Silage shrink can cause silage to go from an economical source of feed to one that doesn’t make sense or cents. Shrink is the dry matter (DM) that is harvested but lost before feeding
All cattle are “grass-fed” until they reach the finishing phase. Calves are usually sent to a feedlot for finishing, where they’re put on a high-concentrate diet to add marbling
Ruminants have a distinct advantage compared to other livestock because of their ability to process highly fibrous, otherwise nonutilizable, feedstuffs into a marketable product
With rising market prices for live calves, staying up all night to supervise first-calf heifers during calving season is well worth the effort to many producers
In the Midwest, planting winter-hardy cereal grasses such as winter rye or triticale after fall-harvested corn or soybeans can provide both soil benefits and a grazing resource in the spring
We’re different in every respect.” The phrase seemed only fitting coming from Steve Carr, owner of 3D Valley Farms in Depauw, Ind., as he tended to the draft horse team he still uses around
In recent years, there has been a broader choice in finished beef available to consumers. The supply of “grass-fed beef” has risen, and it always raises some controversy within the industry
Ammoniation of crop residues can turn a low-quality forage into a medium-quality forage that can maintain a dry cow without supplementation. Given the drought in the Northern Plains and eastern
The success of a grass-fed beef operation relies on getting average daily gains of at least 2 pounds per day. Animals will need to maintain a body condition score of 6 or better
The author was the 2016 Hay & Forage Grower summer editorial intern and is a senior at South Dakota State University. When corn prices are high, corn silage may be a more economical feed to
A common practice for many producers during the fall is to look for the cheapest protein and energy supplements to go along with their hay for winter feeding
It makes sense to cover the ground and protect our precious soil and water resources, especially after harvest of corn silage; but why not also produce additional forage?
Many beef producers are in a position of having too much low-quality hay or, worse yet, reduced stocks of any type of hay. Patrick Gunn, Iowa State University extension cow-calf specialist
Summer annual forages (such as pearl millet, sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, etc.) are known for their remarkable ability to grow fast and produce several tons of forage in a short time period, ev
