Livestock Information

Local News

Snouts & Tails - By Mark Storlie, ISU Swine Field Specialist
(Posted on 2/7/2012)
Snout & Tails is an e-communication to forward timely topics and provide awareness of upcoming events for the swine industry. Please reply to mstorlie@iastate.edu if you have suggested topics or wish to be added or removed from their mailing list.

November 2011 Dairy Budget for the Central Milk Market Order
(Posted on 12/20/2011)
Dairy farms that produce 20K pounds of milk per cow do not cover full economic costs. They do not cover all labor costs but do get enough returns to cover some of those. Tiestall operations do worse than freestall barns at that production level. However those farms that sell 24K pounds of milk per cow are covering all costs and earning some returns to management. So as has been true for some time, economics lead dairy operators to higher milk per cow and to convert to freestall facilities.

Newsletter from the Iowa Beef Center
(Posted on 8/12/2011)
In this issue: Managing Food Costs; Backgrounding Calves; From One Extreme; Making the Most of Weaning; Announcements and Updates.

Grazing News
(Posted on 8/2/2011)
Learn from the ISU experts about the Iowa Horse Council Annual Meeting, winter care for horses, equine health and prevention diseases, Management of the Mare and Foal Workshop, NCR Equine Business Management Conference, agriculture pavilion update, upcoming events, and much, much moe.

Iowa Farm Outlook
(Posted on 3/1/2010)
Important information for farmers, provided by ISU Extension specialists - Dr. Chad Hart, Assocate Professor, Grain Marketing; Shane Ellis, Extension Livestock Economist; David Swenson, Economist; and Leisl Eathington, Economist.

News from Iowa State University Extension

Two North Central Iowa Ventilation Workshops Set for Swine Producers
(Posted on 2/9/2012)
Two workshops designed to help pork producers manage building ventilation equipment have been set for Feb. 28 in Mason City and Feb. 29 in Webster City.

Iowa Pork Industry Center to Offer PQA Plus Advisor Recertification Session
(Posted on 2/8/2012)
People who need to be recertified as Pork Quality Assurance Plus Advisors under the National Pork Board's PQA Plus program are invited to attend an April 19 session in Ames. The Iowa Pork Industry Center is hosting the morning session, which will run concurrently with an initial PQA Plus certification session.

Iowa Pork Regional Conferences offer Wealth of Information
(Posted on 2/6/2012)
Iowa pork producers are invited to learn more about pig health and growth numbers, and get updates on ventilation management and disease research projects at the 2012 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences scheduled for March 6-9.

Iowa Pork Industry Center to Offer PQA Plus Advisor Training Program
(Posted on 1/26/2012)
Veterinarians and others in Iowa’s pork industry have the opportunity to become Pork Quality Assurance Plus® Advisors under the National Pork Board's PQA Plus program.

Heifer Development Series Focuses on Reproductive Technologies
(Posted on 1/17/2012)
With the cow herd at its lowest level since 1973, drought in the southern range states and optimism for increased export demand, the stage is set for heifer retention increases into the next few years. To aid in this process, a series of heifer clinics will be offered over the next few weeks

Beef and Basketball Event Combines Information and Entertainment
(Posted on 1/13/2012)
Beef producers can get their fill of timely beef information and ISU men's basketball at the second "Beef and Basketball" event in Ames on Jan. 28. The event includes three educational presentations, lunch and attendance at the ISU men’s basketball game versus University of Kansas.

Beef Feedlot Roundtable Sessions Offered
(Posted on 1/12/2012)
Beef feedlot operators and others interested in production topics are invited to attend one of three Beef Feedlot Roundtable locations on Feb. 14. These locations, in Garner, Nashua and Manchester, will be linked to a live meeting in West Point, Neb.

2012 Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference Offers Wealth of Information
(Posted on 1/9/2012)
The 2012 Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference is Jan. 21 at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. From maintaining competitiveness in light of high corn prices to applied approaches to genetics, this year’s topics are provided to help producers recognize ways to make their operations more efficient and profitable.

Dry Manure Applicator Certification Workshops Offered by Extension
(Posted on 1/5/2012)
Manure applicator certification workshops for dry manure operators are planned for seven different dates and locations in February. These workshops meet manure applicator certification requirements for both confinement site manure applicators and commercial manure applicators who primarily apply dry or solid manure.

Feedlot Forum 2012 Features Old and New
(Posted on 12/22/2011)
High feed costs in 2011, a smaller calf crop and a slow economy will linger into 2012; these and new factors affecting profitability will be the focus of Feedlot Forum 2012 on Jan. 17 in Sioux Center.