For much of the Midwest, feed resources have been limited this year and may have an impact on performance of the fall-calving cows. Keep in mind, in the middle of winter, lactating beef cows require 10 percent more energy per pound of diet and 7 percent more crude protein compared to dry cows in the third trimester during the same time of the year.
Early weaning fall calves or weaning prior to the extreme winter weather will reduce feed requirements by as much as 30 to 50 percent for the fall-calving cow. Not only does this stretch existing feed supplies but also provides the female with an opportunity to regain weight and increase the likelihood of breeding back sooner.
Research has shown calves can be successfully weaned as early as 45 days; however, morbidity is greatly decreased when calves are at least 90 days old prior to weaning.
For many producers, spring calving may be only a couple of months away. As the weather starts to turn colder, cornstalk quality begins to diminish, and both energy and protein supplementation becomes more of a necessity, it is imperative to remember the importance of proper gestational nutrition to improve the events surrounding the calving season.
Regardless of your calving season, cows should be grouped by nutrient requirements for winter feeding. The more groups made, the better their requirements can be met. If space is a limiting factor, old cows should be managed with yearling or first-calf females that also have increased nutrient requirements.
Be cognizant of bunk space or hay feeder access to ensure timid females have an equal opportunity to access feed.
Finally, marketing cull cows makes up nearly a quarter of an enterprise’s gross income. Thus, females who didn’t pull their weight this year for any reason – pregnancy status, age, poor udder quality, lameness – should be first on the list to cull.
If winter feed supplies are tight, it makes sense to get those females off the feed bill as soon as possible. On the other hand, November and December are historic lows in cull cattle prices, so if you have adequate feed supplies, it may be more economical to feed females until after the first of the year. 
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Erika Lundy
- Extension Beef Program Specialist
- Iowa Beef Center - Iowa State University
- Email Erika Lundy
