It may not seem like it now, but spring weather will be here before you know it. All of the ice and snow (if you get any) will melt away, and forages will become green again. It is usually good when forages start to green up, but a hidden danger comes with the new green growth. It is a danger that can strike without warning and severely lower your cow’s production. This danger is known as grass tetany.
With the warmer weather and the winter moisture, your grasses out in the pasture will start their “Spring Greenup,” and things will start to look good again. It is during this time that forages come out of their dormant stage and begin growing rapidly again.
Though it may seem like the greatest time of the year, with all of the green across the pasture, it is not without its challenges and concerns. During this time of year, a particular problem known as grass tetany can cause issues with your cowherd.
For those of you not in the know, you may be asking, “What is grass tetany?” “What kinds of problems can it cause my operation?” and “How do I treat or even prevent it from happening?“. In regard to those questions, here are some things you should consider.
A soil test can be a very effective tool in a producer’s toolbox. It can tell you the kind of nutrients that are available and the amounts that are present. Really, it is the foundation of any plan to improve the output of your pastures.
Having suitable replacement heifers is vital for the long-term profitability of any ranch. It is necessary to be able to rotate the breeding stock out to improve the overall genetic gene pool. Also, cows will get to a point where they will be too old to breed anymore. When this happens, you must have new stock ready to take their place.
Knowing when to assist with calving can be a very tricky matter. It requires a delicate balance between not acting too quickly and not reacting too late. Finding this balance requires a lot of experience and a little bit of luck.
A feed tag is a very informative but often overlooked item on a commercially produced feed. Other than looking at the Crude protein or the energy content, not many people really look at them. With some of the confusing numbers and such listed on them, it is understandable how that can happen.
Calf scours is something that is concerning for all cow/calf producers. It causes more financial loss to producers than any other health problem in their herd. It can come out of nowhere and spread throughout your herd much like wildfire. The main issue with this disease is that it can be confusing for some people.
Colostrum is one of, if not the most critical thing for newborn calves. It lays the very foundation for their health and well-being throughout the remainder of their life. Through the dam, the calf takes in all the antibodies needed to fight off disease. But what if they are not able to get it from their mother?
A good pasture is the foundation of any profitable livestock operation. It provides the forages needed not only to sustain but also to allow the livestock to grow. Having enough forages for all of the animals is essential to keep your feed costs down to a manageable level. However, keeping a pasture at this level can be complicated.
Producers tend to have a love/hate relationship regarding supplements. On the one hand, they love how it improves the performance of their cattle, but on the other hand, they hate that it adds to their expenses. It is for this reason that producers tend only to feed supplements if they absolutely have to.
A new year is approaching for the cattle industry. Though we have had our issues this past year, like the current market, new opportunities are bound to return. It may not look like it, but there are always positives to be found if you know how to look, even in our yoyo industry.
