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Often times cow-calf producers have a difficult time incorporating replacement heifers into the cow herd with a high degree of success.

Lack of forage (quantity and quality) is the cause of many cattle being in less-than-desirable body condition going into the winter - the next few months are going to be critical, regardless of whether your cows calve in the fall or spring, due to bull turn-out and calving season rapidly approaching.

Webster's dictionary defines season as "a period of the year characterized by or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon." Note that the definition says "period of the year," not all year.

We often think about the bull as the means of introducing new genetics into a beef herd. However, management of the bull (or lack of it) after purchase is often the "Achilles Heel" of cattle production. Failure to pay attention to important management practices affecting the bull often results in reduced calving rates, increased calf mortality, and loss of uniformity and marketability.

Since ranchers are traditionally optimistic, we now are thinking about restocking before the next growing season. Buying replacements that maintain or increase herd uniformity should be a primary focus of this effort.

As we manage the cow herd into the fall and through the winter, our primary focus should be on health and nutrition. These two areas of management determine reproductive performance, which is the number one factor that affects profitability.

I want to take this opportunity to provide a brief update on some of the research and demonstration projects that are ongoing in the Agricultural Division there are currently 55 projects underway.

There is a difference between keeping information and using information. I have witnessed very few producers actually using the information they have kept to make management decisions.

These recommendations help commercial cow-calf producers make better decisions internally and produce a more consistent, desirable product.

Mistakes are commonly made when producers face a drought, we've outlined some helpful hints.