It is well known that the single-greatest expense in a cattle enterprise is feed and forage production. One way to reduce cost is to decrease hay feeding days.

Often, farmers are seeking a yes or no answer to mowing pastures … and hopefully validation of their current practice. Unfortunately, the answer is somewhat dependent on previous pasture management and the chosen grazing system.

How much hay do you need for this winter? The answer to this question depends on several factors. How long do you expect to feed hay? How big are the cows? Are the cows lactating or not? How much hay will be lost because of storage and feeding losses?

While the exact cost of developing heifers on your farm or ranch may vary, heifer development is very expensive, so being selective with which heifers we keep on the operation is critical.

To help achieve successful heifer development, it is important to adopt an optimal mindset, not a maximal one.

Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound in plants. Nitrate accumulation in the plant can be compounded by conditions of plant stress, such as drought, heavy fertilization or young plants.

Noxious plants are a part of life in the mountain West and commonly occur in our high-elevation pastures. Properly identifying plants is crucial to understanding their life cycle, including periods of toxicity to livestock, and when it is safer to put cows onto the pasture.

Forage for grazing, hay, baleage or silage production is critical for cow-calf operations. Producing quality forage and hay is also important to reduce or eliminate energy and protein supplementation for the cow herd.

Summer heat is inevitable and when the days start to heat up, it is nice to have a cool drink, right? As high temperatures set in, ensure that your cattle have access to plenty of water and that it is good quality.