Livestock

Cow in tall grass — Making a decision on when to graze winter annuals such rye, winter wheat or triticale in the spring should depend on plant growth — ideally, the best time to graze is when the plants are about five to six inches tall.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Annual Forage Webinar Series, Improving Alfalfa Stands

April 17, 2024

Extension educators introduce a new webinar series for producers interested in adding an annual forage rotation to their operation, plus insights on grazing spring cereal grains and options for thin alfalfa stands.

Man operates drone in field — Though the startup costs can seem daunting, drones can help producers save time and reduce costs on numerous tasks involved in managing livestock.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Drones for Livestock Management, Drought Recovery

April 9, 2024

This week, extension educators weigh in on the pros and cons of drone use for livestock producers, and considerations for drought-damaged pastures and controlling winter annual weeds in alfalfa.

Wildfire photo — Resources are available for people who want to help producers affected by fires, and the affected producers. A meeting March 12 will provide more information. (UNL Beef photo by David Orr)

Resources Available for Producers Affected by Central Nebraska Wildfires

March 1, 2024

Central Nebraska producers seeking help with wildfire recovery are encouraged to attend to an informational meeting on March 12 in North Platte.

Cattle in snow — While water demands in the winter may be less than summer, keeping water available can be difficult. Having animals eat snow may be tempting but requires an experienced herd, plenty of fresh snow and healthy animals.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Winter Insect Mortality and Livestock Water Needs

January 16, 2024

Extension educators review the effects of subzero temperatures on overwintering insects and whether snow can adequately be used as a water source for cattle.

Hay in stacks — Producers should be mindful of their hay feeding practices to reduce financial loss — with no restrictions, cattle can waste nearly 45% of fed hay.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Reducing Hay Losses, Understanding Relative Feed Value of Hay

November 21, 2023

Extension educators share insights on how to reduce fed hay losses and the differences between relative feed value and relative forage quality when testing grass hay.

Cattle grazing pasture — The 2023 Cover Crop Grazing Conference will feature keynote speakers Dr. Bart Lardner, University of Saskatchewan, and Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nebraska Extension Provides Cover Crop Grazing Conference Nov. 7

October 12, 2023

This expo will help first-time and experienced farmers looking to fine-tune their grazing management utilizing cover crops as an alternative forage source.

Manure pile in field — Careful consideration should be given when determining stockpile placement. The above photo shows what to avoid, a pile placed directly across the road from a neighbor's driveway. While potentially a good place water quality wise, the neighbor is likely to be upset - especially if the pile stays there for more than a few days. (UNL Water photo)

Manure Stockpiles: Mind Your Manners

October 6, 2023

All manure managers should focus on reducing nuisance odor risks and preventing nutrient loss from stored manure piles.

Cattle grazing field — The total expenditures per farm or ranch in Nebraska averaged $644,018 in 2022, up 18 from 2021. The livestock expense category was the leading expenditure, at $151,242 per operation, 6.61 times the national average.

2022 Nebraska Farm Production Expenditures Up 16%

August 4, 2023

Livestock expenses were the largest expense category, which increased 3% from 2021, but feed expenses represented the most dramatic difference, increasing 52% from the prior year.

Explore Tags