Fall is more than just cooler mornings and shorter days—it’s the season to give your cows the best possible start heading into winter. Good fall and winter cattle management isn’t just about comfort; it’s about keeping your herd healthy, productive, and your feed costs in check.
As temperatures drop, a cow’s nutrient needs start to change. These requirements depend heavily on where they are in their production cycle. For example, if you’re on a spring calving schedule, your cows are already working hard to grow a healthy calf. That means they need extra nutrition on top of their regular diet—not only to support the pregnancy but also to keep their own bodies warm when the cold really sets in.
Ignoring these seasonal changes can take a toll. Cows in poor body condition going into winter are more likely to have calving problems, lower milk production, and weaker calves come spring. On the flip side, well-managed nutrition now can mean healthier cows, heavier calves at weaning, and better overall reproductive performance.
But here’s the good news: getting your herd winter-ready doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By focusing on three main areas—nutrition, pasture management, and herd health—you can set your cattle up for success without breaking the bank. This straightforward approach should give you confidence in your ability to manage your herd effectively.
Breeding season prep isn’t just another thing on your to-do list—it’s one of the most essential parts of your ranch’s success. For cow/calf producers, the steps you take before the season starts can make or break your calf crop. At the end of the day, it’s those good-quality calves that bring in the income and keep your operation moving forward. A healthy, consistent calf crop isn’t luck—it results from solid planning and management.
Our minds usually focus on protein and energy when we think about cattle nutrition. Those are important, sure—but minerals often get left out of the conversation. The truth is that using a mineral supplement is one of the most important (and most overlooked) parts of good cattle management. Minerals might not be needed in large amounts. Still, they play a significant role in your herd’s overall health, reproduction, and performance. Think of them like the tiny tools in a big toolbox—they may be small, but the whole system doesn’t work right without them.
Controlling flies on your cattle is one of those frustrating challenges that can make you feel like you’re in an endless battle. No matter what you try, those pesky insects keep returning year after year. It’s like they’ve got a personal vendetta against your herd, making it seem almost impossible to get them under control.
Calf dehydration is a serious problem that often sneaks up on producers. It’s easy to overlook until it becomes critical, but by then, the damage may already be done. The most common culprits are scorching summer heat and scours, both of which can strip a calf of fluids fast. The key to saving a dehydrated calf is spotting the signs early and acting quickly.
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.
Prickly pear, along with other cactus species, is a pressing issue in pastures. The proliferation of these cacti can impede livestock movement and pose serious health risks.
It’s hard to believe that we are almost to September, which means that summer is almost over. The temperatures will be getting cooler (
Internal parasites are a problem that every beef producer must face. They are a constant annoyance that can rob a beef operation of its productivity. They impair production by increasing maintenance energy costs, diet digestibility, and immune activity.
