Tag: Cow Nutrition

How to really support cows during fall calving season

How to really support cows during fall calving seasonNutrition is essential year-round. Everything hinges on the cow’s nutritional needs being met, from putting on weight for the market to reentering the reproduction cycle. However, meeting these demands can be complicated.

The fall of the year can be a problem for producers. Even if you had forages growing, their overall quality declines drastically during this time of year. As the forages mature, they become more fibrous, their crude protein level decreases, and they become less palatable. If a producer has his herd calves in the fall, the problem becomes even more of an issue.

The issue with having a fall-calving herd is that the quality of forages decreases as her nutrition needs increase. The critical thing to remember is to meet the cow’s nutritional demands. It may seem impossible, but that is not the case. With some proper planning, it is possible to avoid having this become an issue. Continue reading

Simplistic nutrition strategies that makes for successful breeding

Simplistic nutrition strategies that makes for successful breedingThe breeding season places significant demands on our cows, who play a crucial role in this process. They are not just animals in our operation but critical contributors to our success. During this time, they are expected to provide adequate nutrition for their calf and allow their bodies to recover from giving birth. Then, they are expected to return to estrus just before they are bred again. All of this is likely to occur within 90 days after calving to maintain a yearly calving interval. This cycle is essential for our operation’s success.

A yearly calving interval is not just a cycle; it’s a financial lifeline for our operation. If a cow does not provide a calf every year or 2, then we are not getting a return on what we spend on the cow. With the ever-increasing input costs we have seen over the last year, we need more than getting a return on investment. The financial implications of this cycle are urgent and crucial for our operation’s success.

Adequate nutrition is not just a key but a responsibility in breeding your cows again. Considerations should be made to meet the cow’s nutritional demands. The best approach is to look at the quality and quantity of forage consumed, the cow’s nutrient requirements, and the feed options available. This responsibility is crucial in ensuring the health and productivity of our cows.

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