Lactation, reproductive efficiency and maternal instincts all play into how well a cow fits into her environment.

Kansas professor highlights role of genetics in the sustainable cow herd

Breeding and selecting beef cattle that fit an operation’s environment benefits a producer’s bottom line and scores sustainability points

Bob Weaber’s work on cattle genetics is for the producer, and so it’s for him, as well. Growing up, his family raised mostly commercial cattle but also got involved in the Junior Hereford Association in the U.S., where he got interested in seedstock, which was further piqued when he went to university. Now, Weaber operates […] Read more


A cow and young calf caught in a spring snowstorm in Saskatchewan. Shifting or condensing the calving season requires careful consideration.

What to consider when changing the breeding season

Producers tightening or shifting their breeding season should consider everything from economics to feeding programs

Trudging through slushy snow in April is a scene many producers know well. One day there’s a hint of summer in the air, with birds chirping in trees overhead as a farmer checks on newborn calves frolicking near puddles. The next day, the farmer is rushing through pastures as hard sleet slashes his face, trying […] Read more

Brent Lonker looks for bulls that are more heavily muscled on the front.

Backing the Bonsma principles in today’s beef industry

A look at how Jan Bonsma’s approach to selection is still influencing some ranchers

A look at how Jan Bonsma’s approach to selection is still influencing some ranchers

Over recent years, many commercial cattle operators have become somewhat disillusioned with the direction of certain segments of the beef seedstock industry. In their view, the common sense guideposts for the most useful animals have been directing them too close to the numbers-dominated terminal growth and carcass traits, often at the expense of maternal, reproductive […] Read more