Shows / UNL BeefWatch
UNL BeefWatch
The BeefWatch Podcast provides timely information to help beef cattle producers improve the sustainability and profitability of their operations. BeefWatch is provided by the Nebraska Extension Beef Systems team and is the audio companion to the UNL BeefWatch Newsletter.
Episodes
- UNL BeefWatch
Strategies When Weaning Calves in Stressful Conditions
Drought has stressed calves this summer. Ways to mitigate stress and enhance calf health are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Green Is Not Always Growth: Nebraska Pasture Conditions After Late Rains
Late season rains can bring green to rangeland and pastures, but caution should be used in grazing this limited growth.
- UNL BeefWatch
Can Your Receiving Program Handle the Heat?
Hot, dry conditions can add additional stress to calves as the are recieved into the yard. Key things to pay attention to are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Cows Grazing Standing Corn – A Feed Option for this Summer, Fall, and Winter
Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler at the University of Kentucky discusses research on grazing standing corn and their experience in working with producers.
- UNL BeefWatch
LRP-Feeder Cattle Insurance: Recent Enhancement and Performance History
LRP has changed tremendously since it started. Dr. Parsons discusses the opportunities it offers on calves and feeder cattle to manage price risk.
- UNL BeefWatch
Build Cows that Stay - Heifer Development for Long Term Productivity
Recent research has confirmed management practices that enhance the potential for a replacement heifer to stay in the herd.
- UNL BeefWatch
Early Weaning Strategies for Challenging Forage Conditions
Early weaning can help reduce forage demand on rangeland and pastures. Strategies for utilizing this option are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Limit Feeding Cows with Soy Hulls and Low Quality Hay
Dr. Brandon Smith discusses research that examined feeding 10-12 lbs. of soy hulls per day with limited access to CRP hay to dry, pregnant cows.
- UNL BeefWatch
Using Ultrasound for Early Pregnancy Diagnosis and Sexing Calves
Dr.Lindsay Waechter-Mead highlights the value of ultrasound as pregnancy diagnosis tool, the information it can provide and keys to timing of use.
- UNL BeefWatch
Using Composite Bull, Pooled Sexed Semen in Beef Heifers
Dr. Rick Funston discusses his experience in working with a commercial cow-calf operation to utilize sexed semen with heifers.
- UNL BeefWatch
Strategic Cowherd Destocking to Promote Future Rebuilding
Evaluating options under current market conditions to keep a core of females from which to rebuild the cow herd going forward is discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Early Weaning Calves - A Producer Perspective
John Maddux from near Imperial discusses how the operation has used early weaning as a tool to mitigate drought impacts.
- UNL BeefWatch
Cattle Market Conditions with Dr. David Anderson
Cattle fundamentals continue to be strong supported by exceptional product quality and ongoing consumer demand.
- UNL BeefWatch
Reducing Pasture Fire Risk
Principles for reducing the risk of fire when working in rangelands and pastures is discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
America’s Appetite for Beef
The American consumer is increasingly eating more beef at a higher price than they were a decade ago.
- UNL BeefWatch
Virtual Fence Tour in eastern Nebraska, northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa June 16 and 17
Virtual fence technology is advancing rapidly. This two day tour will demonstrate its use on both producer operations and in research settings.
- UNL BeefWatch
Dr. Jerry Volesky, 31 Years as a Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist
Dr. Jerry Volesky completes a 31 year career with the University of Nebraska in June. He shares what he has learned and what he sees as key management thought…
- UNL BeefWatch
Dr. Rick Rasby, 40 Years as a Nebraska Extension Cow-Calf Specialist
Dr. Rick Rasby completes a 40 year career with the University of Nebraska in June. He shares what he has learned and what he sees as important for the success…
- UNL BeefWatch
Impact of Sire Over-Conditioning on Bull Fertility
Recent research is demonstrating that bull body condition during semen production influences not only sperm viability but also embryo development.
- UNL BeefWatch
Prussic Acid May Still be Present in Harvested Hay
Recent research is challenging the widely held belief that prussic acid breaks down in hay. Dr. Gruss from Iowa State discusses the data and gives principles…
- UNL BeefWatch
How is Methane from Cattle Measured?
Measuring methane produced from cattle is a challenging process. The methods and tools utilized are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Ranch Tax Management Considerations During Disasters and Drought
Disasters bring tax consequences which require thorough documentation. Options for managing income from livestock are dicussed as well.
- UNL BeefWatch
Down Stream Margin Trouble
Margins at the feedlot and packer level are showing negative values for the foreseable future. Dr. Koontz from CSU discusses the signal this sends for cow-calf…
- UNL BeefWatch
How and Why is Methane Produced in Cattle?
The University of Nebraska is examining factors that impact methane production from cattle. This research includes the microbial population in the rumen…
- UNL BeefWatch
Leveraging Summer Annual Forages in Today’s High Cattle Markets
Current crop commodity prices, fertilizer input costs, and a shortage of grazeable forage in Nebraska is creating a senario where planting summer annual…
- UNL BeefWatch
Farm/Ranch Insurance and Wildfires - What is Commonly Covered?
Taking time to annual review your insurance policy to understand what is and is not covered in the event of a wilfire is an important practice for farm and…
- UNL BeefWatch
Using Virtual Fence after a Wildfire - A Producer's Perspective
Jessie Jarvis, a rancher from near Eagle, Idaho shares her family's experience with using virtual fence to graze cows on portions of allotments that didn't…
- UNL BeefWatch
Nebraska Cattle Health Update: Bovine Theileriosis and the Asian Longhorned Tick
Dr. Matt Hille, Veterinary Pathologist and Extension Specialist, discusses the westward movement of the Asian Longhorned Tick and the impact it can have as a…
- UNL BeefWatch
Why Storage, Not Age, Determines Hay Quality
The conditions hay is stored under is the major driver of how quality is retained. Factors that impact hay deterioration are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Rebuilding Fences After a Disaster
Nebraska Extension Educator Jessica Groskopf discusses things land owners should know regarding Nebraska fence law and Federal cost-share programs, before…
- UNL BeefWatch
Managing Burned Pastures After a Wildfire - How to Graze
Drs. Jerry Volesky and Mitch Stephenson discusses factors that influence when pastures impacted by wildfires will be ready to be grazed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Considerations for Breeding Season in Confinement for Beef Cattle
Dr. Karla Wilke discusses management practices that producers should pay attention to if the breeding season will need to occur in a dry lot setting this year.
- UNL BeefWatch
25 Years of the Sandhills Calving System
Dr. David Smith and Dr. Dale Grotelueschen discuss the circumstances and system that they developed with producers, which became known as the Sandhills Calving…
- UNL BeefWatch
Caring for Livestock and People after Wildfire
Dr. Travis McCarty and Dr. Randall Spare, two veterinarians from Kansas, share their experiences of going through multiple wildfires personally and with their…
- UNL BeefWatch
Snap2Graze: Turning Cereal Rye Pasture Photos into Grazing Decisions
Snap2Graze is a web based tool based on Univeristy of Nebraska research, that utilizes a photo to estimate forage avaible for grazing.
- UNL BeefWatch
2026 Nebraska Ranch Practium Program
The content that will be covered is discussed, as well as how people can learn more or register.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding and Preventing Calf Scours
Neonatal calf diarrhea is a common concern among cow-calf producers. Understanding why scours occurs, can help prevent the problem.
- UNL BeefWatch
Balancing Bull Selection with Cowherd Profitability
Breed genetic trends for greater growth, milk production and mature weight are impacting cowherd nutrient needs and thus profitability.
- UNL BeefWatch
Integrating Reproductive Technologies in Cow-Calf Operations: Practical Strategies for Efficiency and Profitability
Opportunities to use technologies to improve reproductive performance in cows and heifers is discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Research Conducted by the University of Nebraska on Methane Production in Cattle
Past research and new integrated projects across multiple disciplines in cattle are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Cattle Market - Current Conditions and Outlook with Dr. Derrell Peel
Dr. Peel shares his perspective on the factors that are supporting cattle prices and what to expect for the rest of 2026.
- UNL BeefWatch
Cattle and Green House Gas Production - Understanding Cattle Contributions
How do cattle contribute to green house gas emissions? University of Nebraska researchers describe what is currently known and future research that will…
- UNL BeefWatch
Winterizing Your Cowherd Managing Cows Through Cold Stress
Much of the winter cold weather may be past, but extended periods of wet and cold events can still impact cattle. Understanding the factors that contribute to…
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding and Mitigating Methane Emissions in Beef Cattle Grant Project
The University of Nebraska has received a signficant grant to conduct fundamental research on energy use in cattle, examining diet, genetics and rumen…
- UNL BeefWatch
Opportunities for Distillers Feed Byproducts in your Beef Operation
Recent research shows there have been changes to the feeding value of distillers grain byproducts and how cattle perform when they are part of a diet.
- UNL BeefWatch
Effect of Feeding Whole Soybeans, Roasted Soybeans, or Distillers Grains in Silage-Based Growing Beef Diets
Research compared three protein sources at different levels in corn silage-based diets for growing cattle. The results and implications are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Trends of Winter Annual Herbaceous Expansion in the Nebraska Panhandle, Rangeland Analysis Platform Data
The Rangeland Analysis Platfrom is providing data to identify trends over time related to the increase of winter annual invasive grasses.
- UNL BeefWatch
Evaluation of FerAppease Administered at Arrival and Time of Reimplant on Feedlot Performance
A feedlot study compared FerAppease applied to yearling beef steers at initial processing and reimplant to a placebo on cattle health, feeding performance and…
- UNL BeefWatch
Virtual Fence - A Cow-calf Producers Perspective
Owen Williams from near Elk Mountain Wyoming shares how they are using virtual fence technology on the Double 8 Ranch for grazing riparian areas, irrigated…
- UNL BeefWatch
Cornstalk Grazing During Late Gestation - Making Sure Cow Nutrient Needs are Met
Cows in late gestation have nutrient requirements that are ramping up quickly while the quality compenents of corn residue have frequently declined in…
- UNL BeefWatch
Finding Forage Efficient Heifers
Research by Dr. Lalman at Oklahoma State University is showing that there is significant difference in forage intake and performance of heifers fed long stem…
- UNL BeefWatch
Cow Nutrition Considerations at Calving and Early Lactation
The nutrient requirements for heifers and cows ramp up rapidly in the last trimester and right after calving. Understanding a cows nutrition needs is the first…
- UNL BeefWatch
Integrated Dryland Crop and Cattle Production Systems - Research and Upcoming Programs
Research at Dickinson, North Dakota shows integrating cattle grazing as part of a crop rotation can reduce input costs and improve profitability when compared…
- UNL BeefWatch
Why Do I Have so Many Open Cows? Causes of Reproductive Failure
The major factors that contribute to cows not becoming pregnant are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
What are Beef Replacement Values for the Coming 2025-2026 Production Season?
What can I afford to pay for a bred heifer? Cow costs, replacement rate, calf prices, and weaning rate are major factors that impact this value.
- UNL BeefWatch
Hair Sheep as a Complement to a Nebraska Grain and Custom Cattle Grazing Operation
Matt Grimes from near Minden Nebraska discusses why he chose hair sheep as an enterprise and how they complement his family's grain farming and custom grazing…
- UNL BeefWatch
Calving College Webinar Series Returns in 2026 with Hands-On Opportunities
This popular course returns in 2026 with both online and hands-on workshops. Information about the content of the course as well as registration information is…
- UNL BeefWatch
Feedlot Management Strategies to Combat Winter Weather
Practices to reduce stress from cold, wet conditions such as bedding and windbreaks, that can improve cattle performance and health are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Prepare for Cattle Lice
Dave Boxler discusses conditions that enhance lice activity, thresholds at which treatment is warranted and different products that are avaiable for lice…
- UNL BeefWatch
Windrow Grazing - A Producers Perspective
Myra Hipke Richardson from near Stuart, Nebraska discusses how they have integrated windrow grazing of summer annual forages for fall and winter feeding of the…