The list of traits that make a good commercial cow may vary some by producer. However, there are several fundamental things every producer should keep in mind when evaluating commercial cows.

Understanding and managing forage quality is important for cow-calf and stocker operations that rely on forage as the main component of the diet.

This article will focus on the factors that affect forage quality to help producers improve animal performance and produce better-quality hay, which can reduce or eliminate winter supplementation needs.

Grass tetany is a condition in cows caused by low magnesium levels in the blood and can lead to death.

When it comes to selecting bulls, there are several factors to consider. Additionally, some factors that should be emphasized will vary depending on the type of operation and how cattle are marketed.

To best utilize hay, it is important to consider hay quality, nutrient requirements of the cows it is being fed to and how the hay will be fed.

When it comes to cattle mineral nutrition, it is about delivering the right amount to the animal.

A good hay test can prove valuable when designing a winter feeding program. There can be a lot of information on a hay test, and knowing which numbers to focus on may not always be clear.

Cow body condition can slip during the winter without appropriate strategies.

Some distillers grains are excellent feed supplements, while others are often not worth the hassle. To understand the differences, it is important to know where and how the distillers grains were produced and the terminology the industry typically uses to describe each source.