Archive
A Perfect Storm
Current elements in the economy and the agricultural industry have the makings for a “perfect storm.” Just last week I was asked to do an interview pertaining to the current price situation for the beef industry. As I did the interview I realized what a unique set circumstances we have. In short, do not be surprised when you do not see ranchers and farmers jumping for joy over the currently high market prices. We are in very uncertain times. Read more…
It’s More Than Corn: Feeds
Part 5
Over the years, there have been hundreds of different products utilized as feed for livestock. Alternative feed supplies vary by region. I am only going to address some of the more “important” feeds, as based on annual usage within the United States.
Energy Feeds
Corn is the most widely used energy feed and excels in pounds of TDN produced per acre. It is very low in calcium, fair in phosphorus, deficient in vitamin B12 and must be supplemented with protein for most classes of livestock.
Corn
Sorghum is grown in semi-arid regions where corn does not grow well. It is similar to corn in its nutrient load, but is slightly higher in protein. It can be used to replace corn in rations, however, feed efficiency and gains may be decreased by as much as 10 percent. To overcome this loss, rolling or feeding as a high moisture grain is recommended. Read more…
It’s More Than Corn: Balanced Diets & Nutrition
This is the first post in a series, to continue the discussion of grain-fed and grass-fed cattle.
Animal nutrition is like human nutrition or should I say, human nutrition should be like animal nutrition? A balanced diet keeps the body healthy and functioning properly.
Often times, through various social media and traditional media platforms, I see statements that would lead the reader to believe that cattle are just being fed corn; so I felt compelled to put together a simple post that explains what is involved when preparing a ration for cattle. Saying that cattle are fed on corn alone makes as much sense as saying that you can be healthy by eating nothing else than meat, or living a healthy life by only eating apples. Cattle, like humans, require a balanced ration. Read more…
Honors
