Latest News From winter feeding

New forage research gives reason to not graze toxic fescue grass too short. The bottom 2 inches of infected grass holds highest levels of the alkaloid causing problems for grazing livestock.

The following are some general concepts that can help you put together an efficient supplementation plan.

Save time and money on your cow herd this fall and winter, by doing one simple task—body condition score (BCS) your herd each month to monitor forage needs.

Stockpiled winter forages can provide four to six weeks of protein and energy for cows and calves and reduce the need for and cost of supplemental feed and hay.

In the Gulf Coast region where rain was plentiful thanks to hurricanes Harvey and Irma, re-establishing pastures might be a challenge.

If you are looking to background calves or grow replacement heifers this winter grazing corn residue and providing supplemental distillers may be a system to consider.

Feed cost represents approximately 40-70% of annual cow costs.

Hay should be tested for forage quality to better balance rations prior to feeding. For producers receiving hay from unknown sources this is vital.

For producers in corn growing regions of the U.S. grazing corn stalks is a cheap winter feeding option, along with supplementing corn.

Assuming rainfall comes to the Southern Plains, wheat pasture will again be a key source of protein and some energy for many cow herds starting in late November or early December.

Farmers in the Northern Plains have been struggling with drought, making it difficult and expensive to scrounge up enough feed for their livestock to last through the winter.

Punxsutawney Phil has bad news for spring-lovers.

The majority of feed costs are from feeding cows during the winter season when most grasses are dormant.

During the winter months cattle experience cold stress anytime the effective ambient temperature, which takes into account wind chill, humidity, etc., drops below the lower critical temperature.

The off-season is the perfect time to catch up on maintenance and repairs that might have been put off as producers scrambled to keep up with tasks at hand.

Supplemental feeding during winter months is critical to ensure cows are in optimal condition for pregnancy, calving and future breeding.

A cow's nutritional demands increased depending on weather conditions. Animals burn more calories to keep warm during extreme cold.

Cattle need extra feed while they get acclimated to cold temperatures.

Extremely cold temperatures are gripping the cattle feeding areas of the Northern Plains. Although we can't alter the weather, there are management steps that can be taken to help maintain cattle health and perfor

Frigid temperatures are expected in the U.S. Plains and Midwest in the coming days, and roughly 20 percent of the Plains hard red winter wheat crop is vulnerable to damage, an agricultural meteorologist said on Friday.

Polar Vortex Blasting U.S. Dealt a Short Life by Dueling Weather

Northern U.S. gets cold in a La Nina, while the South warms.

Cattle will need extra nutrition to get through cold temperatures.

Providing forage and feed supplies with the proper nutritional value for cows is an important consideration for producers as winter approaches, said Dr. Jason Banta, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle spec

Having a written agreement can help reduce miscommunication and frustration down the road.

Evaluate your recent winter-feeding season. Stockpiling grass in the fall reduces farm expenses. Strip graze to effectively use stockpiled pastures.

Producers need to review their anticipated calving dates, cow body condition scores and cows' diet.

Managing cows through the winter provides different challenges compared to managing those same cows during the growing season. 

Chances are you’re not thinking about forage testing in January but maybe you should be.  

Chances are you're not thinking about forage testing in January but maybe you should be.

Every job outdoors gets harder in extreme cold, but few have it tougher than cattle farmers. And it's not just the cold snaps that grind agricultural operations to a churning slog, but also the brief warm-ups, which are proving difficult for Pennsylvania farmers.

A K-State beef specialist discusses cold stress factors and how to ensure cattle get the proper dietary energy and nutrients.

Producers should provide high risk baby calves (born to thin first calf heifers or calves that endured a difficult birth) at least 2 quarts of fresh or thawed colostrum within the first 6 hours of life and another 2 qua

Winter feeding is one of the largest expenses for ranchers, and hay production and feeding is one of the major labor requirements in the annual management of a cattle operation. Researchers across the country have long

Soybean futures set back from recent gains Wednesday night. Recent news has been very supportive, with CONAB cutting its forecast for Brazil's forthcoming crop Tuesday morning, and the USDA reducing its estimate o

Glenn Selk explains why passive immunity is important in the first 24 hours of a calf's life.

Live cattle futures reversed early strength to post new lows for the move and a new low close since Dec 21.

Spring-Calving Cow Herd • Keep replacement heifer calves gaining enough to reach their "target" breeding weight (65% mature weight) by spring. • Start cows on the high magnesium mineral suppleme

The corn market and its various crop counterparts stalled in Monday night trading as the industry geared up for today's big USDA reports.

Supplementation may be necessary to achieve desired calf development and subsequent lactation.  

Supplementation may be necessary to achieve desired calf development and subsequent lactation.

Being a caregiver and providing food to sustain others is part of being a cattle producer.  

Corn stalk bales will provide much needed feed this winter for many producers. If you're one of them, be sure to feed them effectively.

Beef cow-calf producers can balance rations to precisely meet the nutrient requirements of cows. However, they need to the nutritive value of rations feedstuffs first.

Now that the first blast of winter weather is quickly approaching, have you thought about what that means to your cows?

Nice winters are not the time to skimp on cow nutrition.

Durable hay conserver feeder and custom cattle working equipment dramatically cut hay cost and ease the safe, efficient handling of cattle.

Winter weather has hit much of the country. Time to start getting a ration put together.

Deciding how to meet the nutritional needs of your cattle through the winter is one of the most important management decisions a cow-calf producer will make. 

It is time to get prepared for winter.