Progressive Cattle Magazine

24/07/2024

Happy International Self Care Day!

19/07/2024

Is facial recognition for livestock feasible? Joe Hoagland, developer of the cattle facial recognition app CattleTracs, seems to think so.

The usage of technology has also been utilized in the beef industry, such as with RFID tags, genomic testing and robotics. The newest technology to enter the ring is artificial intelligence (AI), which is continuing to develop for the use of facial recognition in cattle, which is being implemented,....

17/07/2024

Emojis? 👍 Cows? 👌 Happy World Emoji Day! 🤠

16/07/2024

Proper needles are essential tools in maintaining cattle health. Find recommendations on needle selection and health protocols here:

Disposable hypodermic needles are a necessary tool in maintaining cattle health. They provide a convenient and economical route to deliver products to animals in a safe and effective manner.

12/07/2024

I’ve been hanging around for a decade or two.
I’ve had some good luck,
But I’ll bet I’m like you.

The good times drop in for a short little stay
To get reacquainted,
But they’ll vanish away!

Read Paul's poem here:

I’ve been hanging around for a decade or two. I’ve had some good luck, but I’ll bet I’m like you.

09/07/2024

Here are five considerations to help you efficiently deal with drought and optimize cattle performance on your operation.

Drought conditions around the country can be a mixed bag any given year. This year, portions of the Central Plains, West, Southwest and Midwest have dealt with various drought conditions.

04/07/2024

Happy Independence Day! Today, and every day, we celebrate the red, white and moo. 🐮 🇺🇸

02/07/2024

While generally thought of as a part of A.I. breeding, synchronization can be equally valuable in natural service systems. These guidelines can help your bulls and females be more successful this breeding season.

As managers of cow-calf production systems, we have available to us many different tools that may be used to accomplish tasks within our operations. Every tool, no matter what type, is designed for a specific purpose.

25/06/2024

Foothill abortions have been perplexing producers in the West for many years. They are caused by the bacteria Pajaroellobacter abortibovis and spread by a little-known soft-shell tick, pajaroello.

For almost 100 years, cattle producers in the West experienced an awful phenomenon: large numbers of strange, late-term abortions in otherwise healthy cattle. What caused these abortions, and what can producers do to avoid this loss?

21/06/2024

Knowing when, what and how much to supplement your cow herd will optimize cattle performance and improve your operation’s bottom line.

Understanding the impact of mineral and vitamin intake in relation to requirements and associated responses in health and performance is a very challenging aspect of beef cattle nutrition.

19/06/2024

The maintenance of a healthy homeostatic state within the gut is important, not only to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but it also can affect such diverse systems such as the respiratory and reproductive system. We also know that it can affect the brain and the skin health as well. The GI tract and remote organs in the body share bidirectional communication via immune, neural, endocrine or metabolic links called the “gut-organ axis.”

All animals face constant changes and challenges to their health. The maintenance of a healthy homeostatic state within the gut is important, not only to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but it also can affect such diverse systems such as the respiratory and reproductive system. We also know that it...

18/06/2024

Clean, fresh water can help cattle be more productive and gain better. Water intake is influenced by water quality, and adopting management strategies that improve water quality will benefit cattle health and performance.

Have you ever had an abundance of grass in your pastures but no water for your cattle? With cattle water, prior maintenance and planning can help with ensuring that you always have sufficient water.

14/06/2024

Carefully planned placement of protein and mineral supplements can effectively incentivize cattle to graze diverse landscapes in a way that utilizes more of the natural resources and enhances the land for future use.

Historically, the objective of supplementation programs for grazing cattle has been to address nutrient deficiencies based on the difference between animal nutrient requirements and the nutrients provided by the forage, with emphasis on improving forage utilization and animal performance.

11/06/2024

Utilize your team to critique your nutrition, health and facilities prior to early weaning.

Early weaning must be well planned. Utilize your team to critique your nutrition, health and facilities prior to early weaning.

10/06/2024

Learn about sustainability and mental health resources in this month's episode of the Progressive Cattle Podcast.
Featuring Frank Mitloehner from CLEAR Center at UC Davis
https://link.progressivedairy.com/g2s

10/06/2024

Understanding the information contained in a supplement’s label could be the difference between empty calories and a substantial return on investment.

Setting up an effective supplement program is more than simply finding the right mineral at the right price.

29/05/2024

Feed tests, water evaluations and liver biopsies should be a regular practice to make sure your mineral investment is worth the cost.

Feed costs for beef production are the largest expense on a ranch. There is no better time than now to start an annual plan of monitoring feed inputs, so you can know you are getting the most out of them and what is best for the animal.

24/05/2024

Genetic potential can vary across different environments. Giving your cattle the best chance to succeed where they are can make all the difference in maximizing that potential.

In high school biology, we were introduced to the fact that a phenotype is a function of genetics and environment. As cattle producers, we are constantly trying to optimize these two pieces.

21/05/2024

An honest look at cattle-handling facilities and the people working them can yield major improvements in your operation’s ability to work cattle safely and efficiently.

To me, there is no job more enjoyable than working a pen of cattle with a team of stockmen that I call friends. There are many places across the country where processing day is as much a community event as it is a cattle management task that just needs to be completed.

17/05/2024

I’ve been hanging around for a decade or two.
I’ve had some good luck,
But I’ll bet I’m like you.
The good times drop in for a short little stay
To get reacquainted,
But they’ll vanish away!
(Read the rest here: https://www.agproud.com/blogs/9-irons-in-the-fire/post/59473-irons-in-the-fire-the-moments-are-the-light )

I’ve been hanging around for a decade or two. I’ve had some good luck, but I’ll bet I’m like you.

14/05/2024

NRCS programs such as EQIP and CSP do more than just throw money at land issues. NRCS conservationists work with producers every step of the way to make improvements that benefit your land now and for years to come. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

The NRCS, the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, supports producers by providing one-on-one, personalized assistance to help them address the specific needs of their operations through financial and free technical assistance.

10/05/2024

Progressive Forage Managing Editor Joy Hendrix visits with Katie Raver of Rock River Laboratory in this month's episode of the Progressive Cattle Podcast.
https://www.agproud.com/articles/59604-podcast-2024-forage-outlook-and-monensin-for-cows-and-heifers-with-katie-raver-and-frank-white

08/05/2024

Vitalix® is an American family-owned company that specializes in quality low-moisture cooked molasses supplement tubs made from the best all-natural ingredients available. Since 1989, Vitalix® has been at the forefront of the tub business, committed to leading the way in how controlled consistent nutrition is delivered to almost all species of livestock.

Vitalix

👉

Vitalix® is an American family-owned company that specializes in quality low-moisture cooked molasses supplement tubs made from the best all-natural ingredients available. Since 1989, Vitalix® has been at the forefront of the tub business, committed to leading the way in how controlled consistent ...

07/05/2024

If you’re considering or already using e-ID tags, here are a few ideas to make sure you’re getting the most out of your tag investment.

E-ID tags can be a great tool for cattle producers looking for a simpler way to track data and automate inventory. They also come at a cost – around $1 to $3 or more per tag depending on the type, size and volume purchased.

06/05/2024

AmeriAg Insecticide Strips

✅ Fits Traditional & Quad Mineral Feeders

✅ True One & Done Fly Control

✅ No catching/working cattle—they treat themselves

✅ Saves time & money

✅ No messy retreatment of insecticides like oilers, wicks, dust bags

Learn more at AmeriAg.com or call 877-551-4916

05/05/2024

04/05/2024

"Do. Or do not. There is no try." May the Fourth be with you!

03/05/2024

Avoid the negative economic effects of early pregnancy loss in your cow herd by considering the different stressors cows face.
Written by: Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, Beef Specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Early embryonic loss is defined as a loss within the first 42 days of pregnancy and has been reported to impact between 20% and 40% of pregnancies in beef cattle.

30/04/2024

Check out editor Abby George's first-ever editorial, as seen in our May issue.

Is anyone else wondering how it’s May already? Because I am! They say time moves faster as you get older and, at the ripe age of 25, I can attest to that. All jokes aside, May marks my 10th month here at Progressive Cattle. But I’m no stranger to this publication.