Maintaining your pasture during the summer is a crucial task that requires your diligent attention. In a matter of minutes, it can transition from adequate moisture to extremely dry. As a manager, your role is pivotal in preventing your pasture from suffering too much.
Though I don’t know how it is where you are in West Texas, keeping pastures productive can be challenging during this time. Mother Nature seems to have not wanted to cooperate with you for most years and has held back the needed moisture.
While you can not control the weather, you can take steps to give your forages a fighting chance. Practices like rotational grazing and maintaining the correct stocking rate can significantly improve your pasture’s health. Here are some strategies to consider when facing another dry summer and hoping for a more productive season.
Having a good summer pasture management plan can save you many headaches later on. It will allow you to put out potential fires, not literally, before they occur.
A protein tub is a convenient way to provide extra nutrition when needed. One of its key benefits is that once you place it in the pasture, you can rest assured that you don’t need to check it daily. This benefit is beneficial for those who may have a job back in town, providing a sense of relief from daily checking responsibilities.
It is never good when your cattle suffer from diseases. They can reduce your performance and increase your expenses.
Breeding season preparations are crucial for any cow/calf producer’s bottom line. Their steps will determine if they will have a good calf crop. Good quality calves to sell are the defining factor between a successful and a not successful rancher.
Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be tricky to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas as well as in other places. It is often considered invasive because, if left unchecked, it can quickly take over a pasture, choking out any grass growth.
Using a mineral supplement is one of cattle management’s most important yet overlooked parts. Sure, we all are concerned with the amount of protein or energy we are getting, but what about meeting their mineral needs?
Using a hay bale to supplement your cattle is a tried-and-true method that many producers use. It is reasonably priced compared to other feedstuffs, though the quality can vary depending on many factors.
There is one constant in the livestock industry: If you have animals, you will have to build a fence. Fencing is a barrier to keeping your animals where you want them and keeping predators out.
