To further confound things, the next few months are critical to determining the success of the 2020 calving season.
To maintain a 365-day calving interval, rebreeding needs to happen within 82 days of calving.
Proper nutrition at this stage in the game is vital for the female as she recovers from calving and prepares to start cycling to conceive her next calf, all while nursing her calf at her side. A cow’s energy and protein needs are 10 to 15 percent greater during peak lactation compared to the requirements in the third trimester of gestation.
Poor nutritional programs will delay uterine involution and return to estrous cycles. While it’s much easier to put on bodyweight before calving, it’s still doable and essential before breeding.
Adding bodyweight is last for nutrient partitioning in the body, so a cow will increase milk production before sending any excess nutrients to fat storage. That’s why it’s often recommended to have mature females in a body condition score (BCS) of 5.5 to 6 before calving and heifers in a BCS of 6 to 6.5 prior to calving. Feeding first-calf heifers and thin mature cows separate from mature, well-conditioned cows is more economical than overfeeding the whole group.
Fortunately for cattle producers, corn and other grain byproducts are relatively cheap right now, and feeding higher-energy diets during this time frame can be beneficial to increase cycling and pregnancy rates compared to cows fed adequate energy levels.
In order to determine what our supplementation program should look like, it’s necessary to know what our forage quality looks like. With a forage analysis, a supplementation strategy can be developed to meet the true needs of the cow herd while stretching our hay supplies. As always, work with your local extension beef specialist and nutritionist to determine the most economical and efficient nutritional strategy. 
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Erika Lundy
- Extension Beef Program Specialist
- Iowa Beef Center - Iowa State University
- Email Erika Lundy
