Feed and Nutrition

Trace minerals’ impact on reproductive performance

mromulo@axiota.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Reproductive efficiency is a main driver of profitability in beef operations, as an open cow still eats and grazes but doesn’t produce a weaned calf. Herds often focus on genetics, body condition and synchronization, yet trace mineral status is a common, hard‑to‑see limiter of conception, embryo survival and calving season length.

Precise nutrition for early-weaned calves

brandon.koch@kentww.com — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As environmental pressures and market dynamics shift, producers are taking a closer look at how early weaning, paired with precise nutrition and management practices, can unlock both short-term flexibility and long-term gains.

Should I buy or grow my own hay?

wmeteer@gmail.com — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Feeding hay is often just part of the cattle business, and it's almost an afterthought to some. Habit and routine can sometimes overshadow a piece of your cattle business that deserves further evaluation.

Fly control through nutrition: A comprehensive approach

ccassady@biozymeinc.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Fly control is a constant battle for cattle producers. As temperatures rise and cattle move into summer grazing systems, flies become more than just a nuisance and can negatively impact cattle comfort, grazing behavior and overall productivity.

Unlocking more value from forage: How enzymes can improve performance

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Forage is the foundation of most beef cattle diets. Whether cattle are grazing pasture, eating hay or being fed silage, these feeds provide the bulk of nutrients for cow-calf, stocker and backgrounding operations.

To implant or not implant your calves

david@agproud.com — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

While many Canadian cattle producers have a reluctance to use growth implants in their herds, the science shows they are a proven tool to help build profits and enhance efficiency.

Water supply and lactation metabolism

caleb@rbnutritionconsulting.ca — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

During calving season, your herd transitions through parturition to become a lactating herd. The physiological changes during calving, not to mention the strain of parturition, require a significant amount of energy and are quite remarkable.

Essential water management strategies and considerations in winter weather

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Although cattle can survive for a limited time without water, even short-term deprivation leads to declines in feed intake and health risks, particularly increasing mortality hazards and affecting fetal development during winter.

Shaping the future: Why generational nutrition drives cow herd productivity

wcburson@zinpro.com — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The foundation of a strong mineral program for your cow herd can pay major dividends, not only for the coming year’s calf crop but for years down the line.

Keeping your cow herd healthy and productive this winter

sam.wyffels@montana.edu — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Strengthening beef cattle immunity in cold weather

ccassady@biozymeinc.com — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As temperatures drop and winter sets in, beef cattle face increased stress due to cold weather, fluctuating feed intake and higher energy demands for thermoregulation. These stressors can suppress the immune system, making cattle more susceptible to respiratory diseases, digestive issues and other illnesses.

Benefits of sainfoin in pastures include less risk for bloat

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Exploring sainfoin and other forage options, researchers are weighing nutrition, adaptability and bloat risk.

Weight gain of feedlot beef calves: Can we decrease the speed limit?

caleb@rbnutritionconsulting.ca — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Playing markets and feeding calves without the foundation of a program is like taking the family on a road trip without planning your destination, fuel stops, alternate routes or snacks for the kids.

Grow your future by considering replacement heifer development

caleb@rbnutritionconsulting.ca — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Some calves are the proud accomplishment of strategic breeding, while others can be traced back to your grandparents’ herd. Regardless of how they joined the herd, you are in control of calf performance.

Nutritional wisdom: Why cows just aren’t that smart

brenda.ralston@lakelandcollege.ca — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Genetic advances in the cattle industry have resulted in animals with rapid growth rates and increased production efficiencies, requiring critical minerals and vitamins. As cow-calf producers strive to become more efficient through extended grazing programs such as fall/winter swath and bale grazing, the industry standard of providing free-choice mineral and vitamin supplements to herds often results in sporadic consumption by individual animals.

What improvements in cattle performance mean for a ranch’s environmental footprint

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

With markets demanding ever more proof of beef’s environmental sustainability, taking relatively simple steps such as improving your herd’s genetics or mineral supplementation can pay big dividends.

Backgrounding weaned calves with polycrops versus monocrops

obioha.durunna@lakelandcollege.ca — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Swath grazing is an economic management strategy that helps ranchers extend their grazing practices into the spring and winter months. It has been shown that swath grazing can reduce the cost of beef production by over 40%.

Improving reproductive efficiency through nutrition

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Supplementing the cow herd with organic trace minerals improves ovarian activity, increases conception rates and helps cattle breed back sooner. Calves from supplemented cows are also in better health and immune status.

Optimizing heifers' long-term productivity through generational nutrition

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A cow’s plane of health and nutrition can have a lasting and profound impact on her offspring throughout their lives, too.

Shipwheel Cattle Feeders excels with holistic management strategy

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Shipwheel Cattle Feeders, under the stewardship of Andrea Stroeve-Sawa, exemplifies a modern approach to cattle farming that successfully integrates custom cattle feeding with flexible grazing strategies and continuously improves.

Is new monitoring technology right for your operation?

jason.nickell@merck.com — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The term, “precision agriculture” is oftentimes associated with row crop farming, but what if gathering critical data to inform decision-making could be applied to your cow-calf operation or feedlot?

Optimizing cow-calf production on rangelands

mbreithaupt@lallemand.com — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Ranchers are constantly striving to maximize the productivity of their native rangeland, as raising and selling heavy and healthy calves is key to profitability. Helping producers enhance calf weight gain while maintaining the optimum body condition of the cow herd is critical to keeping operations profitable.

5 strategies to implement for winter feeding and cow comfort

tamilee.adolph@adm.com — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

An adjusted feeding program for winter that provides adequate nutrients to sustain increased energy demands at all life stages, coupled with practical farm management strategies, will help keep calves, heifers and lactating cows productive throughout the cold season.

How trace mineral status affects reproductive efficiency in bulls

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

When working to maximize fertility in cattle, cows are often the focus. However, bull fertility is a crucial consideration for any beef operation.

Post-calving nutritional considerations

sam.wyffels@montana.edu — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Challenges and nutritional opportunities during cold stress

ccassady@biozymeinc.com — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Winter can take a toll on your sleep, stress and energy levels. Keep in mind that your cows are experiencing at least equal levels of stress.

Seasonal protein supplementation enhances cattle production

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The transition from summer to fall can bring tremendous uncertainty for beef cattle producers. The shorter day length not only signals the coming cooler weather, but also the end of the growing season for most forages, especially warm-season grasses.

The golden rule of performance: Garbage in, garbage out

askidmore@lallemand.com — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:32:10 -0400

The palatability of feed has a lot more to do with cattle health than some might think. Much like humans, if food doesn’t smell or taste good, cattle simply won’t eat it. However, we can’t discuss palatability without first considering the hygiene and quality of the forage in the feed.