If your cattle feeding program in May is the same as it was in February, you could be losing money without realizing it. Around this time in West Texas and the Southern Plains, many producers think green grass means nutrition is covered. But that’s often when performance drops and feed dollars start to go to waste.In late winter, your supplement plan probably matched the conditions: dormant grass, low protein, and cows just holding their condition. When spring arrives, forage quality changes fast. There’s more moisture, higher protein, and cattle graze more, but that doesn’t always mean their nutrition is balanced or performance is at its best.
This is where things can be misleading. Everything looks good on the surface: green pastures, full cattle, and plenty of forage. But underneath, there can still be energy shortages, mineral gaps, and other issues that hurt weight gain, body condition, and reproduction. These problems don’t appear overnight—they build up slowly.
This is when successful cattle producers make a change. It’s not just about getting cows through the season anymore—it’s about helping them perform their best. That means your spring supplement plan should change as your pasture does.
Most producers pay attention to protein and energy when thinking about cattle nutrition. But if you only focus on those, you might miss out on better performance. A good mineral program is essential, even though it’s often ignored. Minerals are needed in small amounts, but they have a big impact on reproduction, immune health, and overall results. They’re like small but essential tools: easy to forget, but nothing works right without them. If you want better conception rates, stronger calves, and steady gains, mineral supplements are a must.
