Purdue's Beef Blog

This blog was created by the Purdue Beef Team as an educational forum for beef producers and Extension educators. It includes timely news, issues, and management tips that have the potential to affect the beef business and decision-making process. Opinions expressed in the news clips do not necessarily represent those of Purdue University or the beef industry.

URL: http://purduephil.wordpress.com

Updated: 19 hours 36 min ago

BeefTalk: Cattle Size Is Different Than Cow Size

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:56

BeefTalk: Cattle Size Is Different Than Cow Size

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

This discussion starts with a very popular topic, which is cattle size. One could say cow, bull or calf size.

Finding Profitability in a Volatile Cattle Market

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:56

Finding Profitability in a Volatile Cattle Market

Beef Today

There’s no question that unprecedented volatility in commodity markets and the increasing influence of external factors, both domestic and abroad, are changing how cattle producers do business in the cattle market.

Dean Bob Whitson to Step Down as OSU Division of Ag Dean July 31st

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:55

Dean Bob Whitson to Step Down as OSU Division of Ag Dean July 31st

Oklahoma Farm Report

Dean Bob Whitson to Step Down as OSU Division of Ag Dean July 31st The Dean and Vice President of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resouces at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Bob Whitson, has decided to call it quits.

Handling cattle properly can add to profitability

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:55

Handling cattle properly can add to profitability

Dr. W. Dee Whittier

Southwest Farm Press

Proper handling of cattle is an aspect of beef production that needs to be a concern for anyone involved in any of the stages of management.

Grazing benefits public lands

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:55

Grazing benefits public lands

Delta Farm Press

Grazing on public lands has become a controversial subject in some circles. But Bill Hopkin says properly managed grazing can be beneficial to that land, even in the arid West.

Annual San Juan Basin Extension Beef Cattle Symposium

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:55

Annual San Juan Basin Extension Beef Cattle Symposium

Terry Schaaf

Pagosa Sun

The 29th annual San Juan Basin Extension Beef Cattle Symposium will be held on Feb. 15, at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, 30100 U.S. 160, Cortez, Colorado. The program will be presented by Extension Offices in: La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma and Dolores counties; and NMSU Cooperative Extension in San Juan County, New Mexico.

NCBA Calls Estate Tax Top Priority, Pushes Back on Regulation

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:55

NCBA Calls Estate Tax Top Priority, Pushes Back on Regulation

Kerry Halladay

Western Livestock Journal

NCBA President-Elect J.D. Alexander painted a picture of regulatory chaos in Washington, D.C., but pointed to grassroots advocacy as the primary reason the cattle industry was able to “weather the storm.”

Making decisions early can help ease drought woes

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:54

Making decisions early can help ease drought woes

Delta Farm Press

Hindsight is 20-20, says the University of Arkansas’ Tom Troxel, but cattle ranchers confronted with dry conditions can help themselves by making decisions early.

Dwindling herds, overseas demand drives up beef prices

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:54

Dwindling herds, overseas demand drives up beef prices

Georgina Gustin

InForum

For anyone who loves a good steak, a juicy burger or a nice Sunday roast, these are anxious times.

DNA Test for Commercial Angus Released

Fri, 2012-02-03 06:54

DNA Test for Commercial Angus Released

AgriMarketing

The most productive, high-quality commercial cowherds are often managed like purebreds, with individual animal records and calf performance and carcass data brought to bear on each cow. Progeny are increasingly predictable and accurate in hitting gain and grade targets.

Baxter Black, DVM: WHY NO FARMER POETRY?

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:40

Baxter Black, DVM: WHY NO FARMER POETRY?

Cowboy poetry is one of my efforts. I do my best but sometimes when I am in the corn belt or entertaining the Western Pistachio Growers, I’m asked why I don’t do more farmer poetry?

Proposed Child Labor Rule to Be Revised

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:40

Proposed Child Labor Rule to Be Revised

Jennifer Russell

Beef Today

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it will revise part of its controversial farm labor rule that aims to increase protections for youth workers.

Applying 35 Years Of Genetic Resource To Build Cows

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:40

Applying 35 Years Of Genetic Resource To Build Cows

Amanda Radke

BEEF

What makes the perfect cow? Leading scientists from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) share results of a 35-year study that evaluates the role of cow size, heterosis, complimentary breeds and the effective use of terminal sires and maternal composites for beef efficiency.

Trial Uses Limit Feeding for Higher Level DDGS Inclusion

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:40

Trial Uses Limit Feeding for Higher Level DDGS Inclusion

Cheryl Anderson

Progressive Farmer

Beef producers can successfully feed dried distillers grains with solubles at higher inclusion rates in beef growing diets by using a limit feeding strategy, a feeding trial concluded.

Texas Is Losing Its Longhorns

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:39

Texas Is Losing Its Longhorns

Jordan Weissmann

The Atlantic

Texas is now suffering the second year of its worst drought in a century, and according to Reuters reporters P.J. Huffstutter and Theopolis Waters, its ravages are now causing the unthinkable to happen: Cattle ranchers are giving up on the Lone Star State and heading north.

Beef Must Win, Place, Show

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:39

Beef Must Win, Place, Show

Anthony Pannone

Cattle Today

Chefs and quality-focused ranchers are a lot alike, where keeping customers satisfied helps win the daily race for business profits. Chef Brad Cornwall bets the same trifecta with those ranchers: demand, profitability, consistency.

Support Grows for Checkoff Increase

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:39

Support Grows for Checkoff Increase

Katie Micik

DTN

NCBA’s convention is underway here in Nashville and the first meeting I went to jumped to the heart of it: the $1 per head check-off fee. While most of this executive committee meeting of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB) was in closed session, they mentioned a few things of interest.

Cattle Industry Kicks Off Convention in Nashville

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:38

Cattle Industry Kicks Off Convention in Nashville

AgriMarketing

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Bill Donald said with roughly 6,000 cattlemen and women registered for the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, the event offers something for everyone.

You Cannot Starve a Profit Into a Cow

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:38

You Cannot Starve a Profit Into a Cow

Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Oklahoma Farm Report

Most cattle producers in Oklahoma and Texas had a difficult 2011. The drought prevented an adequate amount of hay from being harvested or purchased for a reasonable price.

Is Today’s Beef Better For The Environment?

Thu, 2012-02-02 05:37

Is Today’s Beef Better For The Environment?

Rachel Estabrook

WBUR

The American beef industry has taken a bit of a beating in recent years. Beef has been linked to heart disease and cancer and hamburgers have been recalled. We’re also often told that cattle require a lot of precious food and water to make tender steaks.