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Mission: The Iowa Beef Center mission is to enhance the vitality, profitability and growth of the Iowa beef industry through timely and relevant producer education, applied research and improved access to information. |
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When Iowa State University extension economist Chad Hart spoke at the 2025 Feedlot Forum, USDA acreage numbers were the big story; specifically, the main question was about USDA’s estimate of the shift from soybeans to corn. Now as we approach planting, the main acreage question is whether farmers will shift even more from soybeans to corn than USDA anticipated. |
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The "Responsible Expansion of Iowa's Cow Herd" program, originally set for April 1 and 2 has been cancelled. |
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Cattle producers looking for tools to add to their risk management plans might want to consider Livestock Risk Protection. Just as the name says, LRP is price protection for livestock, not insurance against death, sickness, or anything else. Zach Tindall, Vice-President of Commodities - Producers Livestock, said the downside risk protection offered by the program can be a beneficial addition, especially because it leaves the top side of the market open. |
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Feed costs and reproductive inefficiency are the two largest expenses in a beef cow enterprise. To help beef producers gear up for a successful breeding season, the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University, ISU Extension and Outreach Shelby County, and Farm Service Cooperative are partnering on a breeding season workshop focused on nutrition set for April 29 in west central Iowa. |
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Using an esophageal feeder is an integral part of raising cattle, yet many producers are not completely comfortable using them. A new publication from Iowa Beef Center, Proper Use of an Esophageal Feeder, provides step-by-step instructions on properly preparing, inserting, and removing the feeder tube. |
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Newborn calves are susceptible to various illnesses and injuries, and even the best calving seasons can be peppered with occasional health challenges. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Chris Clark said one such challenge is fracture of limbs. |
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Increasing days on feed for feedlot cattle isn’t a new idea. However, several research studies in recent years have shown that as cattle get bigger a large percentage of their weight gain is in the form of carcass weight gain. Grant Crawford, associate director of cattle technical services at Merck Animal Health, said this concept, termed carcass transfer, allows cattle feeders the opportunity to extend days-on-feed and increase profitability on certain groups of cattle. |
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Those in the beef industry know calving management is critical to production and profitability of the cow herd. Knowing how to prepare, what to do and not do, and when to take action all are critical aspects of correctly managing calving in your herd. That’s why the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach developed the online Calving Management Manual. |
| Dealing with stress: Serious financial and other stresses continue to impact and affect those in our agricultural community. There are some resources to help deal with a variety of stress concerns and grief. The Iowa Concern Hotline is always available at 800-447-1985, iowaconcern@iastate.edu and at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/. | |
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Looking for a BQA workshop? Check this listing on this page of the Iowa Beef Industry Council website for a location near you. This page also has links to our IBC personnel, online BQA training, information on BQA transportation trainings and more. |
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