liver abscesses, machine learning tools for detecting pain in cattle, and research on how water quality affects livestock performance. These projects highlight the growing role of technology and data analysis in solving practical problems faced by producers.

The group also addresses a listener question about weaning calves from large grazing allotments where producers have limited opportunities to handle animals before weaning. Rather than focusing solely on vaccines or medications, the discussion emphasizes reducing stress through strategies such as favorable weather conditions, low-stress weaning methods, gradual adaptation to feed and water sources, and thoughtful management of the overall system.

A major segment focuses on pain management in cattle and how attitudes toward animal welfare have evolved over time. The panel discusses procedures such as castration, dehorning, branding, dystocia management, and prolapse repair, noting that pain mitigation can improve welfare even when production responses such as average daily gain are difficult to measure. Researchers argue that producers should consider broader outcomes, including animal comfort, health, recovery, and public expectations for livestock care.

The conversation emphasizes that many producers genuinely want to provide the best care possible and are often willing to use pain-control tools when practical options are available. Ultimately, the episode highlights the value of systems thinking, continuous research, and proactive management in advancing both cattle well-being and industry sustainability.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

This episode features a discussion with guest Dr. Selwyn Headley from Brazil, who shares insights into bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and how it compares to cases seen in North America. The group notes that many of the same bacterial and viral pathogens are involved in both regions, including Mannheimia, Histophilus, and several respiratory viruses, although some differences in prevalence and diagnostic findings exist. They emphasize that BRD is best viewed as a syndrome involving multiple pathogens and risk factors rather than a disease caused by a single organism. Common stressors such as transportation, commingling of cattle from multiple sources, and feedlot arrival continue to play major roles in disease development across both countries.

The conversation then shifts to creep feeding, defined as providing feed that nursing calves can access while their dams cannot. The hosts explain that creep feeding is often considered when forage quality or quantity declines late in the grazing season and producers want to maintain calf growth. While creep feeding can increase weight gain, its economic value depends on feed costs, calf prices, forage conditions, and how much feed is actually converted into additional gain.

The panel discusses how creep feed often substitutes for forage intake rather than reducing milk consumption, meaning it may not significantly improve cow body condition. They also note that feed type matters, with high-fiber feeds typically providing better supplementation and less forage substitution than starch-heavy grain sources. Additional considerations include the impacts on replacement heifers and breeding stock, where excessive energy intake at certain developmental stages may have long-term consequences. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of evaluating both biological responses and economic returns when deciding whether creep feeding is the right strategy for a particular operation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS