Body condition score - Articles - Page 5

Southeast: Expectations for cow body condition in the winter

January 1, 2023

Body condition scoring is an important tool for cattle producers that can be used to determine cow energy reserves and potential for reproductive success.

Must-haves, resources and strategies for calving season

It's crucial cow-calf producers expect the unexpected during calving season. Four beef cattle experts from around the country weigh in on strategies, plans, equipment, management practices, information and resources to help cope with challenges.

December 15, 2022

Bruce Derksen

Calving season is a critical time for commercial and seedstock beef cow-calf producers alike. To help them prepare, a variety of short- and long-term strategies and plans are devised, which may include specific management decisions plus the acquisition of tools, equipment and information-based resources.

Winter feeding with expensive supplements

With feed costs remaining high, maintaining proper nutrition through the winter requires an attention to total digestible nutrients and the body condition of your cow herd.

October 28, 2022

Eric Bailey

The price of feedstuffs continues to be stubbornly high. Let’s review the fundamentals of supplementation and identify any unneeded supplementation, which will help cut costs during the upcoming winter feeding season.

Seven tips for a smoother transition period

Understanding nutritional requirements, keeping DMI consistent and comparing the latest research with your management will assist with transition cow health.

October 17, 2022

Gabriela Acetoze

Consistent dry matter intake, optimal nutrition through the pre- and post-calving interval, and utilizing the latest research in feed additives can result in added profitability for your herd. A body condition score between 3.0 and 3.5 will assist transition cows through the stress of calving and get them off to a successful start.

Benchmarking dry cow body condition scores

The Code of Practice will be adjusting ideal body condition score in the near future. Use these benchmarks to adjust your dry cow program for optimum transition to the milking herd.

October 13, 2022

Kiley deKraker, Avalon Phillips, Anita Heeg, Tom Wright, and Marlene Paibomesai

Body condition scoring dairy cattle is an important management tool for dairy farmers to use to promote reproductive goals and to avoid metabolic diseases such as ketosis and fatty liver.

South Central: Factors affecting calf sale weight

October 10, 2022

Jason Banta

For many cow-calf producers, fall means calves have recently been sold or will be sold in the coming months, so this is a good time to evaluate how the calves did or are doing.

The value of body condition scoring your herd

While some producers may question the value of assigning a body condition score to their cows, surveys indicate doing so positively impacts the reproductive efficiency, overall productivity and financial bottom line of cow herds.

September 27, 2022

J. Benton Glaze

With drought conditions persisting and impacting large areas of the western and central U.S., beef producers must routinely monitor the nutrition their cattle are receiving. Most beef producers would agree that determining whether cows on pasture are receiving adequate nutrition is somewhat difficult. However, cow body condition can be used as an indicator.

West: Cheap fall feed options

Fall is an opportune time to reduce feed costs for a spring-calving cow herd. Now is the time to lower your feed costs or utilize your lowest-quality forages, especially for your cows that are in good to moderate body condition.

September 5, 2022

Carmen Willmore

As fall sets in and feed prices continue to climb, I think we are all thinking about ways we can feed our cow herds for less. The first key to a cheap feed bill is to reduce the number of animals you are feeding. That means you only feed the ones you need to keep.

Keep cows healthy to improve conception rate at first insemination

Hitting the trifecta of high milk yield, a clean bill of health and strong reproductive performance is attainable if producers monitor and devote resources to preventing common disease events.

August 30, 2022

Emma Ohirko

Much like the focus elite athletes give to their workouts, training programs and diets, managers of high-producing dairy cows must dedicate a similar level of care and attention to fine-tuning the health and routine of their herd.