As winter months approach, now would be a good time to evaluate our nutrition program and be proactive with any necessary ration changes. Below are few points to consider when making plans to feed cattle over winter.

• Cold increases rate at which feed passes through the digestive tract
• Cows can still starve to death on a full stomach - quality and quantity of ration are critical
• Low quality forage + no supplements = likely not meet nutrient requirements 
• Nutrient requirements likely increase - remember stage and level of production 
  • Especially energy requirements 
• Winter feed costs are generally the highest: 30 –70% more
• Be strategic....
  • Optimize forage utilization
  • Evaluate your herd and cull as necessary
  • Reduce feed waste 
  • Stockpile - likely too late for certain forages like Fescue, but consider implementing next year

• Consider early weaning of calves from thin, lactating cows
  • Allows cow time to regain condition before rebreeding
  • Reduces nutrient requirements of the cow - redirects nutrients away from lactation

Supplemental Feeding 

• If a supplement will change animal performance in the future, feed it
  • Marginal revenue outweighs marginal cost
• Key performance responses
  • Days to first estrus
  • Pregnancy rate
  • Calf weaning rate and weight
• Energies
  • Limit starchy ingredients (corn, wheat, milo)
  • Encourage soybean hulls, corn gluten feed, wheat middlings
  • Supplements to forages, not forage replacements
• Proteins
  • Cottonseed Meal
  • Soybean Meal

Also, remember cold and dry environmental conditions are often less stressful to our cattle than cold and wet environmental conditions. Increasing energy can help combat some of the stress experienced by cattle during cold, wet days.