In addition to heat stress, July is often one of the peak months for horn and face flies. Studies have reported reduced weaning weights of 15 to 20 pounds in herds not controlled for flies.

While grass was slow to come this spring, it is likely forage quality will rapidly change this summer. As a general rule of thumb, energy values (total digestible nutrients) of forages (pasture included) can decrease rapidly at a rate of 0.33 to 1 percent per day from vegetative to mature stage.

Along with feed costs, reproductive efficiency is a major driver of profitability for the cow herd. Because of this, the importance of proper breeding season preparations is essential.

Warmer weather has many of us thinking about green grass and the anticipation of a lighter workload while cow-calf pairs graze throughout the summer months. However, there are some important herd management practices to consider before that point.

While it’s important to get cows bred and get a live calf each year, it’s vital bulls selected to represent 50 percent of the genetics of the next calf crop are progressing toward your herd goals – especially in times of tight margins in the cow-calf segment.

Another year has come and gone and, as we gear up for another calving season, now is a good time to reflect on the challenges of last year and consider implementing some alternatives to make improvements this year.

Typically, when we think of cold stress, we think of feedlot cattle performance being affected, not the cow herd. However, cold stress can impact the cow herd’s productivity and requirements too.

Harvest is winding down, cows are on cornstalks, and the days continue to get shorter. As we gear up for winter, here are several considerations for the cow herd.

Typically, feed represents 50 to 60 percent of total costs in the cow-calf sector, and a proportion of these costs in the Upper Midwest can be attributed to harvested feed. Drought conditions in much of our region have minimized harvested forages this summer and, in return, forage prices are higher.

Ready or not, weaning season is here for spring-calving herds. Drought has affected much of our region, leaving producers with far fewer pasture resources than typical and forcing producers to start supplementing cows to extend the grazing season.