Supplementing cows during drought is common practice. Harvested forages, such as hay, can be used to replace available forage for grazing.

I was recently riding through the county taking in the status of our pastures and hayfields, as most irrigation has been turned off for the year.

Many producers will be weaning calves in the next few months. The goal of a good weaning program is to minimize stress on calves and prepare them to perform as replacement heifers, stockers or feeders.

Heat stress in the cattle herd may be a concern during the warmest months of the year in the southeast U.S. Unlike humans, cattle get rid of excess heat in their system through breathing and panting more than sweating.

Drought and limited forage availability are good reasons to consider early weaning. Weaning calves early can alleviate grazing pressure and reduce supplemental feeding of cows.

For some, these warm summer months are the time of year we can play catch-up. The days are long, the cows and calves are still out on pasture, and we might have just enough time to catch our breaths and catch up on the long overdue task of updating our records.

Having a defined breeding season has many benefits for a cow-calf operation. Some of these benefits include:

In the last year, we have all become more adept at adapting to sudden change and having to develop alternative strategies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. High feed prices fall into this decision tree.

Preparing for breeding season is a big labor and resource investment – and unfortunately, fertility can be impacted by heat stress. Here are five tips to aid in prevention to help ensure a successful breeding season.

We’re into June now, which for many in the West means haying season is here. Many cattle and forage producers are familiar with the term nitrate toxicity, but it’s good to refresh on how it affects an animal, signs of toxicity and the benefit of testing forages along with timing of testing.