October 2026 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 13 management tool,” says Kacie McCarthy, Ph.D., UNL assistant professor and beef cow-calf Extension specialist. “Evaluating both individual cows and then overall herd body condition allows producers to identify any challenges and make proactive management decisions. “When we’re moving through that mid-gestation point after weaning, this is a great time where we can capitalize on low cost of gain,” McCarthy explains. “As folks maybe transition out to corn stalks, we can really maintain body condition fairly economically before we have to really ramp up in protein and energy prior to calving.” After producers assess body condition score, the next thing is to evaluate what feeds they have on hand and their quality. “As we move into the fall, most of our forage is going to be de cient in energy and a little bit lower in protein,” McCarthy says. “So, as we are transitioning into winter, we’re also thinking about getting feeds tested, whether those are byproduct feedstu s, TMR or hay.” Feed and forage testing is an easy and quick way to get a plan started for what your winter feeding will look like. There are multiple labs across Nebraska, and they typically have results back to you in three to ve business days from receipt of the samples. “It’s fairly straightforward to test forages or whatever you may be bringing in, and then develop a basic nutritional program based on those readings,” says Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance director and Nebraska Extension livestock educator. “The tests may look at protein, energy and vitamins and minerals. Then, based on the life stage your animal is in, whether it’s a calf, a gestating cow or a lactating cow, we can develop di erent types of rations to ensure that animals are getting what they need.” Once you have your forages or feeds tested, you can consult your local beef Extension specialist to help determine what and when to feed your cattle. “Once we get to spring and that cow goes into lactation again, her energy needs are going to double,” Wilke explains. “So, if you don’t test that hay and you feed the good hay in the middle of winter when she maybe didn’t need it, by the time you get to March or April without green grass on the horizon and she’s lactating, you’re not sitting in a very good spot.” Forage quality naturally decreases in the fall, and if you’re feeding older feed products that have sat for the past year, their quality may have decreased as well. “Going into the winter, producers should assess what feed resources they have and what they’re going to need,” Wilke says. “Producers should be prepared to feed more than they typically do because they’re going to have to make up some de ciencies. We want to make sure a cow more than survives this winter; we want her to have a healthy calf next spring and breed back next summer. All of those things are impacted by decisions made now.” As we shift onto dormant forages or stored feeds, producers should be mindful of vitamin and mineral supplementation. Vitamin A is typically stored in the cow’s body from eating lush green grass all summer, but where many producers saw very little grass this year, it is important to supplement it now. “I think starting vitamin A supplementation earlier than normal and carrying that through pretty aggressively this winter is going to be important because vitamin A is vital for reproduction,” Wilke explains. “It’s also important for a lot of metabolic functions, and the health and immunity of that unborn calf are dependent on her vitamin intake as well. Consequently, the calf she’s weaning right now could be kind of short on vitamin A, too.” Supplementing complete mineral packages can help boost immunity in cattle and promote overall health, but they should not be relied on as a cure-all. “The bigger issue is going to be making sure the animal is getting enough protein and energy,” Wilke says. “The best mineral program on the planet won’t CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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