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How to Prep Your Herd for Winter

Robert Malmstrom
It may still seem like summer in August, but that is precisely the time when you should begin considering winter cattle management.
When cows become thin because of poor nutrition or fatigue from the heat of summer, the winter season will only serve to worsen the situation. Since both cold weather and a late pregnancy raise nutrient requirements, the quality of the forage will result in greater feeding costs. A cow which is only slightly thin at the end of summer can turn into a serious problem by the time of calving.
That is the reason why late summer and autumn are so important in a cow-calf operation.
It’s now time to examine the body condition of the animals, the available forage, the need for supplements, pasture usage, and the overall health of the herd. You shouldn’t feel the need for anything complicated—just attend to the basics before winter comes and puts your herd to the test.
For many herds that calve in the spring, autumn is an excellent season to get the cows in good condition again. The calves are generally either about to be weaned or have already been weaned, while the cows are usually in their early or mid-pregnancy. As the cold weather hasn’t yet arrived, you have a good opportunity to improve the body condition of the cows before the winter becomes severe.
The objective is simple in that we should get the cows ready for winter rather than let winter take the initiative itself.
If you take that action, then you’ll have a better chance of having healthier cows, stronger calves, smoother calvings, better results when it comes to breed-back, and fewer costly surprises when feed prices go up.

Winter Prep Starts With Next Year’s Calf Crop

In a cow-calf operation reproduction is where the income begins.
Without calving there can be no income; although it sounds harsh, it is in fact true. Even if you have good grass, suitable equipment, and good intentions, your bottom line will suffer soon if the cows do not produce a calf every year.
Which is why the way in which cows are managed during the fall and winter months has a direct bearing on reproduction.
The condition of a cow’s body before winter has an effect on the way she goes through her late pregnancy, gives birth, produces milk, and is rebred. A cow that is thin when calving will probably have difficulties, will have less energy, produce less milk, and will take longer to become pregnant again.
Cows which calve early tend to remain more productive as time goes on; they have more time in which to recover and then to become pregnant again, and this enables them to continue calving early. Research carried out at South Dakota State University showed that heifers calving within the first 21 days stayed in the herd for longer than those calving later on, and that extra year or so of productivity can have a major effect on the entire herd.
The main factor in this situation is body condition.
Cows in good condition are more likely to:
It’s not merely a matter of how the cows look; fall body condition influences their performance at calving and when it comes to breeding.

Build Body Condition While It’s Still Cheap

Fall is generally a better time than winter if cows are to put on condition.
With the coming of cold weather cows have to use more energy in order to stay warm; and if they are in late pregnancy their need for nutrients increases even further. It can become expensive very quickly if one is trying to improve their condition at this time.
Fall is a suitable time for many herds that calve in the spring since the cows are generally dry or almost dry, being in early or mid-pregnancy and not yet having to cope with the severe cold; as a result, the nutrition you provide can be more effectively used to restore body condition rather than merely preventing further weight loss.
It is also possible that some more inexpensive feed options may still be available, depending on the area and the type of operation.
Fall feed options may include:
No such feeds are entirely ideal since some contain low levels of protein or energy and may therefore require supplements in order to function properly. However, they can still be of assistance in extending your feed budget if used correctly.
The way to proceed is to understand what the feeds provide and what your cows really require.
A mature and well-conditioned cow could cope with poorer quality forage if it is given the proper mineral and protein supplementation, while a thin young cow or a first-calf heifer will probably require more assistance.
You shouldn’t wait until the cows are in a poor condition before beginning to consider this; it is less expensive to maintain their condition than it is to try to rebuild it later.

Use Supplement to Stretch Forage, Not Replace It

A supplement is meant to add to the forage rather than take its place.
If you have forage available but it is mature, dry, or lower in quality, protein may help cattle use it better. Protein supplements can help feed rumen microbes, which may improve how cattle break down and use mature forage. That can help cows get more value out of grass or roughage that is already there.
Minerals are also important; an adequate mineral program compensates for what the forage might fail to provide. They help with reproduction, immunity, calf growth and the general performance of the herd. Although they may not appear very exciting, they can have a major effect.
Supplements that are self-fed, such as tubs or blocks, can assist in reducing the amount of labor needed; although they aren’t completely hands-off, they do mean that you will not have to feed the animals by hand as frequently. Moreover, putting them in less frequently used areas of the pasture can help to spread out the grazing.
I refer to that earlier post for more on the subject: Better grazing with supplements.
Make sure that you keep an eye on the amount of food the cattle are consuming. Their costs will rise rapidly if they eat excessively, and if they eat too little they might not receive sufficient benefit.
All supplements such as protein tubs, cubes, and minerals have their place. The most suitable option for you will depend on the quality of your forage, the condition of your cows, the amount of labour involved, the weather, and your budget.

First-Calf Heifers Need Their Own Plan

The group that is most likely to be overlooked in the autumn and winter months is that of first-calf heifers.
These young female animals are still growing; they may also be breastfeeding a calf, attempting to get back into good body condition, and carrying their next pregnancy. That is a great deal on an animal which has not yet reached full maturity.
The issue is that they have to compete against older cows since the mature ones know the pasture and the best places to feed and usually get in first, so a young cow won’t receive her fair share particularly when the feed or supplements are in short supply.
Which is why first-calf heifers usually require extra care.
If possible, keep the first-calf heifers separate from the older cows. This will allow you to feed them the things they actually need rather than hoping they can compete with the others. Moreover, it will make it easier to keep an eye on their condition and pick up any problems at an early stage.
First-calf heifers represent an investment since you’ve spent both time and money on bringing them to maturity. If you allow them to decline after their first calf, you run the risk of losing that investment before they have become productive mature cows.
Keep an eye on:
If your feed budget is tight, do not spread it evenly across all cows. Focus on the cattle most likely to lose condition first.

Which Cows Need Help First?

Not every cow needs the same amount of winter preparation.
Some mature cows in good shape can do fine if forage and minerals are adequate. Others will need help sooner. If you are short on forage, supplements, labor, or money, sorting cows by need can really help.
The cows which it is usual to look at first are generally the ones with the smallest margin for error.
Pay close attention to:
Cows that are thin require care since they have little reserve. Those cows that are young and also those that are having their first calvings are still growing, and older cows may have difficulty if their teeth are worn or if they are unable to graze as vigorously as younger cows.
Cows that are late in coming into calf can also be a problem because if they give birth later than expected they might not match up with your management schedule and this can cause the calving season to be extended as well as make feeding, labor and marketing more difficult.
A good thing to do in late summer or early fall is to carry out a body condition score of your herd since it doesn’t have to be complicated. All you need to do is ride or walk through the herd and divide the cows into three groups—good, borderline, and those that need help.
Then manage accordingly.

Don’t Graze Next Spring’s Grass This Fall

Managing the pasture in the fall is not merely a matter of getting through the next few weeks.
The condition you put your pasture in at present will influence its appearance the following spring. Should you overgraze it before winter, the plants might not have enough leaves or roots to recover and thus lose the early spring growth you need most.
It is tempting to keep cattle on a pasture as long as there is still some vegetation left, but there is a difference between using the forage and clearing the land.
Leave some grass behind since this will help to protect the soil, support the roots, retain moisture, and give well-growing plants a better opportunity to recover. Having bare ground before winter is in almost no case a good idea.
Rotating your cattle can be of assistance, even if your system is simple; the aim is to prevent constantly working the same areas while at the same time neglecting other sections of the pasture.
Watch for:
Supplements can also be placed in a strategic manner. For example, if you move the tubs containing minerals or protein to areas that are less frequently used, this may cause the cattle to disperse. All you need to do is ensure that these locations are safe, practical and close to water.
Leave the grass for next spring; you’ll need it later on.

Know Your Winter Feed Budget Before You Need It

One’s winter feeding costs have a habit of building up unexpectedly.
One moment you think you have sufficient hay and the next you’re counting the bales, keeping an eye on the weather and hoping the prices don’t rise. It’s a difficult position to be in.
Late summer and autumn are good seasons for examining your feeding arrangement.
Begin by looking at your hay stock. How many bales are there? What is their weight? How many cows are you feeding? For how many days might feeding have to continue? Is your current supply sufficient if winter starts early or if it lasts longer than expected?
Now check the quality of the hay. If possible, have your hay or main forage tested. Hay of poor quality may manage to fill the cows but will still leave them deficient in protein or energy. Good hay, on the other hand, can cut down the need for additional supplements. If no test is carried out, you’ll be relying on guesswork.
Compare your options early:
The lowest cost on a per-ton basis doesn’t necessarily make it the cheapest on a per unit of nutrition basis since freight, waste, labour, storage, and the way you feed have all an effect.
Now would also be a good moment to set prices on supplements before anyone else does; if you wait until the cattle are thin and the weather is bad, then you will have fewer choices.
A winter feed budget doesn’t have to be complicated; it only needs to check whether your plan will work.

Clean Up Herd Health Before Cold Weather

Although nutrition is given the most attention beforehand, herd health is equally important.
Cattle emerging from a hot and dry summer may already be under stress; heat, poor grass growth, limited water supply, dust, parasites, and the demands of calving can all weaken cows. Cattle that are thin and stressed do not possess the same immune strength as those in good condition.
It is at that time that health problems appear.
You do not need to memorize every disease name to understand the point. Stressed cattle are easier targets for trouble. Diseases that may be sitting quietly in a herd can become a bigger problem when cattle are thin, crowded, short on nutrition, or dealing with sudden weather changes.
Fall is a good time to review your herd health plan with your veterinarian. Ask about vaccines, parasite control, reproductive diseases, abortion prevention, and any local risks that matter in your area.
Health concerns to keep on your radar include:
For more detail, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service has a helpful resource here: Fall and Winter Health Problems in Cow-Calf Herds.
The short version is simple. Do not wait for cold weather and thin cows to expose holes in your health program.

Fall Cow Checklist Before Winter

There’s no need for a good winter plan to be complicated.
It’s all about checking the fundamentals before things become difficult; carrying out these actions in late summer or autumn will mean you’re better prepared when the weather changes.
Here is a practical fall cow checklist:
The things on that list are not impressive, but the simple jobs can cut down on a great deal of money and stress later on.
The greatest error is to wait until the cows are already thin, the hay is already in short supply, or the winter weather has already begun.
At that point, the prices of your options will have increased.
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