Cattle HQ

It’s time for Breeding Soundness Exams

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, we discuss how to test bulls for fertility with Dr. Russ Daly, SDSU Extension Veterinarian. This includes looking at both physical attributes and semen quality so bulls can breed cows successfully. Listen to learn more about:

• What is involved in breeding soundness exams
• The best time to semen test bulls and when to retest if necessary
• Setting bulls up for breeding with adequate nutrition and health management
• Acclimation of new bulls to the herd and biosecurity

Launching the Grazing Toolbox episodes!

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, we are launching the Grazing Toolbox and visiting with the curators Parker Witt and Kim Ricoardo to highlight this grazing series.

Take a listen to learn more!

• Grazing Toolbox episodes will share stories from producers doing new grazing practices in a variety of systems and expand on their trials and successes.
• How to get started evaluating current and new forage & grazing resources.
• Setting production goals and where annual forages fit into a perennial or cropping system.
• Matching requirements of animals to forage resources and how multispecies grazing can benefit grazing systems.
• More episodes coming monthly will be tagged with title: Grazing Toolbox.

Parker Witt is a Crop-Livestock Systems Field Specialist and Kim Ricardo is a Forage Field Specialist with SDSU Extension.

Visit the SDSU Extension website to learn more.   

Mooving the Calving Season

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow Calf Field Specialist visited with Pete Bauman about how to manage moving the calving season from March to May to reduce input costs and calve on grass. Highlights include:

• Matching nutrient resources of cows to grass production
• Structuring a new calving pasture
• Infrastructure utilization and labor changes
• Breeding season heat mitigation

For more information on calving season, please contact an SDSU Extension specialist.

Cattle Market Update

In this episode of Cattle HQ, we visited with Matt Diersen, SDSU Extension Risk/Business Management Specialist about the most recent cattle on feed report that was released in the middle of February. Highlights include:

• Cattle supply and higher carcass weights
• How total cattle outside of feedlots is calculated
• Beef x dairy impact on the cattle feed supply
• The basics of Livestock Risk Protection

For more information on cattle marketing, please contact an SDSU Extension specialist.

Calving Season Update

This episode of Cattle HQ focuses setting up the cow herd and the ranch to have a successful calving season.    

Listen to this episode to learn more from Taylor Grussing about: 

• Colostrum development and why calves need to consume colostrum soon after birth.    
• Colostrum sources, if the dam’s colostrum is not enough.
• The 3 stages of calving and when to intervene to minimize stress on the calf and cow.
• Proper handling and positioning of a calf after an assisted birth.
• Myth buster on nutrition and large birthweight calves.

Taylor Grussing is a Cow Calf Field Specialist with SDSU Extension.  

Visit the SDSU Extension website to learn more.    

How to use the Livestock Stress Tool

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, Cow/Calf Field Specialist visits with Dr. Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Feedlot Specialist about the Livestock Stress tool he helped develop which is available on the SD Mesonet website. This tool gives a cattle comfort index including climate, windchill and temperature data to document from mild to extreme stress (cold and heat) that animals may experience over a 48 hour period. Take a listen to learn about these metrics and practical uses for the tool by cattlemen across the state.

New Year Weather Outlook

During this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow Calf Field Specialists sits down with Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist to share an outlook on winter weather. Climate predictions may help cattlemen set up shelters and prepare for calving season sooner than later.

Listen to this episode to learn more about:

• Climate patterns
• Temperature and precipitation outlook for calving season
• Tools for cattlemen to monitor weather

For more information on preparing beef cattle for winter weather, visit the Beef page on Extension.sdstate.edu.

Purchasing Beef for the Holidays & Direct Beef Marketing Tips

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing sits down with Calli Williams, a cattle producer, mom, beef advocate and direct-to-consumer business owner to learn more about her perspective on what beef cuts are great for family holiday meals, how much to purchase for gathering, and even some preparation and leftover options.

Taylor and Calli also visit about how they select their genetics to go into the direct-to-consumer beef marketing business. In addition, we touch on the processing options, harvest planning and inspection they take pride in doing to supply a quality, wholesome and nutritious beef product to consumers that they can serve at any family get together.

New Findings to Evaluate Bull Fertility

During this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, Cow/Calf Field Specialist based out of Mitchell visits with Dr. Saulo Zoca, Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist for the University of Tennessee. We are going to discuss current research on bull fertility markers and how he started his research in sire fertility looking at water buffalo, to now evaluating beef on dairy sires. In addition, we discuss bull management throughout the winter, paired with proper nutrition and body condition being key to having fertile bulls the following breeding season. Lastly, breeding soundness exams are evaluating more than just semen and how all bulls need to be scored before they get turned out.

Creating a Genetic Roadmap

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist visits with Dr. Randi Culbertson, Cow/Calf Extension Specialist and Faculty at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa to dig into utilizing genetic resources such as EPDs and Genomics available for cattlemen to create a genetic roadmap for their operations.