FEED-LOT Magazine

12/16/2025

Pastureland in South Dakota increased more than 7% in value over the past year, with grazing rental rates generally ranging from $1.50 to $3.50/head/day in some regions, depending on class of livestock and other contract parameters. Cropland grazing lease rates typically begin at $0.50-2.00/head/day for residue and rise with forage quality and quantity.

Cropland grazing, or ‘integrated crop-livestock systems’ (ICLS), is not a new concept in South Dakota. At its core, cropland grazing occurs whenever livestock graze on cropland acres, allowing the byproducts

12/16/2025

That's 76 million reasons to be grateful. 🥩😊

12/15/2025

The simple point being that if one is making culling decisions based on calf weaning weights alone, they are likely to be disproportionately culling more of their smaller cows. By doing this over time, the average size of their cows increases, and their costs trend upward.

While I have heard discussions around the topic, I have never been one to believe that an “optimal” cow size exists. Every farm is unique and operates in a different

12/12/2025

Heritability is the relationship between phenotypic values and breeding values for a trait in a population. Growth traits are moderate in heritability typically falling into a range between 20 to 40%. Carcass traits are highly heritable (40% or higher).

Selection of cattle is the process by which we determine which animals become parents, how many offspring they will produce and how long they will remain in our breeding herd.

12/12/2025

4:00 - wallow in self-pity
4:30 - stare into the abyss
5:00 - solve world hunger, tell no one
5:30 - turn 'em & burn 'em 🎄🎄

Source : Rockstar Reins

12/12/2025

There are reports now of commercially raised beef steers achieving a dressing percentage of 65. To help keep a perspective on dressing percentage, if a steer has a live weight of 1300 pounds, it only takes 13 pounds of non-carcass live weight to reduce dressing percentage by 1 percent.


Sources : Bill Halfman & Dr. Dan Schaefer

12/11/2025

Since Breeding Value is based on the additive effect of individual genes, it is transmittable from generation to generation. Additive genetic change is cumulative and permanent in selected populations of cattle.

The equation: Phenotype = Genotype + Environment, represents how the level of performance of a trait (Phenotype), is the result of genetic makeup of the animal and all environmental (non-genetic)

12/11/2025

Another holiday party to attend, but have no idea what to bring?! Sleigh, no more. Mini Beef Wellingtons will be the 'light' of the party!

Ingredients

12/10/2025

Recent shifts in quality grades and inventory prove Texas is missing Mexican cattle, and the northern feeding region is currently carrying the most market-ready supply of cattle with the heaviest carcass weights, indicating that days on feed are pushing grade upward. Get insight on these trends in today's FEED-LOT eNews. https://conta.cc/3Yi1Uj4

Email from Feed-Lot Magazine Inc December 10, 2025 A weekly newsletter featuring industry news FEEDLOT & INDUSTRY NEWS Seasonal Retreat My apologies for the ‘I told you so’ – I recognize I am very oft

12/10/2025

A cowherd of the correct genotype to fit their production environment will more efficiently convert grazed forage into pounds of calf raised. Considering all the components of your production system and how they interact with each other should determine breeding objectives and where selection pressure should be applied.

How do you develop breeding objectives and identify economically important traits on which to apply selection pressure in your cow-calf operation? The answer lies in understanding that your cattle (and

12/09/2025

Applying all selection pressure to weaning and yearling growth with no consideration of (strongly genetically correlated) mature cow size can leave a producer tethered to an excessively sized, higher maintenance input cowherd for at least a decade.

A breeding objective is the general goal of a breeding program – the notion of what constitutes the best animal. Selection pressure is applied to specific traits in order to

12/09/2025

Research showed that cows housed in muddy, unbedded pens had an increased energy demand of 3.9 Mcal per day. To put 3.9 Mcal in perspective, that is roughly the energy contained in 4 lbs of corn.

Sources : Nickles, K. R., Relling, A. E., Garcia-Guerra, A., Fluharty, F. L., Kieffer, J., & Parker, A. J.