Feeder

When Risk in a Crisis Becomes a Turning Point: Lessons from Top Producers

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:51:40 GMT

In a volatile agricultural landscape, risk is a constant. Weather, markets, input costs, succession issues, cyberthreats and pandemics all push farm families into uncomfortable decisions. During the “When Taking Risk in Times of Crisis Pays Off” panel at Top Producer Conference, six producers shared how they’ve navigated those moments — and what they’ve learned when the stakes were highest.

The panel, moderated by Rena Striegel, president of Transition Point Business Advisors in West Des Moines, Iowa, included: Edward and Rebecca Dalton, of Dalton Farms, Wakeman, Ohio; Chris Payne of 3B Hay & Straw, Ontario, Ore.; Wendy Alsum Dykstra and Heidi Alsum Randall of Alsum Farms and Produce, Friesland, Wis.; and Ron Rabou of Rabou Farms, Albin, Wyo.

Their stories spanned family tragedy, ransomware, COVID-19 disruptions, organic transitions and bold expansion moves — offering a candid look at what it really means to take risk in agriculture.

Here are five key takeaways from the conversation:

1. Crisis as a Catalyst, Not a Dead End

For several panelists, a crisis didn’t just test their operations; it forced a complete re-evaluation.

The Daltons describe being emotionally exhausted and financially stuck before a Top Producer event pushed them to question everything.

“We were floundering in agriculture,” Rebecca says. “We were not making any money, really. We were just doing it to do it and to continue that legacy. And we were to the point where, like, ‘why are we doing this?’ You know, we only have so many days here. We only have so much time here.”

After a series of family tragedies and persistent unprofitability, they made a bold move to transition about half their acres to organic production. The shift brought much-needed profitability and renewed purpose.

“The risk was I was going to quit farming,” Edward explains. “We needed something and a spark and to just want to farm again.”

In Wyoming, Rabou’s turning point came after the sudden death of his father and the unraveling of a complex family ranch structure. Walking away from a fifth-generation operation was emotionally painful, but necessary.

“We did a lot of soul searching, and I kind of came to the conclusion that the risk for me for not doing something was much greater than actually doing something,” he says.

Rabou and his wife started essentially from scratch, building an organic grain operation and a hunting enterprise, borrowing heavily despite having grown up in a “never borrow” mindset.

2. Numbers Matter — But They Aren’t Everything

A recurring theme was the importance of knowing your numbers while recognizing data alone cannot drive every decision.

“Knowing our numbers is what really helped us,” Edward explains. “If you know your own data front and back, when you really get into those tight situations that you need to be able to think and move… sometimes you just have to move, whether you want to or not.”

Recently, the Daltons made a bold move back to conventional production. The Daltons’ choice to step out of organic was a conscious decision to go against what the spreadsheet said, in favor of their family and team.

“Right now, when I’m hauling $12 beans instead of $40 beans, like we were for a few years, I’m not really happy with that decision, but it was too much time,” Edward explains. “We were losing time with our boys, and that ultimately is why we went back, even though we were making more money per acre.”

Rabou emphasizes having a clear philosophy about leverage: “I have no problem borrowing money on appreciating assets, but I have to be very careful about borrowing money on assets that depreciate.”

For him, land and infrastructure are long-game investments, and he admits he more often regrets the risks he didn’t take than the ones he did.

“I’ve never looked back and said I shouldn’t have made that investment,” he says. “But I have looked back a multitude of times and said, ‘Wow, I wish I would have made that investment.’”

3. Fear vs. Action: Moving When the Window Opens

Panelists agree that fear is often the biggest barrier to seizing opportunity — especially when decisions must be made quickly.

Oregon onion grower and packer Payne describes how, in the middle of a tense meeting, he and another young partner were essentially challenged to buy out older shareholders in an onion packing facility. They had seconds, not months, to commit.

His broader advice to producers now: “Don’t get caught up in fear. If you let fear dominate your thought processes, you’re never going to succeed.”

Preparation helps in those “15-second” decision moments, Payne adds. Continually learning, attending conferences and thinking through scenarios ahead of time gives you a framework so you’re not starting from zero when opportunity knocks.

Edward adds, “You absolutely know how it’ll go if you don’t try. If you’re not willing to try, it’s not going to work. You can’t move forward if you don’t do something or try.”

4. Cyberattacks, COVID-19 and the Power of Systems

For Alsum Farms & Produce crisis came in very modern forms: a ransomware attack and then the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At 3 a.m. one morning in October, I got a call from our IT manager that we had been hit with ransomware,” Wendy explains.

She explains recovery from the attack required all hands on deck, multiple external experts and months of work to protect traceability and keep product moving. The aftermath included layered backups, new server and email security, user training and an ongoing relationship with cybersecurity and insurance professionals.

Just months later, COVID-19 hit. With 90% to 95% of their business retail-focused, the Alsum team quickly formed a COVID-19 response group, redesigning workflows to keep employees safe and shelves stocked.

The sisters say one key result from COVID-19 was when another supplier faltered, the Alsums were ready to step up for a major retailer — turning crisis into opportunity.

5. Relationships as a Strategic Asset

Beyond capital and land, the panel underscores the value of relationships — with peers, competitors and buyers.

Edward, Payne and Rabou maintain a group text, often used when one of them is wrestling with a big decision.

“Have people in an industry that you can trust and communicate with,” Edward stresses. “There’s been days they’ve literally had to walk me off a ledge when I’m trying to figure out how to make a decision.”

In the potato and produce world, Heidi says, competitors often become collaborators when the chips are down.

“The nice thing about the potato industry and the produce industry in general that we’ve experienced is that it’s been very collaborative,” she explains.
Rabou adds he sometimes sells grain below top price to maintain long-term relationships and outlet security.

“Those relationships to me are more important than making the dollar in the moment,” he explains.

His broader warning to producers is to stop comparing your operation to your neighbors’.

“You really have to determine what works good for you as an individual, you as a couple, you as a business,” he stresses. “Stop paying attention to what everyone else is doing.”

The Bottom Line from Top Producers

Across all their stories, the panelists echoed a few core principles:

Know your numbers but also know your values.
Act in crisis — don’t let fear make the choice for you.
Be willing to pivot, even away from something profitable, if it no longer fits your life or strategy.
Invest in appreciating assets and in relationships, both of which can pay off long after the crisis has passed.

In short, risk in times of crisis isn’t just something to endure; handled intentionally, it can be the turning point that reshapes a farm for the better.

Filling Pens: Beef-on-Dairy Feeders Are Here to Stay

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:46:19 GMT

The biggest factor impacting the quality of beef-on-dairy calves in the feedyard is genetic selection.

For the past five years, Hy Plains Feedyard in Montezuma, Kan., has worked with experts to greatly improve their dairy-influenced calves. What might have begun as a trend has only grown and become more popular in filling pens at feedyards.

“We started about 2012 on dairy-cross cattle, and it has taken us up until about this last year with our quality grades,” Tom Jones of Hy Plains says. “Now, these cattle are running about 90% to 100% Choice and 20% to 30% Prime.”

Working with select dairies in Kansas and Nebraska, Jones says genetic selection was the key to improving both quality grades and red meat yield. While they still are not as feed efficient as beef calves, they are still fed the same rations.

Jones says working with Dan Dorn with ABS Global to help navigate genetics was the turning point.

“We were failing miserably until we brought in Dan to help us do this genetic selection. That kind of opened the door for us, and we got better really fast,” Jones explains.

Working with Hy Plains helped ABS gather progeny data in the feedyard to make better sire selections when crossing beef-on-dairy cows.

“We focus on three profit drivers first, and the No. 1 profit driver in the feedyard is feed conversion,” Dorn says. “No. 2 is carcass traits and No. 3 is carcass weight. At ABS, we have been using Sim-Angus genetics from the beginning.”

Working with Dorn on the front end of genetic selection started making a difference in the carcass quality. Next, they consulted with Dale Woerner, Texas Tech University Cargill endowed professor.

“Things really accelerated when we brought in Dale Woerner, and we started looking and measuring red meat yield, quality grade of the cattle and muscling,” Jones explains.

The collected data from all three — Hy Plains, ABS and Texas Tech — were shared and evaluated.

“It really accelerated us into moving these cattle to all Choice and a large percentage of Prime,” Jones says. “It wouldn’t have been near as successful if I hadn’t stuck with those guys.”

Jones works with two dairies that have consistently had 100% Choice cattle and 20% to 30% Prime.

“Nobody thought we’d ever get to that level,” he says.

Dr. Miles Theurer, DVM and research director for Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, works closely with Jones at the Hy Plains research facility and echoes how genetic selection made the biggest improvement in the beef-on-dairy calves.

“The feedyard relied on ABS to figure out how we improve this more rapidly and by really tracing that animal all the way back to that straw of semen,” Theurer says. “We figured out which of those sires worked well and which of them did not perform up to expectations and then how to incorporate that into the selection criteria.”

While more success has been found with beef-on-dairy calves and they continue filling pens at feedyards, one major concern has come to light — liver abscesses .

“Liver abscesses are very challenging on these beef-on-dairy crosses,” Theurer says. “So it varies by location, but also by origin and practices. These can be anywhere from 30% to 40% all the way up to 80% to 90%. Quite a wide range of variation in the amount of liver abscesses.”

Beef calves in comparison in the Midwest are closer to 25% with liver abscesses. This factor has also been taken into consideration with genetic selection, but hasn’t proven to be the answer.

“We need to have more knowledge where these liver abscesses are actually occurring in the production phases for us to develop more appropriate intervention strategies,” Theurer adds. “Right now everyone wants to kind of point the finger at each other, but I think more of that supply communication up and down the supply chain can help find more of the root cause so we can develop effective mitigation strategies.”

Looking ahead, Dorn says beef-on-dairy calves in the feedyard are here to stay and have helped cattle numbers.

“I think as we look at this from the genetic selection, not only on the quality grade but also at some of the red meat yield potential, can help separate these beef-on-dairy crosses for the future,” Theurer summarizes.

Are We Seeing Signs of Herd Rebuilding?

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:41:54 GMT

The U.S. beef cow inventory has reached its lowest point since 1962, marking what appears to be the bottom of the current cattle cycle. Tight supply is driving the strong pricing environment beef producers are enjoying today.

“For cow-calf producers right now, things are as good as they’ve probably ever been,” says Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee assistant professor. “Even though things are really good, producers are conscientious and vigilant about potential challenges,” Rowan summarizes.

Agreeing with Rowan, South Dakota cattleman Ken Odde adds while profits are currently strong, inflation quickly erodes economic gains. He stresses the importance of risk management and diversification.

Early Signs of Herd Rebuilding?

This is the million-dollar question: Are there encouraging signs of expansion?

“The beef industry is not currently in herd expansion mode, with producers hesitant to retain heifers due to high costs and economic uncertainties,” says Dave Weaber, Terrain senior animal protein analyst.

In Drovers State of Industry Report to be released the week of Sept. 15, we breakdown the July USDA cattle inventory and cattle on feed reports. While the USDA reports showed the smallest U.S. herd in history and continuing tightening numbers on feed, analysts predict producers have not experienced the highest cattle prices, yet.

“Our national herd size has the industry at an interesting point,” Rowan says. “Prices are at all-time highs, inputs are reasonable and more cow-calf enterprises are profitable than ever. When the industrywide rebuild will happen remains up in the air, but producers are keeping in mind that the high-flying industry right now is not going to stick around forever. They’re starting to adopt new technologies, leveling up their crossbreeding programs and expand opportunities for non-cattle related income on their ranches.”

Weaber adds producers need to be intentional about herd expansion, understanding the financial implications of adding new cattle.

Beef-on-Dairy Fills the Beef Supply Gap

“The current dynamics of supply is going to be a challenge,” says Jarrod Gillig, Cargill senior vice president, managing director for beef.

Gillig summarizes the cattle industry is experiencing a critical period of transition. He doesn’t expect the cow herd to return to previous peak levels of 32 million head. Instead, he predicts the gap in supply will be filled by beef-on-dairy calves.

Nick Hardcastle, Cargill senior director of meat grading and technical specialist, explains how the beef-on-dairy calves are an upgrade to the traditional Holstein steer and the positive impact they are making on beef supply.

“Beef-on-dairy is more desirable because it helped overcome several Holstein difficulties,” he says. “Improvements include red meat yield — more meat to a consumer — as well as improved acceptance in branded programs.”

Hardcastle says the beef-on-dairy cattle are filling the supply gap by filling pens in the Plains states where feeders are needed, and they are widely accepted by feeders and packers.

Defining Future Beef Producer Success

Odde says the beef industry is not just surviving but positioning itself for significant transformation.

“Producers who remain flexible, technologically savvy and strategic in their approach will be best positioned to thrive in this changing environment,” he says.

Weaber agrees saying successful producers will be those who can adapt, manage costs effectively and align themselves with evolving market trends.

“Don’t let cost get away from you,” Weaber warns, emphasizing that “being a low-cost, high-productivity producer means you get to make money seven, eight or nine years of the cycle.”

He stresses the importance of understanding financial implications, particularly during market transitions.

“If we’re not working on the business, we can’t work in the business,” Weaber adds, summarizing his philosophy regarding producers’ need to adopt more strategic, data-driven approaches.

The State of the Beef Industry Report includes input from nearly 500 beef producers. The annual report provides information to help producers when making decisions. Click here to download the full report.

Your Next Read: 47% of Beef Producers Plan to Increase Herd Numbers

Rust in the Ration: How to Combat Southern Rust’s Impact on Corn Silage

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:04:48 GMT

With the warm and wet conditions this season, southern rust is on the rise in Midwest corn crops. It may be time to start considering the impact that could have on corn silage and preparing to adjust rations accordingly. While southern rust is not a direct threat to herd health, it has been shown to lower the nutritional value of silage and can compromise feed quality.

Southern rust, a fast-developing fungal disease caused by Puccinia polysora, does not itself produce toxins, but it weakens the plant and provides the opportunity for other diseases to move in. These opportunists include various Furasium species, which produce mycotoxins (fumonisin and deoxynivalenol) that can be harmful in feed.

Southern Rust and Corn Silage Quality

Southern rust is known to impact corn silage quality. A study from the University of Florida showed increasing rust infestation resulted in increased dry matter and fiber fractions, but that dry matter digestibility decreased by 13%. Further, high rust silages had lower neutral detergent fiber digestibilities than medium and no rust silages. Southern rust also affected the concentrations of lactate and volatile fatty acids, causing both to decrease with increasing infestation. These results indicate decreased nutritive value.

The observed increased dry matter also reduced silo packing effectiveness. If moisture levels are too low at harvest, it is difficult to achieve adequate packing, which leads to poor fermentation and an increased risk of mold growth.

Because southern rust coverage reduces the photosynthetic area of the leaf, grain fill is often hindered, leading to a lower energy and protein content in the silage.

Southern Rust Silage Management

There are a handful of strategies producers can apply to counteract the effects of southern rust:

Adjust harvest time based on moisture content. Southern rust can cause corn to dry down faster than normal. Monitor moisture levels closely to ensure the proper fermentation of silage.
Consider a silage inoculant. Inoculants improve fermentation, and the rapid pH drop can inhibit mold and yeast growth.
Ensure good packing and storage. Pack silage well to limit oxygen exposure and prevent mold growth. Cover bunkers immediately and weigh down coverings thoroughly.

Feeding Southern Rust Silage

To counter the nutritional challenges of feeding southern rust-infected corn silage, dietary supplementation may be necessary.

Prior to inclusion, test all potentially infected silage for mycotoxins. This will allow you to determine the safety of the feed and avoid potential health issues. If mycotoxins are high, the incorporation of a mycotoxin binding agent into the ration will help reduce toxin absorption in the animal’s digestive tract. Additionally, supplementation with antioxidants, such as vitamin E and selenium, could help animals by countering oxidative stress caused by mycotoxins and supporting immune function.

If grain fill was affected and starch levels are low, you may need to incorporate an additional energy course to compensate. Further, poor grain fill could reduce the already low protein content of corn silage, and protein supplementation may be required.

When incorporating infected silage, ensure it is thoroughly mixed into the TMR to dilute potential ‘hot spots’. Inclusion levels of contaminated silage in the feed may need to be limited or removed entirely for sensitive animals, including lactating or breeding animals. Livestock should be monitored closely for symptoms of mycotoxin toxicity, such as reduced intake, weight loss, digestive issues or reproductive challenges. Be prepared to respond if issues arise.

When feeding corn silage infected with southern rust, caution is essential to protect livestock health and performance. The thoughtful use of compromised silage can help minimize risk while maintaining efficiency and animal well-being.

Your next read: Southern Rust Set To Take Big Bite Out Of Midwest Corn Crop?

Rollins Rolls Out 5-Point Plan to Contain New World Screwworm

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:01:29 GMT

Today Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a five-pronged plan to combat New World screwworm (NWS) – a pest that would devastate ranchers if it made its way across the border.

Rollins made her announcement at the Moore Air Base facility near Edinburg, Texas. Moore was instrumental as a sterile fly production lab to rid the U.S. of NWS in the 1960s and 1970s. Hundreds of millions of flies were reared, sterilized with radiation and dropped from aircraft to eliminate the parasitic pest that preyed upon wildlife and livestock. According to a USDA spokesperson it will cost an estimated $8.5 million to get the base up and running as a distribution facility.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins this morning launched an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a plan to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest.

(U.S. Department of Agriculture)

According to the Texas Wildlife Association , there are currently more than 1,800 cases of livestock infestation in southern Mexico. The flies are moving north and are currently 600 miles from the south Texas border.

“We have defeated the screwworm before, and we will do it again,” Rollins says.

Here in McAllen, TX to announce a BOLD 5-pronged plan to combat the deadly parasite called New World Screwworm – which would devastate ranchers if it made its way across the border.

We are protecting producers, strengthening biosecurity, and ALWAYS standing up for American… pic.twitter.com/VHOlqZyZ9a
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) June 18, 2025

Her five-pronged plan to combat NWS includes:

Stop the pest from spreading in Mexico.
Rollins plans to continue partnering with her Mexican counterparts and using sterile insect technology to stop the spread. This includes investing $21 million to produce up to 100 million additional sterile flies weekly.

“We are first enhancing the international sterile fly production and investing $21 million in renovation of an existing fly facility in southern Mexico, which will provide up to 100 million additional sterile flies every week to stop the spread,” Rollins says.

Currently, the only sterile fly facility is located in Panama. It’s jointly run by the Panamanian government and the U.S. government. USDA had previously announced its plan to invest in the retrofiting of a fruit fly facility in Chiapas, Mexico, to produce additional sterile flies.

According to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association , “The Chiapas facility produces about 117 million flies per week, but to form an effective barrier along the U.S. southern border, we need upward of 300 million sterile flies per week.”
Protect the U.S. at all costs.
Rollins temporarily closed the southern border to live animal imports and intercepting illegally introduced livestock. USDA is working closely with Mexico to improve surveillance.

“I do believe we have met and moved into a new era of productive partnership —perhaps better than ever before — with our Mexican counterparts,” Rollins says.
Maximize our readiness.
This will be achieved by partnering with state animal health officials to update emergency management plans and stockpile therapeutics for ranchers.
Take the fight to the screwworm.
The domestic fight includes establishing a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base. Rollins says they are exploring options for building a domestic production facility at Moore that could produce up to 300 million sterile flies per week.

“We can’t get a brand new facility up and running probably before two or three years. So, that’s why we’ve got to really focus on the today,” Rollins explains.

She also announced USDA will be hosting listening sessions in affected areas starting next week.
Innovate Our Way to Eradication.
Leverage the sound science including USDA’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) to continue to quickly develop novel treatments, preventatives and response strategies. Rollins says this includes working with land grant universities in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. She listed these key strategies during the press conference:
- Develop better fly traps and lures
- Provide local training
- Improve surveillance methods
- Create new response strategies

Nearly 80 lawmakers led by House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) sent a bipartisan letter on Tuesday to Rollins urging immediate action and promising congressional support for the significant funding required.

The letter included this message, “When looking solely at the historical impact of NWS in Texas, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) estimates a contemporary outbreak would cost producers $732 million per year and the Texas economy a loss of $1.8 billion. Extrapolating those results to the states within the historic range of NWS pre-eradication, a contemporary outbreak of NWS could cost producers $4.3 billion per year and cause a total economic loss of more than $10.6 billion. This does not account for the possible expansion of NWS beyond the historic range.”

U.S. Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) was at the announcement and recently shared in a letter to Rollins these key advantages of the Moore Air Base location:

Border proximity: The proximity to the border with Mexico is crucial for effective monitoring and control of potential incursions of invasive fly species. A facility in this region would allow for rapid response and containment, minimizing the spread of infestations into the U.S.
Existing agricultural infrastructure: The region boasts a robust agricultural sector with established infrastructure and expertise in livestock management. This existing framework would facilitate efficient integration of the sterile fly facility and streamline its operations. Additionally, Moore Air Base has operations runways equipped to distribute sterile flies.
Strategic location: Moore Air Base offers a central location for distribution of sterile flies to other areas in the southern U.S., if such a need arises. Additionally, this base was the site of a facility used in the 1960s to successfully combat NWS.
Economic impact: The establishment of such a facility would provide valuable economic opportunities for the region by generating jobs and stimulating local economies.

U.S. Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) summarized at the announcement, “This is important to the whole country. We are going to be aggressive about this, and we are going to make sure that we don’t get screwed by the screwworm.”

Your Next Read: Urgency in Action: We Must Eradicate New World Screwworm

The 'Golden Ticket' To Cattle Feeding Efficiency? It’s Been Found, FBN and Boveta Suggest

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:30:37 GMT

Has the ‘golden ticket’ to cattle feeding efficiency and carcass yield with reduction in methane gas emissions and wet waste been found? Farmers Business Network (FBN), along with its partner, Boveta Nutrition, LLC, believe so.

Recently, the companies announced results from an FBN-managed independent study at an operation outside of Lincoln, Nebr., trialing the partnership’s amino acid balancing program.

The farm manager, Ben Row at Talcott Land and Cattle, says their backgrounding operation went from $1.20 cost of gain, to now being around $0.71. Row also believes the health of the cattle and overall performance has improved on the program.

Additional findings from Boveta research with cattle on the company’s balanced diet plan conclude:
• Backgrounding cattle on forage diet showed $0.20 per lb. cost of gain advantage
• Finishing cattle consumed 15% less feed, maintained daily gain and delivered an average savings of $0.07 per pound gained
• A large commercial feedlot study produced a $30 per head advantage for steers
• In dairy cattle, milk yield increased by 3.9 lb/day or 4%

While these recent findings show a promising future in cattle production, it’s worth nothing that amino acid balancing is not a new concept.

“Amino acid balancing has been a standard nutritional practice in the swine and poultry industries to drive margin and animal growth, but we haven’t been able to solve the riddle with beef cattle until now,” says Dr. Monty Kerley, FBN’s senior ruminant nutritionist, in the release. “After decades, we finally believe we’re able to deliver this solution to beef producers and its unique potential to decrease feed costs while maintaining optimal growth.”

Specifically, growth performance, average daily gain and feed efficiency rise to the top as the driving forces behind amino acid balancing, Kerley adds.

The program is set to begin with FBN customers with cattle operations in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Dakota and South Dakota—with plans to expand nationally and internationally in the future.

As the first step towards implementing the program, FBN offers a feed consultation and will take inventory of the producer’s available feed resources to formulate the best, most cost-efficient ration for the specific cattle in the current operation. Then, in balancing the amino acids, a unique ration and supplement will be formulated to complete the operation’s feeding plan.

Once the final nutrition recommendation is created and priced, the producer will then have the option to purchase the supplement and officially enter the program.

Kerley says obtaining the supplement should be no different for producers, as FBN and Boveta plan to work with local feed mills and cooperatives to fulfill the operation’s needs.

When encouraging producers to consider the program, Kerley explains, “Focus on cost of gain and not cost per ton. A lot of times, we change the proteins around. We may be looking at a $5, $10 or $15 per ton feed cost increase, but the reason we do that is because there’s going to be a cost of gain advantage to the producers. They’ll realize the net benefit.”

In addition to production performance and growth, the companies explain the environmental impacts of cattle production can also be improved through the program.

“Reducing intake by use of Boveta’s patent-pending diet formulation model improves income over feed costs by 8 to 12% while similarly reducing methane and wet waste. Combining that improved efficiency with reduced roughage intake provides a healthy, practical way to further improve profits and reduce methane emissions up to 30% or more,” says a Boveta research report.

The program is still in a very hands-on stage, and Gregory Mills, president and CEO of Boveta Nutrition, LLC, says the availability of a mobile app or computer software is not there yet.

More Boveta Nutrition, LLC research results from implementation of amino acid balancing and diet formulation in beef and dairy cattle can be found on the company’s website .

Read More:
Proprietary Feeding System Improves Feed Efficiency and Carcass Yield

3 Things to Consider Before You Raise Dairy Steers

Mon, 03 May 2021 17:16:04 GMT

“Bull or heifer?” It’s probably the most common question asked by dairy producers once a newborn calf hits the ground. Chances are, if you see a scowl furrow a farmer’s brow, the calf is most likely a bull.

While it might be frustrating when your favorite cow in the herd produces a bull calf, it does not mean that that calf does not poses some value. In fact, dairy beef makes up approximately 20% of the fed cattle market and have the genetic capabilities to produce high quality beef that is well-marbled with minimal backfat, according to Tara Felix, an Extension beef specialist with Pennsylvania State University. This means that there is a reliable market for dairy steers within the beef industry.

But before you begin to raise your bull calves, there are a few things to consider:

Facilities, Facilities, Facilities

One of the most important factors when raising dairy steers is the availability of space. Do you have enough hutches? Enough pens? Or perhaps even an extra barn to finish these steers out?

“Dairy steers require more housing and shelter than conventional beef breeds of the same age,” Felix says. “Footing is very important because dairy beef steers are fed for nearly a year. Unbedded concrete or slatted floors can result in lameness.”

If space is a limiting factor for your operation, it may be best to only raise your replacement animals. But if you do have enough room, raising dairy steers may be an option.

Do You Have Enough Feed?

Another factor to keep in mind is the amount of feed these animals will consume. Mature dairy steers will eat roughly 18-20 lb. of feed per day, according to the Product of Extension Beef Cattle Resource Committee. Therefore, it is important to analyze your feed inventory to ensure that there is enough to support these additional animals.

“Producing an acceptable-quality carcass from dairy beef steers requires feeding the animals a high-energy ration and marketing them at an early age (12 to 14 months) and acceptable weight (1,150 to 1,450 pounds),” Felix says. “Because of the higher ratio of feed to weight gain compared with traditional beef breeds, it will be most economical to target early, rapid weight gain in dairy beef steers to try to reach slaughter weight at as young an age as possible. Calves fed for more than 20 months are typically not profitable.”

One caution when feeding dairy steers is to remember that steers need to be fed a high concentrate diet instead of a forage-based program in order to achieve a better average daily gain.

Treat Calves Equally.

When raising dairy steers from birth, it is crucial to provide the same care to the bulls as you would your newborn heifers.

“The future profitability of bull calves is greatly impacted by the care they receive during the first hours and days of life,” says Frank Wardynski, a Michigan State University Extension agent. “Calves that do not receive adequate immunoglobulin transfer within the first few hours of life are at greater risk of diseases such as scours and pneumonia and exhibit mortality rates twice those of calves receiving adequate immunoglobulin transfer. Management recommendations for steer calves need to be the same as the heifers if they are to be healthy and vigorous.”

Raising dairy steers can be a profitable addition to your operation, but only if it is properly managed. Before diving in head first, consider these key components along with the amount of labor that comes along with rearing these additional animals.