Temporary fencing will assist with grazing management. Research work I completed several years ago indicated that by using controlled grazing of tall fescue approximately one third of the crop could be saved. An example of this was two thirty-acre areas grazed at the same time with two groups of cows nursing fall calves. One group of cows grazed free choice and the other group was permitted to graze only ten acres at a time. At the end of the grazing portion of this trial the controlled grazed group had ten acres of forage left that had not been utilized while the free choice group ran out of stockpiled grass.
Many producers tend to think that supplementation of winter forage is expensive.
This may be true for many producers. However, if the cost of mowing, raking, baling, storing and feeding hay is considered, a considerable amount of supplementation can be provided. Letting the cow serve as the harvester and processor and providing a small amount of supplementation is far cheaper compared to the cost and operation of high-priced equipment. Body condition score will drop quicker than expected when available forage is depleted and winter weather adds to the energy requirement of the beef cow. Watch this combination of factors and don't let the cows' nutritional needs next spring reach a level that interferes with the health of the newborn calf.