A cattle operation in Florida has found success in taking the sickest calves for sale and transforming them into healthy animals ready for the feedlot.
Steve Yoder’s farm in Altha, Florida serves as a prime example of the upside stocker operations provide the market.
The high-risk calves are brought to his farm, where he says they are offered a little TLC. That begins with castration, vaccines, and deworming. The calves are then treated to Bermuda grass with supplements.
Once cattle are healthy and gaining weight, Yoder describes his animals as “bulletproof” and ready for finishing.
Programs like this often find success in areas where grass is plentiful and feeding costs can be cut down.
Related Stories
Beal joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss her election to NASDA’s presidency, challenges facing American agriculture, and her background as a Mainer and dairy farmer.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to break down what this extension means for affected ranchers.
Lower inventories and cautious farrowing plans suggest tighter hog supplies into 2026, keeping producer margins sensitive to demand trends and health risks.
Listen to Alex’s Dirt Diaries episode today on all podcast platforms or tune into Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147 to listen, weekends at 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET.
Rising cow numbers and higher yields are boosting milk supplies, which may keep pressure on prices and farm margins into the fall.
On this week’s episode of FarmHER + RanchHER, host Kirbe Schnoor travels to Wilson’s ranch to see how she blends tradition and technology to raise elite Red Angus cattle.
