Home

Beef Cattle Production

A group of cattle
Thursday, May 2, 2024

H5N1/Avian Influenza/Bird Flu in dairy cattle

 

Dr. Matt HilleA discussion of the situation involving H5N1 (avian influenza/bird flu) and dairy cattle with UNL’s BeefWatch Podcast host Aaron Berger, beef Extension educator and Dr. Matt Hille, an assistant professor and diagnostic pathologist at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center based on the campus of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

Question
Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Targeted grazing on cheatgrass in the western Great Plains

Targeted livestock grazing is the application of grazing animals at a defined time, intensity, and duration for vegetation or landscape management objectives. When planned right, targeted grazing management can accomplish those objectives without negatively affecting livestock production. Understanding plant growth and livestock grazing preference is important to the success of targeted grazing.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024

May 2024 Nebraska Rangeland and Pasture Update

As May is upon us, many will be turning cattle out to pasture shortly or have done so already.  Cool-season grasses across the state have started to grow. Current moisture conditions will be a strong driver of cool-season grass growth. The month of April began drier for much of the state outside the panhandle but has been wet—very wet in some cases—for most of the state in the last two weeks. As such, a majority of locations in Nebraska are above average on precipitation for the water year, with much of the panhandle, Sandhills, and northeast sections coming in well above average.
Cows grazing
Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Understanding the Value of Grass in Nebraska

Nebraska has one of the highest summer pasture rental rates for cow-calf pairs or stocker/yearlings of anywhere in the United States. On a price per pair per month or price per head basis, Nebraska rental rates are at the top when compared to neighboring states and the nation. Nebraska Extension annually publishes the results of a survey, “Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report” that documents reported pasture rental rates.

People learning in a pasture
Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Registration deadline is May 3 for the 2024 Nebraska Ranch Practicum

Ranchers and cattle producers interested in learning about the latest research in range livestock production from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are encouraged to register for the 2024 Nebraska Ranch Practicum offered by Nebraska Extension.

UNL BeefWatch podcast release. Image of people in field.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024

BeefWatch Podcast: Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance with Dr. Reinaldo Cooke

Aaron Berger, Nebraska beef Extension educator, talks to Reinaldo Cooke, Burkhart Endowed Professor for Beef Cattle Research at Texas A & M, about maternal bovine appeasing substance on this episode of BeefWatch. Dr. Cooke discusses where the pheromone originates, what it does and recent research spanning production from weaned calves to the harvest of market ready cattle.
Nitrogen nurse tank
Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Don't use tanks that have been used to haul fertilizer for hauling drinking water for cattle

Tanks that are used to haul nitrogen-based fertilizer should not be used to transport drinking water for cattle as there is a risk of poisoning. Any nitrogen remaining in the tank can potentially cause nitrate or non-protein nitrogen (urea) toxicosis in ruminants (depending on form of fertilizer).
Thursday, April 11, 2024

Considerations for Building Cow Inventories at Current Prices

Calf prices are encouraging cow-calf producers to increase cow inventories to have more calves to sell. Consider the following points when evaluating growing the cowherd.

View previous articles