With fall and cooler weather right around the corner, it’s essential to give your cows their best chance going into winter. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle and keep feed costs reasonable.
As with other seasons, a cow’s nutrient requirements differ during this time of year. Of course, the requirements depend on what production cycle you have them on. If you are on a spring calving timeframe, they will need requirements met to grow the calf inside the cow. The requirements are on top of the cow’s regular needs, as well as keeping the cow’s body warm during the colder times of the year.
But fear not; this article is here to help. You can use some things to get your cattle on the best foot going to winter. Here are some things that you can do to help your cows going into the later part of the year:
Focus on Reproductive Performance
This factor primarily determines the profitability of any cow-calf operation. In order for a rancher to be profitable, they will need to have some calves to be able to sell. You wouldn’t expect a manufacturer to go a year without making a product, would you?
Cows calving early also have more time to rebreed. They are more likely to remain early calving and more productive cows throughout their lifetime. A study conducted by South Dakota State found the average longevity of heifers calving in the first 21 days was 5.1 years vs. just 3.9 years for ones that calved later in the season. Just by looking at the numbers, that is almost double the amount of time in the herd.
The key factor influencing cow reproductive performance is cows’ body condition at calving. Cows that calve in good body condition give birth to healthier calves with a better chance of survival. They also tend to produce more milk and wean heavier calves. They are also more likely to rebreed early and remain a productive part of the herd. To improve herd reproduction, ensure a high percentage of cows calve in good body condition. Maintaining a good body condition during fall and winter is crucial as it directly impacts the health and productivity of your herd.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in your fall herd.
Nutrition plays a massive role in both your herd’s overall body condition and reproductive performance. A low level of nutrition in your cows will lengthen the time between calving and the first estrus. If that is not enough, it can even prevent the cow from being rebred at all.
A low level of nutrition after calving can reduce the overall pregnancy rate by reducing the total number of cows that cycle. Cows with a good level of nutrition have fewer calving difficulties and are bred back quickly. Good nutrition, both before and after calving, is essential in getting cows to perform at their best.
Fall is a great time to build cow body condition. Cow nutrient requirements are relatively low during this time. Cows are in the early stages of pregnancy, are producing little or no milk, and there is less cold stress. At the same time, abundant and relatively low-cost forages are available.
Mature native range, meadow regrowth, cornstalks, grain stubble, or straw can all contribute to a fall grazing or feeding program. Making good use of fall forages is crucial for improving cow condition and can also help lower feeding costs.
Using supplements for your fall herd
Your forages and other sources have the potential to meet your cow’s nutrient requirements. There may be times when you will need to supplement. The thing to remember in cases like this is that just like the word says, a producer should use it to supplement and not substitute your forages.
Mineral and protein supplements are beneficial for your herd. They help grow rumen microbes and increase the digestibility and intake of forage. When protein supplements are self-fed, they can also help improve grazing distribution to better utilize every area of your pasture. For instance, mineral supplements provide essential nutrients that may be lacking in your forages, while protein supplements can help improve the quality of your cattle’s diet. I talk about how you can do that in a previous post, ‘Better grazing with supplements.’
Self-feeding supplements can also help enhance diet selection, increase grazing time, and consequently increase total nutrient intake. These supplements are designed to be available to your cattle at all times, allowing them to regulate their own intake. Protein supplements on fall forages are especially helpful to first-calf heifers. By understanding and utilizing self-feeding supplements, you can ensure that your cattle are getting the nutrition they need when they need it.
These young females are still growing and often have a tough time competing with older cows in the herd. Proper nutrition of young females helps to protect your investment. The investment already made in developing these replacements helps ensure they will remain a productive part of the herd.
Don’t forget the pasture this fall
Fall is a critical time to focus on pasture management as it allows cattle producers to maximize forage utilization before the winter months. Rotating grazing areas ensures the forage is used evenly across the pasture, preventing overgrazing in specific spots and allowing plants to recover. This recovery provides consistent nutrition for your cattle and maintains the quality and longevity of your pasture.
Effective fall pasture management involves careful monitoring of forage growth and grazing patterns. Producers can maintain healthy root systems and ground cover by preventing overgrazing, which is essential for soil health and water retention. This proactive approach helps preserve the pasture’s productivity, ensuring that it remains a reliable resource for your herd throughout the year.
As temperatures cool and growth slows, fall is the ideal time to prepare your pastures for the seasonal transition. Managing forage height, density, and strategic grazing can help your pasture withstand the winter months and recover more quickly in the spring. By focusing on pasture management now, you can set the stage for a successful grazing season next year, securing the long-term sustainability of your land and livestock.
Keep up with your fall herd’s health.
While nutrition is vital for your herd going into fall and winter, let us remember to keep up with their overall health as well.
The entire herd may be stressed as a cow-calf herd enters the fall season after a hot, dry summer. Excessive heat, short grass, and low water tanks stress cattle and make them more susceptible to diseases. Unsanitary conditions and sudden diet changes can also lead to illness. At the end of the summer, the cows are likely pulled down to a thin body condition from nursing.
When stressed, cattle become thin, and their immune systems are suppressed. Germs that are dormant in the tissues and organs of cattle can break out of dormancy. When they do this, they can multiply and cause outbreaks of diseases and disorders, such as:
- Clostridiosis (blackleg): this is a group of highly fatal muscle, liver, and intestinal diseases
- Leptospirosis: a bacterial disease that can cause abortions, stillbirths, and weak newborn calves as well as jaundice, high fever, and usually death
- Anaplasmosis: an infectious disease that causes anemia, weakness, fever, lack of appetite, constipation, abortion, and sometimes death
- Viral and bacterial pneumonia
- Viral and bacterial abortions
- Bacterial pyometra: a disease of the uterus
- Bacterial diarrhea
If you are interested in reading more about potential diseases you may encounter, check out the post from the Texas AgriLife Extension service, “Fall and Winter Health Problems in Cow-Calf Herds.” It is an excellent resource for both experienced and beginner producers.
