Brevard Beef Notes: Winter Nutrition and Body Condition Score Management

December is one of the most critical months for winter cattle management in Florida. As warm-season forage quality declines and cow nutrient requirements peak, body condition score (BCS) monitoring becomes essential. The adjustments you make now—in supplementation, mineral programs, forage allocation, and culling—will carry your herd through calving, rebreeding, and early calf growth. Whether your herd calves in fall or spring, managing nutrition now will set the foundation for reproductive success and calf performance in the coming year.

Why Body Condition Score Matters

BCS is a simple 1-to-9 visual scale used to estimate fat reserves in beef cattle.

BCS 5–6 at calving → shorter postpartum interval, improved conception rates, stronger calves at birth.
BCS ≤ 4 → delayed cycling, reduced colostrum quality, and lower weaning weights.

Scoring your herd regularly is one of the most cost-effective management tools available and provides an early warning system long before problems show up in breeding data.

Seasonal Differences in Brevard County

Brevard producers manage a wide range of calving seasons. That means energy demands vary this time of year:

Fall-calving herds: Cows are lactating and preparing for re-breeding — they require the highest nutrient plane now.
Spring-calving herds: Cows are in mid- to late-gestation — November and December are key months to build or maintain BCS before calving begins in January–March.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Base Forage

Start with your foundation: hay or baleage.

Send samples to the UF/IFAS Forage Testing Lab and compare Crude Protein (CP) and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) to cow requirements.

Approximate nutrient needs for a 1,100-lb cow:

Cow Stage	TDN Requirement	CP Requirement
Mid-gestation	~50%	~7%
Late-gestation or lactating	55–60%	9–10%

If hay falls below these values, the herd absolutely requires supplementation to maintain BCS.

Step 2: Select Cost-Effective Supplements

Match supplement type to forage quality and cow demands:

Energy Sources

Molasses-based liquids
Citrus pulp
Corn gluten feed
Soyhulls

Protein Sources

Cottonseed meal
Distillers grains
Urea-based lick tubs (best when forage energy is adequate)

Mineral Nutrition

Offer a complete, free-choice mineral year-round.
For Brevard’s high-rainfall environment, choose UF/IFAS-recommended mineral formulations containing:

Higher trace mineral levels
Adequate magnesium for cool-season forages
Increased phosphorus for lactating and reproductive cows

Step 3: Use Cool-Season Forages to Stretch Feed Resources

Even a few acres of winter annuals — ryegrass, oats, rye, or clovers — can lower the number of hay-feeding days and reduce winter feed costs.

Proper establishment is key: avoid grazing too early, especially if planted late.
Allow forage to reach recommended grazing height to prevent stand damage.

Cool-season grazing can be the most economical way to support lactating fall-calving cows and to boost spring-calving cows before January.

Step 3.5: Don’t Forget Stockpiled Warm-Season Forage

Stockpiling warm-season grasses—especially limpograss and bahiagrass—can provide valuable winter grazing and reduce hay feeding days. When properly rested in late summer or early fall, these forages maintain quality longer than many producers expect.

Benefits of stockpiling:

Extends grazing into December–January
Reduces reliance on harvested hay
Helps maintain BCS on dry cows and mid-gestation cows
Provides clean, standing forage that reduces waste compared to feeding bales
Fits well with rotational grazing systems

Quality varies by species:

Limpograss has higher digestibility than other warm-season grasses, however crude protein decreases with maturity so supplementation will need to be provided as well.
Bahiagrass quantity tends to be high but may require protein supplementation depending on conditions.

Even small acreage set aside for stockpiling can stretch limited forage resources during high-cost winter months.

Step 4: Cull Strategically

Winter feed is your largest operational cost. A timely preg-check and strategic culling program can dramatically improve efficiency.

Consider culling:

Open or very late-calving cows
Cows over 10 years of age
Chronic low-BCS cows that fail to maintain weight under normal management

Feed savings from culling can be redirected to productive cows that will generate revenue in the next calf crop.

Step 5: Monitor and Adjust

Re-score your herd monthly through March.

Separate thin cows for targeted feeding.
Track BCS trends along with calving and rebreeding dates.
Use this winter’s data to refine next year’s forage planning, hay testing, and supplementation strategy.

Practical Brevard Examples

Cow Type	Goal BCS	Feeding Focus
Spring-calving (mid-gestation)	5 by January	Energy + moderate protein
Fall-calving (lactating)	Maintain ≥5	Protein/mineral + early cool-season forage
Replacement heifers	6 at breeding	Balanced ration without overconditioning

Economic Reminders

Every 100 lb of extra feed per cow typically adds $25–$35 to winter feed costs.
Improving BCS from 4 to 5 can increase pregnancy rates by 15–20%.
Matching calving season and stocking rate to forage availability reduces dependency on purchased feed.

Key Take-Home Message

Body condition score management is the most cost-effective reproductive tool available to Florida beef producers. Evaluate forage quality, supplement based on need, and prioritize nutrition for the cows that will drive future performance. Maintaining cows in good condition this winter lays the groundwork for heavier calves, tighter calving seasons, and stronger reproductive efficiency — the foundation of profitability for every Brevard beef operation.

References

Brevard County

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