14 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN October 2026 put weight on a cow that’s a BCS 4 but should be a 5. If the nutrient requirement that didn’t get met was energy, no amount of money you spend on a protein and/or a vitamin and mineral package is going to x her if her issue is energy.” Calves For those producers who have weaned early and are looking at smaller calves, they should keep in mind that means smaller rumens. Setting those calves up for a successful transition starts with talking to your veterinarian about scheduling your preconditioning protocols and preparing those calves for a transition o milk. “Any opportunity you can give those calves while they’re still on the cow to eat some supplement or feed that they might be exposed to when they’re weaned really helps them take o and eat a lot faster,” Wilke says. “Some people won’t have that opportunity, but those who do can really speed up the process.” In addition to their typical weaning rations, those younger, smaller framed calves need a ration formulated for a slightly higher rate of gain to help replace the caloric value of milk. This helps promote continued bone and muscle growth. Exposing them to supplements that include copper, zinc and vitamin A before weaning will help support and boost their immunity. “Make sure to meet the calf’s metabolizable protein needs rst, then his energy needs and then everything else,” Wilke explains. “He also needs a very highly digestible diet. He has a very small rumen, and if he’s an early-weaned calf, he’s going to have an even smaller rumen, which means he needs feeds that are very digestible. Highly digestible feed passes through his digestive tract quickly, allowing him to be hungry sooner, and boosting his feed and nutrition intake.” In addition to proper feed and vaccination protocols, trying to minimize unnecessary stress on the calves is imperative. “To get the most from your vaccination program, stress levels need to be low and calves need access to proper nutrition,” Waechter-Mead says. “Think of it as a triangle. All three sides are needed to complete the whole picture.” Waechter-Mead recommends reducing stress by using lowstress cattle handling, avoiding unnecessarily mixing groups of calves and, if possible, sorting calves into smaller groups based on size so that they can have equal opportunities at the feed bunk. “My best advice is to work with all members of your team – your veterinarian, Extension specialist and nutritionist,” Waechter-Mead says. “We need the management and nutrition programs working together to support a healthy immune system. We’ve seen drought before, and we’ll make it through it again.” For more information on cow nutrition and calf health – especially coming out of a drought and heading into winter – and how it impacts your herd, reach out to your local beef Extension specialist or veterinarian. To stay up to date on current topics and information in the beef industry, be sure to visit beef.unl.edu. ~NC~ WINTER NUTRITION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
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