Many publications on pregnant cow nutrition note the changing nutrient demands during pregnancy, calving and lactation. Nutrient needs are at their highest during peak lactation and slowly decline as the calf grows and begins to consume more feedstuffs than milk. 

Corn silage can be an economical feedstuff in finishing diets, especially when corn prices are high.

An unfortunate part of cattle production is the fact that from time to time death losses occur. The list of reasons is long and varied.

Correctly identifying the right corn product for use with your feed inventory, within your cattle feeding region, and utilizing the right cost to assist in formulation is not an easy task given the market variation we as cattle feeders are currently subject to.

Phytogenic, plant-based, products have gained increased interest with the passage of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and a general increase in customer resistance to the feeding of antibiotics to livestock.

Bulls supply half the genetics for your calf crop, so you want to make sure they are fertile, healthy and sound and in good body condition through winter.

In the cattle business, there are few things as rewarding as getting weaned calves and newly arrived feeder cattle off to a good start. The first 30–45 days after weaning and/or commingling can set the tone for calves’ lifelong health, performance and profitability. Whether calves are destined to be herd replacements or feeder cattle, they should all be provided with feed that helps them build strong immune systems and grow at a pace that will enhance their production for their entire lives.

Body condition scoring (BCS) is nothing novel, exciting or earth-shattering, but it does pay! It is such a basic concept in the cattle industry that, without meaning to offend anyone, I dare to say it is elementary. However, it is also widely underused.

Cow-calf producers often simply view creep feeding as a way to increase calf weaning weights beyond what can be produced with mother’s milk and available forage. However, the benefits of creep feeding can reach well beyond weaning weight and are summarized below:

One of the characteristics of a ruminant animal is that it can harvest large amounts of nutrients, store it, ruminate on it, endure short-term periods of deprivation and then go make a large harvest again.