I’ve been recommending using beef semen on the bottom half of the milking herd and sexed female semen on the top half of the heifers for quite awhile now. As I’ve watched the market for the resulting calves, I’ve become curious about the differential between the bulls and heifers and if it would pay to use male sexed semen to capture the premium on the steer calves.
Continue reading “How logical is using male sexed semen when breeding beef bulls to dairy cows”
February report with Bob Cropp and Mark Stephenson can be seen here
Milk production in Iowa during December 2018 totaled 441 million pounds, down fractionally from the previous December according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The
average number of milk cows during December, at 220,000 head, was unchanged from last month and last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,005 pounds, down 5 pounds from last December.
Continue reading “December Milk Production In Iowa Down Slightly”
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Monday, Feb 11, 2019 Receipts: 25 loads Last Week: 26 loads Year Ago: 21 loads Alfalfa: Premium: Large Squares, 1 load 162.50; Large Rounds, 2 loads 162.50. Good: Large Rounds, 6 loads 132.50-157.50. Utility: Large Rounds, 1 load 82.50. Grass: Premium: Large Rounds, 2 loads 140.00-150.00. Good: Large Rounds, 4 loads 130.00-137.50. Fair: Large Rounds, 3 loads 117.50- 127.50. Utility: Large Rounds, 2 loads 110.00-112.50. Alfalfa / Grass Mix: Utility: Large Rounds, 1 load 60.00. Straw: Large Squares, 1 load 135.00; Large Rounds, 1 load 97.50. Corn Stalks: Large Rounds, 1 load 72.50
Megan Hettinga from Orange City was recognized this week by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), as one of the class members for the sixth Jersey Youth Academy, July 14 to 19 in Columbus, Ohio.
“The 36 young people from 17 states selected for this class exemplify the many talented, interested Jersey youth across the United States that our organization wants to encourage to pursue careers in the Jersey dairy business,” according to Jonathan Merriam, President of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
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Topics for the 2019 Dairy Beef Short Course will focus on how dairy beef bull calves should be viewed as more than a by-product of the industry. As dairy and beef producers continue to experience economic struggles, increasing the value of bull calves can add value for dairymen, feeders and processors. The short course is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 in rooms 1 and 2 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is in conjunction with the Central Plains Dairy Expo.
Continue reading “2019 Dairy Beef Short Course Focus Is The Bull Calf”
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Monday, Feb 04, 2019
Receipts: 26 loads Last Week: 16 loads Year Ago: 23 loads Alfalfa: Premium: Large Squares, 1 load 160.00; Large Rounds, 2 loads 160.00-170.00. Good: Large Rounds, 2 loads 130.00. Fair: Large Rounds, 120.00-127.50. Utility: Large Rounds, 1 load 115.00.
Grass: Premium: Large Rounds, 2 loads 145.00-150.00. Good: Large Rounds, 5 loads 130.00-140.00. Fair: Large Rounds, 3 loads 125.00- 127.50.
Alfalfa/Grass Mix: Premium: Large Rounds, 1 load 162.50.
Corn Stalks: Large Rounds, 4 loads 52.50-60.00.