Page 40 - MWC 2-2-2023s

Beef producers: 'Get your The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P40

house in order' in 2023

Beef producers should approach 2023 with cautious optimism

Beef producers should ap- This will be the fourth con-
proach 2023 with cautious secutive year of fewer beef
optimism – matched with res- cows in production. Missouri
olutions of good management lost 6% of its cow numbers
and investment in infrastruc- from January 2021 to Jan-
ture, says University of Mis- uary 2022, according to the
souri Extension agriculture USDA National Agricultural
business specialist Wesley Statistics Service. U.S. num-
Tucker. bers mirror declines in other
Optimistically, beef con- countries. ter capacity problems and poly feeder rings compared to
tinues to be in favor with Drought, high feed and even global issues like the sheeted rings. Modified cone
U.S. consumers, and export input costs, and lingering Russian-Ukraine conflict and rings had far less waste.
demand remains solid, says supply chain issues will like- higher diesel prices – can un- • Invest in soil tests. Soil
Tucker. However, risks of per- ly push this number even expectedly affect the produc- tests help producers spend
sistent drought, global trade lower in 2023. er’s bottom line. their fertilizer dollars where
issues, high input costs and The 2022 drought put a During most droughts, the they will get the greatest
concerns of inflation and re- bull’s-eye on southwestern price of feed goes up, but pric- return. Carefully evaluate
cession all have the potential Missouri, the state’s biggest es go back to normal when whether it makes better fi-
to take a bite out of profits. cattle-producing region. Hay conditions improve. However, nancial sense to fertilize and
For the past eight years, and forage supplies dwin- input costs – equipment, die- invest in improved forages or
meat production has contin- dled, pushing up prices for sel, fertilizer, and labor – like- buy supplemental feed.
ued a steady growth of more feed inputs. ly won’t go down anytime soon • Good grass means green
supply, but, thankfully, strong Drought pushed already simply because the drought bucks. Consider who earns
demand from consumers falling hay production num- goes away. “If your operation the most consuming your
pushed prices higher. Tucker bers even lower. In the past is highly dependent on these grass – cows or their calves?
says meat supply growth will 20 years, producers have de- inputs, profit margins may Keeping a few less cows and
slow and actually go down, voted fewer acres to hay and evaporate quickly despite grazing their calves longer in
leading to even higher prices more to crops. Other factors – higher receipts,” Tucker says. times of high grain prices can
on the horizon in 2023. such as supply chain slaugh- “Now is the time to get reap nice rewards. “We’ve all
your house in order,” he says. heard the saying, ‘Grass sells
Tucker gives these tips to better wrapped in calf hide 6 1 0 1 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e S n a m e l t t a C t s e w d i M e h T
BSE Clinic Time
than cowhide or, especially,
combat changing markets.
• Consider herd man- a bale of hay,’” Tucker says.
cattle feeders concrete tanker fence agement practices. Is early Flexible stocking rates gives
By Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension
weaning an option to reduce producers more options in
cattle feeders concrete tanker fence
feed needs? Practices such
Has your bull had a breeding unstable markets.
We’ve scheduled four clinics of cows keep coming back in progeny differences (EPDs) and
line tank stock freeze-proof pond tank
line tank stock freeze-proof pond tank as pregnancy checks, sorting completely examined, given ward signs of trich in the bull is on your mind. Ed Trotter with
Manage
•
THIS AIN'T
num-
cow
soundness exam (BSE) since where you can get your bulls heat. There are no other out-
breeding programs or whatever
you pulled him from the breed- bers. Put wheels under poor
into groups based on nutri-
NO BULL!
united stated midwest www.thecon-
parasite control treatment and or cow for that matter.
tional need and strategic cull-
united stated midwest www.thecon- ing pasture this summer? Fer- performers. Less is more Pfizer will be at some of the clin-
creteworks.com
tility and breeding ability can vaccinated and be ready to turn
ics with information on their
ing will reap big dividends when there is less to go
›› Concrete Cattle Feeders
out if everything checks out
this winter.
creteworks.com fluctuate in bulls from year-to- around. Avoid overstocking, Here are the dates and loca- DNA evaluation program.
Call the above veterinary of-
year and season-to-season. If okay. In addition, if you’d like, tions of our fall clinics.
• Compare hay feeders. Re- which limits options, espe-
›› Super-Tanker Fence Line
you’ve preg checked your cows they can check your bull for the
fices for your appointment time.
Freeze-Proof Stock Tank search by former MU Exten- cially during tighter markets. October 11 - Barry County Vet Of course, there’s a limit to the
and found several open, it just sexually transmitted disease,
sion beef specialist Justin
MU Extension
might be cause to check him trichomoniasis. Trich is on the Services, Cassville number of bulls the clinics can
Sexten showed nearly dou-
›› Freeze-Proof Pond Tank out. rise in this part of the world. It’s Contact: Dr. Voyd Brown, 847- accept so you may need to pick a
ble the waste with open and
suspected when a large number 2677 different time and/or a different
›› Delivery in the Cont. U.S. veterinarian. It’s just important
October 12 - Kent Veterinary to have your bulls checked out.
Buffalo Livestock Market Clinic, Billings A survey of cow-calf farms in
Approx. Contact Dr. Harvey Kent, 744- 24 states in 2008 showed that
www.theconcreteworks.com
600,000
Reader Service No. 2163 SOLD! Special Cattle Sale Special Sheep 2222 about 25% do a semen evalua-
tion on their bulls before turn-
Vaccinated Every Watch our Stock Cow Goat Sale October 13 - Dake Veterinary out. I doubt if we’re that high
&
BUILT FOR RANCHERS Cattle 12:00 Noon www.CattleUSA.com & Bull Sale Clinic, Miller in southwest Missouri. The
Saturday
sale live on the
Internet at
October BSE clinics in the past
Contact: Dr. Chuck Dake, 452-
Sale
BY RANCHERS
www.theconcreteworks.com Each Month Selling all classes 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday 3301 few years have found more prob-
2nd Sat. of
7-6-18 Plains
lems with bulls than the clinics
of cattle
October 14 - Countryside Ani-
in March. Hot weather could
Reader Service No. 2163 Lyle Caselman - Owner-Manager: 417-345-7876 • Mobile: 417-533-2944 mal Clinic, Aurora be more of a problem than cold
when it comes to bull fertility. It
Contact: Dr. Mike Bloss, 678-
Leon Caselman - Owner: 417-345-4514 • Mobile: 417-588-6185 4011 could even be from fescue toxins
THE CONCRETE WORKS LLC Call Lyle or Leon to find out what we can do for you: consumed or a combination of
Besides the BSE, I will be at factors.
877-464-7575 Danny Cross 417-576-5461 • John Sanwald 417-588-9113 • Bobby Cole 573-674-3131 the clinics to answer questions,
www.theconcreteworks.com Barn 417-345-8122 discuss bull sales, expected
7-6-18 Plains
Green Springs
Performance & Efficiency Tested
BULL SALE 90 BULLS
200 on test
Sunday, Nov. 21st, 1:00 P.m. Selected from over
at Mo-Kan Livestock, Butler, MO 8 Breeds
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• ANGUS • GELBVIEH • LIMOUSIN •
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Call 448-7416 for information
& sale Catalog

www.greenspringsbulltest.com • gsbulltest@gmail.com