Spring planting is almost here. Before you take to the tractor seat, get your lot and buildings prepared for the heat and rain of summer. Here are 15 tips to help you be prepared! Put up shade cloth. Clean and adjust feeders to the summer opening of ¾”. Patch any holes that can allow rain […]

As you are getting ready for synchronizing your beef cows and yearling replacement heifers this year, your nutrition program should reflect your goals to improve fertilization rate and improve embryo survival rate. Research studies have shown that glucose can help improve embryo development.  Glucose is a major energy substrate for the developing conceptus in ruminants1.  […]

As part of Form-A-Feed’s overall mission to provide quality nutrition and professional service to our customers, we are now offering biodegradable tub options for our low moisture Form-A-Lic tubs in addition to our standard plastic tubs! Biodegradable tubs are made of all natural materials that disappear as the product is consumed. No need to worry […]

In years past many beef producers have used a texturized dairy calf starter as a Stage 1 creep feed for their baby beef calves. Over time, we have been able to focus on the details of animal’s requirements and diets to make improvements in the performance of the different segments of livestock. Since the formulation […]

It is estimated that the water requirements of beef cattle remain consistent up to about 40 °F and go up to the point of needing twice the amount of water at 85° F. If all is working well at the water source, there are usually no problems with meeting requirements during the winter. However, the […]

Foot health and lameness in feedlot cattle can have a significant impact on profitability and cattle performance.  While much research has been done on lameness in the dairy industry, there has been less emphasis on the impact of foot health and lameness in feedlot cattle.  Prevention, early diagnosis of the condition, and following the correct […]

Self-feeders have long been used in the beef industry as an effective means to feed cattle in a variety of cattle feeding operation types, from a backyard 4-H herd, to a large-scale feedlot. Self-feeders work effectively in cow-calf operations to creep feed beef calves as well as for confinement feedlot cattle. Self-feeders require less labor […]

Written by Don Cleaver and Daniel Kohls, Form-A-Feed, Inc. Not unlike TMR-fed cattle, warm-season stressors affect cattle finished on self-feeders as well.  In fact, summertime is when we see the greatest amount of management issues arise in cattle fed with this method, especially in heavyweight cattle.  Issues such as bloat, off-feed and founder seem to […]

Summer has officially arrived but “Spring Showers” continue to inundate the mid to southwest regions of the United States. Saturated pastures coupled with humid conditions bring on the threat of lameness and producers need to be on the look-out.  Lameness is the first sign of foot rot, a highly infectious and sub-acute disease affecting cattle […]

Fly control is sometimes the last thing on producer’s minds in the summertime. There is a lot going on and a lot to do, but fly control should be a high priority. Flies affect your cattle more than you think. Horn flies are the main cause of distress in cattle. They take about 20-40 blood […]

Creep feeding calves is an excellent way to put extra pounds on calves.  Research has shown that creep feeding significantly increases weaning weight.  The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently published a study that showed that creep fed calves on average gained 44 pounds more than non-creep fed calves at the time of weaning.  (Is Creep Feeding […]

It’s only the beginning of the month and we have already seen a swing in cattle prices. It seems once again where we thought the market was going and where it’s at now are two different spots. Continual reports of more cattle on feed than anticipated and lower live and hot carcass weights (HCW) (Figure […]