Understanding Forage Quality
Three primary factors that affect forage quality include species, maturity, and temperature. As a general rule, annual forages will be higher in quality than perennial forages and cool-season forages will …
Three primary factors that affect forage quality include species, maturity, and temperature. As a general rule, annual forages will be higher in quality than perennial forages and cool-season forages will …
Cutting hay at the desired maturity is critical to produce high quality hay. As the crop gets more mature the TDN decreases. Unfortunately, due to rainy conditions, availability of custom …
For most operations the ability to do some rotational grazing is beneficial. With a rotation system cattle can be kept out of certain fields so they can be cut for …
Grass tetany is a condition in cows due to low magnesium levels in the blood which can lead to death. Grass tetany is more likely in lactating cows grazing cool-season …
When forage or hay quality is low it is important to supplement cattle to maintain performance and good immune function. Energy (commonly reported as TDN) and protein are the first …
When giving injections it is helpful to consider how the squeeze chute is designed, so that the best access to the neck of the animal is available. Some chutes are …
Meeting trace mineral requirements is important for cattle performance and health. However, exceeding trace mineral needs does not result in improved performance and depending on the amount of excess can …
Cow size is often overlooked when considering stocking rates, which can easily lead to overstocking. For example, if 4,500 pounds of forage per acre was available for consumption reasonable stocking …
Biosecurity is an often overlooked component of a good herd health program. Following some basic biosecurity practices can help prevent disease transmission, reduced growth, and reproductive losses. A basic component …
Spring is generally the time of greatest forage production for most producers in Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southeast. If excess forage is not available during this time of year then …