Feed & Nutrition

Feeding cost of gain is one of the most important factors explaining changes in cattle finishing. The recent volatility in corn prices leads to questions regarding the impact of lower or higher corn prices on feeding cost of gain. In addition to corn prices, feeding cost of gain is impacted by changes in forage prices and animal performance. This article examines trends in feeding cost of gain and the sensitivity of feeding cost of gain to changes in corn price, alfalfa price and feed conversion.

Weaning season is a critical time of the year as cattle producers prepare calves for the next stage of production. Through proper weaning practices, large- and small-scale producers can maximize the performance and value of their calves, whether as stockers, feeders or replacement heifers.

Cow-calf operations today are much like the Wild West of the cattle industry – operating with little direction and few rules. Sure, there are some broad guidelines for things that must be done, but in general, the rules are pretty limited. Each producer manages his or her herd and raises cattle as he or she sees fit.

The road to a successful fall breeding season seems simple enough: Get the most cows bred in the shortest possible window, then maintain those pregnancies until calving time.

Weaning is a stressful – if not the most stressful – period in a calf’s life. Stressors affecting calves during weaning include physical, environmental, immunological and (some would argue) psychological factors.

Nutrigenomics is scientific study of the interaction of nutrition and genes or, alternatively, the effect of nutrition on the expression of genes.