National Cattlemen September 2026 | Page 8

specialist for NCBA.“ If we shortcut or are deficient in her diet, this could affect multiple generations, so we need to plan for the long game.”

To optimize dietary needs, the most important nutrition component is energy, which can come from carbohydrates, protein or fat. The primary step to fulfilling an animal’ s energy requirement is to determine the dry matter( DM) intake to provide sufficient energy to sustain a healthy BCS, nourish calves and improve rebreeding ability. DM intake can be influenced by factors like animal weight, frame size, stage of production, level of milk production, forage quality, amount and type of supplement or feed provided, and environmental conditions. 3 Cattle must get daily protein, calcium and vitamins through forage or supplementation. Therefore, testing the quality of the operation’ s forage and knowing its nutrient density will help establish the amount of feed and supplements to purchase.

“ Nutrition is the foundation for many processes within the cow— immune system function, growth, ability to withstand weather, pregnancy and managing stress. It is important to support her through varying seasons, weather conditions and purposes,” Dr. Herman added.

Each stage of the production cycle faces unique energy requirements.

Bred Cows: The cow requires energy for grazing, traveling, fetal development, milk production, temperature maintenance, reproduction and the digestive process. For bred females that will calve in the spring, energy requirements increase as gestation progresses and continue until calving, peaking at lactation.

Most of the fetal growth occurs during the last third of

Lactating Cows: For producers who calve in the fall and have lactating cows from November to March, those cows should already be receiving additional energy beyond what is used for maintenance to produce adequate milk and raise a healthy calf. They may require up to 50 % more net energy compared to gestating cows. 3 Supporting these females to maintain a BCS 5 to 7 ensures they are ready to rebreed quickly.

Heifers: Maturing heifers require a high concentration of protein in the diet because they generally intake a lower volume of DM. They must have access to good-quality forage or be fed supplemental protein to achieve adequate growth prior to their first breeding season. First-calf heifers perform best when gaining around 1 lb per day from the time they are bred until they calve to reach approximately 80 % of their mature weight when they calve.

Whether caring for bred or lactating females, cold weather changes the nutritional needs of the entire herd. Cattle are estimated to increase energy requirements by 1 % for every degree below 32 ° F in dry conditions, and 2 % for every degree below 59 ° F in wet conditions. In preparation, producers should identify forage quality and quantity, source feed and supplements, and support any herd dietary deficiencies. This will give females the best chance for growth, healthy calves and successful rebreeding and build operational profitability.

Winter feeding is about more than getting cows through the cold months. A well-developed feeding strategy is an investment in next year’ s calf crop and reproductive performance. Producers who assess body condition early, know their forage quality, and address nutritional gaps before winter arrives will be best positioned for success. One of the best ways to establish a sound management plan is to work with a beef cattle nutritionist, extension specialist, or veterinarian.

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References: 1. Lalman, David, and Daniel Stein.“ Body Condition Scoring of Cows- Oklahoma State University | Oklahoma State University.” OSU Extension, extension. okstate. edu / fact-sheets / body-condition-scoring-of-cows. Accessed 9 July 2026.

2.“ Beef Quality Assurance- BQA- Manuals.” Beef Quality Assurance, www. bqa. org / resources / manuals. Accessed 9 July 2026.

3. Lalman, David, and Amanda Holder.“ Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle- Oklahoma State University | Oklahoma State University.” OSU Extension, extension. okstate. edu / fact-sheets / nutrient-requirements-of-beefcattle. Accessed 9 July 2026.

4. Wyffels, Sam.“ Managing Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle through Fall and Winter- MSU Extension | Montana State University.” Montana State University, www. montana. edu / extension / lila _ extn / lila _ winter _ 25 / ManageingNutrientRequirementsofBeefCattleThroughFall andWinter. html. Accessed 9 July 2026.

8 SEPTEMBER 2026 www. NCBA. org