Late in the summer, a pasture might look better than it really is.When you drive by, you see grass standing tall and cattle with their heads down, so nothing seems urgent. But if you take a closer look, things change. Stockers are grazing longer but gaining less. Calves seem to have stopped growing. Manure is dry and stacked. Cows still look full, but they do not have the same shine they did earlier in the season.
This is the challenge with July and August forage in West Texas and the Southern Plains. Just because you have grass does not mean it will support good cattle performance. Early in the season, grass feeds cattle well. By late summer, it often acts more like filler than real feed.
Protein supplements can help, but only if they fit your situation. Do not feed just because it is late summer. Feed when your pasture, cattle, and budget all show it is needed.
This applies whether you are running stockers on native range, keeping replacement heifers on track, holding spring-calving cows before weaning, or watching young cows lose condition after a tough summer.
Protein supplements in late summer are not a cure-all. They are just a tool. If you use them correctly, they help cattle get more from mature grass. If not, they can just add another expense without real benefit.
By July, mineral feeders can reveal a lot about your whole operation if you know what to look for.
