NEWS

All signs point to a cattle industry that has plateaued, said CattleFax market analyst Kevin Good at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention in San Antonio – ending one of the most aggressive herd expansions on record.

The 2019 fourth-quarter beef production forecast was adjusted higher by 15 million pounds from the previous month to 7 billion pounds, which raised the forecast for annual production to 27.2 billion pounds. The increase was based on a faster-than-expected pace of non-fed cattle slaughter in December, in particular beef cow slaughter.

Reproduction is a critical aspect of any species’s life cycle and plays a major role in food animal production. Since the implementation of artificial insemination (A.I.) in the beef cattle industry, researchers have strived to improve the efficiency and utilization of this reproductive practice.

After a long winter in the region, now is a good time to elevate pasture conditions and forage management. While it is tempting to turn cows out to pasture as soon as it’s greening up, remember: Plants should be approximately 4 to 6 inches in height before grazing to avoid forage yield drags throughout the whole growing season.

As winter comes to an end and we start thinking about spring turnout, it’s also time to ensure all our equipment is in order. Before loading cattle this spring, it’s important to ensure that your truck and trailer are ready for the task.