Industry professionals and beef producers who are finishing and marketing dairy beef are invited to virtually attend the I-29 Dairy Beef Short Course. The webinar, set for March 23, features a morning session from 10 a.m. to noon and an afternoon session from 1 to 3 p.m. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Beth Doran said participants may choose to attend one or both sessions.

While cold stress cannot be completely eliminated for cattle housed in typical outdoor facilities in the Midwest, a new publication from Iowa Beef Center describes management practices to reduce the impact of cold stress on your herd. Iowa State University extension beef veterinarian Grant Dewell is one of the authors and said being prepared and knowing how to deal with extreme cold situations is vital.

Colostrum, or first milk, is extremely important for newborn calves. Ingestion of colostrum imparts passive immunity which is necessary to protect calves from infectious disease. This is particularly important in cattle because bovine antibodies are not readily transferred across the placenta, which means that calves are born almost completely unprotected from environmental pathogens and infectious diseases. And Chris Clark, Iowa State University extension beef specialist, said these antibodies are just one in a long list of beneficial components colostrum provides.

ISU extension beef specialist Patrick Wall said the new Cattle in the Green series was developed to meet the needs of beef operations regardless of size. Topics include finances and operational decisions, and how to look for and use simple management changes for better results. This five-part series in Marion County begins Feb. 11. Registration is needed by Feb. 8.

A five-part series set in southeast Iowa is designed to assist with cattle producers with a new way of looking at management and economic decisions for better financial results in their operations. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Patrick Wall created the series and said he looks forward to sharing knowledge and information to help producers find more profit, eliminate money pits and lower stress levels.

Body condition scoring is an easy trait to record and is strongly correlated to cow productivity. But don’t overlook the value of body condition scoring your cattle multiple times throughout the year. Read more about a new four-page publication from Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University with the information you need to do that.

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