Beef

A list of meetings/events for Animal and Livestock Producers

Take a look at the resources for the basics of beef production. Approximately 54% of all agricultural sales in the state of Maryland is from livestock sales. There were over 190,000 cattle and calves in Maryland in 2012. Beef production is concentrated in the central and western regions of the state, as are beef slaughter facilities.

This webpage is the production archives of the Women In Agriculture webinars.

Resources on Beef cattle nutrition

Whether large or small, record keeping is an important part of raising cattle. Good records play a role in managing animal health, tracking animal performance, and ensuring a high quality end-product for the consumer. At the end of the day, good record keeping can pay dividends toward your bottom line and help maintain the sustainability of the beef industry.

Grass tetany is a condition that occurs when magnesium levels in the blood and spinal fluid become too low to support normal bodily functions. The occurrence of grass tetany is often isolated to the springtime when cattle are grazing primarily lush, rapidly growing perennial pasture. Author: Sarah Potts, Ph.D.; Title: Grass Tetany

Resources on beef reproductive management.

As summer heats up, water becomes more important for cattle. An animal’s body is comprised of 70% water and adequate water consumption is required to maximize performance. It’s no secret that withholding or restricting water can decrease feed intake and reduce gains. Yet many producers often forget to assess whether or not their animals have optimal access to high quality water. An animal’s water requirement is met through consumption of feed and drinking. Many feeds, such as silage and grasses, contain a large proportions of water that help cattle meet their water requirement. Additional requirements are met through drinking.

As fall progresses, spring-calving beef producers should be thinking about how they will maintain their pregnant cows throughout the winter. The nutritional requirements for gestation increase during the second and third trimesters, which coincides with colder temperatures and decreased forage availability from pasture.