Drier-than-normal conditions present added stress to producers and their herds in preparation for breeding season. During this critical period, producers should focus on making sound management decisions to maintain performance and profitability.
This comprehensive book provides producers with insight and education into the latest beef management, handling practices and technology.
Body condition scoring (BCS) is a visual indicator of past energy status of cattle and a method that can be used to monitor nutritional status of the cow herd.
As cattle producers begin thinking about calving season and management practices to ease the workload, night feeding is something to consider. Producers have questioned whether or not the time of feeding affects time of calving, and the answer is “Yes.”
Choosing the calving season is a complex and highly individual decision for each beef cattle producer. A primary consideration in pasture-based cow-calf operations is choosing a calving season that will best match the forage supply to forage demand.
Calving season has started or will be starting in the near future for most producers. Nutritional management of the cow herd is more important during the periods of late pregnancy and early lactation than any other.
Low-stress weaning methods, such as fenceline weaning and two-step weaning, can reduce calf stress and potentially improve health and performance.
A recent study conducted at Oregon State University researched trace mineral nutrition of cows during the last 95 days of pregnancy and the resulting impact on their calves.
We are beginning to enter the last three months of gestation for the majority of spring-calving cows in South Dakota, and there are a few questions that cattle owners should ask themselves in preparation.
Spring is an important time for making the best management decisions for the health and well-being of your calves, with an extremely important one being the castration of the bull calves.