Potassium is a key electrolyte that can become deficient particularly in cattle around calving season and during severe illness or chronic anorexia. Other agents, such as calcium, sodium and chloride, can be controlled through metabolic processes—but potassium levels are kept under a more narrow range within the bloodstream.

I have felt a little out of the loop the past few weeks, not keeping up with cattle markets and issues. A few weeks ago, I had to have major back surgery which took me out of the game for a while. It’s been difficult to stay up with the markets, but I figured it’s time to make some kind of appearance.

“Those cows can’t catch me now that I don’t have all those heavy coveralls on!” Again, all is good. It has been just more than a year since the Dickinson Research Extension Center initially decided to furlough the bulls for a month by changing bull turnout from early and mid- June to the second week of July.

Exports are a key contributor to the economic health of the U.S. beef industry. They allow the industry to maximize the value of certain cuts and by-products that have a much lower value at home. And they provide a counter-balance to the domestic market. The result is that exports boost cattle prices.

The first stop was at Bengard Ranches in Salinas, owned and operated by the Tom and Terry Bengard family. Bengard Ranches is one of the largest produce suppliers across the country, but also owns a 2,500-head commercial Angus cow/calf operation.

“We rely on animal experts to determine what is the best way to raise an animal that’s being used for food,” Domino’s spokesman Tim McIntyre said after the company’s shareholders unanimously rejected a request from HSUS for the company to stop using pork from suppliers who confine breeding pigs in gestation crates.

Students emerge from the school system ready to take on the world. Giving each one of them that chance was the impetus for the No Child Left Behind Act. The bill passed in 2001, meaning this year’s high school class spent most of its education course under the influence of what became a controversial law.

Well, what is, is. After a long and fairly nice winter, cattle are moving slowly to the cool-season grasses. Many have calves at their side, while others are waiting to calve. However, most of the cows have calved, so the cows and calves are in the process of being worked.

Whether you are following a specific calving season or have calves born yearround, keeping track of herd records is an important management tool.

But along with testing my taste buds, it was obvious that industry groups, like CAB, are working diligently with partners, be it restaurants, grocery stores, packers or consumers, to offer new and creative options to increase the bottom line for producers.