There’s little doubt consumers have access to more information — and more channels to express themselves — than ever before.

Future of beef revisited — consumer issues and demand

Consumers have more opportunities to express their opinion about the food they buy and eat

After four decades of engaging consumers and integrating producers, I still ponder. The sensitivity between consumers and beef producers is increasing, but the sensitivity may not always be on the same tracks. Consumers register their opinion at the checkout counter through product selection and validate their expressed opinions by how they shop and how much […] Read more

cows and calf

Well-supported benchmarks make the best targets

Management: News Roundup from the December 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Friendly, conversational chit-chat rules at cattle gatherings. Conversation guides us, particularly when someone casually notes the ranch had just marketed a 91 per cent calf crop with an average weight of 568 pounds for 192-day-old steer calves. Silence prevailed until the neighbour asked, “Are you sure?” “Yep,” the rancher replied, “but I was just average. […] Read more


Precondition calves regardless of weaning time

Precondition calves regardless of weaning time

The well-prepared, preconditioned calf rewards the producer, the buyer and, most importantly, the calf

Now is the time to start preparing calves for marketing with a sound preconditioning program developed in concert with your veterinarian. Drier weather may mean selling this year’s calves earlier, so preconditioning your calves sooner rather than later makes good sense. Do not wait and, out of frustration, call the trucker and just send the […] Read more

North Dakota beef production costs jump 200 per cent

News Roundup from the October 5, 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Beef production is becoming expensive. I am not referring to the end product but rather to the weaned calf. The cost per pound weaned per exposed cow has jumped 200 per cent since the turn of the century. That is not good news. Cost control is critical in every business. If costs are allowed to […] Read more


red angus bulls in a pen

Revising the bull pen

Each year, the Dickinson Research Extension Center reviews the bulls from the previous year to cut back on what bulls need to be overwintered. Because the bulls are bought based on their ability to transmit the right genes into the cow herd, their expected progeny difference (EPD) values already have stood the evaluation tests of when they were purchased. […] Read more

May calving bull turnout is Aug. 1

May calving bull turnout is Aug. 1

Expected start of the 2015 calving season set at May 10

NDSU Extension Service – Given later calving, 99 per cent of the cows are calving within the first two breeding cycles (42 days) at the Dickinson Research Extension Center. The center switched to May calving in 2012. So far, following late-calving on grass in 2013 and 2014, the cows have rebred very well. Again this […] Read more


cow and her calf in a pasture

Calf Planting

Cows are on high alert after calving, so this planting behavior impacts how and when groups of cattle can be moved or at least easily moved.

NDSU Extension Service – As the Dickinson Research Extension Center winds up May calving, the year has been good. May calving involves pastures, grass and space. Because feed is not delivered in a bunk, the cow decides where she wants to be in the pasture and sets in motion a series of thoughts that anchor […] Read more

Cow feeding calf

Start your calf vaccinations now!

BeefTalk

NDSU Extension Service – As calving winds down and calves are settled with their mammas, the inevitable day will come when the calves need to get a round of vaccinations. It is much like the old days when the school made the announcement that the county nurse was coming along with a bag full of […] Read more


Spring reflections and calf deaths

Take a serious look at the reasons why each calf died and what could be done next time to save it

NDSU Extension Service – The next week will be busy at the Dickinson Research Extension Center. The cows have been turned out on cool-season grass and the yearlings need to be worked. The yearling steers are vaccinated and have been turned out for summer grazing or sent to the feedlot. The center typically sends half […] Read more