As the drought that has plagued the western Great Plains for over a year spreads across the Midwest, producers are making hard decisions about cow herd management.

Cattle will gain weight when nutrient intake meets metabolic requirements for a targeted average daily gain (ADG). This is true regardless of the feeding method, whether in a feedyard with grain and roughage or in a pasture with forage only.

Forty years ago, it was far less common to provide a complete mineral supplement, yet cattle survived. True, they got by, but is “getting by” good enough?

Winter is here, but it will not be long before the snow and ice melt away and pastures start to green up and become lush. Springtime can bring a host of challenges for beef cattle.

Cow-calf producers must consider additional factors than what breed to buy when adding females to their herd.

Nutrient requirements in early gestation aren’t much greater than maintenance requirements (unless the cow is lactating), but as the fetus grows, the cow’s nutrient needs increase.