Latest News From winter feeding

Integrating crop and livestock enterprises represents an incredible competitive advantage for farmers and ranchers. 

Instead of battling through Michigan’s cold winters and muddy springs, Ron Weston thought he’d just build around it.

Make sure you are taking the steps to keep your animals safe and healthy this winter.

Even though it is cold out the cows still need fed, here are some things to consider for winter feeding.

When warmer temperatures set in and winter starts to melt away, cattle producers across the country will be keeping one eye on the pasture and one eye on their next biggest investment—their calves.

You may be cold outside feeding cows, but they may need some more feed depending on conditions.

Cold stress on beef herds should be addressed for animals during the winter to maintain necessary body condition going into the calving season, a Purdue Extension beef cattle specialist says.

Colder weather means livestock need more energy to be able to withstand harsh winter conditions outdoors.

As 2014 ends, cow calf producers are thinking about the approaching calving season.

The frosty cold mornings of the past few days help remind us about the importance of supplementing cattle with high-energy winter feeds

Livestock producers need to be thinking now about how they’ll keep their animals warm when the temperatures drop.

Winter is critical to beef cow operation success.

Learning the keys to feeding your cow herd during the winter can help increase profitability.

Here are some considerations for getting your cows ready for winter.

Are your cattle ready for the winter?

A K-State beef cattle specialist discusses using cow body condition scores now as a guide to managing the cow-calf herd into the fall and winter.

Replacing hay in your ration with corn this winter could be beneficial.

Are you and your cattle ready for winter?

Spring may have officially arrived last week but the weather in Ohio early this week gave us a reminder that winter is not going away without a fight.

The wide usage of large package, round bales for feeding beef herds has made hay feeding more labor efficient, but may offer a number of management challenges to producers who wish to maintain superior hay quality and cattle performance.

Feed costs for over-wintering a beef cow are a major expense in beef cow /calf operations. Some decisions have already been made that will affect the outcome of both your costs and success at this point.

Is deferred grazing the best option for maximum production?

Cold dominated the weather reports since Jan. 1 and it has made managing livestock during these frigid times more difficult.

Do you wonder what local farmers do to ensure the well-being of their livestock when it is cold outside?

Nearly every winter we spend time talking about the impact that harsh weather combined with less than adequate nutritional intake can have on cattle.

When do cows start experiencing cold stress and then how much more energy do they need?

Along with the decreased temperatures and decline in forage growth, comes an increase in calories needed for farm animals.

As temperatures drop we need to consider how to adjust diet and management practices for cows and heifers.

We can’t change the weather but there are some things that can be done from a management standpoint to improve cattle comfort during the winter.

A cold, snowy December has caused many livestock farms to reevaluate their winter supply of forage.

There is nothing cheap or quick about raising cattle and shortcuts will leave cattle exposed and vulnerable.

Why is it that nearly every article on beef cow nutrition in the winter seems to focus on body condition?

Provide cattle with adequate feed and protection from winter weather extremes.

Whether on the soil or in the barn, corn stover is a valuable resource on crop and livestock farms.

Cattle producers in Kansas recently saw temperatures dip below 0 degrees, which called for a little extra care and attention for their livestock.

The recent cold blast should have producers thinking about how much feed to deliver to their cows during frigid temperatures.

Cattle should be able to make it through the frigid temperatures and howling winds predicted for the next few days if they have feed, water and shelter, according to South Dakota ranchers.

Winter feed represents one of the largest costs for a livestock production enterprise.

Protein prices remain high as corn prices declined by 50 percent.

Colder, icy, harsh winter weather means producers need to be aware of increased livestock energy requirements to ensure their animals are able to withstand the extreme outdoor conditions.

Mother Nature is taking the gloves off this week, delivering another one-two punch of Arctic cold and precipitation.

The bale grazing concept of devising ways to feed and care for livestock with less labor input continues to grow in popularity and expand in creativity.

High daily temperatures at 20 and 30 degrees confirm the arrival of winter. A week or more of cold temperatures, particularly below freezing, can take a toll on the cow herd.

Heading into the winter months, cattle producers should give careful attention to adequate nutrition of beef cattle.

The feed cost environment for 2013-2014 is dramatically different compared to last year.

If there are any lessons that can be learned from the past few years of sparse rainfall it’s that recovering from drought requires proper management.

Drier weather in the last month has led to slow growth of forages in parts of the Midwest, meaning livestock producers need to double check their forage supplies for the rest of the season now.

Global feed production is expected to contract for the first time ever next year.

The shortage of decent hay for winter feeding has farmers scrambling for some type of replacement roughage.