During the bull selection process, growth traits receive a lot of attention.

Creating a calving kit that includes some basic tools and supplies is an essential step to prepping for calving season.

When it comes to buying feed, the option that appears to be the cheapest may not be. 

For many cow-calf producers, fall means calves have recently been sold or will be sold in the coming months, so this is a good time to evaluate how the calves did or are doing.

During times of limited forage, crop residue is sometimes used to replace other hay sources. Crop residues could include cornstalks, grain sorghum stubble, straw from cereal grains (e.g., wheat, oats, etc.) and even soybean hay.

Going into fall and winter, forage and hay supplies are limited for many producers. Fortunately, many areas have received some rain and may be able to produce some grazing from warm-season perennial forages this fall or plant some cool-season annuals.

Hay testing is always valuable, but it is especially helpful when using crop residues and developing diets to stretch limited hay supplies. Before sending a sample in for analysis, it is always good to visit with a nutritionist to see what labs they recommend and what tests would be most appropriate for the sample being analyzed.

Having a defined breeding season can increase profit potential for cow-calf producers and make many aspects of management easier and more efficient.