articles

Archive for the ‘articles’ Category

Deer and Protein

There is considerable controversy regarding the percentage of dietary protein that deer should have. Many people believe that deer cannot tolerate more than 16% dietary protein and that high-protein diets are wasteful or even toxic. This simply is not true. Research in South Texas has shown that wild deer diets...

Quick Tips: Hay Management

Now is the time to make plans for getting the most from your hay as fall winds down and winter approaches. These tips can help: 1. Inventory the quantity of your hay on hand. 2. Work with your nutrition consultant to determine the quality of the hay you have. 3....

Is Your Hay Supply Adequate Until Spring?

Do you have enough hay stored to meet the needs of your cattle for the remainder of the winter? Even though you may have stored what you think will be enough hay to carry your herd through the winter, conditions often change so you might be concerned that you will...

Purina’s IM Technology Delivers Predicatable Performance

PURINA’S IM TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS PREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE It’s a well-researched fact that a stable digestive system in cattle results in increased forage utilization, digestive function, and overall health and performance (see “Basic Cattle Nutrition”). Hand feeding range supplements such as range cubes, commodities, or grain mixes, may be causing instability in...

Seven Vital Trace Minerals for Cattle

Cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc are trace minerals important to good cattle nutrition. Ranchers and feedlot operators need to know whether or not these minerals are available in their regions and supplement deficiencies accordingly. This TDN excerpts an article by Oklahoma State University animal nutritionist Fred Owens...

Quick Tips To Help Reach BCS Goals

Body condition scores (BCS) are an excellent means of monitoring the effectiveness of your beef-cow-nutrition program. Here are 10 management tips to help ensure your cows are at a target BCS of 6.0 by calving: Late summer-Evaluate your cows while still on grass. If they score thin to borderline moderate during this time and forage...

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Looking to make your own hummingbird nectar?  Here is a easy recipe.     1 Part Sugar 4 Parts Water Boil 1-2 Minutes Cool & Store In Refrigerator   Never use honey or artificial sweeteners! Honey ferments easily, and can cause sores in a hummers mouth. Artificial sweeteners have no...

Sustained Nutrition for Lifetime Performance

There are unfortunately many examples to draw upon from our history, especially during wartime, of maternal nutritional deprivation and the long term effects on the lives of their children, and their children’s children. The list includes: diabetes; hypertension; glucose intolerance; insulin resistance; renal failure; cardiovascular disease; and hyperlipidemia. The word...

Quick Tips: Weaning Management

A calf's diet and surroundings change dramatically at weaning and if you don't closely manage this lifestage, the value of your calves can be reduced.  Calves can become sick and won't grow as they should. Here are four weaning management tips to ensure calves get a good, healthy start after...

10 cow-calf winter preparation tips

Now is the perfect time for beef producers to make management decisions that will affect the health, productivity and profitability of the herd over the next production cycle. The following are tips and guidelines to consider. 1. Wean based on pasture quality and quantity: When pasture quality declines below that...