News from The Cattle Management Blog

Cow costs continue upwards
From a Drovers article, North Dakota State University beef cattle specialist Dr. Greg Lardy sees rising feed and fuel costs driving cow-calf production costs higher. While these rising costs are beyond our control, we can control our spending and also focus on getting more for our cattle.  However, we can’t take these steps toward profitability without [...]

Redefining “Customer Service”
You need to call a company for help with a product, or have a few questions. You grow tense – you know the drill. You are prepared for battle, hoping you choose the “right” phone extension option to get the answers you need. Choosing Sales will probably connect you to a very happy and friendly [...]

Windows 7 and CattleMax cattle software
According to a post on Microsoft’s Windows 7 Team Blog, Windows 7 will be available to the general public on October 22nd. The article states that full pricing (new computers) will run from $199.99 – $319.99 and upgrade pricing will range from $119.99 – $219.99, however, they will be running a 50% early upgrade discount that [...]

How can cattle records help with cattle rustling?
This past month, there was a big news article on how cattle rustling is on the rise all across the U.S. Most speculate it has to do with the economy and thieves looking to make a quick buck – at our expense. The article said that in Texas alone, cattle rustling reports just about tripled in [...]

2009 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Announced
Well, it’s official. This year marks the 55th Annual Beef Cattle Short Course held at Texas A&M University, just miles from where CattleMax got started. This will be the ninth year for us to participate in the BCSC, as a sponsor and guest speaker. The educational and networking event will be held on campus at Texas A&M [...]

What’s growing in your pasture?
Here in the Arizona desert, hay season has been in full swing for quite some time now. But many hay-growing areas in the U.S. have just seen the first cutting. Now, aside from our alfalfa farming operation, we also planted a small oat pasture this year we just kicked some cows out on last weekend. We [...]

Maintaining profitability in 2009
Let’s face it. We’ve probably all felt a pinch here or there from the current economic circumstances. But, there’s more we can do about it than sit back, brace ourselves and hope for the best on this roller coaster ride. After all, if you’ve been in the cattle business for any length of time, you’ve probably [...]

Summer is here, so are the flies
Well, it’s certainly that time of year. I hadn’t noticed until just last week. I walked out early one morning to throw out some sudan hay to the few cows we have penned up at the house, and I was swarmed by the flies. I took a look at the cows, and they were just covered. Needless [...]

More than CattleMax, it’s CattleManagement(.com)
Things look a little different around here… Starting today, the Cattlesoft blog has a brand new look, to go along with its new home. You can reach the blog at CattleManagement.com from now on. You should be able to to pull up older posts more quickly, with the ten most recent ones featured right here on the [...]

How much do you know about the beef checkoff?
The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board completed the January 2009 Beef Producer Attitude Survey to see how well cattle producers are currently informed on the Beef Checkoff, and gauge approval of the program. They found that 40% of cattle producers still know very little about the checkoff program and where their dollars are going. Do you [...]

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