Supplements

Liquid vs. dry supplements: What are the differences?

sblez@verizon.net — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Anyone who is at least somewhat familiar with the cattle industry knows there is a long list of products and product types that can be used for providing supplemental nutrients to cattle.

Spring turnout and considerations for breeding season

ccassady@biozymeinc.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

We’ve made it through a tough winter, and calving season is winding down. If you’re like me, you’ve been looking forward to spring. It’s almost time to turn cows out on lush, green pastures as we start pondering the mating decisions for the breeding season. But as you know, our herd is entering the most critical nutritional point of the production cycle.

A modern approach to an old problem

louderdvm@gmail.com — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Over the coming weeks and months, ranches across the United States will gather their herds for the annual springtime tradition of branding. In addition to marking ownership of the year’s calf crop, cowboys will administer vaccines to young calves in an effort to curb a disease that is just as consistent as the spring ritual: pneumonia or bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

Double trouble

woody@woodylane.com — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Salt is necessary for our livestock’s health – and they love the stuff. But it’s easy to go too far. Look out for these common pitfalls when developing your herd’s nutrition plan.

South Central: Mineral nutrition – don’t overdo it

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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

Optimize every ounce: Additives that boost mineral performance

cahayes@landolakes.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A well-balanced mineral and vitamin program is the foundation for healthy, productive and profitable cattle. However, when specific challenges arise, the strategic use of mineral additives can provide targeted solutions.

The roller coaster of trace mineral needs

louderdvm@gmail.com — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

For the first time in years, you felt that you could take the family on vacation this summer. It seemed like a fun idea at the time when you bought the tickets to the amusement park. Standing in line, listening to the screams and seeing the cars go flying by on the roller coaster have you second-guessing life’s decisions. Just keep reminding yourself that it will all be over in a few minutes.

Implanting strategies for higher-value calves

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In many areas, it is weaning time. If you are looking for ways to maximize the value of your calves, implanting should be considered as part of your herd management program.

Don’t Gamble on Weaning and Receiving

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Cost of gain vs. cost per ton

tyrell@agproud.com — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:59:06 -0400

Anybody who has succeeded in any business for any amount of time knows at least this one simple truth: Efficiency equals profits. The tricky part, of course, is figuring out just where your inefficiencies lie and what you can do to remedy them.

Trace mineral supplementation, a worthy investment

hannah.tucker@novusint.com — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 13:39:03 -0400

Within a vitamin and mineral pack, there are different classes that are supplemented to cattle.

Changing traditional practices to preserve traditional values

dusty_abney@cargill.com — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:00:01 -0400

I don’t know many people who are giddy about change, but the people I know who seek out positive change are highly successful. Like it or not, it’s the new constant in everything we do.

Drought will continue, so plan to supplement

burt@rangeviewstrategies.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 15:00:01 -0500

Disclaimer: You might want to sit down before reading this. Or have a stiff drink in your hand. That’s because you’re about to read the weather outlook – and it ain’t pretty.

How expensive is ‘cheap’ mineral?

sblez@verizon.net — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 17:05:59 -0400

As discussed in countless articles on the topic over the years, every cattle operation has a mineral program, whether they realize it or not. These range from well-designed and implemented programs to nothing at all.

Adopting probiotic tools to strengthen the gut

usjatu@chr-hansen.com — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 22:55:18 -0400

With fall approaching, we expect the normal abundance of calves being sold. In the U.S., the majority of cow herds are managed for spring calving, which gives us a large run of calves in the fall.

Changing cow behavior with protein supplementation

sprinkle@uidaho.edu — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 22:35:22 -0400

Usually, the cheapest form of energy one can provide range cows during late fall is native rangeland that has been rested for the entire growing season.

Considering retaining ownership? Bolster calves with a strong mineral program

mark.robbins@ridleyinc.com — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 18:35:22 -0400

We often hear about the pros and cons of retained ownership of calves post-weaning. I Googled it and got 1.5 million hits, so it is a popular subject. Much of the debate revolves around the following:

Please pass the salt

woody@woodylane.com — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:00:01 -0400

Salt, minerals … minerals, salt … aren’t these the same things? Everyone, it seems, has a question about minerals, like “Why do some mixtures contain only 4 percent salt while others contain 90 percent salt?” or “Why won’t my animals eat it?”

Urea’s fit and function in cattle nutrition

dan.herold@hubbardfeeds.com — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:00:01 -0400

Urea remains one of the most widely used yet mysterious and misunderstood options for beef production. How can we supplement cattle diets with the same product we use to fertilize crops?

Building probiotic packages by focusing on strains

usjatu@chr-hansen.com — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:00:01 -0400

On this planet, bacteria outnumber every other type of living organism. Researchers estimate the total number of bacteria at any moment in time ranges in the millions of trillions of trillions. (That’s 30 zeros.)

Understanding beef implants

james.gaspers@hubbardfeeds.com — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 18:40:25 -0500

Growth-promoting implants have been used in the beef cattle industry for decades. They serve to increase muscle accretion and market weight by increasing both daily gain and feed efficiency.

Why strain matters in feed additives

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 15:00:01 -0500

While many nutritionists and producers are aware of probiotics and the potential benefits of feeding them in commercial animal operations, it is not clear to all how to distinguish proven and effective probiotic products from costly, ineffective microbial feed additives.

3 nutrition tips to change the game this calving season

tcperry@landolakes.com — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:53:36 -0500

A successful calving season happens when the cows do almost all the work. To get cows set up for success, start with good, balanced nutrition. Consider these three tips to help prepare cows for calving season.

Winter supplementation for your herd

abby@agproud.com — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 18:47:19 -0500

Supplementation plays a vital role in your cow herd both economically and in animal welfare. It can improve body condition scores (BCS) of your cows, improve calving and enhance the utilization of forage resources. The most important factor to the utilization of supplements is forage testing.

Prepare cows to provide trace minerals their calves need

mary.drewnoski@unl.edu — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 15:00:01 -0500

Now may be a good time to look at your mineral program. In late gestation, the cow will be setting the calf up to meet its future trace mineral needs by filling the fetal liver with relatively high concentrations of trace minerals.

Brown fat ensures survival in calves

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 15:00:01 -0500

Why do some calves survive the rigors of being born in cold, wet weather while others in the same situation die of hypothermia? Good mothers make a difference, but research shows that calves’ survival depends on brown fat.

Growth vs. quality, the debate over implants

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:00:01 -0400

Some cow-calf producers implant calves they plan to sell, and many don’t, but big feedlots all utilize implants, according to Dr. Matt Cherni.

How expensive is too expensive for your mineral program?

sblez@verizon.net — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:00:01 -0400

Every cattle operation has a mineral program, whether they realize it or not.

Drought preparedness for cow-calf producers

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:44:40 -0400

In light of current weather patterns and drought in portions of Kansas and surrounding states, Kansas State University (KSU) hosted a webinar featuring tips for strategic reduction of grazing pressure, supplementation and early weaned calf nutrition and health considerations.

High-Priced Cattle Mineral: How Does It Justify Its Cost?

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 07:05:00 -0400

High-Priced Mineral: How Does It Justify Its Cost?

This is a great question - and a common one. First off, before we start talking about return on investment, we need to make this clear. Upfront, the Riomax® tub program always has been, and more than likely will always be the highest upfront priced tub on the market. This does not mean it is the most expensive. When you crunch the numbers, do the math, and take a close look at your actual cost to feed (which is your real cost), Riomax® will come out lower cost per day for the vast majority of the time. No different from the way the feedlot and dairy industries look at costs, the true number to focus on is your daily cost to feed.