Winter Nutrition for Cows, Heifers and Bulls: Pamper the Young and the Old

Cold weather increases nutritional demands for cattle, since more calories are required for production of body heat. As temperatures drop, cattle need to eat more. The demands are also higher for young, growing animals or lactating cows than for mature dry cows in mid-gestation. Most producers sort cattle into ages and stages for winter feeding, using their best feed for replacement heifers (weaned or pregnant) or lactating cows, and sometime for older, thin cows. Bulls also need to be fed a ration that will keep them in adequate body condition through winter, but not too fat.

According to Shannon Williams, Lemhi County Extension Educator (Salmon, Idaho), says that during the 60 days following calving, the cow needs proper nutrition to produce milk, repair her uterus and breed back. “This requires a lot more energy and nutrients, than when she is pregnant,” Williams says.

If a cow is in poor body condition when she calves, she doesn’t have much chance to prepare for rebreeding while producing milk for her new calf. She may continue to lose weight, even if you increase her nutrient levels, and fail to cycle on time. If she is a young