Cattle Nutrition

[Podcast] NCBA CattleCon 2026

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Join us live from Nashville, Tennessee, as we visit with Greg Eckerle about feedlot nutrition; talk with Andrew Coppin about ranch water technology; and learn more during a beef industry outlook with Marshall Hansen.

Forage sampling and analysis: Can we overemphasize its importance?

jasonwarner@ksu.edu — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:08:22 -0400

While producers and industry professionals alike recognize why forage sampling is important and generally agree with the oft-cited mantra of, “You cannot manage what you do not measure,” taking sufficient and accurate samples often falls to the bottom of the priority list.

[Podcast] Mineral: Your key to optimal cattle performance

Tue, 09 May 2023 02:00:00 -0400

As a cattle nutritionist, Ted Perry talks to people every day – like cattle owners with real-time problems – and translates the research into real help.

[Podcast] Diving into WOTUS and adapting nutrition to cow size – with Mary-Thomas Hart and Ron Scott

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Tyrell and Ron Scott of Purina Animal Nutrition talk about the need for adapting nutrition guidelines as average cow size grows. Carrie also visits with Mary-Thomas Hart, Chief Counsel, Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association about the current state of the Waters of the U.S. rules and where that leaves cattle producers. David, Tyrell and Carrie also discuss the recent BLM announcement about public land use.

What every producer should know about calf growth

kalyn.waters@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 14:08:59 -0400

From gestation to the rail, there are things that will impact the calf’s success. Genetics, environment and management are among the biggest. However, before that calf is even born, their growth potential is defined by the total number of muscle fibers that develop in utero.

Don’t Gamble on Weaning and Receiving

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

Gut check: Cattle nutrition key to overall performance

rscott@landolakes.com — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 13:59:09 -0400

When determining the health of your herd, you probably rely primarily on external factors: evaluating body condition and looking for symptoms of illness or signs of injury. However, when it comes to overall cattle health, it’s vital to remember that what’s on the inside is just as important as what you can see on the outside.

Don’t gamble on summer mineral: MLS tubs are a sure bet

Sun, 01 May 2022 07:05:48 -0400

With calves hitting the ground, grass greening up and springtime in full swing in most parts of the country adjusting your nutrition program to fit current needs may be on a lot of people’s minds. Having proper vitamin and mineral supplementation readily accessible with the right delivery is key to achieving all your herd goals this upcoming spring and summer, so let us introduce you to MLS Low Moisture Tubs….

Water quality on-farm and routine sampling

hannah.tucker@novusint.com — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:00:01 -0400

Water is a required nutrient of all livestock; however, how often do you look at the quality of the water offered to your herd?

Grain overload and the resulting need for treatment

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:00:01 -0400

Cattle producers are invested in creating a quality product. Carcass grades, such as Prime or Choice, and high-yield grades have become attainable targets for producers to reach with good genetics, management, proper nutrition and health protocols.

The many factors influencing cow weight

jason.smith@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 20:16:57 -0400

Cow weight has become an incredibly popular topic of conversation. It is not uncommon to hear discussion of how “efficient” a cow herd is because it is made up of lightweight cows.

Cow size on the rise: Monitor grazing and nutrition

rscott@landolakes.com — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 15:00:01 -0500

For nearly 60 years, carcass weights for finished cattle have been on a linear increase. As an industry, we have not practiced single-trait selection for cow size. However, we have unknowingly increased cow size by selecting for growth.

Prep now for success in the spring

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

It’s a new year, which brings new opportunities for you to improve the health and productivity of your beef herd.

6 to-dos for winter herd management

twig.marston@hubbardfeeds.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 21:59:49 -0500

Winter nutrition and management has many focal points, but there are a few management decisions all cattle producers should place on their to-do lists.

The key questions and decisions to weigh with starting cattle

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:00:01 -0400

For years, cattle producers have debated critical questions when it comes to deciding the type and size of cattle they will buy to go to grass or into the feedyard.

Get the details right with fetal programming

zoetiscattlenews@zoetis.com — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 15:00:01 -0500

Research overwhelmingly supports the concept of fetal programming. With so much at stake, cow-calf producers must take time to understand the stages of fetal development.

The future of your herd is at stake

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

While the headline sounds rather dramatic, it is true that the nutritional management of your herd in late gestation (the three months prior to calving) can have long-term effects.

Cow herd management and feed strategies in winter

twig.marston@hubbardfeeds.com — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:00:01 -0500

Just as seasons change, cow herds will transition through production phases.

Ask the consultant: Considerations for next year’s calf, right now

cshebbert@noble.org — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:00:01 -0400

Fall is in the air, and if you have a spring-calving herd, you are either smack-dab in the middle of weaning calves, have dates set in the near future or already have bawling calves in the pens.

Relationships between bred cow nutrition and body condition

jon.albro@ridleyinc.com — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:00:01 -0400

Many publications on pregnant cow nutrition note the changing nutrient demands during pregnancy, calving and lactation. Nutrient needs are at their highest during peak lactation and slowly decline as the calf grows and begins to consume more feedstuffs than milk.

Death losses in the feedlot – rumen, feeding and nutrition concerns

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:00:01 -0400

An unfortunate part of cattle production is the fact that from time to time death losses occur. The list of reasons is long and varied.

Winter nutrition for bulls

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:00:01 -0400

Bulls supply half the genetics for your calf crop, so you want to make sure they are fertile, healthy and sound and in good body condition through winter.

Nutrition during gestation in spring

Fri, 24 May 2019 14:00:01 -0400

A breeding cycle isn’t over when a cow is confirmed pregnant. Removing the bull or confirming the success of the A.I. program is the first chance to plan for success in the next chapter. Proper management and nutrition during the gestation period is the start of ensuring optimal productivity in the offspring.

5 ways to optimize genetic potential through nutrition

ataylor@provimi-na.com — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:00:01 -0500

Three months into the new year, you’ve likely outlined improvement goals for your operation. Depending on the overarching operational goals, the focus could range anywhere from improving pasture utilization to decreasing death loss on high-risk calves.

Protein considerations for corn silage-based growing diets

erin.laborie@unl.edu — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 14:01:00 -0400

Corn silage serves as an excellent roughage source in beef cattle diets. It is highly digestible, palatable and blends well in a total mixed ration. As a medium-energy feedstuff, it can be used as the primary ingredient in growing diets for calves.

Alternative feed additives and rumen health

emma.wall@nutreco.com — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 07:00:00 -0500

The optimization of feed efficiency and animal health is critical to the success and profitability of the beef industry. In feedlots, one of the biggest challenges is the nutritional management of newly received cattle, who enter the feedlot with a wide range of different nutritional and health backgrounds.