WI Beef Information Center

Habit 2. of Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is “Begin with the end in mind.” “What does that have to do with feeder calves?” you may wonder. Ever increasing costs of feeder calves and feed have greatly influenced the margins on finishing cattle operations.  With narrow profit margins and high input costs [...]

Backgrounding cattle is often used to add value to homegrown lower quality feedstuffs, and to feeder calves, by using those feeds to add pounds to the feeder calves. Feed efficiency and feed costs are the two most important factors that impact cost of gain. North Dakota State Extension recently released a revised publication addressing Feeding [...]

The following article is written by Ryan Sterry, UW Extension Ag Agent in St. Croix County and recently appears in the Wisconsin Agriculturist Calving time can be both a stressful and exciting time of year with your beef herd.  Despite the late hours, worries about weather, and that cow or two that never cooperates (every [...]

This article, written by Katie Pfeiffer, Sauk County Ag Agent, recently appeared in the Wisconsin Agriculturist Many producers in Wisconsin are in the midst of or finishing up their calving season and preparing for breeding.  During this time they may not prioritize management factors prior to breeding that will optimize fertility and lead to a [...]

The North Central Cattlemen’s Association will be holding a Breeding Soundness Exam Clinic for bulls at the Taylor County Fairgrounds in Medford on May 1st.  Please take a look at the promotional Flyer for Details.  Breeding Soundness Exam Flyer (pdf)

The USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule went into effect March 11, 2013, the ADT rule’s core principle, with some exemptions, will require that livestock moving interstate must be officially identified and accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection.  Due to changes within the rule, some forms of identification you have relied on in the [...]

The Driftless Region Beef Conference proceedings papers and presentations are now available at the Wisconsin Beef Information Center’s new Conferences and Workshops Proceedings page. There is a wealth of information that was shared.

The UW-River Falls Department of Animal and Food Science, St. Croix Valley Bull Test, and UW-Extension are hosting an education program and open house on Saturday March 16, 2013.   The open house will be held at the UW-RF Dairy Cattle Learning Center, Mann Valley Farm located 129 South Glover Road, just outside of River Falls, [...]

The following article written by Zen Miller, UW Extension Ag Agent in Outagamie County recently appeared in the Wisconsin Agriculturist as part of the UW Extensions Beef Series of Articles.  It features timely information on managing cattle through tough winter weather. Poor cattle performance can be attributed more to muddy conditions, harsh wind and wet [...]

Recent weather conditions it have been rough for man and beast alike. Sunday’s weather was snow and rain mixed, it has been very wet, very cold and often both outside.  These conditions are tough on the cattle, especially if they cannot stay dry and out of the wind. Jim Neel, University of Tennessee Extension Beef [...]