Winter always comes earlier than you expect, and, in many cases, earlier than you’ve prepared for it. Here are a few things you can do to prepare your cattle operation for the upcoming winter months.

Consider earlier weaning dates for this year’s calf crop. This will give your cow herd time to recover body condition and weight lost during lactation. It may also reduce the need for supplementation on dormant pastures and crop residues.

Evaluate cow condition and segregate thin cows into a separate management group for the upcoming fall grazing and winter feeding periods. Strategically supplement only the cows that need it to save money and improve production efficiency during calving next spring when a greater proportion of live calves are born from cows in proper body condition.

Take inventory of your feed supplies to determine if you have adequate resources for the upcoming winter feeding period. If supplies look tight, evaluate alternatives such as feeding co-products, grazing crop residues, or culling additional cows.

If you rely on automatic waterers, wells, and/or tanks as a water source, take the time to do seasonal maintenance now. If you wait until later, you may find yourself thawing out and working on a waterer on a morning when the temperature has plummeted. Be sure to check the floats, lines coming into the fountain, and any heating elements you are using to be sure they are in good working order.

Making preparations for the upcoming winter feeding period now will pay dividends later.