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

Oct 31, 2025

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

Video: The Next Pork Disease Outbreak? How Biosecurity Can Stop It Before It Starts!

The threat of disease outbreaks remains one of the biggest challenges facing pork producers across North America. At the World Pork Expo, I spoke with Rob Hannam, CEO of Farm Health Guardian, to discuss why biosecurity is more critical than ever and how innovative technology is helping producers reduce risk before disease reaches the farm.
In this interview, Rob explains how Farm Health Guardian's advanced biosecurity platform helps pork operations monitor and manage visitor access, track potential disease exposure pathways, and strengthen on-farm biosecurity protocols. With recent outbreaks of diseases such as ASF, PRRS, PED and others continuing to impact global pork production and ongoing concerns surrounding the spread of endemic diseases, proactive prevention measures have become essential for protecting herd health and business continuity.
Learn how digital biosecurity tools can help producers identify risks, improve compliance, and create stronger defenses against costly disease outbreaks. Discover why leading pork operations are adopting technology-driven biosecurity solutions to safeguard animals, employees, and the future of the industry.