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Published by Iowa Beef Center Current and archived issues Subscribe to IBC Growing Beef Newsletter Published by Ag Decision Maker Subscribe	Iowa beef and dairy veterinarians, farmers and industry stakeholders are invited to join the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team for a two-day event this fall. The Iowa Dairy Industry Doubleheader will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, featuring both a professional development workshop and a social networking tailgate co-hosted by the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team and the Dairy Science Club at Iowa State. The premier national event in beef cattle reproductive management returns to Iowa this year, hosted by the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University. The 2026 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle meeting is set for Nov. 10-11 in Des Moines. The meeting is organized by the Beef Reproduction Task Force, and the ISU extension and outreach beef team worked with the task force to develop this year’s schedule. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Denise Schwab invites northeast Iowa producers to a variety of beef and forage programs happening this summer and fall. Iowa Grazing Academy, Beef 365 and open class carcass contests are just three of the options. When used as part of a proper strategy, growth implants for beef cattle can increase daily gains by up to 20%, improve efficiency by up to 15%, and reduce production costs by at least 10%. A variety of implants and options are available; each should be considered before implementing a program. Few technologies offer a greater return on investment than implants, and a newly updated publication from Iowa Beef Center can help producers with these decisions. News Archives

Newsletters

News & Releases

Published by Iowa Beef Center
Current and archived issues
Subscribe to IBC Growing Beef Newsletter

Published by Ag Decision Maker
Subscribe

Iowa beef and dairy veterinarians, farmers and industry stakeholders are invited to join the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team for a two-day event this fall. The Iowa Dairy Industry Doubleheader will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, featuring both a professional development workshop and a social networking tailgate co-hosted by the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team and the Dairy Science Club at Iowa State.

The premier national event in beef cattle reproductive management returns to Iowa this year, hosted by the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University. The 2026 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle meeting is set for Nov. 10-11 in Des Moines. The meeting is organized by the Beef Reproduction Task Force, and the ISU extension and outreach beef team worked with the task force to develop this year’s schedule.

Iowa State University extension beef specialist Denise Schwab invites northeast Iowa producers to a variety of beef and forage programs happening this summer and fall. Iowa Grazing Academy, Beef 365 and open class carcass contests are just three of the options.

When used as part of a proper strategy, growth implants for beef cattle can increase daily gains by up to 20%, improve efficiency by up to 15%, and reduce production costs by at least 10%. A variety of implants and options are available; each should be considered before implementing a program. Few technologies offer a greater return on investment than implants, and a newly updated publication from Iowa Beef Center can help producers with these decisions.

News Archives

Columns

Director Column

Aimee Wertz-Lutz, IBC director, writes this monthly column featured in Iowa Cattleman Magazine.

August 2026

Feedlot lameness causes, consequences, costs, and prevention

Finish weights of feeder cattle experiencing lameness are estimated to be 25 to 60 lbs. lighter than cattle not experiencing lameness. With live finished cattle prices for 2026 ranging between $230 and $260 per cwt, this reduces the value of finished cattle $50 to $150 per head, and this does not account for additional treatment costs.

Read the rest of this column.

Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary

Iowa Beef Center and extension cow-calf specialist Randie Culbertson writes the "Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary" featured in the Iowa Cattleman Magazine.

August 2026

Not all heterosis is created equally

Crossbreeding is our most underutilized tool for improvement in production. The benefits of crossbreeding for increased calf weights and cow fertility are well documented, but heterosis is not an all-or-none phenomenon. Levels of heterosis vary depending on the breeds and the level of crossbreeding occurring, and "more breeds equals more hybrid vigor” isn’t always true.

Read the rest of this column.