Play the video below to watch the Beef Cattle Extension team share the basics on supplementing wheat and managing market expectations and grazing practices for cattle. The Rancher's Thursday Lunchtime Series videos are timely and backed by research to supply producers and consumers top notch information and resources.

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Finding Forage-Efficient Cattle: Beyond Cow Size

Dr. David Lalman kicks off the "Tug-of-War in the Cattle Industry" webinar series with an in-depth look at identifying forage-efficient cattle to help producers control rising cow costs. While the industry trend toward heavier carcass weights continues, Dr. Lalman explores how cow size serves as a proxy for feed intake and stocking rates, and why genetic potential for weaning weight may be restricted by the ranch environment.

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Cow Size vs. Carcass Weight: Maximizing Beef Industry Efficiency

Is bigger always better? Join Dr. Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist, for the second installment of the "Tug of War" series within the Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime webinars.

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Increasing Carcass Weights: Economics, Growth Biology, and Feedlot Trends

Are today’s record-heavy cattle carcasses sustainable? In this session of the Rancher Thursday lunchtime series, Dr. Marshall Streeter, Associate Director of Cattle Technical Services for Merck Animal Health, dives into the shifting dynamics of the beef industry.

As cattle supply hit historic lows and drought continues to impact the herd, feedyards are keeping cattle on feed longer to maximize profitability. Dr. Streeter breaks down the science behind "carcass transfer," explaining why growth remains linear even at extreme weights and how current marketing methods favor carcass selling over live weight.

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Selecting for Profit: Balancing Cow Adaptability and Carcass Quality

In the final session of the Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Series, David Lalman and Dr. Rosslyn Biggs from Oklahoma State University welcome Dr. Bob Weaber from Kansas State University. Dr. Weaber explores the complex "tug of war" in the beef industry: how to select for productive, low-cost, environmentally adapted cows while simultaneously producing high-quality, heavy carcasses.