Spring Nutrition and Early Planning Critical for Cow-Calf Success
March 31, 2026
As livestock producers transition from winter into spring, nutrition management is taking center stage—especially for cow-calf operators in the middle of calving season and preparing for breeding.
New Generation Supplements Technical Services Director Janna Block highlights the importance of maintaining proper body condition in cows as operations move through this critical time of year.
She says producers should be closely evaluating their nutrition programs to ensure cows are meeting performance demands.
“Most people are full swing into calving and thinking about breeding season, so it’s really important to be looking at body condition and making sure your rations are doing what you need them to do,” she explained.
Ideally, cows should calve in a body condition score of at least five, providing enough reserves to support lactation while maintaining reproductive efficiency.
“We want those cows for sure in a body condition score five… I like to give them a little extra room so they can lose a bit of weight when they start lactating,” Block said.
Beyond immediate nutritional needs, drought concerns are also creeping into the conversation across much of the West, Midwest, and Southern Plains—making early planning essential.
“If things don’t turn around… it’s important to be thinking about plans and how you’re going to manage for a drought situation,” she said. “Making culling decisions early… getting an inventory on your forage supplies—those are all things to keep in mind.”
In dry conditions, supplementation can help cattle get more value from lower-quality forage, but Jana emphasized that supplements are not a replacement for adequate feed resources.
“Providing a protein supplement will help them utilize that forage… but this is a supplement—it’s not a replacement,” she noted.
As producers look ahead to breeding season, nutrition continues to play a key role in reproductive success. Cows that calve in thin condition face significant challenges recovering and rebreeding.
“If those cows calve in a thin body condition, it’s going to be really hard to get her to recover from calving, produce milk, and resume estrus cycles again,” Block said.
She added that targeted nutrition strategies, including omega-3 fatty acids, can support reproductive performance in both cows and bulls.
“Omega-3s have been shown to have a lot of benefits in terms of reproduction… we’ve seen increases in sperm count and motility,” she explained, noting that producers often begin supplementation about 60 days ahead of breeding season.
Looking ahead to spring turnout, Jana also encouraged producers to stay ahead of seasonal challenges like grass tetany and fly pressure.
“If we do get some green grass coming on, it’s important to think about getting a mag source out there… and if you’re thinking about fly control, it’s important to get it out before those flies start,” she said.
With weather uncertainty and tight margins continuing across cattle country, Block says a proactive approach to nutrition and herd management can help set producers up for success in the months ahead.
Learn more about how New Generation Supplements can help here .
Source: Western Ag Network
