FEED-LOT Magazine

10/16/2025

Do not force cows to graze more than the leaves and upper stalks. Typically, cows will be selective in their grazing; however, if overstocked, this allows for less opportunity to be selective and more opportunity to overgraze or ingest weeds, thus resulting in toxicity.

Drought poses many challenges to the beef cow herd. Nitrates in feed is one of those challenges that producers need to be aware of, especially in the reproductive herd.

10/16/2025

It's time to get spooky with your weeknight menu. These Halloween ground beef turnovers are sure to satisfy your little monsters. 👻🎃

Ingredients

10/15/2025

The cows in our nation’s cow herd are the cows currently producing the feeder calves spending over 200 days on feed and finishing at live weights well in excess of 1,500 pounds. The post weaning growth potential of feeder calves produced in the U.S. is not tethered to weaning weights.

The article titled “Carcass Weights, Quality Grades & Consumer Demand” from last week led to several good questions. This week, I will address the most commonly asked questions.

10/15/2025

Decisions made at weaning and during background affect overall performance. That's nothing new, but an Auburn study outlines different ways to wean and the long-term impacts. Get the scoop in FEED-LOT's eNews today.

10/15/2025

The worst kind of nightmare. 👻🎃

Source : Cattleman U

10/14/2025

Avoid negative planes of nutrition, meaning what cows are eating doesn’t meet their nutrient needs, mainly protein and energy. Creep feeding the calves will increase calf weight at weaning but will not take lactation stress off the cow.

About 20% of the cowherd in Nebraska calves in the fall time of the year. A fall-calving herd provides a different time of the year to market calves and needs

10/14/2025

A round crowd pen will work better than a straight crowd pen because, as cattle go around a 180° turn, they think they are going back to where they came from. When cattle go around the bend it takes advantage of their natural behavior.

Source : Temple Grandin

10/13/2025

In studies with a receiving period longer than 30 days, ADG was increased 0.13 lb/day by organic trace mineral supplementation, but not in studies with a receiving period less than 30 days. However, using organic trace minerals in place of inorganic trace minerals will not always result in improved animal performance and health outcomes.

Compared with carbohydrate and protein metabolism, mineral metabolism in cattle is much less understood. The lack of knowledge about the mineral metabolism has led to an idea among cattlemen that

10/12/2025

Total beef production report unavailable : **Due to the government shutdown, information is not complete due to USDA-NASS data being currently unavailable. This government website will be updated periodically during the funding lapse for mission critical functions.**

10/10/2025

In growing calves, limit soybeans to 7% of the diet or less, and 5% or less in finishing diets. Raw soybeans also should not be fed to animals receiving a diet containing urea. Soybeans contain the enzyme urease, which breaks down urea into ammonia at a very rapid rate.

Current market conditions for raw, whole soybeans are making them price competitive in parts of Nebraska with other protein sources, such as distillers grains and alfalfa hay, to be used

10/10/2025

Source : National Beef Wire

10/10/2025

Dark Cutter - Carcasses with muscle tissue that is dark colored rather than the desirable cherry red. Usually the result of depletions in muscle glycogen stores. Can be influenced by cattle handling techniques, weather, s*x of cattle and implant strategy. The incident rate tends to increase in October.


Source : NDSU