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
Incorporating Red Clover for Management of Fescue Toxicosis
Dr. Brittany Davis discusses research showing that the compound biochanin A, which is found in red clover, can mitigate the effects of ergopeptide alkaloids…
- UNL BeefWatch
What Needs to be in Your Free-Choice Mineral Supplement When Grazing Cereal Rye or Other Small Cereals?
Dr. Mary Drewnoski discusses the specific mineral needs of cow-calf pairs as well as stocker cattle grazing annual forages and key components that should be in…
- UNL BeefWatch
Consider Securing Feed Supplies Now for Dry Conditions
Drought conditions continue for most of Nebraska and the High Plains. Developing a plan and aquiring forage and concentrate feeds now to feed the cow herd will…
- UNL BeefWatch
Annual Forages, Plan Now in Case of Drought
Annual forages can be used to help make up for the loss of range and pasture grazing due to drought. Dr. Volesky discusses options and cautions to consider…
- UNL BeefWatch
Be Aware of Basis Volatility When Using Price Risk Management for Calves and Feeder Cattle
Dr. Parsons reviews the historic wide positive basis currently in place between CME feeder cattle prices and local cash prices in Nebraska and the basis risk…
- UNL BeefWatch
Effects on Stocker Steer Performance While Consuming Essential Oil or Ionophore Minerals
Dr. Farney discusses how an essential oil mineral performed when compared to a lasalocid mineral for steers grazing summer pasture in southeast Kansas.
- UNL BeefWatch
Summer Supplementation of Steers with Dried Distillers Grains Cubes in Western Oklahoma
Dr. Paul Beck discusses the differences in average daily gain and supplement efficiency for steers grazing native grass pastures in 2022.
- UNL BeefWatch
Strategic zinc supplementation research has been shown to improve cattle resilency to health challenges along with growth and performance from weaning through to harvest.
Dr. Stephanie Hansen discusses 15 years of zinc research in receiving, growing and finishing cattle diets and the benefits they have seen.
- UNL BeefWatch
New Mineral Minute Videos Explain Cattle Nutrient Needs
Meeting the mineral needs of cattle can be challenging due to the dynamics that take place with production requirements, mineral content in feed and the impact…
- UNL BeefWatch
Wintering Growing Calves Using Corn Residue, the Value of Bypass Protein
Supplying growing cattle on low quality forage with adequate bypass or rumen undegradeable protien can significantly improve average daily gain by meeting…
- UNL BeefWatch
Can Pine Needles Cause Abortions in Cows?
Cows normally don't eat pine needles, but severe cold or snow can sometimes trigger consumption. Planning and prevention can help to mitigate the risk.
- UNL BeefWatch
Breeding Sustainable Beef Cows, Reducing Weight and Increasing Productivity
Research at the Meat Animal Research Center validates the value of heterosis with modern genetics for improving lifetime productivity of beef cows.
- UNL BeefWatch
Supplementing a Bacillus-based Probiotic to High Risk Stocker Cattle on Pasture
Research by Mississipi State University and Texas A and M has shown reduced mortality when high risk stocker cattle were supplemented with a Bacillus based…
- UNL BeefWatch
Calving Problems:When to Intervene
Tips for preparing for calving and guidelines for when to intervene and assist the cow or heifer are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Bedding Cattle Yards and Managing Bed Packs
In extended periods of cold wet conditions, cattle can benefit from bedding. Management practices to utilize this practice effectively are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Setting up the Newborn Calf to Respond to Spring Vaccinations
Cow nutrition and body condition heading into calving as well as the environment at calving shape a calf's ability to respond to vaccine.
- UNL BeefWatch
Winterizing Your Cowherd Managing Cows Through Cold Stress
Understanding lower critical temperature and factors that impact it, cow body condition and feeding to meet cow requirements are topics discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Vaccine Development and New Technology Being Used to Quickly Respond to Viruses
Vaccine development continues to advance with new technologies. Dr. McVey talks about historic and new methods being used.
- UNL BeefWatch
Sample, Test, Inventory and Stage Harvested Hay
Testing hay allows producers to match forage quality to cow nutrition needs and cost effectively purchase feed to complement hay inventory.
- UNL BeefWatch
Winter Management Options for Weaned Calves
Strategies for growing calves through the winter, the importance of rumen undegradable protein and compensatory gain is discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Getting More Out of Fall and Winter Grazing
Nebraska research shows strip grazing annual forages and crop residue can improve harvest efficiency and extend the quality of grazing avaiable.
- UNL BeefWatch
Dont Let Cow Herd Condition Slip
Fall is a critical time to body condition score cows and is an opportune time to increase condition on thin cows prior to the onset of winter and prepare them…
- UNL BeefWatch
Utilizing the ARM Method to Monitor Antimicrobial Use When Treating Bovine Respiratory Disease
Dr. John Groves, a veterinarian who works with high-risk stocker operations together with Dr. Brian Vander Ley discuss how they are utilizing a systems…
- UNL BeefWatch
How Grazing Corn Residue Affects the Soil
Over 20 years of research shows that there is yield benefit to subsequent crops following grazing of corn residue with cattle.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) in Cattle
Dr. Amelia Woolums from Mississipi State discusses how BRSV infects cattle and management strategies to minimize its impact.
- UNL BeefWatch
The Full Picture of Cow Efficiency
There are a number of metrics that can be used to measure cow efficiency. Dr. David Lalman from OSU discusses research being conducted looking at factors that…
- UNL BeefWatch
Hold the Net Wrap and Twine
Net wrap and twine that isn't removed from hay prior to feeding to cattle can lodge in the rumen and cause health problems. Research is discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding and Managing Anaplasmosis in Cattle
Anaplasmosis is a blood borne bacterial disease primarily transmitted by ticks and contaminated needles. Dr. Matt Hille discusses the disease, symptoms and…
- UNL BeefWatch
Effects of Conventional and Natural Management Systems on Backgrounding and Finishing Performance of Beef Steers
Cattle health and performance was analzyed from weaning through harvest comparing three growing and finishing systems that included conventional performance…
- UNL BeefWatch
Biosecurity Basics and Beyond: Ensuring Your Operations Future
Practicing foundational biosecurity principals on a cattle operation can help protect cattle from disease risks.
- UNL BeefWatch
Pencil Out Profits on Calf Marketing Alternatives
Dr. Lee Shulz from Iowa State highlights things to consider for either marketing calves at weaning or growing and selling at a later date
- UNL BeefWatch
Haying and Cattle Grazing Areas with Hemlock
Hay fields and pastures with hemlock present will require caution when harvesting for hay or grazing to minimize the risk of poisoning cattle utilzing the…
- UNL BeefWatch
What Can I Afford to Pay for a Replacement Female?
Dr. David Anderson discusses factors that influence how much a producer can afford to pay for a bred heifer and have her be profitable.
- UNL BeefWatch
Great Plains Custom Heifer Development Program
How the program came about, the benefits for producers enrolling heifers in the program and plans for next year are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Invading Nebraska: The Growing Threat of Invasive Plant Species
There are a number of new invasive plants species showing up in Nebraska. Ones to look for and resources to help identify them are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Cashing in on your calf crop: Adding value at the auction block
Characteristics that differentiate calf value on load lots of video auction cattle is discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Six Things to Consider when Developing a Price Risk Management Strategey for Cattle
Dr. Kenny Burdine from the University of Kentucky discusses principles for producers looking to manage price risk for calves and feeder cattle.
- UNL BeefWatch
How Rangeland Fire Impacts Barbed Wire Fence
John Weir from Oklahoma State University shares research on barbed wire and posts impacted by both prescribed fire and wildfire.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Pinkeye in Cattle
Dr. Matt Hille discusses research, vaccine, management practices and treatment approaches for dealing with pinkeye in cattle.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Feeder Cattle Basis Price Risk
The difference between CME feeder cattle prices and local cash prices can be quite wide. Dr. Shroeder discusses how understanding the factors that drive this…
- UNL BeefWatch
Prairie Dog Management on Pastures and Rangelands
Prairie dog activity can have significant impacts to agricultural producer. Understanding their life cycle and options to control them are discussed
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Nitrate and Prussic Acid Poisoning in Cattle
Understanding what is occuring when nitrate or prussic acid posioning occurs can help producers reduce risk and know how to best care for cattle.
- UNL BeefWatch
Nebraska Team Identifies New Genetic Defect Impacting Cattle Morbidity and Meat Quality
A recently discoverd recessive genetic defect that impacts the ability of cattle to break down glycogen into usable energy for sustained muscle activity is…
- UNL BeefWatch
Effect of Limit Feeding and Shade to Mitigate Heat Stress for Growing Cattle in a Backgrounding Yard
Research by Kansas State University showed significant benefit to growing cattle experiencing heat stress in a feedlot to have access to shade and be limit fed…
- UNL BeefWatch
Different Methods of Weaning and the Impact to Cattle Health and Performance through Harvest
Research conducted in Alabama with Angus-Simmental cross calves examined three different weaning methods and evaluated the impacts throughout the production…
- UNL BeefWatch
Research Review: Frequency of DDGS Supplementation Impacts Gains of Yearlings on Grass
Supplementing dried distillers grains to yearling cattle on grass can be profitable. Value of gain, cost of gain, level of supplementation, frequency and…
- UNL BeefWatch
Time to Start Planning for Heat in the Feedlot
Assessing conditions that can either contribute to or reduce the effects of heat stress on cattle can provide insights for management that can minimize the…
- UNL BeefWatch
Controlling Invasive Species in Native Range with Late Summer and Fall Burning
Six years of research in Kansas has shown significant benefits to native plant community diversity while reducing invasive species.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Photosensitivity in Cattle
Common causes of photosensitization and different types are discussed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Comparing the Performance of Cattle Castrated Using Different Techniques Upon Arrival at the Feedlot
This study looked at four methods to determine the least detrimental castration procedure for 700 pound bull calves in the winter in Kansas.
- UNL BeefWatch
How to Know When a Pasture is Ready to be Grazed?
Key characteristics of growth and stages of maturity in native grasses are indicators of when it is safe to begin grazing while also minimizing plant stress.
- UNL BeefWatch
Targeted grazing on cheatgrass in the western Great Plains
Seed production by cheatgrass can be significantly reduced when grazing it during rapid growth and while seed is soft.
- UNL BeefWatch
Swath Grazing Sorghum-Sudangrass and Pearl Millet as an Alternative to Feeding Cows Baled Hay in the Winter
Iowa State research over five years has shown swath grazing to be significantly less cost and labor than dry lot feeding cows hay in the winter.
- UNL BeefWatch
H5N1 in Dairy Cattle - Information and Update for Cattle Producers
Dr. Matt Hille, UNL Veterinary Pathologist, discusses history of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle, current regulations in place and the safety of milk and meat…
- UNL BeefWatch
Simple Synchronization of Cows - One Injection, One Time thorugh the Chute and Bull Breed
Dr. Rick Funston discusses a protocol using prostaglandin to synchronize estrus and bull breed.
- UNL BeefWatch
Management Strategies for Minimizing Early Pregnancy Loss
Dr. Rick Funston highlights management practices that can support or increase the risk of early pregnancy loss.
- UNL BeefWatch
Understanding Coccidiosis in Calves
Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead discusses how this microscopic protozoan parasite reproduces and infects calves and practices to minimize its impact to calf health.
- UNL BeefWatch
Best Practices for Needle Selection Use and Care in Cattle Health
Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead discusses principles to remember when selecting the right needle for a vaccination or other treatment.
- UNL BeefWatch
Best Practices for Emergency Euthanasia in Cattle
Dr. Becky Funk and Karly Anderson from UNL discusses key things to undersand about bovine anatomy and euthanasia methods to safely and swiftly put down cattle…
- UNL BeefWatch
The Influence of Protein on the Reproductive Performance of Beef Females
Dr. Sandy Johnson from KSU discusses research she has done looking at the potential impacts of grazing cows and heifers on wheat pasture right prior to…