The average U.S. alfalfa hay price during November dropped by $6 per ton, following a $2 drop the previous month.The latest USDA Agricultural Prices report pegged alfalfa at $173 per ton, which was th

There are many opinions on the proper use of small grain (cereal) silages. Some argue its quality should mimic alfalfa to optimize milk production. Others say that regardless of protein and fiber cont

It makes a difference when you feed hay to a spring-calving beef herd, and each December Glenn Selk reminds us of this fact.Selk, an emeritus animal science professor at Oklahoma State University, not

As forage growth slows in the fall and early winter, pastures can have a tendency to be overgrazed. For some livestock producers in the mid-South, hay feeding has begun. “Most people aren’t

Improper storage and feeding methods can lead to drastic amounts of forage waste. Reducing losses by just a few percentages has a direct effect on the financial status of a livestock operation.Striving

If anyone should be experts in winter grazing where snow is a big part of the picture, it ought to be our Canadian friends to the north.Canada’s Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) recently provided

Heading into winter, when is the right time to take horses off pasture, or can horses be kept on pasture throughout the winter months?Proponents of winter grazing cite wild horses that remain on pastu

In the wonderful world of forages, one topic is written and talked about more than all others. It really encompasses a simple message: If you make and/or feed hay, get it tested.The battle cry to test

Ash in forages is the combination of minerals contained within the plant and soil contamination that is either splashed onto the surface of the plant while in the field or picked up during harvest. Mi

Wheat pastures are a widely used forage resource in the Southern Plains to maintain beef cattle through winter and spring; however, for most cows, their residence on wheat pastures needs to be restric

As winter approaches, some producers are questioning if their hay inventories will last until spring. Cornstalks can extend hay inventories, but their use comes with some important considerations

Here’s the thing about forage crops and corn silage: When it’s time to harvest, it’s time to harvest, at least if feed quality is a consideration.That being the case, harvest is sometimes

It’s difficult to know how long this current stretch of below normal temperatures will endure, but for beef producers in the Fescue Belt, there may be reason for concern.Extended stretches of cold

As the winter months quickly approach, so does the hay-feeding season for many cow-calf producers. Understanding the factors that impact cow hay consumption is key to ensuring an operation has adequat

Winter feeding often results in damage to pastures — but taking a few preventative measures will reduce the that damage, mitigate erosion, and encourage better forage growth in the spring.“There

The horror stories we heard last week in conjunction with Halloween pale in comparison to some of the haymaking accounts that were told during this past growing season. Relentless rain, delayed c

When corn prices are high, replacing corn with corn silage and distillers grains in finishing diets is an economical option for cattle feeders. The opportunity to maximize quality and harvest the enti

Eliminating feeding losses is impossible; reducing them is not.“The major objective for any feeding system should be to keep loses to a practical minimum level,” writes Vanessa Corriher-Olson,

Many regions have now or will soon reach the point when significant alfalfa regrowth won’t occur if the crop is cut one more time. Research has historically shown that cutting when the chances for

Meeting winter nutritional requirements for the beef herd can be challenging and requires some thought and planning to be done properly and economically. Protein is especially vital for the digestive