Focus on the Cattle Feeding Fundamentals

By Boone Carter

With March Madness just past, a sports analogy may be appropriate.  It seems that every good coach goes back to the fundamentals when their team is having a rough patch. Fundamentals are where the game is won or lost.  

However, the NCAA tournament is not the time to fix things. If you have not got the fundamentals correct by then, it’s probably too late.

It’s the same with a cow herd.

Weaning and calving time are not the time to fix things, surviving is good enough. However, the period immediately after calving is a great time to focus on fundamentals.

You still have a few weeks until breeding season and green grass is probably here, so it’s a good time to set the stage for successful weaning in the fall and calving next spring.

Here are a few fundamental things to think about as you set the foundation for the year.

First, research has shown that cows having positive weight gain for at least 30 days before breeding are more likely to conceive and remain pregnant. Because grass is greening up, cows can get the vast majority of the nutrients they need are in the grass.

However, If your cows don’t have access to adequate green grass, this is key time to provide supplemental protein and energy.

For the first few weeks after calving milk production (a nutrient drain) is relatively low which makes cow efficiency high, so it’s a good time to set your cows up for a successful breeding season and summer. Additionally, minerals like phosphorous, Manganese, Zinc, and Copper are vital to the metabolic reactions of energy utilization.  

A good mineral program will make sure your cattle get the most out of the feed they receive during this critical period.  

Second, with branding season on the way, now would be a good time to review your vaccination plan. Vaccination using modified live virus vaccine for respiratory pathogens and vaccination for clostridial pathogens now can go long ways towards having a disease free weaning.

For the first few weeks after calving milk production (a nutrient drain) is relatively low which makes cow efficiency high, so it’s a good time to set your cows up for a successful breeding season and summer. Additionally, minerals like phosphorous, Manganese, Zinc, and Copper are vital to the metabolic reactions of energy utilization.  

A good mineral program will make sure your cattle get the most out of the feed they receive during this critical period.  Second, with branding season on the way, now would be a good time to review your vaccination plan. Vaccination using modified live virus vaccine for respiratory pathogens  and vaccination for clostridial pathogens now can go a long ways towards having a disease free weaning.

While the time for “do or die” has come and gone for college basketball, the time for “spring training” your cow herd is here. Focusing on the fundamentals of production now will pay for itself when weaning and calving time come again.