KSUBeef.org: Your resource for beef information
Mineral intake and variability: Run the numbers
by Dale Blasi, stocker, forages, nutrition and management specialist
Pasture and supplemental feed inputs represent the lion’s share of a beef producer’s annual expenses and are an ideal starting place for initiating hard-nosed cost control measures. When environmental variation is combined with ever-changing animal nutrient requirements and pasture quality indices, lower feed costs represent a moving target that can only be bulls-eyed with appropriate planning and constant evaluation. An excellent starting place for many operations intent on maximizing return on investment is an evaluation of the existing pasture mineral supplement program.
The primary objectives for providing mineral supplements to grazing cattle is to meet nutrient requirements, provide a vehicle for delivering feed additives and improve grazing distribution. Generally, mineral supplements are designed to meet approximately 50% of a grazing animal’s macro and trace mineral requirements when consumed in a two to four-ounce daily formulation and are specifically formulated for the nutrient requirements and intended objectives for various classes of grazing cattle (i.e. lactating beef cows grazing fescue vs stocker calves grazing native pasture). Continue reading "Mineral intake and variability: Run the numbers" →
Understanding Internal Parasites in Beef Cattle
Internal nematodes (or worms) have been and continue to be a major drain on beef cattle health and economic returns in the beef industry. Internal nematodes impact cattle performance in several different ways. The largest impact is the decrease in voluntary feed intake which is a physiological response due to changes in the abomasum, followed by decreased absorption and digestion of critical nutrients Immune function can also be compromised by the constant stimulation of parasitic infections. Economic losses of internal parasitism to the livestock industry have been estimated at over $3 billion annually. These losses are felt at the Cow/calf, stocker, and feedlot sectors of the industry. Continue reading “Understanding Internal Parasites” →
Sustainable Parasite Control
As the weather warms up, flies and other insects will be back to challenge our livestock. If you have experienced decreased effectiveness of your pest management strategies over time, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity to hear from K-State Research & Extension livestock entomologist, Dr Cassandra Olds. Continue reading “Sustainable Parasite Control” →
Cattlemen’s Day Videos Posted
KSU ASI hosted Cattlemen’s Day 2021 on Friday, March 5 using the Zoom platform. Videos of the presentations are now posted.
Focus Areas
Feed & Water- Health
- Reproduction & Genetics
- Cost of Production & Marketing
- Employee Management
- Legal/Regulatory
The K-State beef extension team strives to address all phases of beef production from "farm to fork".
