Tag: cow body condition

How to Prep Your Herd for Winter

August 24, 2026 / / 0 Comments
How to Prep Your Herd for WinterIt 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.

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When Late-Summer Grass Stops Feeding Cows

August 16, 2026 /
When Late-Summer Grass Stops Feeding CowsAugust pasture can be deceiving at first glance.
You might see grass still standing and looking green from the road. Cows may be spread out grazing as if all is well. But that does not always mean the grass has the nutrition your cows need.
By late summer, forage quality often drops. As grass matures and the heat continues, dry weather can lower both protein and energy. So, even if a cow is surrounded by grass, she might still not get enough nutrition.
If you notice cows losing body condition, calves looking a bit hollow, or cattle grazing longer than usual, pay attention. These signs may mean your pasture is not providing what it did earlier in the season.
This is why judging pasture from your truck can be misleading. Having a lot of grass does not always mean it is good quality.
In this post, we will cover what happens to forage in late summer, why cows might lose condition even when pastures look full, and how to decide if supplements are needed. The aim is not to feed just because it is August, but to understand what your grass is really providing before your cows suffer.

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The April Nutrition Gap: Why Cows Lose Condition

March 25, 2026 /
The April Nutrition Gap: Why Cows Lose ConditionEvery spring in West Texas, ranchers wait for pastures to green so they can stop feeding hay and let cattle graze.
You open the gate, turn cows out, and think, “They can finally graze again.”
At first, the pasture looks healthy, cattle eat eagerly, and hay costs drop. It feels like nature is doing the work again.
However, this is often when many cattle producers face an unexpected problem.
Early spring pasture can create what many nutritionists call a hidden nutritional gap in cattle. The grass may look lush and healthy, but it does not always give cows the balanced nutrition they need, especially if they are lactating, recovering from calving, or preparing for breeding season.
Cows often lose body condition in April and May, even when grazing deep green forage. The grass is present, but nutrients may not meet cows’ needs.
If this mismatch, known as the April nutrition gap, goes unnoticed, it can lower conception rates, weaken calves, and make it take longer for cows to breed again.
The good news is that understanding early forage makes this issue much easier to manage.
Let’s look at why early spring grass can be misleading and how you can keep your cows performing well in the spring.

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Looks Fine From the Pickup: Revealing February Feeding Mistakes

January 28, 2026 /
Looks Fine From the Pickup: Revealing February Feeding MistakesFebruary is one of those sneaky months in the cattle business that can catch even experienced producers off guard.
The days start getting a little longer. You might notice a hint of green popping up in the pasture. After weeks of cold, mud, and winter feeding, it feels like the worst is finally behind us. And that’s exactly when problems start creeping in.
Because here’s the hard truth most folks don’t like to hear: February is often when cows lose body condition the fastest, even though it doesn’t look like much has changed. Hay is still in front of them. Pastures don’t look bare. Cows are still grazing and going about their business. From the pickup seat, everything seems fine.
But winter nutrition has a way of slipping by without making much noise.
By February, forage quality often declines, hay gets stemmier, and protein levels can fall below what cows really need—especially for late gestation or lactation. Intake can drop, digestion slows, and cows may not be getting enough nutrition to maintain condition, even though they appear to be eating.
That’s why this time of year is so important.
So let’s slow down for a minute and talk about what your cows are actually eating right now. Not what it looks like they’re eating. Not what they were eating back in December. But what’s really going into them today?
Because in February, stemmy hay, protein gaps, and intake limits can quietly stack the deck against your herd if you’re not paying close attention.

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