Livestock
The Kucks have experimented with additives for cooling as well as new ways to control pests, keeping their animals more comfortable in the scorching summer months on the Nebraska plains.
For dairy producers, keeping an eye on your livestock’ s nutrition is paramount to receiving peak milk production.
Learn From the Land and Livestock
The Kucks also educate themselves by learning from other operators and by attending feed lot tours in their area.
Through collaboration with other livestock producers, they’ ve witnessed pest control products in action. If you haven’ t attended one of these tours, a nearby university extension office is a great place to start researching new products that can benefit your livestock.
For operators who raise animals organically, there is an expanding market for natural pest control methods. These include subscribing to packages of beneficial insects or introducing stingless wasps or bees. This approach not only keeps cattle comfortable by deterring flies, but also benefits the soil and enhances its overall health. Additionally, the Kucks have incorporated feed additives, including one designed to cool cattle and another heat stress supplement containing cayenne pepper.
“ We watch tails in the summer a lot,” said Kaleb.“ If they’ re still, they’ re content.”
Plan for Calving
Any good doctor or veterinarian will tell you that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
While weather can be unpredictable, providing your cows and calves with optimal conditions can help them reach their full potential more quickly.
Products like ear warmers for calves are also available to help operators ensure their livestock stay comfortable during their early days on the property.
“ We moved our calving back to when the deer usually have their offspring in late March or so,” said Kaleb.
“ We have seen similar weaning weights to operators who calve in January or February.”
Work Harder, Not Smarter
Kaleb and Erin both come from beef cattle-raising backgrounds( in Nebraska and Iowa, respectively) but decided that they would work with nature and not against it, all the while keeping the stress on the cattle( and their handlers) down.
“ We have a more disciplined approach to getting rid of cows that aren’ t good moms,” said Erin.
“ Cows that are problems, their calves are often causing sickness, and the anxious ones seem to make the others anxious. We find we also get more cows pregnant by keeping their stress level down. In our line of work, one or two more alive calves is a significant amount of money.”“ If you’ re seeing the same problems year after year, maybe wave the white flag,” added Kaleb.
“ It sounds simple, but it’ s a huge sacrifice to get rid of an animal. How can we stay operating without killing ourselves labor-wise and work smarter not harder?”
The Kucks, whose operations total 1,600 to 1,800 head
of black Angus cattle, also supplement their herd with embryos inserted into the cows and have proven to produce healthy calves.
Along with trying to eliminate the least productive of their herd, this practice enhances the strongest cows and produces more( and better) calves, improving the health of their entire herd.
Identify Issues Before They Escalate
Effective livestock management starts with understanding the health and well-being of your animals. However, diagnosing the correct issue is crucial before investing time and resources. Whether it’ s an injury or illness, pinpointing the problem, such as a foot issue versus a leg problem, is essential for determining the right treatment approach.
It may be helpful to bring the animal into a controlled environment, like a chute or sheltered area, to closely observe and assess the issue. Consulting with a veterinarian can also provide valuable insight, especially when the problem is unclear. Though veterinary care may come at a cost, their expertise can ensure you’ re following the right course of action.
In the meantime, isolating the affected animal from the rest of the herd and offering extra bedding can help aid in recovery. Treatment solutions may range from basic care, like hoof trimming, to more intensive options, such as sending the animal to a local facility for processing.
With all these factors to keep in mind, comfort for your beef or dairy cattle is not only of the highest importance for your herd, but also for the cattle operator’ s comfort— physically, mentally and most importantly— financially.
April 2025 | www. FarmersHotLine. com | 11