6 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2024 THE ONLY PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO THE NEBRASKA CATTLE INDUSTRY. NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2024 Vol. 80 | Issue 2 REGULARS Insights ...................................................8 Ruminations ........................................10 MARC ................................................... 98 Consider This ....................................100 BQA .....................................................102 NC Foundation ..................................108 Boots on the Ground ........................112 Advertiser Index ................................113 NC Partners ........................................114 NC Dispatch ........................................116 Sale & Event Calendar ......................117 FEATURES PRODUCTION Nutrition Is Health ..................................................................................................14 Managing and monitoring herd health through unpredictable weather. Spring Annual Forages to Consider for Grazing and Haying..........................20 It’s not too early to begin planning your grazing and forage needs for the upcoming year. Herd Health and Reproductive Management ...................................................26 Range Beef Cow Symposium presenters address two topics important to producers’ operations. Maximizing Beef Potential.................................................................................... 32 Exploring the benefits and challenges of beef x dairy. Leveraging Commercial Data............................................................................... 36 Matt Spangler, Ph.D., discusses leveraging data to improve selection and management decisions. PEOPLE Conserving for the Future ....................................................................................52 A look at the importance, history and impact of the Leopold Conservation Award. Meet Nebraska Cattlemen’s Newest Board Members...................................... 82 Get to know Nebraska Cattlemen’s newest leaders. PERSPECTIVES Grow. Expand. Connect. ........................................................................................ 42 AFAN remains committed to growing agriculture in Nebraska. PAST Nebraska’s Thoroughbred Horse Racing History............................................. 46 A look at the people, horses and racetracks that have impacted horse racing in Nebraska. POLICY NC’s Policy-Making Process .................................................................................58 NC policy begins and ends with members. SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE 2023 NC Convention Recap .................................................................................. 62 Upcoming Nebraska BQA Workshop, Guest Speaker John Cook ................ 103 Manuscripts and advertisements are welcome. Nebraska Cattlemen reserves the right to edit and refuse advertisements. Readers are welcome to submit letters to the editor. Full name and address of writer must accompany all letters. Letters are accepted with the understanding that they may be condensed to fit the magazine format and edited for accuracy and clarity. Letters contain the opinion of the writer and not that of the Nebraska Cattlemen. You can get Nebraska Cattleman via email. Receive each issue even before the Post O ce ships the printed edition. Just send an email to us at NCmag@necattlemen.org and put “Email NC Magazine” in the subject line. We assure you we will not share your email address with anyone! ON THE COVER: Spring calves on the Diamond Bar Ranch at Stapleton tuck into hay while flurries swirl around them. Photo courtesy of Natalie Jones.
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