Spring Heifer Development

Weekly Newspaper Article for The News-Democrat, Carrollton, KY

(University of Kentucky)

January is an extremely important "checkpoint" in spring heifer development programs.  The key to proper heifer development lies in understanding the factors that influence conception in yearling heifers.

One key factor regulating heifer fertility is age at puberty.  Most producers do not consider age at puberty of their heifers to be a major problem, yet few know how many heifers are actually cyclic at the beginning of the breeding season.

Calculating Winter Hay Supply

Weekly News Article for The News-Democrat, Carrollton, KY

(Photo by Stephen Patton, University of Kentucky)

October is an important time for livestock producers to assess their winter hay supplies.  With the majority of this year's hay made, now is the time to determine whether you have enough to get your animals through the winter.

Determining this amount is a rather straightforward task.  Here is how to get a fairly accurate estimate:

1. Estimate the number of days you will feed hay this winter.  In a normal year, Kentucky producers average 120 days (from December 1 to March 31) of feeding hay.  This will vary depending upon your situation.
2. Determine the amount of feed your animals will consume each day.  Cattle and horses consume an average of 2.5 percent of their body weight every day.  To determine this amount, multiply the average animal's weight times 0.025 (2.5 percent).  Multiply that answer by the number of animals you plan to feed.
3. Multiply the products of #1 and #2 together.  This will give you a good idea of the approximate pounds of hay you will need for the winter.
4. Take three or four hay bales to a facility with a scale, such as the local feed store, if possible.  Take the bales' average weight and multiply that by the number of bales you have.  Compare this number to the amount you need.
5. You also need to allow for storage and feeding loss, and adjust your hay supplies to cover these losses.  If you store your hay outside, your losses may be more than 50 percent.  A 50 percent loss would mean that you need to double the amount of hay you calculated, in order to feed your animals.

2013 Beef IRM Redbooks Now Available

The 2013 Beef Integrated Resource Management (IRM) calendars are now available at the Carroll County Extension Office!

Beef IRM calendars, or "Redbooks" as they are commonly called, are an excellent tool for cattle producers to use in their day-to-day operations.  Not only does this small, 4.5" x 3" booklet include a twelve-month calendar, but it also offers charts to keep the following records:

Kentucky Master Stocker Program Beginning in September

The area-wide Kentucky Master Stocker Program is set to begin on September 18, and registration is now open for participants.

The Master Stocker Program is a Kentucky Beef Network Program, funded by the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board, that is developed and delivered by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

The program consists of eight (8) 2 1/2 hour sessions focusing on background and stocker operations in Kentucky.  These sessions are designed to enhance the profitability and equip producers with vital information provided by University of Kentucky specialists and agents.