Beyond nutrition, he emphasizes that herd health programs—especially vaccinations—play a major role in protecting profitability. But those programs are only effective if cattle are properly nourished.
“The best vaccine program you’ve got is going to do nothing if that cow is not ready to receive it with high nutrition,” he explained.
As calf prices remain strong, having a solid vaccination protocol in place can also help producers capture added value at marketing time.
“Most guys are understanding that… they want to have a program in place… in order to receive the amount of marketing dollars that’s out there right now,” Paila said.
Looking ahead to summer grazing, Paila says convenience-driven solutions like mineral blocks are continuing to gain traction among producers.
“For the majority of guys that have switched over to mineral blocks versus bags, I just don’t have guys going back… the convenience is too easy,” he added.
With tight margins and strong cattle markets, Taylor says a proactive approach—centered on nutrition, herd health, and efficiency—can help set producers up for success in the months ahead.
To learn how Simplot Western Stockmen’s can help your cattle operation, click here.
Source: Ag Information/Western Ag Network
