cows

The state of Idaho is looking at expanding who is eligible for depredation compensation.  The Idaho Farm Bureau’s Dex Lake said House Bill 82 aims to include livestock losses deemed “possible” wolf or grizzly bear depredations.   “Currently, I...

Parasites will be close by when cattle are out on pasture.  Good pasture management and a strategic deworming protocol can limit the chances of parasites affecting the efficiency and performance of your beef herd.  Dr. D.L Step, a professional services veterinarian with Boehringer-Ingelheim, said there are protocols that will help control parasite problems during grazing season.   “...

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1st totaled 86.7 million head, 1% below the 87.2 million head reported on January 1st, 2024.  All cows and heifers that have calved at 37.2 million head were slightly below the 37.4 mi...

Last week, Idaho senator Jim Risch and Wyoming senator John Barrasso introduced the Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health (RANCH) Act.  They say the legislation promotes resilient and healthy rangelands and effective grazing management across the West.  The RANCH Ac...

The University of Idaho and the Idaho Sustainable Agriculture Initiative for Dairy will host a national conference in the coming months focused on finding creative and valuable ways to make use of animal waste.   The Waste to Worth Conference will take place at the Grove Hotel in Boise, April 7th-11th.  Or...

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head on January 1st.  The inventory was 1% below January 1st, 2024.  The inventory includes 7.25 million steers and steer calves, up 1% year-over-year.  This gr...

When it comes to the evolving feeder calf market, one industry expert says nutrition is just as important in the minds of buyers as genetics and health protocols.  Ted Perry, cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition, said value-added programs highlighting nutrition, specifically mineral nutrition, benefit the calves both in the short- and the long-term.  He adde...

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and permittees have partnered to use virtual fencing technology to improve grazing management across the central portion of the state.  Fish and Wildlife’s Chad Edison said they use base stations, similar to GPS towers, as well as radio collars on all the grazing cows.   “You t...

With cases of bird flu in cattle reported across the western U.S., as well as cases in pigs and humans here in the Northwest, health officials are watching the H5N1 strain very closely.  But, why is this strain so devastating for domestic birds?   ...

Bovine Respiratory Disease and Swine Respiratory Disease continue to be year-round production challenges for the livestock industry.  When looking for the right antibiotic, producers and veterinarians consider several factors, including dose volume, absorption rates, duration of activity and even the packaging.  Dr...