Having to feed supplements is necessary sometimes in cattle operations. That being said it is not something that most ranchers like to do. Feed costs remain the single largest expense for any cattle producer. The amount really depends on different things but it can easily be half of the total annual expenses.
As I said before to total amount that it can cost you depends on a few things. Things such as the time of year and the current forage conditions. In a drought situation feed costs can total 70% of the total yearly costs.
Now you may be thinking that it is difficult to reduce feed costs without sacrificing overall production. There are some who have no problem with that but they are more “low cost producers”. In order to be sustainable the profitable producer knows that productivity is key to any successful operation.
Hay bale season is in full swing now. It is during this time of year that everyone is out cutting and baling hay for winter. In truth pretty much everyone is more than likely on their second cutting. While everyone is focused on the making the bale part not many are planning for how they will store them.
With summer arriving treating pinkeye is an issue many cattle producers will face. As things get drier it means more dust which means an increase in eye irritants.
A summer pasture can be a producer’s greatest resources for his cattle. When managed correctly it provides all of the nutrients your cattle need going into fall breeding season.
When it comes to minerals people tend to focus only on either spring or fall. It is during these times of the year that cattle go through their highest demands. But just because that is the case it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your cows mineral needs during the rest of the year.
Salt, along with other minerals, are necessary to sustain life in cows. Much like humans they are the essential building blocks for a living being to perform at best.
Pasture thistles are a group of plants that are considered a serious threat to rangelands. Like most weeds they propagate very quickly and choke out any grasses that are growing there.
Treatment protocols are often seen as something used only by feed yards and large stocker operations. People that deal with large numbers of animals at a time.
Creep feeding can be a very useful tool for producers with young calves. This will improve both your bottom line and your overall profitability.
Mesquite trees, everyone’s favorite “trash” tree. It can provide us with some really good firewood but it does pose some problems for range managers.
