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NEWS

⏳ The Gift of Time

⏳ The Gift of Time - Time isn't a commodity—it's finite and irreplaceable. The real question is whether you’re using it wisely. Being "busy" can often mean avoiding important tasks. Instead of just spending time, focus on investing it meaningfully for better personal and professional outcomes.

🐺 Wolf Relocation Response - Colorado Parks and Wildlife has started capturing and relocating the Copper Creek wolf pack, which was reintroduced in December 2023, due to livestock depredations. This move, made after significant stakeholder input, aims to address conflicts while continuing the wolf restoration effort. Since the release, the pack has been linked to several incidents involving lost or killed livestock.

🍼 Calf Care - Calving season can bring challenges such as sickness and death. Key measures for calf health include ensuring cows are well-nourished, providing high-quality colostrum within six hours of birth, and proper post-partum care. Techniques like the Sandhills Calving System help reduce pathogen exposure. Monitoring for signs of illness and consulting with veterinarians on vaccines and treatments are crucial for preventing and managing calf diseases, particularly scours.

🌎 Genetics on GHGs - Because beef cattle contribute to methane emissions, with 70-80% of farm emissions coming from enteric methane, some producers are targeting the issue in the repro process. Genetics play a key role in mitigating this, with strategies focusing on managing cow size and improving feed efficiency through traits like Net Feed Intake (NFI). By optimizing these genetic factors, beef producers can cut emissions while maintaining productivity.

🐄 Dairy Surrogates, Beef Calves - Dairies are collaborating with beef producers by using dairy cows as surrogates for beef embryos, addressing the surplus of embryos and high costs of beef recipient cows. This partnership benefits dairies with premium prices for beef-cross calves and offers beef breeders more efficient calf production. The approach improves calf quality and opens new opportunities for breeding and show cattle.

🚰 Quenching the Thirst - Cattle need a lot of water, especially in hot weather, with lactating cows requiring up to two gallons per 100 pounds of body weight daily. Drought and high temperatures can affect both water quality and availability, impacting cattle health. Ensuring good water quality by testing for contaminants like nitrates, sulfates, and blue-green algae is crucial. Regular maintenance and monitoring help prevent health issues related to poor water quality.

🌵 Drought Detriment - As of late August, drought has worsened across the western U.S., including Montana and the High Plains, and fire risks have risen in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. The Central and Southern Plains, especially Oklahoma and Kansas, are facing deteriorating conditions, while the upper Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico struggle with severe drought. In contrast, eastern Texas and the Deep South experience variable moisture levels, and the Corn Belt has localized dryness with significant crop impacts in Ohio.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Balancing Quality and Cost When Feeding Your Cow Herd

Year-round grazing is ideal but often impractical, so cattle producers must focus on effective feed supplementation. In this episode, Dr. Karl Hoppe highlights the need to test feed for quality and adjust based on nutritional needs. He advises testing hay immediately after harvest and managing feed waste with appropriate tools. Producers should explore diverse feed options and evaluate their costs to develop the best feeding strategy for their operation.

4 Quick Succession Planning Tips

Kansas attorney Jim Angell joined the Top Producer podcast to discuss crucial elements of farm succession planning. He highlights the importance of using trusts, such as LLCs or Intentionally Defective Trusts, to manage significant gifts before potential tax changes. Angell stresses involving your CPA early for advanced tax planning, and he notes that succession planning should be tailored to each family's unique situation, ensuring fairness between on-farm and off-farm heirs. He also advises setting up protections, like irrevocable trusts and prenuptial agreements, to safeguard the farm from unintended consequences if a parent remarries.

RANCHING AROUND THE WORLD RECAP

🇦🇺 Southern Australia Livestock Research Council bestows awards for excellence [Beef Central]

CATTLE COMMUNITY

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

READER POLL

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS

Some

• “Tech has helped in many ways in the agriculture industry, but I believe fighting nature with nature will give better results and help the environment as a whole. We have Guineas and turkeys around the house. On top of that, we have worked to improve wild bird habitat around our ranch and release quail every year. Ticks are pretty much nonexistent on our land.”

Minimal

• “Asian Longhorn tick is making its way to Texas. I’m pessimistic.”