The nutritional status of a cow herd is the foundation for herd health and productivity. However, feed cost is generally one of the largest expenses in a ranching operation. Increasing productivity raises revenue, while reducing nutritional inputs reduces operating costs. The most profitable ranchers generally maintain a balance between productivity and cost. On this page you will find information, articles, PowerPoint presentations and website links that offer suggestions on maintaining the balance between productivity and cost while maintaining a high level of health and well-being.

• Protein and Energy Supplementation to Beef Cows Grazing New Mexico Rangelands
  Extension Circular 564 clarifies the relationship between protein and energy use by cattle, and to address protein and energy supplementation to grazing beef cows.

• Supplement decision guide
  A flow chart for making decisions about supplementing range cows (PDF).

• Supplement approaches
  A discussion of supplementation strategies and principles for beef cows (PDF).

• Approaches to minimize protein supplementation-Part 1
  Part one of a presentation on how the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center approaches protein supplementation (PDF).

• Approaches to minimize protein supplementation-Part 2
  Part two of a presentation on how the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center approaches protein supplementation (PDF).

• Approaches to minimize protein supplementation-Part 3
  Part three of a presentation on how the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center approaches protein supplementation (PDF).

• Using Byproduct Feedstuff in Grazing Nutrition
  Extension circular 612 discusses the role of common byproducts in grazing nutrition including, nutritional value, feeding limitations related to potential toxicity, and handling and delivery.

• Supplement Delivery Systems
  Extension Circular 571 describes some of the supplement delivery methods available to livestock producers and discusses their advantages and disadvantages.

• Urea in Range Cattle Supplements
  Circular 583 discusses the use of urea and other non-protein nitrogen (NPN)sources in protein supplements fed to grazing beef cattle. Provides general recommendations regarding the level of NPN inclusion and the frequency of NPN-containing supplement delivery.

• Ration Balancing on the Ranch
  Extension Guide B-125 discusses the ration balancing principals and describes the Pearson Square technique for ration balancing on the ranch.

Body Condition Score

Among the most important aspects of productivity is reproductive performance, generally measured in pregnancy rate. Body condition score at breeding has been shown to play an important role in reproductive performance. This relationship is based on the knowledge that before a cow can devote any resources (energy, protein) to reproduction she must first meet her own needs for maintenance growth and lactation. As a rule of thumb, acceptable pregnancy rates are achieved when cows are at a body condition score of 5 or greater at calving, with maximum efficiency occurring at body condition scores between 4 and 6.

• Managing and Feeding Beef Cows Using Body Condition Scores
  Extension Circular 575 describes the Body Condition Score (BCS) system for beef cows,the influence of energy reserves on reproductive performance, and some ways to apply the system to developing an efficient management strategy.

Maternal Nutrition Affects Calf Health

A growing body of evidence (in multiple species) shows a link between maternal nutrient status and offspring performance later in life, including growth performance and immune function. One of the major goals of the research supported by this grant is to determine how nutrient status of the dam affects the feedlot performance and immune function of offspring. A specific component of the work is comparing traditional nutritional management of pregnant cows with a very low input approach.

• Interaction between gestation and calf health part 1
  Part one of a presentation on how maternal nutrition in gestation affects calf health (PDF).

• Interaction between gestation and calf health part 2
  Part two of a presentation on how maternal nutrition in gestation affects calf health (PDF).