There are important considerations surrounding feeding decisions when hay supplies are limited.

Increasing the bull-to-cow ratio would reduce the number of bulls needed, allow for more cows to be bred to the top bulls in an operation and reduce breeding cost per cow.

With the frigidity of winter comes the realities of needing to continue to manage external parasites of cattle. Regardless of an operation’s size or type, when it’s winter, we’re dealing with lice here in the West.

Controlling lice populations is important from both a performance and animal welfare standpoint. Proper lice management will help cattle get through the winter in better shape.

While the realities of mud are part of the winter management season on the farm, there are several strategies that can help lessen its impact on the beef cattle herd.

Reducing hay storage loss and feeding waste are always beneficial, but given limited forage supplies and the price of hay, this year they are even more critical.

While many will say they love what they do, as they should, it’s vital to the overall well-being of individuals, families, employees and the industry as a whole that ranchers and farmers take well-earned breaks, regardless of what season that happens in.

Forages such as johnsongrass, sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids can contain toxic concentrations of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) after a frost event or during periods of drought.

Finding your way in the cattle business would be easier if you could simply turn on navigation and follow the arrow. This isn’t the case. Mapping out your farm and ranch plan is an extensive task.

At the ranch level, once the calves are gone, an additional focus producers need to keep in mind will be the decision to cull a cow or help her recover nutritionally and remain in the herd.