At 5 years old, she looks pretty well imo

I grew up in a cow/calf operation but my dad sold out when I was in high school because he worked a lot of overtime.

I’m considering bringing our operation back as a DTC beef selling quarters.

Is the market strong for people that potentially want to wait six to seven months for their beef? And is the market strong for people that want to take all the various cuts?

I don’t see any other way to start, I can’t carry steers hoping they will sell a few weeks out and take a bloodbath at market if they don’t.

Any thoughts out there? I know it’s hard and I know I may lose money, but I feel like at least have to try.

Seems healthy otherwise

How do we feel about it?

Currently have a few crossbred steers and heifers from the auction house but wanting to get into some better genetics for youth showing in the future. Seems like ET could be a more cost-effective way into the club, but idk enough about it or the success rates.

Occasionally, I'll experience a burger or steak with an intense, buttery umami profile. It's typically found in the fattier cuts of beef like ribeye. By comparison, grass-fed beef tastes flat. I read this deep flavor is achieved by finishing cattle on corn for several months prior to slaughter. Its carbohydrate-rich content maximizes intramuscular marbling and elevates levels of glutamic and other free amino acids responsible for the desirable flavor.

Given the diverse bioavailability of polyunsaturated fatty acids in hemp, I wonder if using it as cattle feed could yield even more flavorful meat and dairy. Has this concept ever been tested or proven true, at least anecdotally?

https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/living-the-country-life-radio/industrial-hemp-for-cattle

found just south of Flagstaff AZ. There were so many I was wondering if the dominant species were psychedelic that grow from the dung.

I'm at a local petting zoo with my family and noticed that the hooves of the cow they have here look in rough shape. I don't know much about cows so I wanted to ask someone who knows more before I report anything. Is this normal or is this just hoof care neglect?

Hello! I’m fairly new to dairy cattle and am trying to get better at evaluating them, so I’d love to hear what you all look for when assessing a dairy animal.

I come from more of a beef cattle background, and I find that I have a much harder time judging dairy cattle than I do beef cattle. I understand the general concepts of structure, feet and legs, capacity, udder structure, etc., but I’m still learning how those traits translate into a good, functional dairy cow rather than simply a cow that looks good to me.

I’m interested in hearing what experienced dairy people look for in a young heifer versus a mature cow.

Things like

Feet and leg structure
Body capacity and strength
Rump structure
Udder development/attachment
Overall balance and functionality
Anything that tends to be overlooked by newer people

Pics/examples are very welcome if you have any to share. Thank you! I’m here to learn!

Hi!

I recently bought a cow hide rug and I was lucky enough for it to have been branded and i wanted to identify who this cow may have belonged to or to learn more about it.

If anyone could help that would be really cool. I like that i have the opportunity to trace it back.

Apologies if this is off topic I am not super well versed in this stuff

Thank you in advance

When you sell a cow, how much of what you know about them actually goes with him/her?

I’ve been thinking about this after selling a young bull we raised. I’d promised myself I’d find him a good home, and when I advertised him I found myself putting his whole story out there — where he came from, what had been done with him, what he was like, the history I thought the next owner should know.

I’ve done a version of the same thing with a couple of Braford heifers — after they sold, I sent their records along to the new owner.

Obviously with registered cattle there’s pedigree, registration info, performance data, health records, etc. But what about everything else you know from actually having the animal — temperament, mothering ability, quirks, previous calves, old photos, past issues, things you just remember?

Do you have a system for passing that knowledge along when cattle change hands? Or does most of it stay with the seller?

Hey everyone hope you're well. I have a question in relation to something I observed in our cows that were serviced.

We have one cow that was serviced and 6 weeks on I noticed a thick cloudy-ish/translucent string from her, it did appear mucus like but yet didn't have the same consistency as the ones they put out when in heat which is more free flowing. At week 9 I observed the exact same thing again only this time three others on the same night in the herd who were serviced also had it, one of them also being 9 weeks and the others being 7 weeks serviced.

The string has no odour and their vulvas are pink with no sign of redness, none of our bull calves have shown any interest in them whereas they have in the others who haven't been serviced.

I know scanning would be ideal but unfortunately the guy we normally use is going through a family bereavement and our local vet is currently on holidays and none of his other staff are trained up in it.

I'm just partially paranoid as my brother who has his own farm who opted to synchronise his cows heats (We stick to natural detection ourselves) scanned his a few weeks back and found out half of his herd was empty.

I did ask Google and chat bots but one says it's a common and even positive signs of successful pregnancy while the other says it's probably endomertitis

Any feedback is appreciated

Anyone have experience with RioMax or Crystal Lyx Tubs? I'm thinking of changing to tubs from loose mineral, or adding tubs to the regiment.

Currently I'm using Redmond Mineral Mix w/Garlic, probiotic powder, and a multivitamin blend.

I was thinking of adding tubs to increase protein and mitigate Flys during the summer, in addition to extra mineral.

I want to start Creep Feeding, does anyone have a high protein recommendation for calves? I currently use calf manna and a grass screening pellet that's about 15% proteins.

I have a 2 year old heifer that I cannot get to stop nursing. I have tried almost everything I can think of. She was weaned at 6 months, kept with only weanlings for 6 more months. Turned her out with the herd to get bred, she immediately starts nursing any cow that will stand long enough. I put her back in with weanlings for 4 more months, same situation as soon as she’s out with the herd. I put a plastic nose ring in, she just pulls them out. I have a metal one but I have not pierced her nose, yet. Logistically, I cannot keep her with weanlings her whole life, so I have to do something. Anyone have any other tips or tricks?

I have been debating on putting her in a pen system with one or two of the herd matriarchs, who will not take her BS. Thinking maybe if she gets a good hard correction from one of them, she would learn but I am open to other ideas.

**Yes, I know she needs to go to the sale barn. I am desperately trying to keep her genetics in my herd. She is the only heifer her dam ever had, taking her to the sale barn would completely end that bloodline. At this point, that is not an option. If she would have been from any other genetics, she would have been gone a year ago!

I had a heifer beef bucket calf that we discovered was basically allergic to milk replacers at about 3-4 months old. We finished her out to 5 months old on raw cow milk from a nearby dairy. But, she lost quite a bit of muscle mass in that whole ordeal and I’d LOVE to try and feed to help her regain some of what she lost. She’s already getting daily walks of a mile or so, and the normal rinse/ body work routine as well.

Feed wise she’s currently munching on a homemade mix we did with a nutritionist of cracked corn, oats, alfalfa pellets, beet pulp, a calf concentrate pellet, and a drizzle of molasses when we mix it. It comes out to about 18%CP, and 3-4% crude fat. She also gets a 75% alfalfa, 25% grass hay, and free choice minerals as well. I’m looking at maybe adding champion drive? And some ultra fill or natural fill to her feed pan.

She’s 6 months old and genetically she should be fairly well muscled but also very feminine. I have her dam and sire here. As well as several half siblings that are grown and look great. Target show is in January so I have plenty of time to get her up and going better here! She’s definitely never going to be clubby because that’s not what she’s bred for.

Curious what everyone does for flies out on a ranch? Couple hundred acres, couple hundred cows, but how do you keep flies off the cows?

Cow mata