🐄 Are Your Cows Too Costly?

The Value of Genomics, Sankey Family History at The American Royal, Could Heifer Insurance Backfire?, and Slow-Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Ginger-Mango Barbecue Sauce Recipe from Ranching.com by CattleMax.

November 04, 2026

Welcome to the 146th edition of Ranching.com – the leading cattle management resource for a community of 96,000+ ranchers and farmers.

IN THE NEWS

🐄 Are Your Cows Too Costly?

🐄 Are Your Cows Too Costly? - Bigger cows and higher maintenance costs can quietly eat into profits, especially when feed and forage are limited. Finding the right balance between cow size, production and available resources could make a big difference in your herd’s bottom line.

🧬 The Value of Genomics - Genomically tested bulls are bringing higher prices at sale time as buyers look for more confidence in their genetic investments. The growing premiums show how additional genetic information can influence bull selection and what producers are willing to pay.

🌽 What Are Corn Stalks Worth? - Grazing corn residue can be an affordable way to stretch winter feed supplies, but determining a fair price takes more than counting acres. Forage availability, grazing conditions and lease terms all play a role in making the arrangement worthwhile for both cattle producers and landowners.

🌾 More Room to Graze? - A new Department of the Interior order aims to expand grazing opportunities on federal public lands, potentially opening new doors for cattle producers. The changes could affect grazing access and permit management, making it worth a closer look for ranchers who depend on public lands.

🩺 Where Have the Vets Gone? - A shortage of large-animal veterinarians is making it harder for Montana cattle producers to access the care their herds need. Ranchers and veterinarians are finding ways to work together, highlighting possible solutions to a growing challenge facing rural cattle operations nationwide.

🪰 NWS Watch

Tracking the Latest Developments and Industry Response

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VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WEB

Sankey Family History at The American Royal

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Could Heifer Insurance Backfire?

USDA’s proposed heifer retention insurance could encourage producers to rebuild their herds, but some worry it may create unintended consequences for cattle markets. The debate raises questions about whether government incentives could influence replacement heifer prices and producers’ management decisions.

CATTLE COMMUNITY EVENTS
RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Slow-Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Ginger-Mango Barbecue Sauce

Combine juicy mango and classic barbecue sauce for an unexpected tangy addition to melt-in-your-mouth slow cooked Boneless Beef Short Ribs.
Get the recipe

READER POLL

💰 What's the biggest challenge to keeping your cow herd profitable?

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LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

How do you use weaning weights in your operation?

26.32%: Evaluate Calf Performance

28.07%: Make Breeding or Culling Decisions

12.28%: Plan Preconditioning or Marketing

33.33%: I Don’t Regularly Weigh Calves

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