NEWS

I was recently asked to give a presentation on “How to make money in the cow business.” Whether you are running 40 or 400 cows, money can routinely be made in the cow business, but it takes good planning, recordkeeping and decision-making.

Winter in the Intermountain West can be somewhat unpredictable from year to year. Due to the variability in weather and the duration of time in which we will see cold weather, it is essential producers have a plan on how they are going to provide for their herds and care for new additions.

With fall breeding season nearing completion and spring calving just a few months away, it’s easy to forget about herd sires during the winter months.

Challenges? Everyone’s got them. We certainly have them in the Southeast. Before covering the challenges, let’s mention some of the positives of cattle production in our region.

The 2019 beef production forecast was reduced by 5 million pounds from the previous month but remains at a rounded 26.9 billion pounds. The reduction was based on a slower-than-expected pace of fed cattle slaughter that was partially offset by greater expected cow slaughter and slightly higher expected cattle dressed weights.