August is a month of rapid change in pasture conditions. What may seem like sufficient forage on the surface could be lacking in the essential nutrients your herd needs. Delaying the introduction of protein tubs, cubes, or hay could potentially set your cattle—and your profits—back as you head into fall.
In this post, we’re empowering you with the knowledge to interpret your pastures and your cattle, enabling you to make informed decisions without guesswork. We’ll delve into forage quality, cattle signals, and the right time to introduce additional feed—without straining your budget.
Why August Is a Turning Point for Forage Quality
If you’ve ever said, “I don’t know why they’re not gaining—there’s still grass out there,” you’re not alone.
Late summer is when forage quality takes a nosedive, especially in the Southern Plains and West Texas. Even if your pastures still have some volume, they might be short on nutrients, particularly crude protein and digestible energy. Why?
- Warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, buffelgrass, or native mixes mature and become more fibrous as the season wears on.
- Heat and drought stress accelerate that maturity, drying out the plant and reducing palatability.
- Forage that was decent in July can be borderline or below maintenance levels by mid-August—especially for lactating cows or growing calves.
As forage quality drops, rumen microbes can’t do their job as efficiently, which means your cattle aren’t getting the full benefit of what they are eating. That’s when supplementing starts to make sense—not because the pasture is empty, but because the nutrition in it isn’t cutting it anymore.
How to Know If Your Forage Is Still Pulling Its Weight
So how do you tell if your pastures are still doing their job? You don’t have to be a forage testing expert (although testing once or twice a year isn’t a bad idea). Here are a few fast, visual ways to get a read on pasture quality:
1. Check the Grass Maturity
- Is it stemmy or leafy?
- Are you seeing seed heads on warm-season grasses?
- Are plants starting to yellow or brown from the base?
The more mature and stemmy the grass, the lower the protein content and digestibility. Even if there’s plenty of biomass, the quality may be lacking.
2. Look at Grazing Height
Try the simple “boot test”: if most of the grass is shorter than your boot heel (or about 3–4 inches), your cattle are probably already grazing regrowth or less desirable forage.
3. Evaluate Coverage
Bare patches, heavily grazed areas, or signs of overgrazing can mean you’re running low on usable forage—even if there’s still grass in other spots.
4. Send in a Sample
If you want to get precise, you can send off a sample to a local forage testing lab. Many extension offices offer this service or can help you get started. You’ll get actual numbers on crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and fiber content.
👉 Want to learn more about testing hay and pasture quality? This guide from Oklahoma State University walks you through it step-by-step.
Your Cows Will Tell You—If You Know What to Look For
Cattle are pretty good communicators once you know the signs. If your pasture is lacking, your herd will start dropping hints:
👀 Body Condition Starts to Slide
If cows are looking a little ribby or their hips are more visible, don’t ignore it. Even a subtle loss of condition in August can be a sign that forage protein has dipped too low to maintain weight.
🐄 Calves Are Loud, Hungry, or Hanging Back
Slower gains, bawling calves, or more time lying around instead of grazing may point to a nutritional shortfall. Remember, calves nursing thin cows will also start to lose performance.
💩 Cow Pie Clues
- Loose and green = decent quality
- Dry and stacked = fiber overload, low digestibility
- Checking manure consistency gives you a real-time read on how well forage is being processed.
🕶️ Cattle Hanging in the Shade All Day
If cattle are avoiding pasture in the heat but still not eating much in the cool hours, it might not be a heat issue—it could be low-quality forage that’s not worth their effort.
When to Add Protein Tubs, Cubes, or Hay
If your pasture’s nutrition is fading but there’s still standing forage, protein supplementation is usually the place to start. Why?
Protein helps stimulate rumen microbes, allowing cattle to digest the fiber in mature forage better. It’s not just about calories—it’s about helping cattle extract more from what’s already there.
Here’s a rough breakdown of what to use and when:
🟤 Protein Tubs
- Great for self-fed, low-labor setups
- Ideal when forage quantity is okay, but quality is low
- Helps keep cattle ranging further—place tubs in underutilized parts of the pasture
🔶 Protein Cubes (or Cake)
- Best for spot-feeding or managing intake
- Allows better control over how much and who gets it
- Great for late-summer dry cows or targeting thin individuals
🌾 Hay
- Bring it in only when there’s little to no standing forage or extreme drought
- High cost, especially if you’re feeding it early and often
- Test hay quality if possible—don’t assume it’s high enough in protein
🧠 Pro tip: Supplementing protein can actually reduce hay intake later because cattle maintain condition better and don’t “crash” before fall. That’s a win for your feed bill.
Stretch Your Forage and Your Feed Budget
You don’t have to dump tubs everywhere or start feeding hay in August just to feel like you’re doing something. Strategic supplementation is key—and it can save serious money long term.
Here are a few smart moves to stretch both forage and supplement:
✔️ Move Tubs Frequently
Rotate protein tubs or mineral tubs to less-used parts of your pasture. It encourages more even grazing and makes use of lower-quality forage.
✔️ Always Provide Mineral
Minerals help cattle better utilize protein and energy. If you’re supplementing but skimping on minerals, you’re missing part of the equation.
✔️ Watch Intake and Waste
Track how much your herd is actually eating. Overfeeding can be as costly as underfeeding. Most tubs will list a target daily intake—check it weekly and adjust placement or number of tubs accordingly.
✔️ Do the Math
Compare protein cost per pound between tubs, cubes, and other supplements. You might be surprised what’s most cost-effective in your situation.
Want help figuring out if your supplement program is costing too much? Check out our recent post: 👉 How To Make Your Feed Bill Actually Smaller
Wrapping It All Up: Trust Your Eyes, Your Cattle, and the Calendar
August is one of the most critical—and deceptive—months for forage quality. Things may look fine above the ground, but below the surface, your herd might be slipping.
By evaluating your pasture, watching your herd, and choosing the right supplement at the right time, you can keep weight gains steady, maintain cow condition, and reduce expensive “catch-up” feeding later.
So before you haul that first load of hay or grab protein tubs from the co-op just because it’s August—take 15 minutes to walk the pasture and watch your cattle. They’ll tell you all you need to know.