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.

Annual ryegrass is a high-quality, cool-season forage grown widely in the southeast U.S. Desirable forage yield and nutritive value characteristics make it a key component of forage systems for beef cattle for grazing, hay or baleage production.

Many beef cattle producers graze winter annuals, but are they utilized in the most optimal way? Instead of unrestricted access to forage, limit grazing is a strategy which can be used to help provide short-term access to a high-quality forage crop and extend the use of other conserved forage resources being used on the farm.

As summer forage quantity and quality declines in the early fall, many cattle producers begin to think about supplementation options in their operation. This is especially the case for fall-calving systems, as herd nutrient needs increase prior to and just after calving.

In the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in baleage production in the Southeast. Baleage, or high-moisture forage baled and ensiled at 40 to 60 percent moisture, may provide an alternative source of stored high-quality forage during the winter months compared with traditional hay feeding systems.

An ionophore is a feed additive used in beef cattle rations to improve feed efficiency and animal gains. Ionophores improve fermentation characteristics in the rumen, which lead to improved production efficiency.