Items: Livestock
Price Risk Management Tools for Cattle Producers
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2022
The last few years are unlikely to be remembered fondly by many cattle producers. Large cattle supplies, a global pandemic, weather challenges, and a sharp increase in feed prices have all impacted feeder cattle values. However, 2022 has brought optimism for a significantly better cattle market.
The Dairy Gauge Benchmarking Tool
By Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator
Published on Jan. 28, 2022
Benchmarking compares your farm’s performance to past performance or to established measures of success. The benchmark is some measure of a goal, or a range of what is desirable and what is not. You do this all the time, comparing this year’s yields to past years or this cow’s performance to others in the herd.
Tools to Manage Risk for Dairy Producers
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 30, 2021
Much discussion in the dairy sector last year was focused on the impacts of COVID-19 and the pricing issues that came with it. Mailbox prices in the Appalachian region, which includes Kentucky, typically exceed US All Milk price due to class I differentials and high class I utilization.
The Steer-Bull Price Differential: A Historical Perspective
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 31, 2021
In extension settings, I am often asked whether I think it pays for a cow-calf operator to castrate bulls and sell steers. Castration is not without cost as it requires time and facilities and does stress calves for a period of time.
Mid-year Inventory Report Suggests Opposite Trends for Beef and Dairy Numbers
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Jul. 27, 2021
On Friday, July 23rd, USDA-NASS released their mid-year estimates of US cattle inventory. Most all beef-related inventory categories were lower, with all cattle and calves down 1.3% from July 1, 2020. I tend to focus more on beef cow inventory, which was off a little more than 2% from last year.
How Hay Became a Four-Letter Word
By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on May. 28, 2021
I've been waiting patiently for the inevitable to happen — for the word “hay” to morph into the word “haye,” or something similar.
Summer Stocker Outlook for 2021
By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 28, 2021
After a tough couple weeks in February, it is looking a lot more like spring in Kentucky. Spring means stocker operators are looking to place calves on pasture for summer and is the time of year when we typically see our seasonal highs in the calf market.
Cow-Calf Profitability Estimates for 2020 and 2021 (Spring Calving Herd)
By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor,
Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist,
and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 25, 2021
The purpose of this article is to examine cow-calf profitability for a spring calving herd that sold weaned calves in the fall of 2020 and provide an estimate of profitability for the upcoming year. Table 1 summarizes estimated costs for a well-managed spring-calving cowherd for 2020. Every operation is different, so producers should evaluate
Liquidation of the U.S. Beef Herd Continues, but at a Slower Pace than Expected
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 2, 2021
USDA-NASS released their January 1, 2021 cattle inventory estimates on the afternoon of Friday, January 29th. The U.S. beef cow herd was estimated to be down by 0.6%, which was a smaller decrease than most had expected.
The Kentucky Beef Book
Published on Feb. 1, 2021
Cattlemen in Kentucky have an opportunity to participate in the most rigorous educational programming in the United States.