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📉 Fewer Cows, Bigger Challenge
Fencing Goes Wireless, Best Practices to Handle Cattle, Helping Cattle Cope with Heat, and Low Stress Stockmanship 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
New Hope Network
📉 Fewer Cows, Bigger Challenge - As U.S. herds shrink and beef prices climb, regenerative producers are turning to overseas sources to meet demand and keep prices in check. But can the movement survive without domestic supply—or consumer willingness to pay more? The full story digs into the price pressures and tough decisions facing today’s regenerative beef market.
🛜 Fencing Goes Wireless - Virtual fencing is making it easier—and more practical—for ranchers to graze land that was once considered too rough or remote. With NRCS support and improving accessibility, this technology is helping producers save labor, boost pasture efficiency, and rethink what’s possible for their operations. Ready to graze beyond the gate?
🪱 Rethinking Deworming - Montana veterinarian Perrie Neal encourages ranchers to revisit their deworming strategies—especially the timing, method, and effectiveness of treatments. With firsthand experience on her own herd, she shares why early-season deworming and tools like Valcor® can boost calf performance and herd health. See how a few updates to your protocol might make a big impact.
🌧️ Forage Wins in Wet Springs - A wet spring doesn’t have to mean poor-quality hay. This article shares practical tips on timing your harvest, managing moisture, and improving storage to preserve forage quality—even when the weather won’t cooperate. Learn how small changes can protect your yield and feeding value throughout the season.
➕ Improving Heifer Preg Rates - When 20% of a heifer group came up open, K-State vets dug into the data to find out why—and how to fix it. From body condition changes to bull dynamics, they share practical insights to help producers boost breeding success and avoid costly setbacks. Find out what made the difference and what you can do differently next time.
VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WEB
RANCHING KNOW-HOW
Drovers - Wyatt Bechtel, Lindsey Pound, Maggie Malson
When temps climb, cattle feel it — and the effects can be serious. From water tips to shade strategies, these simple adjustments can make a big difference in keeping your herd comfortable during summer heat. See what steps you can take before the next hot spell hits.
BEHIND THE MIC
Long-time CattleMax Customer Dawn Hnatow (Cattle Up Stockmanship) joins Working Ranch Radio to discuss Stockmanship. What it is and what it isn’t. The three areas where you and I as ranchers would see benefits to our operation: Economics, Production, & Life. Dave Voth (Integrated Grazing Management) also joins them to continue deeper into the conversation and work through the conflict many think about… is it worth my time? Which leads to the next thought… But I don’t have the “magic” like Bud Williams. Plus, information about an upcoming Stockmanship School and Ranching for Profit Workshop.
RANCHING AROUND THE WORLD RECAP
Global Beef Roundup: Uruguay [Beef Magazine]
Genomics Research to Enhance Canadian Beef Cattle Industry [producer.com]
CATTLE COMMUNITY
@lazytranchwy Currently, at the ranch! 👆 Our crew is moving cow-calf pairs, a challenge in the summer heat. We do our best to keep stress off our livest... See more
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Be grateful for everything. Your lows are someone else’s highs. The very thing you take for granted, someone else is praying for.”
— Torie Egger
READER POLL
Would you buy imported regenerative beef if it helped lower prices?What is your take and why? With U.S. herds shrinking and regenerative beef demand rising, some brands are turning to international sources. |
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
With beef cow slaughter on pace for a 10-year low, what are your herd plans for the rest of 2025? | 11.58%: Holding onto more cows longer 33.68%: Planning to cull at normal levels 37.89%: Expanding by retaining more heifers 16.84%: Still undecided - watching the market and weather |
THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS
Expanding by retaining more heifers
“We plan on retaining more heifers while maintaining normal culling levels in our herd. This balance is important for herd growth, genetic improvement, and long-term sustainability, but it also affects short-term resources and productivity. We will retain genetically superior heifers to improve long-term herd quality which also reduces the average age of the herd. This provides us optimal replacements for older or underperforming cows.”
“Purchased 300 heifers to AI and did. Planned on selling them all into the market. HOWEVER, our all in cost is significantly lower than current bred heifers - so going to retain 1/3 and cull the typical number out of the current cow herd.”
“Only a ten percent increase but genetic improvements via AI is allowing us to produce some of the best heifers we have ever produced with $C’s well over 300. May sell down more older cows as culls next year. ”
“Right now with the value of calves, both steers and heifers, I can’t afford to keep heifers with an expected return to not be realized for 2.5 to 3 years later. I will be keeping only a handful of the very best out of my top maternal bulls. Current prices are both a blessing and a curse. For me the solution will be to purchase young replacements with calves at their sides. This will give me a quicker return on investment than retaining my own and having to calve out heifers.”
Planning to cull at normal levels
“I'm using these high prices to get rid of the bottom 20% of my herd. Hanging onto problem cows is the same as purchasing them at these high prices. I'll focus on expanding when the prices come back down, as they always do. ”
