Preparing Spring Pastures
Is Your Bull Ready to Work?
It’s time for your bull’s annual checkup.
Biosecurity on the Farm
If you have spent time in and around the agriculture business, chances are that you have heard the phrase “biosecurity” used before.
The Right Plane of Nutrition
Many producers have been encouraged by high cattle prices and better grass to replenish their breeding herds. But they need to keep in mind that the replacement heifer needs to have a higher plane of nutrition available to her than does the older cow. “One of the hardest calves to breed for is that second calf,” Dr. Robert Wells, livestock consultant with the Samuel R. Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Okla., told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, “and typically what we see is that first calf female is not in a high enough condition to support all of the bodily functions of maintenance, growth, lactation, and then finally reproduction. So we want to see her body condition score in at least a 6 at calving, and preferably a 5 1/2 or greater at rebreed time.”
The Ongoing Battle against Parasites
A number of people across Missouri are getting into small sheep flocks and goat herds; that’s according to Dr. Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, University of Missouri Extension state small ruminant specialist at Lincoln University. “Some people are expanding into larger numbers to accommodate multi-species grazing with their cattle,” Clifford-Rathert told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor.
Discovering the Value of Your Farm
What is your business worth? Is it worth a million dollars? It may be, but to know you must discover the net worth of your farm or business. That may sound ridiculous, but it is possible.
The Right Tools for the Job
The right tools to do the job on a farm make every producer’s life much, much easier. This is especially true when it comes to tasks like applying products for parasite control on livestock. Parasites come in many shapes and sizes, but luckily there is a tool to get rid of almost every one.
Don’t Forget to Test
There is no bad time to take samples for a soil test.
It’s a Scorcher!
Taking the Time to Tag
There’s been a “tremendous rise” in the number of ranchers using ear tags, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole. But in many cases, they’re not getting the best use out of those tags.