As winter looms, Paul Beck Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist, stressed diligent cow herd management in a letter called Cow-Calf Corner.
Flexible supplementation programs that target environmental stress periods can help reduce winter feed costs without compromising cow performance, Beck said. However, maintaining adequate body condition through late gestation is essential to ensure optimal calf immunity, fertility, growth and carcass quality.
Investing in balanced winter nutrition not only supports this year’s calf crop, it builds long-term productivity, fertility and resilience across the cowherd.
LASTING EFFECTS
Nutritional management of beef cows during the winter months has lasting effects on reproductive performance of the cow/calf health and overall herd productivity in spring-calving herds, he said.
Recent research evaluating minimal and flexible supplementation strategies using distiller’s grains–based protein supplements for May-calving cows grazing native range compared three programs: a low daily rate (0.5 pound/cow/day), a standard rate (1.0 pound/cow/day) and a flexible strategy where cows were supplemented only during periods of environmental stress such as snow cover or cold rain.
Supplementation began in January and ended about 30 days before calving, Beck said.
Although cows receiving the lower supplementation rate were lighter at calving and tended to remain lighter at rebreeding, there were no differences among treatments in body condition score, pregnancy rate, calf birth weight, weaning weight, or subsequent feedlot performance and carcass characteristics, he said. This indicates flexible supplementation during stressful weather can maintain productivity while reducing feed costs.
ADEQUATE BODY CONDITION
Maintaining adequate cow body condition during late gestation, however, remains critical for cow and calf success, Beck said. Loss of body condition late in pregnancy can reduce colostrum quality and immunoglobulin content, weakening calf immunity and increasing disease susceptibility.
Severe nutritional restriction in late gestation also decreases birth weight, especially in young cows, and can compromise the calf’s immune development, he said. Additionally, nutrient restriction during pregnancy has been shown to result in calves with lower weaning weights, reduced post-weaning and finishing performance, lighter carcasses and less marbling — clear evidence that maternal nutrition influences lifetime growth and carcass quality.
This phenomenon, known as fetal programming, describes how poor nutrition, heat stress, or other challenges during gestation can affect offspring performance and reproduction permanently, Beck said. Maternal undernutrition can delay puberty and lower fertility in replacement heifers while reducing feedlot performance and carcass quality in steers.
These studies underscore the importance of managing cow nutrition strategically through the winter, he said. Flexible supplementation programs can reduce costs without sacrificing reproductive success, but cows must maintain moderate body condition to support calf health, feedlot efficiency and long-term productivity.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers last week ranged from $234.59 per cwt to $238.48, compared with the previous week’s range of $236.75 to $249.43 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $363.60 per cwt to $373.39, compared with $373.28 to $378.93.
The USDA choice cutout Friday was down $1.57 per cwt at $376.40 while select was up $0.33 at $361.69. The choice/select spread narrowed to $15.31 from $17.21 with 115 loads of fabricated product and 22 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $407.31 per cwt, and 50% beef was $182.01.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.05 to $1.20 a bushel over the Dec corn contract, which settled at $4.27 1/4, down $0.01 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Thursday was $345.96 per cwt, down $1.86. This compares with Friday’s Nov contract settlement of $326.40, up $4.35.