Maintaining your pasture during the summer is a crucial task that requires your diligent attention. In a matter of minutes, it can transition from adequate moisture to extremely dry. As a manager, your role is pivotal in preventing your pasture from suffering too much.
Though I don’t know how it is where you are in West Texas, keeping pastures productive can be challenging during this time. Mother Nature seems to have not wanted to cooperate with you for most years and has held back the needed moisture.
While you can not control the weather, you can take steps to give your forages a fighting chance. Practices like rotational grazing and maintaining the correct stocking rate can significantly improve your pasture’s health. Here are some strategies to consider when facing another dry summer and hoping for a more productive season.
Having a good summer pasture management plan can save you many headaches later on. It will allow you to put out potential fires, not literally, before they occur.
A protein tub is a convenient way to provide extra nutrition when needed. One of its key benefits is that once you place it in the pasture, you can rest assured that you don’t need to check it daily. This benefit is beneficial for those who may have a job back in town, providing a sense of relief from daily checking responsibilities.
Using a mineral supplement is one of cattle management’s most important yet overlooked parts. Sure, we all are concerned with the amount of protein or energy we are getting, but what about meeting their mineral needs?
Sulfur salt blocks have generated a love/hate relationship among many cattlemen. Some love them and swear by them, while others feel they are a waste of money. It can be a bit of a headache to understand either side truly.
Feed costs remain the single most significant expense for any cattle producer. Depending on different factors, this expense can easily be half of the total annual expenses for a rancher.
Mineral supplementation is an essential component of any successful cattle operation. Minerals are the building blocks for growth, reproduction, and basic maintenance. It is important that your cattle get all of the minerals that their bodies need.
Salt, along with other minerals, is necessary to sustain life in cattle. Much like with humans, they are essential building blocks for living beings to perform at their best. It is needed for the body to perform even the most basic of functions.
Roughages are an essential but often overlooked part of a cow’s diet. Most of the time, people only focus on things like crude protein, energy, and possibly even mineral content. While those are vital for the overall production of cattle, roughages play just as important a role. Consuming a certain amount of roughage is essential to keep the rumen functioning, thus allowing the digestion of things like protein, energy, and minerals.
Creep feeding can be an excellent tool for improving the overall weaning weight of your calves. Thus, it can be a good management and economical option for improving your bottom line.
