As the grass begins to green up, there are a few considerations about grazing management and nutrition. Here are a few tips to keep in mind this time of year.

Obviously, we want to pair cows with the bull that is going to make the best progeny for our operations goals, but how do you know if that bull will perform? I am sure we all wish we had a crystal ball that could tell us, but we must use the tools that we have available, and that starts with a breeding soundness exam.

Are you short on hay? Are your pastures struggling? Do you need an emergency forage if it turns dry this summer? If you answered yes to any or all these questions, you should investigate planting a summer annual forage.

Deworming cattle can be an important management practice for cattle producers. The most appropriate deworming strategy will vary by type of operation (i.e., cow-calf, stocker, feedlot), geographic location, animal age and other factors.

When it comes to breeding heifers there are several questions that often come up. Should they be bred to calve at 24, 30, or 36 months of age? Should they be bred to calve a month earlier than the cow herd? How long should the breeding season be?

The University of Illinois beef cattle group has been investigating and producing cattle in alternative housing systems for several years. Research results have consistently shown acceptable cow and calf performance.

This spring, when you are selecting bulls to breed cows at high elevation or selecting bulls for use as terminal sires for calves destined for a feedlot, consider using PAP score as a metric of selection.

Minerals are a crucial component in beef cattle diets. While mineral mixtures may vary among farms, there is one mineral that is on many minds this time of year: magnesium.

The added energy requirement for cattle walking through mud results in less feed going to weight gain and performance.

With the new year upon us, many producers across the country are looking toward calving season to bring in the new crop of calves. All your tools need to be organized and ready with everyone responsible for assisting trained on how to use them.