The sixth annual beef cow replacement value forecast from the University of Nebraska offers a valuable tool for decision-making in the beef cattle industry. It provides a starting point for evaluating whether to buy, sell or trade replacement cows. The forecasts incorporate a range of factors, including current and future costs, productivity, and revenue projections for cows, calves and related items. The information here is a guide, where users would be expected to modify, depending on their circumstances and expectations of future productivity, costs, and revenues.

For spring-calving beef herds, calves are being weaned in late October and November. At the time of weaning and calves are processed, it would also be a good time to body condition score the cow herd. Condition scoring the herd will take some extra time, but it will be time well spent. You will be able to identify cows that may need extra feed before calving.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln aims to better gauge the environmental impact of the ranching industry with a new $5 million grant.

“We’re asking beef producers to make changes without the science to know it is beneficial, and not being able to accurately measure whether their change worked,” said Galen Erickson, professor of ruminant nutrition and leader of the Beef Innovation hub at Nebraska.