14 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2024 NUTRITION IS HEALTH Managing and Monitoring Herd Health rough Unpredictable Weather CALLIE CURLEY | CONTRIBUTING WRITER When it comes to winter and spring on the Great Plains, unpredictable weather is one of the only things to be counted on. That means monitoring and managing herd health through nutrition requires forethought and planning to garner positive results, often starting in early fall. Kacie McCarthy, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kevin Herrick, Ph.D., POET, and Jennifer Schutz, Ph.D., Chr. Hansen, each share insights on how producers can effectively and economically manage range cow and calf nutrition at each stage of the production cycle. Plan Ahead With Body Condition Scoring “Time between weaning and the start of winter is when body conditioning efforts should begin,” says Kacie McCarthy, Ph.D., cow-calf specialist at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “The last stage of gestation – 90 days prior to calving – that’s the last chance to do it economically.” McCarthy says wet, cold and windy conditions can increase a cow’s energy and protein requirements by 10 to 30 percent. Ensuring the availability of quality feedstuffs that prioritize energy and protein in the heart of winter is critically important. “When we get into winter and cows grow a coat, it can be deceiving,” McCarthy says. “Keeping an eye on cows from early gestation through calving is important. They can gain a lot in fetal growth and placental weight. Don’t let them slip behind during late gestation.” How often you’re assessing body condition scores (BCS) depends on weather and timing. Producers feeding a protein supplement might be out one or more times per week, whereas energy supplements may have you out among the PRODUCTION
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