Regional Roundup

For the last several years, calving in a confinement setting has been on the rise because of the advantages offered, including better opportunity to monitor and assist during parturition if needed, ability to control feed intake and waste, and avoid dealing with mud.

Let’s run through the January checklist: grass tetany prevention for grazing winter annuals, spring-calving herds need to make sure bulls are in a body condition score (BCS) of 5 or 6 and have a breeding soundness exam, and ensure appropriate nutrition for cows in peak lactation.

Winter-annual pastures (ryegrass, wheat, oats, etc.) are off to a great start due to good rains across much of the south-central region. To get the most out of these pastures, specific grazing and mineral supplementation strategies are needed.

Evaluating bull and cow body condition scores (BCS) prior to the winter months is essential to ensure productivity and longevity in our herds. There are two main activities that should be addressed prior to the winter season.

How big is big enough? Cattle producers debate cow size as if it were politics. It simply comes down to dollars and “sense.” Cow inputs account for a large portion of an operation’s expenses.

2018 has been an interesting year for cattlemen, as we experienced a wide array of drought and flooding conditions and even both in some areas. There is no doubt that the weather conditions Mother Nature threw at us had an impact on forage quality.