West Texas Livestock Growers

April Pasture Check: What Your Grass Is Telling You

April 22, 2026 / / 0 Comments
April Pasture Check: What Your Grass Is Telling YouEvery April in West Texas, there’s a window where it feels like things are finally starting to work in your favor again. The grass is greening up, cattle are grazing aggressively, and after months of feeding hay, it looks like your pastures are ready to carry the load. You open the gate, turn cows out, and for a while, it seems like you’ve got more than enough forage to get through the spring. From the surface, everything points to a strong start.
This is also the time when some of the most important spring grazing management decisions are made, often without much thought.
The reality is that pasture conditions in April can be misleading. Early growth may look abundant, but those plants are still relying heavily on stored root energy to keep producing. If grazing pressure is too high or cattle stay too long, that energy gets depleted before the plant has a chance to recover. The problem is, you won’t see the impact right away. It shows up later as slower regrowth, weaker stands, and reduced forage production when you need it most.
That’s why checking your pastures in April is so important for cattle producers. It helps you spot issues early, protect your pasture’s carrying capacity, and manage feed costs. Watch for grass height, density, and unwanted weed growth. Addressing these early keeps you ahead all season.

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How to Build a Cattle Mineral Program That Works

April 18, 2026 / / 0 Comments
How to Build a Cattle Mineral Program That WorksMost producers pay attention to protein and energy when thinking about cattle nutrition. But if you only focus on those, you might miss out on better performance. A good mineral program is essential, even though it’s often ignored. Minerals are needed in small amounts, but they have a big impact on reproduction, immune health, and overall results. They’re like small but essential tools: easy to forget, but nothing works right without them. If you want better conception rates, stronger calves, and steady gains, mineral supplements are a must.
Mineral deficiencies in cattle don’t show up all at once. They develop slowly and can cost you money before you notice clear signs like low milk production, lighter calves at weaning, or breeding problems. Many deficiencies look alike, so it’s hard to tell what’s wrong. That’s why it’s better to prevent problems before they start. It’s easier and cheaper to stop a deficiency than to fix it later.
How do you pick the right mineral supplement for your farm? There isn’t a single answer, because your cattle’s needs depend on your soil, forage, and goals. Start by testing your forage to see what nutrients your pasture already has. Then choose a balanced supplement to fill in the gaps, so your herd gets what they need to do their best.

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Spring Calf Health: Problems to Catch Early

April 14, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Spring Calf Health: Problems to Catch EarlyEvery spring in West Texas, there’s a point where calving is mostly behind you, and things finally start to settle down. Calves are on the ground, pairs are turned out, and after a long winter, it feels like you’ve made it through the hardest part of the season. The grass is starting to green up, cows are grazing again, and from a distance, the herd looks like it’s in good shape. This is often when producers feel like they can take a breath and let things run.
But this is also when spring calf health problems start to appear, often quietly and easy to miss at first.
Calves born in February and March go through a tough transition. They deal with changing weather, cows getting used to new grass, and more activity and exposure. These challenges can lead to respiratory issues, navel infections, and nutritional stress. Often, problems begin as small changes in behavior or performance that are easy to miss until they turn into bigger setbacks.
This is why doing a simple, focused spring calf health check is one of the best things you can do right now. Catching issues early helps protect calf health, improve growth, and prevent bigger problems later. Let’s look at why small problems matter so much in the spring and how you can stay ahead of them.

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The Hidden Cost of Waiting to Rotate Pastures

April 10, 2026 / / 0 Comments
The Hidden Cost of Waiting to Rotate PasturesEach spring in West Texas, there’s a brief period when everything comes together. Pastures turn green, cattle move to fresh grass, and after a long winter, it finally feels like the grass is pulling its weight again. Cows graze eagerly, the forage looks plentiful, and it seems like you’re ready for a great grazing season. Many producers feel this is the time to relax and let the pasture do the work.
But this is also when one of the most common spring grazing mistakes starts to appear.
It’s tempting to leave cattle on those early spring pastures a bit longer than you should. There’s still green grass, and nothing looks overgrazed. But below the surface, it’s a different story. At this stage, grasses depend on root energy reserves to keep growing. If cattle keep grazing without enough recovery time, those reserves get used up, even if the pasture still looks good from afar.
This is when the hidden cost of waiting too long to rotate pastures starts to add up. Over time, it can lower forage production, weaken plants, and reduce your pasture’s ability to support cattle later in the season. A small decision in April can end up costing you in June, July, and beyond.
Knowing how spring pasture management affects long-term productivity is one of the best ways to stay ahead of problems and get more from your grazing system all year. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at a common pitfall many producers face.

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Pinkeye in Cattle: Catch It Early, Stop the Spread

April 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Pinkeye in Cattle: Catch It Early, Stop the SpreadPinkeye in cattle spreads quickly and can turn from a small issue into a problem for the whole herd. It moves from animal to animal through direct contact and flies, especially face flies. That’s why it’s important to spot it early and act fast. What begins as mild tearing or irritation can lead to cloudy eyes, ulcers, or even blindness if not treated right away. Once pinkeye takes hold, it’s much tougher and takes more time to control, so catching it early is your best bet.
Pinkeye in cattle usually follows a seasonal pattern. It starts showing up in spring, gets worse in early summer, and peaks when it’s hot and dry. Dust, tall grass, and lots of flies make things worse. Breeds with lighter-colored eyes, like Herefords and Charolais, are more at risk because they’re sensitive to sunlight and irritation. These conditions make infection more likely, so prevention is important.
When pinkeye shows up, treating it can take a lot of work. You’ll need to sort, treat, and keep an eye on sick animals. Even mild cases can get worse if ignored, so separating infected cattle helps stop it from spreading. The main point is this: the sooner you spot and deal with pinkeye, the easier it is to manage. In the next sections, we’ll cover how to prevent outbreaks, what signs to look for, and how to handle pinkeye before it affects your herd’s health and your bottom line.

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Feed Tag vs What Your Cows Actually Use

April 2, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Feed Tag vs What Your Cows Actually UseEvery producer has looked at a feed tag and thought, “That should cover what my cows need.” Crude protein looks good, energy numbers seem solid, and the mineral package checks the boxes. On paper, everything adds up.
But then reality hits. Cows don’t breed back like expected. Body condition slips. Calves don’t grow as they should. And suddenly you’re wondering what’s missing—even though the numbers looked right.
The core problem: cows rarely use all the nutrients they consume.
A lot can happen between the feed bunk and the bloodstream. Nutrients might be lost, tied up, or just pass through the animal without being fully used. In West Texas, where forage quality, water, and mineral issues are common, this gap can be even bigger.
Understanding the difference between feed tag values and actual nutrient utilization in cattle is one of the most overlooked ways to improve herd performance without necessarily increasing feed costs.
Let’s look at what’s really happening and how to make sure your cows get value from every pound you feed. To do this, we need to look at the main problem behind the numbers.

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Why Mineral Intake Drops in Spring Pasture

March 29, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Why Mineral Intake Drops in Spring PastureEach spring in West Texas, ranchers breathe a sigh of relief as pastures turn green again. After months of feeding hay and waiting for the grass to grow, it’s a welcome sight to see cattle grazing on fresh forage. The cows are back on pasture, hay costs go down, and the grass takes over feeding duties.
At first glance, everything looks right. The cattle are grazing, the pasture looks healthy, and the herd seems well-fed. However, spring pasture can bring a management issue that many producers miss: changes in how much salt and minerals cattle eat.
When cows switch from dry winter feed to lush spring grass, many ranchers expect their mineral program to work just like it did all winter. But spring forage can really change how much salt and minerals cattle eat. Fresh grass is not the same as hay or dormant pasture, and those differences can affect how cattle manage their mineral intake.
Some herds eat less mineral than expected, while others start eating more salt. Sometimes, cattle avoid mineral feeders, especially if the feeders aren’t placed where cows usually spend their time.
These changes matter more than most producers realize. Proper cattle mineral nutrition is key to reproduction, immunity, calf growth, and herd performance. If mineral intake falls before breeding season, effects may not appear until later, with lower conception rates or weaker calves.
In short, knowing how spring pasture affects mineral intake helps ranchers spot small problems early and keep cattle healthy all season.

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The April Nutrition Gap: Why Cows Lose Condition

March 25, 2026 /
The April Nutrition Gap: Why Cows Lose ConditionEvery spring in West Texas, ranchers wait for pastures to green so they can stop feeding hay and let cattle graze.
You open the gate, turn cows out, and think, “They can finally graze again.”
At first, the pasture looks healthy, cattle eat eagerly, and hay costs drop. It feels like nature is doing the work again.
However, this is often when many cattle producers face an unexpected problem.
Early spring pasture can create what many nutritionists call a hidden nutritional gap in cattle. The grass may look lush and healthy, but it does not always give cows the balanced nutrition they need, especially if they are lactating, recovering from calving, or preparing for breeding season.
Cows often lose body condition in April and May, even when grazing deep green forage. The grass is present, but nutrients may not meet cows’ needs.
If this mismatch, known as the April nutrition gap, goes unnoticed, it can lower conception rates, weaken calves, and make it take longer for cows to breed again.
The good news is that understanding early forage makes this issue much easier to manage.
Let’s look at why early spring grass can be misleading and how you can keep your cows performing well in the spring.

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Fertilizer Timing Myths That Cost You Forage

March 21, 2026 /
Fertilizer Timing Myths That Cost You ForageIf you ask ten ranchers when they typically fertilize their pasture, you’ll probably hear the same answer more than once:
“Usually sometime in March.” Or maybe: “Right before spring green-up.”
This is a common rule of thumb in pasture management. It makes sense at first: apply fertilizer just before the grass starts growing so nutrients are there when plants need them. For many producers, this timing has become routine, just another spring job like fixing fences or checking water troughs.
But things get tricky in places like West Texas and other semi-arid grazing areas. Relying only on the calendar for fertilizer timing is one of the most common ways producers waste money and miss out on better forage growth.
The reason is simple: grass doesn’t grow based on the calendar.
Pasture plants respond to environmental conditions, not dates. Their growth depends on factors like:
  • Soil moisture
  • Soil temperature
  • Day length
  • Plant growth stage
If fertilizer is applied before these conditions line up, several problems can occur:
  • Nutrients may sit unused in dry soil for weeks.
  • Nitrogen can be lost before plants absorb it.
  • Forage response may be weaker than expected.
  • Fertilizer costs rise without increasing yield.
In dryland systems, timing matters even more. One poorly timed fertilizer application can mean the difference between strong forage growth and disappointing results.
That’s why it’s important to take a closer look at fertilizer timing. Knowing when grass can actually use nutrients helps producers get more value from every pound of fertilizer.
Now that we see the limits of calendar-based fertilization, let’s look at why this method often fails in semi-arid grazing systems, what really affects fertilizer response, and how to better time applications for the best pasture results.

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The Flies Actually Costing Your Herd Money

March 17, 2026 /
The Flies Actually Costing Your Herd MoneyThe relentless challenge of controlling flies on cattle can frustrate even seasoned ranchers. Just as you think they’re under control, they return—buzzing around eyes, biting legs, and stressing your herd. You’re not alone in dealing with this. The real key to fly control isn’t total elimination, but staying ahead of their life cycle.
When spring temperatures go up, flies that spent the winter in manure, hay waste, and feeding areas start to appear. A small number can quickly turn into a big problem if you don’t act early. Heavy fly pressure does more than just bother your cattle; it also costs you money. Horn flies can lower weaning weights, stable flies can reduce average daily gain, and face flies raise the risk of pinkeye. Flies also cause stress, reducing grazing time and overall performance.
To manage flies on cattle effectively, focus on timing and develop a clear prevention plan. Begin before fly numbers rise by keeping feeding areas clean, using control products early based on fly life cycles, and checking your cattle often for early signs. Prevention and the use of multiple control methods are important.
No single method works perfectly on its own. However, if you combine different approaches and use them at the right time, you can greatly reduce fly problems before they affect your cattle’s performance.
You might never completely get rid of flies, but by acting now and using several control methods, you can protect your cattle, maintain your weaning weights, and keep your profits. To ensure your herd’s health and your business’s success, commit to getting ahead of fly season. This begins by identifying the most important times for prevention and knowing when and how to apply these strategies.

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