Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Marshall County is hosting a pasture walk near Gilman on March 12 beginning at 1 p.m. Detailed instructions to the pasture will be provided when preregistering. This event is for anyone interested in learning more about pasture management and cattle grazing.

Increasing days on feed for feedlot cattle isn’t a new idea. However, several research studies in recent years have shown that as cattle get bigger a large percentage of their weight gain is in the form of carcass weight gain. Grant Crawford, associate director of cattle technical services at Merck Animal Health, said this concept, termed carcass transfer, allows cattle feeders the opportunity to extend days-on-feed and increase profitability on certain groups of cattle.

Results from a recent study on how early nutrition can affect finished beef health, performance, and carcass quality in beef x dairy calves provided some clarity and some surprises for Iowa State University researchers. Iowa Beef Center research scientist Garland Dahlke said the study focused on short and longer-term effects of different diets in the first five months of life.

Those in the beef industry know calving management is critical to production and profitability of the cow herd. Knowing how to prepare, what to do and not do, and when to take action all are critical aspects of correctly managing calving in your herd. That’s why the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach developed the online Calving Management Manual.

All hay producers in the region are invited to attend the 40th annual Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association Annual Meeting and Conference on March 20 at Buzzy’s in Welton. This year’s program will feature two newer Iowa State University staff: Dr. Shelby Gruss, assistant professor in forage extension, and Madelynn Wuestenberg, agricultural climatology extension specialist.

Feedlot producers should plan to attend the 2025 Dairy Beef Short Course on March 25 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year’s program features unique aspects of managing dairy-beef crossbreds such as implants, vaccinations, early calf nutrition, and feedlot economics. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Beth Doran said that while dairy-beef crossbreds differ from straight-bred beef cattle, they have some positive aspects.

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