While Wisconsin is known as Americas Dairyland, the state's beef industry is also thriving. Beef cows, beef
heifers over 500 pounds, steers and other heifers (excluding dairy heifers) account for nearly 23% of
the total cattle population in the state. CIAS has supported work on the economics and management of pasture-based beef production.
Does pasture-finished beef make the grade? (Research Brief #77)
Finishing beef animals on pasture can potentially reduce the overhead costs of facilities and equipment compared to confinement finishing. Researchers at UW-Madison set out to learn if beef animals finished on pasture can make the Select and Choice quality grades for conventional meat markets. [...more]
Tall fescue and Kura clover for dairy and beef stockers (Research Brief #76)
Do orchardgrass, fescue or legume/grass combinations produce more meat on growing, pastured beef animals? Do beef steers, beef heifers or dairy steers show the most gain on pastures? Researchers in the departments of Animal Sciences and Agronomy at UW-Madison recently finished a three-year study to answer these questions. [...more]
Grass Clippings: April 2008
Grass Clippings is a newsletter that features grazing-related research from the University of Wisconsin and beyond. The April issue features:
Pure live seed
Meadow fescue
Different dairy farm systems yield similar satisfaction
Fertility and pastures
Wisconsin’s beef industry
Custom heifers on pasture
Read this newsletter (pdf file)
[...more]
The Wisconsin Beef Cattle Industry: A Snapshot
While Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland, the state’s beef industry is also thriving. Beef cows, beef
heifers over 500 pounds, steers and other heifers (excluding dairy heifers) account for nearly 23% of
the total cattle population in the state. Wisconsin’s beef farmers and livestock specialists understand the overall characteristics of the beef industry in Wisconsin, but [...more]
Grass Clippings: August 2007
Grass Clippings is a quarterly newsletter that features grazing-related research from the University of Wisconsin and beyond. The August issue features:
Invasive weeds on the move in Wisconsin: Hill mustard and perennial pepperweed
Stockpiling pastures
Cheese from the pasture strikes a chord
Upcoming events: Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers available at three sites
Read this newsletter (pdf [...more]
Managed Grazing Education and Research in Wisconsin
This report describes managed grazing projects funded by the Wisconsin Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative from 2002-2003. Seventeen education projects supported a variety of networking activities, as well as programs for beginning and transitioning farmers. Five research projects looked at ground and surface water quality, nitrogen management strategies, late season grass growth, soil compaction, and outwintering [...more]
Management Tool Helps Farmers Convert Pastures to Profits
Stocker production can help farmers convert pastures to profits, particularly if they have a surplus of grass but not a lot of facilities. Managing pasture, animals, costs, and markets plays a key role in determining the level of profit that farmers can expect, however.
Researchers with the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of [...more]
Marketing beef cattle via satellite, video auction proves succesful in areas distant from markets (Research Brief #14)
Video and satellite auctions provide a number of marketing advantages to cattle producers who live long distances from markets or feeding areas.
A five-year research and demonstration project at the UW-Madison Hayward Agricultural Research Station evaluated a number of methods for marketing beef cattle.
“Marketing livestock in farming areas like northern Wisconsin requires a lot of planning [...more]
Beef, sheep can provide modest income souce in northern Wisconsin (Research Brief #7)
A livestock operation in northern Wisconsin won’t make you rich, but it can provide a source of supplemental income.
That’s one of the findings from a five-year Hayward Agricultural Research Station study that evaluated the feasibility of northern Wisconsin sheep and beef production.
The UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences ran the station from 1985 to [...more]