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Pricing meat products : an introduction [2015]

Description

Direct marketing your meat products is a big change in focus for many producers. With a commodity-based approach, selling your finished animal is the last step. When you sell direct to market,... More ≫

Description

Direct marketing your meat products is a big change in focus for many producers. With a commodity-based approach, selling your finished animal is the last step. When you sell direct to market, there is a lot more involved. You also have to manage processing, packaging and delivery and think about consumer demand. How do you capture today’s great opportunities in selling direct to the consumer while making a profit? This fact sheet covers a very important piece of the puzzle: pricing your meat products.

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Effects of nutrition on beef cow reproduction

Description

The nutritional quality of feeds and forage can have a tremendous influence on the reproductive performance of cattle. This document describes the effect of deficiencies and imbalances of both... More ≫

Description

The nutritional quality of feeds and forage can have a tremendous influence on the reproductive performance of cattle. This document describes the effect of deficiencies and imbalances of both macro and micro nutrients on reproductive performance.

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Increasing cow/calf profitability using chaff and chaff/straw feedstuffs

Description

Over the years, many cost-conscious cow/calf producers across western Canada have recognized the potential for chaff residues to help reduce the winter feeding costs in mixed farm operations.... More ≫

Description

Over the years, many cost-conscious cow/calf producers across western Canada have recognized the potential for chaff residues to help reduce the winter feeding costs in mixed farm operations. Chaff that has often been considered a nuisance on the grain side of a mixed farm can prove to be a valuable low cost feed alternative on the cattle side. In fact, chaff may prove to work as a win-win solution for both operations, if some basic steps are followed. And nothing is more important than to first recognize that chaff is a low quality feed, suitable only for mature beef cows.

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Winter feeding programs for beef cows and calves

Description

Before making management decisions about feeding beef cattle and calves, producers need to answer the following questions: How much feed is available on the farm? What is the quality of the feed?... More ≫

Description

Before making management decisions about feeding beef cattle and calves, producers need to answer the following questions: How much feed is available on the farm? What is the quality of the feed? What is the cost of purchasing feed and supplements? Do the cows need to gain weight during the winter? Are the calves going into a feedlot or back onto grass? What is the required weight gain from the calves? How will interest rates and overhead costs affect break-evens? Plan a winter feeding program well in advance. Use the tools available to sample feed, and obtain feed test results. A balanced ration minimizes costs and improves animal performance.

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