Understanding and managing forage quality is important for cow-calf and stocker operations that rely on forage as the main component of the diet.

This article will focus on the factors that affect forage quality to help producers improve animal performance and produce better-quality hay, which can reduce or eliminate winter supplementation needs.

Understanding how N becomes available – and how plants convert it into usable energy – helps producers get more from every acre.

Producers may not have harvested a perfect crop in 2025, but thoughtful pairing, management and a focus on gut health can still set rations up for success.

Cow nutrition remains one of the most important management concerns for producers heading into calving.