If you’ve been ranching for a long time, you know October isn’t just about cooler mornings and shipping calves. It’s the month when innovative producers start thinking ahead about winter supplementation planning—because what you do now can save you a significant amount of money by the time January rolls around.
Here’s the reality: once winter sets in, feed costs go up, and cow condition is harder to maintain. Cows that enter the cold months with inadequate protein and energy will deplete their body reserves more quickly than desired. And when that happens, the consequences add up quickly:
- More open cows and lower rebreeding rates
- Calves that aren’t as strong or thrifty
- Higher feed bills when you’re forced to “catch up” in bad weather
The good news? You don’t have to let that happen. By starting your supplementation plan in October, you give yourself time to stretch forage, control costs, and keep cows in better shape all winter long.
Protein is the key driver of forage digestion. Without enough of it, your cows can’t get full value out of the grass that’s already in front of them. That’s why the right supplement strategy—whether it’s protein tubs, cubes, or blocks—isn’t just a nice idea. It’s an investment in your herd’s health, productivity, and your bottom line.
Over the following sections, we’ll break down the pros and cons of tubs, cubes, and blocks, and show you why October is the cheapest month of the year to get your plan in place—long before the first blue norther rolls in.
