For many cattle nutritionists, the line between professional decisions and personal ones does not exist. The same choices made for customers are the ones made at home, often with similar risks and rewards on the line.

When it comes to feeding mineral, producers have ample opportunity to customize a program that fits their unique needs while also being economical. There is a wide variety of minerals on the market, but reading the labels to compare products can be a bit daunting.

Something new is afoot underfoot, something we can grow to combat, something we can’t see that is becoming resistant to all the medicines we can drench and inject.

Starting feedlot cattle correctly is one of the most important parts of the entire feeding program. A feedlot animal is being asked to make a major transition: from pasture, backgrounding or a previous management system into a high-energy, tightly managed environment where rapid weight gain is the goal.

Anyone who is at least somewhat familiar with the cattle industry knows there is a long list of products and product types that can be used for providing supplemental nutrients to cattle.

As environmental pressures and market dynamics shift, producers are taking a closer look at how early weaning, paired with precise nutrition and management practices, can unlock both short-term flexibility and long-term gains.

Fly control is a constant battle for cattle producers. As temperatures rise and cattle move into summer grazing systems, flies become more than just a nuisance and can negatively impact cattle comfort, grazing behavior and overall productivity.

Forage is the foundation of most beef cattle diets. Whether cattle are grazing pasture, eating hay or being fed silage, these feeds provide the bulk of nutrients for cow-calf, stocker and backgrounding operations.

When it comes to growing calves, the crude protein system doesn’t work well for cattle feeders. That’s the message Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) professor and beef systems extension specialist, hopes beef producers understand.

We’ve made it through a tough winter, and calving season is winding down. If you’re like me, you’ve been looking forward to spring. It’s almost time to turn cows out on lush, green pastures as we start pondering the mating decisions for the breeding season. But as you know, our herd is entering the most critical nutritional point of the production cycle.