Deciding which cows to cull is a challenging task for most producers. Sometimes, their personal feelings about that particular animal get in the way. There are even sometimes, they need to know which ones are underperforming and which ones need to be kept.
The current conditions we have been dealing with for the last year or so are making the need to cull even more needed. There simply are not enough forages to keep every animal. Not to mention, the prospect of very tight hay supplies this winter makes feeding even more difficult.
Just because you are getting rid of an animal does not mean that it is worthless. Cull cows represent about 20% of the gross income of any commercial cow operation. Here are some simple guidelines that you can follow to get the most return from your culled animals.
Heifer development can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding tasks on the ranch. The very basis of your future depends on your ability to develop the young heifers into productive mothers. But these challenges do not come without problems.
Grazing management in the fall can have an impact on your future forage production. The intensity of your grazing animals determines what state they will be in. Also, grazing during the winter may be limited depending on what forages you have available.
It may not seem like it now, but winter is on its way. The change in seasons also brings new problems to deal with to keep your cattle performing at their best. Keeping your cattle healthy during the stress of colder winter temperatures can be a pain in the neck. It is also doable.
Protein supplements are often needed during the fall and winter months. This need is because, during this time, most of your tame pasture forages go into dormancy. When this happens, things like their protein content will go down.
You can feel it in the air; the days are getting shorter, and the weather is getting cooler (maybe). It will soon be the time that most producers do their fall processing. They will be running their cows through the chutes, and for any spring-born calves, they will be weaning them from their mommas.
Nutrition significantly affects your herd’s health during the cold winter months. In order to meet this need, producers should plan ahead when it comes to their fall and winter forages. There are many factors to consider when figuring out how much hay will be needed.
Nutrition is one of those things that is essential year-round. Everything hinges on the cow’s nutritional needs being met, from just putting on weight for the market to reentering the reproduction cycle. However, meeting these demands can be complicated.
What is the proper strategy to develop replacement heifers for my cowherd? 
Performing a soil test is one of the most underutilized range management tools. Knowing your soil’s fertility and what nutrients are provided is crucial. Often, producers just put out the same fertilizer they always have and hope for the best.
