I am back talking with Oklahoma State University Livestock Economist Dr. Derrell Peel about heifer numbers in the April Cattle on Feed Report released on April 19, 2024.

At the start of the year, the U.S. all-cattle inventory was 87.15 million head, the smallest total inventory since 1951. The beef cow numbers are also historically small. On January 1st, the estimate was 28.22 million head, down 2.5 percent year over year—basically the smallest beef cow herd number since 1961.

Peel’s analysis of the latest Cattle on Feed Report suggests a potentially significant trend that ranchers may be retaining some heifers. This could have a notable impact on the cattle industry.

“I have expected to see these feedlot inventories fall faster than they have, and everything we have just described says the feedlots have been successful up to this point at offsetting the fact that cattle numbers are smaller with other means,” Peel said. “I think as we go forward, it is going to be harder for them to do that.”

To view the April USDA Cattle on Feed Report, CLICK HERE.

Oklahoma AgCredit supports rural Oklahoma with reliable and consistent credit, today and tomorrow. We offer loans for land, livestock, equipment, operating costs and country homes (NMLSR #809962) to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses across 60 counties. As a cooperative, we are owned by the members we serve. Through our Patronage Program, we have returned more than $74 million to our members since 1997.

For more information on our services or to find a location near you, visit our website here.

USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza

To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread. 

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

Mandatory Reporting

The novel movement of H5N1 between wild birds and dairy cows requires further testing and time to develop a critical understanding to support any future courses of action. This Federal Order is critical to increasing the information available for USDA. Requiring positive test reporting will help USDA better under this disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread.  

While we are taking this action today, it is important to remember that thus far, we have not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans and between people. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, our partners at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that the current risk to the public remains low. 

Introducing Kaylee McAlister of the Stillwater FFA Chapter, Your 2024 Central Area Star in Agriscience

This morning, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agriscience competitor Kaylee McAlister of the Stillwater FFA chapter representing the Central Area.

Farm Director KC Sheperd interviewed all 18 Star finalists recently in Stillwater after they were judged in their respective areas- and you can hear KC talk with Kaylee by clicking on the blue button at the bottom of this story.

“My project that I am most inspired by is my lubricant projects that I have conducted,” McAlister said.

When it comes to the best lubricant product for clipping blades used for livestock, McAlister said she found that petroleum-based products work the best as opposed to ethanol-based products. Based on her lubricant project, McAlister said she created a second project that tested how much bacterial growth takes place on livestock clippers.

“That one has the exact opposite outcome,” McAlister said. “I actually found out that ethanol-based products worked better on killing all of the bacteria due to the fact they are mainly from alcohol.”

McAlister said clipper blades can exceed 108 degrees in eight minutes, so it is critical to reapply the lubricant. For her final project, McAlister studied the most common types of bacteria that grow on livestock clippers.

Following high school graduation, McAlister said she plans to pursue a major in agriculture.

Our coverage of the Stars and the 2024 State FFA Convention is powered by Hilliary Communications.

Farm Director KC Sheperd recently had the chance to talk with Sue Teska, the Senior Historical Interpreter of the Oklahoma Historical Society and the site director at Hunter’s Home in Park Hill, about museums and historical sites throughout the state, and the upcoming Spring on the Farm event set for May 4th.

“We have a lot of field sites within the historical society,” Teska said.

Teska talked with Sheperd about the abundance of museums across the state and said that by joining the Oklahoma Historical Society, individuals can earn free admission.

Coming up, Teska talked about “Spring on the Farm,” an 1850s living history farm, which is also the only living history site in the state of Oklahoma. Spring on the Farm will take place on May 4th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hunter’s Home in Park Hill, Oklahoma.

“We are going to be celebrating what would have been happening on a farm in the spring after waking up from the winter and starting farming processes again,” Teska said.

During Spring on the Farm, there will be sheep shearing of Merino sheep, processing of sheep wool, talks about bees, cooking demonstrations, crafts and story time for children, gardening and more!

Match Forage Flow with Livestock Nutritional Needs to Increase Ranch Profitability

If you’re having to supplement your livestock’s nutrition four to five months out of the year, imagine what reducing those costs by even a small margin could do for the bottom line. Wells recommends taking a new look at the timing of breeding and calving/lambing/kidding seasons in order to optimize nutrition from grazing.

Charting forage flow on paper may offer a clear visual of key factors for consideration. Many ranchers carry this information in their heads, but committing it to paper can create a powerful visual tool that can benefit even the most seasoned rancher.

Next, chart the peaks and valleys of your animals’ nutritional needs throughout the year, starting with your traditional calving/lambing/kidding season in mind. The animal’s highest nutritional requirements coincide with peak lactation needs. For cattle, that’s two to three months after calving; for sheep and goats, it’s four to six weeks post-partum. It also can be breeding season if you are trying to keep cows on an annual calving interval.

The U.S. is Taiwan’s dominant supplier of chilled beef; USMEF continues promoting alternative cuts to importers and their end-user customers in retail, foodservice.

USMEF is working to defend U.S. beef’s share of Taiwan’s market, currently affected by tight supplies, inflationary pressures and increased competition. Fifty-nine Taiwanese beef importers recently attended a USMEF seminar to discuss supply issues, beef quality attributes and alternative cut options for U.S. beef. Three member suppliers also participated.

Per capita annual beef consumption continues rising in Taiwan, reaching a record 9.1 kg. (carcass weight equivalent) in 2023, up 2% from the previous record in 2022.

Consumption is up 17% from 2018 and 55% from 2013, per USMEF estimates based on data from USDA and Trade Data Monitor.

The U.S. remains the dominant supplier in Taiwan’s chilled beef import market with 75% market share in 2023. The U.S. supplies over 90% of grain-fed beef, according to import data from Taiwan.

Express Ranches – Grass Time Sale – 04/26/2024 – Yukon, Oklahoma

Express Ranches is set to host their 2024 Grass Time sale at noon on April 26, 2024 on the ranch in Yukon, Oklahoma. The sale will consist of 500+ head consisting of 150 angus bulls, 15 show angus heifers, 100 commercial fall bred heifers and more! Absentee and live bidding will be offered as well as volume discounts. For more information on the sale, view the information below!

Sale day phone number: 405-350-0044

Click here to view the sale book.

Click here to view the sale videos.

Click here to view the LiveAuctions.tv page where you can watch and bid on Friday.

Click here for the Superior Livestock Grass Time Sale Page.

Click here or on the graphic above to jump to the Express Ranches website for several other tools available for the 2024 Grass Time Sale.