This publication is intended to be a reminder of beef cattle management practices thought to be appropriate for each month of the year. If referred to frequently each month, it could also be considered a workbook for beef cattle management. (PDF Format Only)

Many producers do not understand that shrink is a weak link in marketing cattle. Cattle producers spend a great deal of time and energy to make their cattle gain weight and weigh as much as possible. Then, when they pen, process and transport their cattle for market, the cattle lose weight. An increase in knowledge about shrink and the factors that affect it is critical to maximizing profits.

Beef cattle in Louisiana are continuously exposed to infections with parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes (commonly known as roundworms). The life cycle of these parasites is direct; they do not need an intermediate host. Adult worms in cattle shed eggs that are passed in their feces. These eggs hatch and develop into infective larvae that climb on growing forage and are ingested as the forage is consumed. These larvae develop into adults and the cycle is completed within 14 to 60 days.

This study was done to determine the effects of broiler litter and commercial fertilizer applied to bermudagrass pastures on animal performance.

The southern United States contains almost half of the nation's cow-calf population in the hot/humid Southeast and Gulf Coast areas. Even in more temperate areas of the United States, weaning productivity of Brahman x Bos taurus cows is virtually unequaled.

The Animal Industry News Update is a quarterly newsletter from the animal science, veterinary science, and livestock economics extension specialists of the LSU AgCenter. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide current, research-based animal industry information to county agents, 4-H agents, and animal producers.

These guidelines include information on semen quality, supplemental feeding for young bulls, deworming and vaccination.

Based on the information known at the time of the storm, and given the historical value of these industries to the state, the AgCenter was able to provide preliminary estimates on losses of revenue due to production losses.

Sixty-two Louisiana beef producers in 12 parishes were surveyed to determine their input usage and the amount of output they produced in 1998. The objectives of this study are to (1) estimate the technical efficiency (production efficiency) of a selected group of beefcattle producers and (2) determine the characteristics of cattle operations that are the most technically efficient.

Many issues can affect the management, profitability and sustainability of beef, dairy and poultry operations. This is a survey of the economic, environmental, public policy and production issues facing animal agriculture in Louisiana. (PDF format only)

In the early fall of 2005, two of the most powerful hurricanes on record, Katrina and Rita, slammed into the Gulf Coast within three weeks of each other. The area of devastation extended from East Texas to Alabama. Tens of thousands of animals perished, suffered illness or production losses, or had to be sold. The impact on beef and dairy producers and the veterinarians who serve them was enormous.

The best management practices that apply most directly to the beef industry are in this publication. A brief description, purpose and conditions to which the practice applies are given for each of the BMPs listed. (PDF Format Only)

The Louisiana Calf to Carcass project is a program in which Louisiana beef cattle producers can participate by sending a minimum of three steers or heifers to the feedlot while retaining ownership of them throughout the feeding period.

Volume 36 of the LSU AgCenter Beef & Forage Report. Topics covered include: statistics, Extension/Service programs, forage utilization and economics, meat science, breeding and genetics, reproduction, forage production and management.

These data suggest that good quality hay fed free choice can meet nutrient requirements during the last one-third of gestation, a period when the nutrient requirements of the cow increase because of the growth of the fetus.

The purpose of this report is to compare the performance of two-, three- and four-breed rotational crossbreeding systems and straight-breeds for calf weaning weight per cow exposed and for cumulative weaning weight per cow entering the herd.

This spreadsheet decision tool is updated on a monthly basis with Louisiana cattle prices. It allows producers to see the historical additional revenues by adding weight to cattle over a several-month period. No assumptions about costs of production are made; simply, the historical additional revenues are shown. Historical prices by class of cattle and corresponding seasonal indices are included.

This spreadsheet is designed to assist cow/calf producers with determining the costs associated with developing replacement heifers. The cost associated with developing replacements heifers from one's own herd can then be compared to the costs associated with purchasing replacement females in the open market. A comparison of the expected returns from each strategy is included to help producers understand which alternative may work best for their individual operation.

Report of beef cattle and forage research and extension projects completed over the past two years. For more information on a particular report, contact the author directly from the list in Appendix C.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs and returns for beef cattle and forage crop production in Louisiana for the 2011 crop year.

Based on these results, a cow-calf producer wishing to retain suitable heifers as herd replacements and sell the remaining heifers at weaning can reasonably consider implanting all heifer calves. High-protein creep, limit-fed to suckling heifer calves had no effect on pre-weaning, post-weaning, or reproductive performance in this study.

In this crossbreeding study, one of the main objectives was to compare straight-bred and composite-sired progeny that vary in percentage of Brahman inheritance.

The purpose of this research was to compare two-, three- and four-breed rotational crossbred females produced in generation 4 of a long-term crossbreeding study to Brahman first-cross cows for calf performance in a commercial cow-calf setting in South Louisiana.

Expected progeny differences for growth traits are well documented and used by a large segment of the beef cattle industry. Calf weaning weight is greatly influenced by genetic potential for growth, therefore verification of how reliable weaning weight EPDs are on commercial cow herds needs to be studied.

Research conducted by the LSU AgCenter in the 1980s clearly revealed a profit potential for stocker beef production in Louisiana. Annual ryegrass has the productivity during the cooler parts of the year (late-fall, winter, and spring) and the nutritional quality necessary for growing beef animals to play a major role in most Louisiana beef stocker programs.

Cattle, rice, sugarcane, crawfish, wildlife and alligators are among many of Hurricane Rita casualties in southwestern Louisiana.

A comprehensive handbook for beef cattle producers, this 152-page manual provides a wealth of useful information that is augmented by color photographs, charts and other illustrations. It is endorsed by the Louisiana Beef Industry Council and written by a variety of experts. Cost: $25 plus tax (free shipping). You can order this book through our online store by using the Order Publication button below.

This document primarily focuses on use of Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) to protect feeder cattle price levels with some discussion of implications for producers who retain ownership of fed cattle. (PDF Format Only)

The country-of-origin labeling of agricultural products at the retail level has become a highly controversial issue, especially at the national level. LSU AgCenter researchers surveyed a sample of Louisiana meat processors, meat wholesalers, specialized meat markets, food stores and restaurants to ascertain their opinions about the mandatory country-of-origin labeling of fresh or frozen beef.

Helpful links to marketing, economics & business resources for beef cattle producers.

To determine the effectiveness of short-duration, rotational grazing systems for cattle in South Louisiana, a three-year study (Phase 1 of a six-year project), designed to evaluate pasture stocking methods and rates, was initiated in the spring of 1999 at the Iberia Research Station near Jeanerette.

Projected Costs and Returns For Beef Cattle and Associated Forage Crops in Louisiana, 2010

A large segment of the beef cattle industry is adopting expected progeny differences (EPDs) as a valuable selection tool in improving calf productivity.

The articles in these publications have been subjected to review by qualified scientists for scientific merit, adequacy of experimental procedures and correctness of interpretation. Readers and producers can further benefit from the information provided in these publications by understanding and properly interpreting the statistics associated with the research results reported.

The 2009 Beef Report is a compilation of research studies completed by the LSU AgCenter faculty in the two years since the publication of the 2007 report. Should you desire more information about any of the studies reported in this publication, please contact the scientists who wrote the article or the local extension service agent in your parish.

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Evaluation of Horn Flies and Internal Parasites with Growing Beef Cattle Grazing Bermudagrass Pastures; Evaluation of Horn Flies and Internal Parasites with Spring Calving Cows and Calves

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Extending Productivity of Bermudagrass Pastures by Overseeding with Ryegrass and Clovers

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Louisiana Value Added Beef Program; Forage-Based Bull Performance Test Program; Performance Evaluation of Beef Bulls; Louisiana Calf to Carcass Program

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Control of Broadleaf Weeds in Pastures Using Non-2,4-D Containing Herbicides

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Influence of Age, Body Weight, and Condition on Plasma Leptin Concentrations; Circulating Leptin Levels in Lactating and Nonlactating Beef Females Following Artificial Insemination; Use of Laser-Assisted Embryo Hatching Prior to Transfer of Frozen-Thawed In Vivo Produced Beef Cattle Embryos

The 2009 Beef Report is a compilation of research studies completed by the LSU AgCenter faculty in the two years since the publication of the 2007 report. Should you desire more information about any of the studies reported in this publication, please contact the scientists who wrote the article or the local extension service agent in your parish.

The LSU AgCenter recognizes the importance of the beef industry to the economy of Louisiana. We hope you will find this report informative and useful to you and your beef cattle operation.

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Choosing a Grazing System

The 2009 Beef Report is a compilation of research studies completed by the LSU AgCenter faculty in the two years since the publication of the 2007 report. Should you desire more information about any of the studies reported in this publication, please contact the scientists who wrote the article or the local extension service agent in your parish.

Research studies covered in this section of the 2009 Beef Report: Impact of Genetic Markers on Carcass and Tenderness Traits; Tropically Adapted F1 Cows for Fertility and Maternal Ability; Genetic Markers at the Leptin Locus in Steers and Association with Carcass Traits; Breed and Genetic Effects on Parasitism, Hair Coat Scores, and Postweaning Gains in Replacement Heifers; Breed and Genetic Effects on Temperament and Postweaning Gains in Replacement Heifers

For many years, most beef cattle producers have observed the body fat reserves of their cattle herd and used that information to make feeding and nutritional decisions. Research shows that proper nutrition and efficient use of forage reduce costs.

Most ration formulation is completed by computers. Numerous software products have been developed to assist nutritionist in matching feedstuffs to nutrient requirements for particular production settings. They can estimate nutrient supply from a diet and reports how well a given diet meets the requirements for the animal specified.

The 2005 Beef Report is a compilation of research studies completed by the LSU AgCenter faculty in the tow years since the publication of the 2003 report. should you desire more information about any of the studies reported in this publication, please contact the scientists who wrote the article or the local extension service agent in your parish.

The objective of this study was to compare three-breed cross females (Angus-, Brangus-,Gelbvieh- and Gelbray-sired) with contemporary first cross (F1) Brahman x Hereford females for reproductive and maternal performance.

During the winter, even on the Gulf Coast, beef cattle must have supplemental forage and/or feed. Most cattle producers in the South spend approximately 40% of their operating costs on producing or purchasing hay and purchasing supplemental feeds.

Estrus synchronization had its humble beginnings in the 1940s when progesterone and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin were administered to cattle at varying stages of the estrous cycle to alter cyclicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of altrenogest for estrus synchronization of crossbred beef heifers.

This spreadsheet-based, decision-making tool is based on the annual LSU AgCenter enterprise budgets for beef cattle. The spreadsheet allows producers to alter assumptions and print a projected budget based on their individual operations.

Louisiana forages are often low in quality in late summer. Nutrient intake from forage by a mature cow will usually exceed the requirement for maintenance but may not be high enough to meet the additional requirement for lactation. When nutrient intake is below requirements, the cow must pull nutrients from body reserves to meet her requirements. The result is weight loss and a decrease in body condition.

Production agriculture is affected by seasonal production and demand cycles that are influenced by weather conditions as well as biological processes. These supply-and-demand conditions lead to seasonal price patterns. Awareness of seasonal price patterns can improve production and marketing decisions made by producers. (PDF Format Only)

Louisiana Agriculture, Beef Issue, Fall 2000, Volume 43, Number 4

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) mandates that the majority of livestock commodities be identified by country of origin. This document provides producers with the information they need to be in compliance. (PDF Format Only)

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is relatively unknown to the public, and catching just snippets of news reports sometimes leads to misunderstandings.

Although there’s not an imminent danger, some scientists say a widespread disease or bioterrorism attack could wipe out significant portions of the U.S. farm animal population. That's where the National Animal Germplasm Program comes in.

Forage producers toured three different operations this week to learn the latest techniques in the production and use of high-quality grass to support the livestock operations in central and northwestern Louisiana.

(Distributed 11/06/03) Louisiana cattle producers are excited about the market news that prices recently hit record high prices for fat cattle, feeder cattle and calves.