Cattle, like humans, incur stress daily. They can run short on feed, develop ruminal acidosis, get moved to a new pasture or location, be exposed to coyotes on the prowl or deal with extreme cold and heat events.

Since we’ve been managing cattle for meat and profitability, the industry constantly searches for new and different tools that can help us accomplish three primary objectives – improve reproduction, health and growth – the primary drivers of improved profitability.

As a cattle producer, you have many things to worry about on any given day, one of which is ensuring the feed you are receiving from your feed manufacturer is safe and high quality and provides the nutritional value it guarantees.

The ideal cow is one that weans off a heavy calf each year, breeds back on time and doesn’t significantly add to the annual feed or vet bills.

Efficiency can be defined as achieving the greatest output with the least input; a commonly used measure is pounds of gain per pounds of feed, abbreviated as G/F.

Let’s look at a forage test report – particularly at the levels of minerals. Lots of interesting numbers. Here are some things to consider when I look at those numbers.

Regardless of why you utilize them, there are right and wrong ways to manage a self-feeder that can impact the overall health and performance of cattle. Compiling a list of things to consider will help you effectively utilize a self-feeder to reach your end goals.