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How to actually manage forage and feed in drought

October 19, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

How to actually manage forage grazing and feed in drought Winter grazing management can have an impact on your future forage production. The intensity of your grazing animals determines what state they will be in. Also, grazing during the winter may be limited depending on what forages you have available.

Feeding during the winter is one of the most significant expenses for a livestock producer. Supplements have always been a little pricey, especially with low crop production. With the intense drought we have experienced across most of the country, hay has also become expensive, if you can find any.

However, with careful planning, grazing during this time is not only possible but can also be cost-effective. Strategies like stockpiling forages for winter use can help you manage your costs. And what about in the spring? You can take proactive steps during this time to ensure that you have healthy grasses come the next growing season.

Winter cattle care: how to reduce stress and boost health

October 15, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Winter cattle care: how to reduce stress and boost health It may not seem like it now, but winter is coming. The change in seasons also brings new problems to deal with to keep your cattle performing at their best. Keeping your cattle healthy during the stress of colder winter temperatures can be a pain in the neck. It is also doable.

Many different factors influence cattle health. One of these factors is nutrition. Cattle need to be in a sound body condition score, which is a numerical scale used to assess the amount of fat and muscle on a cow’s body in order to produce enough body heat and lessen the effects of cold stress. The environment itself, stress, and exposure to pathogens are also factors.

Health depends on providing proper nutrition to promote a robust immune system. Thin cattle are more vulnerable to the cold and possibly have weaker immune systems. Here are a few ideas to give your cattle the best chance to make it through winter.

Skyrocket cattle growth with protein tubs and smart feeding

October 11, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Skyrocket cattle growth with protein tubs and smart feeding Protein supplements are often needed during the fall and winter months. This need is because, during this time, most of your tame pasture forages go into dormancy. When this happens, things like their protein content will go down.

Maintaining an adequate protein level in the diet is vital for your cattle. It is needed to keep the optimal function of rumen microbes. These microbes are what break down the complex carbohydrates that are found in dry forage. With this optimal protein level, the rumen can adequately digest poor-quality forages.

When developing a cost-effective supplement program, there are two things to identify. The first is to determine the nutrients or nutrients that are limited. The next is how to provide that supplementation at the lowest cost possible. There are many options when it comes to supplements, including using protein tubs for your animals.

Stress-free weaning: how to actually boost calf performance

October 7, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Stress-free weaning: how to actually boost calf performance As the days grow shorter and the weather turns cooler, the upcoming fall processing period takes on a significant role in your operations. This is the time when most producers, including you, will be running their cows through the chutes and weaning the spring-born calves from their mothers. It’s a crucial phase that sets the stage for the future of your herd.

Much like during the spring, this can be a hectic time for producers. With all of the doctoring and separation that is going on, it can take a lot of work to keep track of what is going on. However, there is a better time to slouch when it comes to your calf crop.

What you do here can determine the productivity of your fall calves. Calving will be stressful for them, so whatever you can do to alleviate as much of that as possible will be helpful. Here are five steps that you can follow to get your calves going in the right direction.

How to actually prepare your herd’s nutrition for winter

October 3, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

How to actually prepare your herd's nutrition for winter Nutrition significantly affects your herd’s health during the cold winter months. Producers should plan ahead for their fall and winter forages to meet this need. There are many factors to consider when figuring out how much hay will be needed.

Primary inputs like grain, fertilizer, and even fuel can become terribly expensive. What’s even scarier is that these prices only appear to be going down for a while.

While looking at using a hay bale, many people tend to look at the upfront cost. While this may be good initially, it is not always best to be the only way. You will want to examine how much that particular will cost per unit of energy or protein.

How to really support cows during fall calving season

September 29, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

How to really support cows during fall calving season Nutrition is essential year-round. Everything hinges on the cow’s nutritional needs being met, from putting on weight for the market to reentering the reproduction cycle. However, meeting these demands can be complicated.

The fall of the year can be a problem for producers. Even if you had forages growing, their overall quality declines drastically during this time of year. As the forages mature, they become more fibrous, their crude protein level decreases, and they become less palatable. If a producer has his herd calves in the fall, the problem becomes even more of an issue.

The issue with having a fall-calving herd is that the quality of forages decreases as her nutrition needs increase. The critical thing to remember is to meet the cow’s nutritional demands. It may seem impossible, but that is not the case. With some proper planning, it is possible to avoid having this become an issue. Continue reading

How to better choose and raise productive heifers

September 25, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

What is the proper strategy for heifer development for my cowherd? Many producers have asked themselves how to do heifer development right. Developing a replacement heifer is one of the most expensive management decisions a producer will make. Making this decision can have long-term impacts on your herd’s profitability.

You should consider the expenses involved in developing heifers when deciding if you should buy or raise them. Look at your specific production environment to determine your most cost-effective system. Both of these are important for those females’ long-term profitability and longevity. A producer should also look at the ages and production of the cows that they currently have in their herd.

Developing a heifer to replace a future cull cow is one of the most expensive management decisions you can make. What you decide here can have significant implications on long-term profitability. Here are some things for you to consider when going over this.

Soil testing 101: a rancher’s guide to better yields

September 21, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Soil testing 101: a rancher's guide to better yields Soil testing, often overlooked, is a powerful tool in range management. Understanding your soil’s fertility and nutrient composition is critical to informed decision-making. Instead of relying on guesswork, soil testing empowers producers to make targeted fertilizer applications, maximizing their resources and improving forage production.

Soil fertility and health are the bedrock of forage production. By increasing forage production, the need for costly supplements is reduced. This cost-saving potential, coupled with improved soil health, underscores the importance of soil testing for producers, providing a sense of financial security.

Improving pasture health, productivity, and longevity doesn’t have to be daunting. The practical first step is soil testing, a straightforward process that can often be overlooked in the midst of daily tasks. Here are five practical tips to help producers get the most out of their soil tests and make the process more manageable.

Prepare Your Cattle Now for a Trouble-Free Winter

September 17, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Prepare Your Cattle Now for a Trouble-Free Winter Winter can be a challenging season for cattle, but with the proper preparation, you can keep your herd healthy and thriving. As the cold months approach, it’s crucial to plan for everything from proper nutrition to shelter. By taking proactive steps today, you can avoid costly problems and ensure your cattle make it through winter in top condition. Now, let’s delve into what you must do to set your herd up for success.

Given this issue, producers will need to be resourceful and efficient with their supplements. It’s not just about putting out some feed and hoping for the best. Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated to calculate winter feed needs, and this efficient management is vital to successful winter cattle care.

It can be very tempting to choose the cheapest option, expecting it to be the best option. The goal is to be the most efficient rather than the least costly. Going with the cheaper option can often lead to more costs down the road. Here are four things that you can look to make it through this winter in a relatively good position.

Fall season challenges: how to keep your cattle healthy

September 13, 2024 / Robert Malmstrom

Fall season challenges: how to keep your cattle healthy The fall season can be problematic for a beef producer. As you go into it after a dry, hot summer, the entire herd may be stressed. The combination of high heat, short grass, and low water tanks can stress cattle and make them more prone to disease.

This time of year can be a problem for all of your cattle. At the end of summer, the cows are likely pulled down to a thin body condition because of lower-quality forage and nursing calves. Your bulls are worn out from breeding and may also be on the light side. A typical situation during this time of year is that the calves deal with the most stressful time of their lives during weaning.

Producers can effectively prevent or minimize health problems in the fall by reducing stress. This proactive approach, achieved through providing adequate nutrition and improving sanitation, can significantly mitigate the risk of diseases. Below is some information about four diseases you might encounter during this time of year, along with the preventive measures you can take.

West Texas Livestock Growers