Summer’s warmth and sunshine should spell carefree days for young nursing calves, with pastures coming to life and the stresses of harsher weather in the past. Yet, behind this idyllic curtain, the threat of summer pneumonia lies in wait, ready to challenge newborns’ health and well-being.

A mad scientist.

That’s what Kimberly Wolter calls her husband, Bradley. She’s teasing, of course, but says it with all the affection in the world. And there is certainly more than a kernel of truth to her assertion.

Located near Cooperstown in east-central North Dakota, Red Legend Cattle is a family ranch focused on producing high-quality Red Angus genetics. Brothers Mark and Bryan Ressler formed their partnership in 2013 and today manage a herd of registered Red Angus cattle alongside a diversified grain and row-crop operation.

The Hackley family is blending 160 years of ranching heritage with modern technology, refining the grazing practices their ancestors pioneered.

It is evident with advances in beef production that for cattle to perform at their greatest potential, it is important that their nutritional demands are met. Optimizing cattle performance depends on meeting the nutritional demands for energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Minerals are generally divided into two different classes: macrominerals and microminerals, also referred to as trace minerals.

For the cow-calf producer, the last couple of years have been maybe the most financially rewarding in the history of the beef business in the U.S. Many people talk about the strong financial performance and how that could lead to beef herd expansion in the next couple years, and the “10-year cattle cycle” would agree, but for how long?

Effective water and feed management are the cornerstones of a profitable and healthy beef cattle operation. When properly executed, these two elements work in tandem maximizing performance, reducing health issues and improving overall efficiency.

From lush spring growth to dormant winter range, the nutrient value of what a cow grazes can swing dramatically. Yet, the cow’s requirements don’t swing nearly as wildly. That mismatch is where performance is either captured … or lost.