Feed, Water, Repeat—Getting the Most Out of Your Resources

Forage and water are highly valued commodities for producers, especially for those in the Midwest who are fresh out of a drought and others who remain dry. However, these two areas are also the easiest to overlook when it comes to creating a management plan for your farm.

Feed management is of utter importance with corn prices soaring. The national Feed Management Education team, consisting of seven professionals from four different universities, put together a fact sheet along with a five step plan to help you create a customized management plan to get the most out of your feed and develop the best nutrient plan for your herd.

Forages aren’t getting any easier to come by, either. Despite the summer heat you can still take advantage of the cool-season grasses with the "four-R’s" of pasture management. However, we can’t forget about that pesky forage storage shrinkage problem. While you can reduce feed costs by storing it and rationing it out, you also have to deal with shrinkage loss. There are six steps you can take to minimize forage shrinkage loss to ensure that you are getting the most out of your forages—not just in quantity, but in quality as well.

With the summer sun beating down, forages and feed aren’t the only obstacles producers must overcome, water is key to a healthy herd. Both the quality and the location of the water is critical to ensure that your livestock are consuming adequate water, especially during hot, humid days. Four simple considerations can keep your livestock healthy and their thirst quenched.

Simple steps for not so simple solutions are key components to an overall healthy and productive herd. Keep up-to-date with the latest news, tips, and markets from Beef Today to ensure optimal management of your farming operation.