News
Cow-calf Corner: Managing for optimum body condition scores
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist During the normal production cycle a cow should be in her best body condition at the time of calving. After calving, the nutritional stress of lactation will cause most cows to lose weight and body condition up to the…
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Cow-calf Corner: Feedlot production and cattle slaughter
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report shows that the September 1 feedlot inventory was 11.279 million head, 100.4 percent of last year. Feedlot inventories typically reach a seasonal low in August or September with the low occurring in August…
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U.S. drought monitor and summary report for September 20
This Week’s Drought Summary An upper-level ridge dominated the central contiguous U.S. (CONUS) during this U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week (September 14-20). It was bracketed by an upper-level trough which moved out of the Northeast early in the week, and a Pacific upper-level trough that moved into the West as…
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Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for September 23
Texas Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were steady to 2.00 higher. Trade activity was moderate on good demand especially on long time weaned cattle. A larger spread between weaned and unweaned cattle was noted this week as temperatures are beginning to cool off. Slaughter cows and bulls…
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Crime Watch: Cattle missing in Uvalde County
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Tony Ashley, District 28 in South Texas, reports one Hereford cow and one five-week-old black heifer calf missing. The cow is about 10 years old with a No. 93 yellow ear tag in the left ear. The cattle were last seen August…
Cow-calf Corner: Be sure to check early planted wheat fields for Fall Armyworms
Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist In my weekly trips to western Oklahoma, I have noticed that areas have received enough rainfall to start planting wheat. Several fields look to have been planted early and have very nice stands, while planting in areas with good moisture is…
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Crime Watch: Calves missing near Smiley
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Robert Fields, District 25 in Southeast Texas, reports one steer and three heifers missing in southern Gonzales County. The black steer has a white face and a No. 60 yellow ear tag in his right ear. The heifers are black and have…
Texas crop progress and condition for September 19
Areas of the Plains and the Trans Pecos received from trace amounts to one inch of precipitation. Drought conditions ranged from none to exceptionally dry, with isolated parts of South Central Texas, the Southern Low Plains, and the Blacklands being the driest. There was an average of 6.7 days suitable…
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Cow-calf Corner: Benefits of early culling open breeding heifers
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist Early culling of open breeding heifers has several benefits to your cow-calf operations bottomline. Pregnancy can be diagnosed by palpation at 60 days and by ultrasound as early as 30 days, so now is the now is the time…
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Cow-calf Corner: Wheat grazing prospects dim
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Most years, September would be occupied by lots of attention to wheat planting and budgets for winter grazing of stockers. However, the latest Drought Monitor shows that 99.97 percent of Oklahoma is abnormally dry or worse (D0-D4) with 48.81 percent in…