Feed & Nutrition

Well begun is half done. This old idiom could be restated, “A calf well started is half finished.” If done well, a receiving program sets cattle up for a successful closeout. However, if done poorly, it can set cattle back so there is no catching up.

All beef producers understand the importance of feed efficiency; it’s the ratio of the pounds of feed required to achieve a pound of gain.

As discussed in countless articles on the topic over the years, every cattle operation has a mineral program, whether they realize it or not. These range from well-designed and implemented programs to nothing at all.

Methane emissions from ruminants do play a factor in a warming planet. But there are feeding options being researched that could help reduce that impact.

With fall approaching, we expect the normal abundance of calves being sold. In the U.S., the majority of cow herds are managed for spring calving, which gives us a large run of calves in the fall.

As producers begin selecting replacement heifers, a commonly asked question is, “What is the best method for developing heifers?”