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- 📉 Reading the Market Signals
📉 Reading the Market Signals
Optimism for the Cattle Industry, When Is It Too Early to Wean?, Transition Tips You Won’t Want To Forget, and Smoked Beef Meatloaf Recipe from Ranching.com by CattleMax.
Welcome to the 131st edition of Ranching.com – the leading cattle management resource for a community of 96,000+ ranchers and farmers.
IN THE NEWS
📉 Reading the Market Signals
Angie Stump Denton
📉 Reading the Market Signals - An 8.7% decline in cattle slaughter tells only part of the story, as heavier carcass weights and increased heifer retention are helping offset historically tight cattle supplies. Looking beyond the headline numbers gives producers a clearer picture of where the cattle cycle is headed and what it could mean for marketing and herd rebuilding decisions.
🪰 Time to Reapply? - As fly and tick pressure builds through the season, earlier treatments may begin to lose effectiveness, making it important to evaluate whether it's time to reapply. Staying ahead of parasites with timely control measures can help protect cattle health, improve performance and reduce stress during the hottest months.
🌾 Planning for Forage Gaps - When pasture production falls short, supplemental forages can help stretch grazing days and reduce pressure on existing forage resources. Planning ahead with annual forages, alternative feed sources or strategic grazing adjustments can help keep cattle productive through challenging conditions.
📈 Optimism for the Cattle Industry - Industry leaders remain optimistic about the future of the cattle business as producers gathered to discuss key issues shaping the years ahead. Conversations focused on strengthening profitability, advancing policy priorities and addressing challenges like conservation programs, disease prevention and long-term herd sustainability.
🐺 Wolves and Cattle: New Study Findings - A new UC Davis study found cattle DNA in 72% of wolf scat samples, highlighting the growing challenge of wolf-livestock conflicts in parts of California. The findings underscore the importance of balancing wolf conservation with practical management strategies that protect ranchers, livestock and wildlife.
🪰 NWS Watch
Tracking the Latest Developments and Industry Response
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* This is sponsored content from CattleMax
RANCHING KNOW-HOW
🐮 When Is It Too Early to Wean?
 Purina Animal Nutrition | Early weaning can be a valuable management tool, but calves still need to be old enough and eating enough forage to make the transition successfully. Weaning too early can increase stress, reduce performance and create additional management challenges if calves aren't ready. |
BEHIND THE MIC
Transition Tips You Won’t Want To Forget
NATURAL DISASTERS
CATTLE COMMUNITY
Katelyn Kohlbeck | You are only as strong as the team behind you.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Smoked Beef Meatloaf
Easy and foolproof smoked meatloaf. Ground beef combined with egg and breadcrumbs and topped with barbecue sauce. |
READER POLL
What is your biggest concern when weaning calves? |
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS
What is the biggest challenge to use prescribed fire on your operation? | 45.10%: Safety concerns 35.29%: Weather conditions 7.84%: Time and labor 11.76%: Regulations and permits |
