When making a cattle mineral selection decision, work with your Purina dealer to think through these additional considerations based on your herd’s specific needs: 

Seasonality: Spring calving cows have different nutrition requirements than fall calving cows. Also, spring grass is lusher and may warrant providing additional magnesium to limit grass tetany in the herd. 

Fly Control: How far north or south you’re located can make a big difference on when to start and stop feeding Purina Wind and Rain fly Control mineral. A good rule is to feed 30 days before the last spring frost through 30 days after the last fall frost. 

Breeding Management: More intensive breeding systems like artificial insemination and embryo transfer require the herd to be in a better shape reproductively. Providing a mineral with higher trace mineral bioavailability, such as Purina Wind and Rain ProCycle mineral, is advised in these situations to meet their needs. 

Bags versus Tubs: You can choose between Wind and Rain loose bagged mineral or Wind and Rain mineral tubs. Loose bags are easier to handle and offer more flexibility in delivery to the cattle. Cattle mineral tubs often require less labor and provide more consistent intakes. It all comes down to personal preference. 

Deciding what cattle mineral to feed doesn’t need to be daunting. A quality balanced mineral year-round is the first step to ensuring your herd gets the nutrients they need. Then, you can get more specialized with what you provide your herd based on different factors like the time of year, reproductive needs of your herd and forage quality. 

Types of Mineral Supplements:

All Season Mineral – a mineral and vitamin supplement for cattle on pasture designed to correct mineral deficiencies of the available forage in highly palatable, weather-resistant granular form. Can be fed year-round, January through December for spring and fall calving. 

High Magnesium Mineral – mineral and vitamin supplement designed for cattle grazing lush pastures. A unique manufacturing process ensures more consistent intake and adequate levels of magnesium. Feed March and April for spring and fall calving. 

Fly Control Mineral – contains Altosid (IGR)for the breeding prevention of horn flies in the manure of treated cattle. Also, provides a balanced mineral and vitamin supplement with large particle size and special formulation to keep the mineral from absorbing water and blowing out of the feeder. Can be fed May through October for spring and fall calving. 

ProCycle Mineral – designed to optimize reproductive performance through trace mineral nutrition using a sulfate-free combination of organic and inorganic trace mineral sources. Wind and Rain ProCycle supports cow health, reproductive performance and nutrient absorption during breeding, gestation and lactation. Can be fed April and May for spring calving, and December and January for fall calving. 

Maximize efficiency to help cut feed costs without impacting production

Drought, supply chain issues, high grain prices, low hay supply and significantly increased fuel and fertilizer prices all have played a role in the drastically elevated feed costs cattle producers are facing this year.

Feed costs are the single largest expense in the cow-calf sector. Finding ways to manage these expenses could substantially impact your operation’s bottom line.

USDA is predicting seasonally strong demand and higher prices for fed cattle to end the year following the mass liquidations of summer. Efficiently feeding cattle to get the most bang for your buck and effective herd management may help producers to overcome the impact of high input costs and see the benefits of strong demand.

Take Advantage of Forages

Every day a cow can graze for herself is cheaper than anything mechanically harvested to put in front of her. Due to extensive drought, not all producers will have access to grazing. Let’s explore opportunities for those that do:

• Utilizing a grazing program, including pasture rotation, strategic fencing, and forage species variation, can allow for more efficient pasture use.
• Grazing corn stalks in the winter months or cover crops in the spring can extend your grazing season while minimizing the amount of harvested forage needed.
• Restricting cattle to certain sections of land or strategically placing water, supplements or minerals can promote grazing of underutilized pastures.

In areas where grazing isn’t available, forages are brought in. This is usually in the form of hay. When feeding hay, one of the most underutilized practices in the beef industry is forage sampling. Without sampling, you don’t know the nutrients available to your cattle. This leads to over-supplementing your herd and wasting money. It can also lead to under-supplementing and wasting the potential of your cattle. Leverage your forage sample results when planning a supplement program with your local store or Purina representative.

Purina offers forage extender products in our Accuration portfolio that are beneficial when forage is limited. These products are designed to balance nutrient deficiencies in fair or poor-quality forages.

Reducing hay waste is another way to help lower your feed cost. Adjustments to how you store and feed hay to your herd can reduce waste significantly.

Don’t Skimp on Minerals

Every biological process utilizes minerals. Some of the best dollars spent on cattle nutrition is on minerals. Without a balanced mineral program, forage and supplements aren’t as effective. As a result, you may not get the most out of your investment.

Intake levels are important to get the most value from your mineral program. Similar to supplements, over-or-under consumption can impact your pocketbook or your herd’s performance. Purina Wind and Rain minerals are designed to be consumed consistently at target intake levels. Wind and Rain loose bagged mineral offers target intake ranging from three to four ounces per head per day. Wind and Rain mineral tubs provide consumption at size to eight ounces per head per day.

Optimize Herd Management Practices

Strategically managing your herd can help in keeping feed costs under control. Body condition scores (BCS) are essential to the nutritional management of your herd. Use BCS to separate cattle into smaller groups to provide targeted nutrition. A simple version of this plan for a cow-calf operation would be to divide the herd into three groups:

• Yearling heifers 
• Two-year-old and Geriatric cows 
• Remaining cows. 

This separation allows you to provide the specific level of nutrition each of these groups need.

Yearling heifers are still growing and need additional nutrition. Your two-year-old group is in a growth phase and trying to provide nutrition for their first calf, either in gestation or at their side. Geriatric cows can also use a little extra nutrition to maintain their body condition, so grouping them with two-year-olds is appropriate. Separating the rest of the herd allows you to avoid overspending on supplements for cattle that maintain themselves well.

Unfortunately, sometimes a lack of resources forces tough decisions. If the time comes to reduce herd numbers, several factors must be considered.

Pregnancy testing is essential when making decisions on reducing herd size. Open cows should be the first to go because they cost too much to maintain when not producing. Evaluating each cow’s feet and legs, udder quality and temperament could also assist in narrowing down your options.

Set Strategies for your Success

Every decision needs to be tied to the goals of your operation. Tough choices may be forced in the short term due to higher input costs, but remember to make educated decisions with long-term feasibility and sustainability in mind.

Patrick Gunn, Ph.D., beef cattle nutritionist, Purina Animal Nutrition

Feed expenses are one of the highest variable costs for cattle operations annually. The cost of hay to get your herd through the winter months accounts for a significant percentage of those expenses and can impact your profitability. Research has shown that more than 50% of hay may be wasted by poor storage methods or inefficient feed practices. 

Storage

Improving your storage strategy is an investment that can pay off in the long run. Storing hay uncovered on bare ground is the cheapest and easiest method, but it comes at a cost. This storage method can lead to almost 30% dry matter loss in six months. 

One way to reduce hay loss is to add a barrier between hay and the bare ground. This will reduce the moisture that seeps in over time and causes hay quality to diminish. A layer of gravel under bales or placing hay on pallets allows air to circulate. As a result, this extra barrier can reduce dry matter loss by two-thirds or more. 

Another option is to provide further protection by covering bales. One advantage to covering bales is they can be stacked, requiring less ground cover. The most economical cover is a tarp. Additionally, individual wraps and a roof structure are good options as well. 

Storage buildings provide the best protection from hay loss during storage at an average of 5% dry matter loss. However, they also have a higher investment cost and may be less convenient. 

Feeding

Much of the waste that comes with feeding hay results from hay getting trampled or soiled. Limiting the amount of hay fed at one time can help limit waste. Research demonstrates that adjusting from feeding a four-day supply to a one-day supply can reduce waste by around 20%. 

Utilizing a feeder has also been shown to reduce hay waste by as much as 45%. However, feeders may also increase the labor required for feeding hay and may not always be practical. Feeding on gravel or concrete can provide a good alternative to help reduce issues. If feeding on the ground, choose a well-drained area. And when feeding on a pasture, move hay feeding areas daily to reduce soil compaction and buildup and spread out the manure and nutrients. 

Other hay feeding options include unrolling bales or grinding hay. An advantage to this method is the ability to move feeding areas around the pasture to ensure a more even distribution of manure and nutrients. However, these feeding systems are more labor intensive. 

Bridge the gap

A final way to ensure you’re getting the most use out of your winter forages is to utilize Purina supplements to fill the forage gap. Purina Accuration supplements help optimize digestibility and intake of low-quality forages. Purina Rangeland protein tubs provide readily available energy from forages. Implementing these supplements into your nutrition program can help get the most out of our forage investment. It can also assist your herd in maintaining optimal condition, even with lower quality forage. 

Steven Myers, Ph.D – Purina Animal Nutrition 

For more than a century, Purina has built connections with producers based on the goal of going beyond the bag to bring out the best in every animal. During that time, a wide range of tools and services have been put together to help customers identify challenges and find solutions in many different areas of their operations.

To be successful with these tools, our team aims to thoroughly understand the ins and outs of your operation and its goals. We’re invested in your well-being and take pride in helping you meet your goals. That’s why our partnership with producers goes far beyond what’s in the feed bag.

Something for everyone

Adding value to your herd starts with thorough management. Each operation is unique – what works for one might not work for another. Our tools and services can help identify areas to emphasize on the farm or ranch to push your herd further.

A few of our favorite tools and services include:

• Proof Pays: With the help of a local Purina expert, producers can conduct a feeding trial with Purina products on their own operation with their cattle. The goal is to show the value of quality nutrition. Proof Pays trials are open to herds with 100 head or more. Trials can last between 28 to 90 days, depending on the trial type. The local Purina Team will oversee the trial, collecting pertinent information and helping producers analyze results.
• Feed Greatness® Challenge: Producers of all herd sizes can participate in a 90-day trial with Purina® Wind and Rain® mineral. Throughout this trial, the producer collects information on mineral consumption, pasture conditions, and other important factors. At the end, Purina will give you the tools to interpret your results so you can make the right choice for your herd.
• Purina® Plus value-added program: Purina® Plus is a marketing program for producers striving to raise low-risk, high-value cattle. Utilizing industry-leading and research-proven health practices and Purina’s line of starter feeds, producers can work with their local team to position their cattle to buyers interested in investing in quality cattle.
• Purina Fly Monitor™ App: Launched this year, your local Purina® representative can use this app to estimate the number of flies impacting a cow herd and accurately sort cows into fly count categories. Producers can work with their local expert to design an integrated pest management plan, utilizing the consistent consumption of Wind and Rain® mineral with Altosid®, to minimize the impact of fly populations.

As with our feeds, each of our tools and services are strengthened by our continuous research at the Purina Farm in Gray Summit, Missouri, also known as the Purina Animal Nutrition Center. The commercial cow herd and Ph.D. researchers and nutritionists at Purina stand behind everything that we do.

Gate side advice

These are just a few examples of some of the tools that Purina representatives utilize when working with producers. Among these, there are many other services that they can offer an operation through an on-farm consultation.

One of the simplest, yet most impactful, ways a Purina representative can help you is by conducting body condition scores (BCS) of your herd three to four times per year. Having an accurate assessment of the herd’s average BCS can be critical to accomplishing goals. Once a baseline is established, recommendations can be made, and strategies implemented to ensure cows are set up for future success.

The relationship between producers and Purina is more than products. We’re invested in helping make improvements with producers to meet you where your herd needs are and help you reach your goals. When you succeed, we succeed.  Need help, reach out to us.

The popularity of the Angus breed creates strong competition and top genetics. At Bear Creek Farms in Leonard, Texas, David Johnson’s pathway to developing high-performance registered Angus began with a commercial herd. Today, David and his grandchildren, Blaine and Katelyn, oversee the development of an all-around Angus herd of award-winning registered and commercial cattle which includes some of the top bloodlines in the breed. Their philosophy is simple; focus on top quality in everything they do, and success will follow.

Quality mineral supplements are an investment in the overall performance of your herd.

Balance and bioavailability

Balance is key when it comes to minerals; more is not always better when choosing a supplement. Minerals compete for absorption when digested in the small intestine. If cattle consume too much of one mineral, it could prevent absorption of other minerals, eliminating benefits to the animal and wasting the money you invested in a mineral supplement.

When selecting a mineral supplement, be sure to consider the ingredients’ bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the percentage of mineral cattle can absorb or use. Some mineral supplements may contain sufficient levels of the required minerals, but not in a form capable of being utilized by cattle. In many situations, these ingredients are used because they are cheaper, even if they provide little or no nutrition to your herd. Generally speaking, organic minerals are more bioavailable and provide enhanced gut absorption

Not all minerals are created equal

With input costs rising, you may be looking for a lower-cost alternative to a complete mineral program by choosing a trace mineral block. While trace mineral blocks have a lower price tag than a complete mineral supplement, it’s important to be aware of the tradeoff you might be taking with this type of product.

First, trace mineral blocks don’t contain the macro minerals essential to cattle production, like phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Additionally, trace mineral blocks are often virtually all salt. A block may be 96-99% salt, depending on the product. Due to the high salt content, cattle can’t consume enough of the block to meet their trace mineral requirements.

Aside from intake, trace mineral blocks tend to utilize less bioavailable ingredients to keep cost low. Meaning, not only is mineral content diluted by salt, but the form of the mineral is virtually unavailable for absorption, both of which can compromise animal performance.

Often, a simple snapshot of your herd doesn’t reveal how much a cheap mineral supplement can really cost you. Minerals are the precursors to cattle performance, facilitating every process in the body. High-quality mineral influences high-quality performance. Production traits such as fertility, disease resistance, feed intake and muscle development depend on proper minerals in cattle’s diet.

Get the most bang for your buck

Getting the most impact from your investment is a top priority for any cattle operation. One way to ensure your mineral supplement is working efficiently and effectively for your herd is to track consumption rates. Your Purina® representative can walk you through how to track consumption in your herd. Most Purina® minerals are formulated for four ounces of consumption per cow per day.

Once you know consumption rate, you can help alter mineral intake levels by moving mineral feeders. When feeders sit close to areas where cattle spend most of their time, they can consume more than the target amount out of boredom. If cattle consume too much of a mineral supplement, move feeders away from water sources and loafing areas. If consumption is below target, move feeders closer to these areas, or provide additional feeders to allow more access for cattle.

The domino effect

Poor mineral nutrition can contribute to poor cattle performance. Mineral deficiencies can lead to a cascade of events such as more open cows, higher sickness rates, more spread-out calving season and lower weaning weights. If these conditions are allowed to domino and compound, they can lead to a loss of profit on your operation.

Talk to us about what a complete mineral program should look like for your herd.

Getting ready to plant a winter grazing crop? Working on a food plot ready at the deer lease, or reseed your yard? Bear Creek Country Stores have winter seed in stock, including wheat, oats, & rye grass.  See pricing and suggested planting rates:

Save the date for the 3rd Annual Bear Creek Farms Angus Female & Bull Sale on November 18-19, 2022.

Bear Creek Farms intends to sell 30 Elite Registered Angus Females  Friday evening November 18th, 75 Registered Angus Bulls at 12pm on Saturday, November 19th followed by 100 of their best commercial females! See the schedule below.

Find out more, see pictures, video links, and catalog info on Bear Creek Farms Website. Or follow us on the Bear Creek Farms Facebook page.