Although the importance of a well-developed mineral supplementation program is now well understood, the greatest challenge remains in ensuring that cattle consume it consistently, rather than in formulating the supplement itself.

Cattle performance in the feedlot is strongly influenced by management practices prior to feedlot arrival. Management practices can refer to a number of proactive steps producers can take to improve performance.

The success of early weaning hinges on one critical factor: how well calves transition onto a new diet.

Most cattle producers first think about feed, forage and mineral supplementation when evaluating herd performance or troubleshooting challenges. Water quality often doesn’t even make the list.

The rumen is a complex and dynamic organ that converts fibrous forages, starch-rich cereal grains and other feed ingredients, including ethanol byproducts, into high-quality microbial protein and energy-dense volatile fatty acids that support maintenance and growth of the animal.

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.

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.