Other than winter, summers are the most stressful time on cattle in our area. Heat, flies and lack of grass can take its toll on your herd. During an average year cattle tend to require more nutrients starting in June and lasting through August in to September but this year, with the rain we have been receiving, feeding cattle a little extra during June wasn't as necessary as in years past. But now that July is here, temperatures are climbing closer to 100, rain is not as plentiful and grass will be getting short. When this happens, cattle will need supplemental protein to keep them in shape.

People who use a supplement such as liquid feed or Sup-R-Lix year around can tell you that winter and summer are the two times cattle need extra feed. This liquid feed is an excellent gauge of grass quality because the feed is out there all the time and cattle won't touch it unless they need something extra. During the summer months cattle will go to it because the quality of forage has decreased significantly. If Sup-R-Lix is not an option for you, feed a little extra of cubes, meal or Cattle Limiter to get them through these stressful times of summer.

Remember that during the summer cattle need plenty of fresh water daily and shade if that is an option along with some supplemental protein.

My quote of the week comes from and unknown source. It reads, "If your children look up to you, you've made a success out of life's biggest job."