In recent years, a growing number of ranchers across the West have begun asking a similar question: Why, when salt is offered in multiple forms, do cattle suddenly stop consuming their mineral supplement?

Colder weather means your cows' energy requirements are higher. Keep these tips in mind to determine how your cows are doing and to help them thrive this winter.

For generations, managing beef cattle across the vast and rugged landscapes of the American West has relied on traditional stockmanship and an intimate knowledge of the land. Now, new technologies are available to augment these established practices, offering producers a more detailed, real-time view of their herds.

Selecting cattle that match the forage resources and environment of an operation is essential for long-term success. But how can producers identify and select animals that will maintain body condition throughout the grazing season?

Nutritional management plays a central role in promoting the health, productivity and reproductive success of beef cattle.

As the summer months progress, the forage quality for grazing cattle begins to change rapidly for much of the western U.S. Cattle performance is dependent on the consumption of digestible nutrients; thus, forage quality and availability are essential for grazing-based systems.

Developing a nutritional program that meets the needs of lactation and facilitates a return to cyclicity before the subsequent breeding season takes an understanding of how cattle partition nutrients and how that impacts their overall nutritional requirements.