Website Could Help Beef Producers Improve Marketing Decisions

Because strategically marketing cattle could mean a vast difference between profit and loss these days, decision support tools like BeefBasis.com are especially helpful in managing that risk. The site offers comprehensive market data, various calculators and forecaster tools.

 

 

Glynn Tonsor, associate professor of agricultural economics at KSU, says the website is a great resource for determining the right time to sell backgrounded cattle. Specifically, the Value of Gain forecaster may help producers who are considering the value of additional weight gain versus what is cost to put those pounds on. The tool is tied to the feeder cattle futures market and allows producers to look at prices in specific locations.

 

 

 

Video: Episode 107: Think you have a closed herd?

Surveys show many producers believe they operate a closed herd, but what does “closed” really mean? For some, it simply means being genetically closed by raising their own replacements and cleanup bulls, using artificial insemination for new genetics and avoiding the purchase of outsourced cattle. However, being a truly closed herd goes far beyond genetics. A closed herd also works to eliminate as many potential sources of disease introduction as possible. In this episode, we take a closer look at what it truly means to run a closed herd.