If there’s one thing every rancher in West Texas can agree on, it’s this: winter feeding has a way of sneaking up fast. One minute you’re swatting flies and watching calves kick up their heels in the late-summer heat, and the next you’re staring down the first cold fronts, wondering if you’ve got enough hay stacked to make it through. When the weather flips, there’s no time to play catch-up—your cattle depend on you having a plan in place.
That’s precisely why September is the best month to get ahead of the game. Once October rolls around, your schedule fills up quickly with weaning, preg-checks, and fall ranch projects. By taking a moment now to evaluate your winter feeding program, you’ll not only save yourself stress but also keep feed costs in check when the days get shorter and colder.
In this post, we’ll walk through the three significant steps every cattle producer should tackle in September to set up a successful winter feeding strategy: first, take a real hay inventory (not just an eyeball guess); second, test forage quality, because not all hay bales are created equal; and third, estimate your winter supplement needs before the feed store rush leaves you paying higher prices. Getting these pieces right now will help ensure your herd stays in good condition all winter without draining your wallet.
