With fall and cooler weather right around the corner, giving your cows their best chance going into winter is essential. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle. It also plays a part in keeping feed costs reasonable.
As with other seasons, a cow’s nutrient requirements are different during this time of year. Of course, the requirements depend on what production cycle you have them on. If you are on a spring calving timeframe, they will need requirements met to grow the calf inside the cow. The requirements are on top of the cow’s regular needs as well as keeping the cow’s body warm during the colder times of the year.
But fear not; this article is here to help. You can use some things to get your cattle on the best foot going to winter. Here are some things that you can do to help your cows going into the later part of the year:
Weaning is one of the most critical times for a cattle producer. It is a time for all of their hard work begins to pay off with an excellent large calf crop. Though it may be of benefit to the producer, it comes with its problems.
Getting calves to gain weight most efficiently is the goal of every cow/calf producer. Some producers have found that using a creep system is a way of achieving that goal. Regarding creep systems, there are two options: Creep grazing and creep feeding a concentrate supplement. Both methods have pros and cons, so it would be best for the producer to research what works for them.
Destocking is a prevalent practice during a drought. Doing this is rarely easy to do and will still cost you most of the time. However, drought is a common consequence of ranching, so it will still need to be made. It is important to include plans for when droughts occur so producers are always prepared.
Having calves weaned early is often something that occurs during periods of low forage quality. Early weaning typically happens during extremely dry periods, such as what typically happens in many Western states. But what exactly does it mean to wean early?
Breeding season puts a lot of demands on cows. During this time, she is expected to provide adequate nutrition for her calf while her body recovers from giving birth. Then she is expected to return to estrus just before she is bred again. All of this is expected to occur within 90 days after calving to maintain a yearly calving interval.
Weaning time is once again upon us. It is a magical time when everything runs smoothly. Also, absolutely nothing wrong ever….. 
The threat of drought in any year is a real problem for most of the country. Many of us have seen severely less than average rainfall, which has strained our businesses. The most frustrating thing about it is that drought is one of the few things we, humans, have no control over.
Water is an essential part of life. A certain amount is certainly needed for growth, fetal development, lactation, and overall production. But unfortunately, despite its importance, it is something that can be overlooked very easily by producers.
It is weaning time again out on the range. Weaning is the time of year when you, as a rancher, see the fruits of your labor. Labors, such as with your breeding programs. But that does beg the question about success.
