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- 🪟 A Tighter Calving Window Pays
🪟 A Tighter Calving Window Pays
Black Vultures Bill, Spring Grazing Bloat, Record High Beef Prices, and Shade Boots Cattle Gains from Ranching.com by CattleMax.
Ranching.com is your weekly dose of trending news, seasonal tips, and community content put together by our team of ranchers.
IN THE NEWS
🪟 A Tighter Calving Window Pays - Operations with a short calving season consistently rank higher in profitability—and for good reason. Earlier-born calves gain more by weaning, adding up to $120 or more per cow in today’s market. Plus, a tighter window means easier management and more uniform calves that buyers want. This article breaks down the key questions to ask now to set yourself up for success next spring.
🐺 Wolf Tracking Tool Launched - The California Department of Fish & Wildlife has launched an online mapping tool to share GPS data on collared gray wolves. Designed to help ranchers track wolf movements near their herds, the system aims to reduce livestock conflicts while balancing transparency and conservation. Ranchers and ag groups welcome the tool as a critical resource for herd protection.
🪮 Early Shedding, Heavier Calves - New research from the University of Missouri shows that cows that shed their winter coats earlier in the year wean significantly heavier calves—up to 57 pounds more. While hair shedding has long been linked to heat stress and fescue toxicosis in the South, this trait also holds value for producers in other regions. With moderate heritability, incorporating hair-shedding scores into selection and culling decisions could improve both animal comfort and herd profitability.
📄 Black Vulture Bill to Protect Livestock - Senator Markwayne Mullin has introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025, which would allow ranchers to protect their livestock from predatory black vultures without needing a depredation permit. With black vulture attacks on the rise and populations up nearly 470% since 1990, the bill aims to reduce burdens on producers while maintaining federal oversight through required reporting.
🌱 Spring Pasture Bloat Warning - Frothy bloat is a sudden, unpredictable risk for cattle grazing lush spring pastures, especially those with high legume content like clover or alfalfa. Since there's no simple vaccine or cure, prevention through forage management, fly control, and quick treatment with anti-bloat agents is essential. Early recognition and action can save lives and reduce costly losses in the herd.
VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WEB
RANCHING KNOW-HOW
Pinkeye is a persistent challenge after pasture turnout—and vaccines alone won’t cut it. This article from Iowa State University outlines practical prevention strategies, from fly control to nutrition, plus tips for early intervention when cases appear. Don’t wait until it spreads—get ahead of pinkeye this season.
Studies from Kansas State University show that providing shade during summer months improves cattle performance and welfare. Heifers in shaded pens gained more weight, used less water, and had better carcass quality—highlighting the value of shade as a heat stress solution. Researchers are now exploring feeding time adjustments to further reduce heat-related impacts.
CATTLE COMMUNITY
@scotty.lyman2 2025 branding! 🤠 #fyp #cowboy #branding
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I do not believe there was ever a life more attractive than life on a cattle farm.”
— Coastal Farm & Ranch
READER POLL
What's helped you tighten your calving season most?🗨️ Drop a tip or strategy that works well for your operation—let’s help each other out. |
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
What’s your top priority when managing bulls before turnout? | 41.79%: Breeding soundness exam 26.87%: Nutrition and body condition 4.48%: Preventing stress and injuries 10.45%: Bull grouping / social dynamics 16.42%: Watching bulls work during the season |
THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS
Breeding Soundness exam
“Your financial success is highly dependent on your bulls. A BSE is insurance for your financial success.”
“Breeding soundness; checking semen count and quality, foot soundness and overall condition is the most important thing before bull turn out. ”
“If your bulls don't pass the BSE, no reason to go further.”