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Favor Older, Earlier-calving Bred Heifers at Auction This Fall

These are interesting times in the beef industry, says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey.

Cattle prices are higher than ever, yet there is scant evidence of herd expansion in the macroeconomic data. However, enormous asking prices exist for bred heifers marketed online, Bailey says.

Before you head to the sale barn, Bailey suggests a review of data that shows that early-calving bred heifers pay off many times over.

Older, earlier-calving heifers have an advantage over the long run

A 2013 Journal of Animal Science article, Heifer Calving Date Positively Influences Calf Weaning Weights Through Six Parturitions (doi: 10.2527/jas.2013-6465), is “truly impactful science” that supports the argument that older, early-calving heifers offer an advantage in the long run, says Bailey.

Source : missouri.edu

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How Data Predicts Swine Outbreaks - Swaminathan Jayaraman

Video: How Data Predicts Swine Outbreaks - Swaminathan Jayaraman


In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Swaminathan Jayaraman, Research Assistant and PhD Candidate at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, explains how integrated data systems can improve disease surveillance in swine production. He discusses combining diagnostics, animal movement data, production records, and spatial analytics to identify risks earlier and support proactive decision-making for PRRS, PED, and swine influenza. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Disease surveillance remains largely reactive because outbreaks are often confirmed only after transmission has already occurred across multiple connected production sites."

Meet the guest: Swaminathan Jayaraman / swamjay is a Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. With academic training in management information systems and engineering, he focuses on integrating diagnostic, production, and movement data to improve disease surveillance and decision support in swine production systems. Listen to Swaminathan Jayaraman on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.