March beef tips

What follows are tips for beef cattle for March from the nutritionists and consultants at Great Plains Livestock Consulting, Inc., Eagle, Neb. www.gplc-inc.com

• Scrape snow from pens and keep aprons and approaches smooth.
• Place cows on a high-mag mineral.
• Be ready to put up shades in feedlot pens.
• Target a BCS of 5-5.5 on mature cows and 5.5-6 on heifers at calving.
• Be sure to adjust cow nutrition to match requirements as they calve.
• Decide which implant you will use on calves.
• Semen check bulls.
• Haul as much manure as possible out of pens.  
• Corn is too expensive to feed to parasites -- deworm your livestock.

1. Class III futures close out quietly last week
2. Weather report: Rain spreads across the Corn Belt
3. Ag markets were mixed to start the new week
4. Workshop to discuss nutrient application, management, stewardship
5. Help for flood affected farmers
6. Ag markets diverged significantly Friday afternoon

1. Ag markets were mixed to start the new week
2. Class III futures close out quietly last week
3. Farmers dodge showers to plant corn at breakneck pace
4. Cheese may be key to weight-loss success
5. Simple steps to identify and treat metritis
6. Dairy supply chain launches guide for sustainability reporting

1. Analysis: Dairy Security Act better for farmers, taxpayers
2. World food supply depends on character, virtuous leadership
3. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
4. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
5. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop
6. N.M. rancher charged with 43 counts of animal cruelty