Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are working to minimize the impacts of the postal service disruption.

Les ministères, les sociétés d’État et les organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan travaillent à réduire au minimum les répercussions de l’interruption des services postaux.

Google Translate Disclaimer

A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:

Renseignements en Français

Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.

Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).

Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.

Managing Young Cows Prior to Breeding

By Jenifer Heyden, M.Sc., P Ag, Livestock & Feed Extension Specialist, North Battleford

April 2025

The 80 to 90 days following calving place a huge demand on the cow. She must produce milk, her reproductive tract goes through repair, she needs to begin cycling and hopefully she rebreeds within that timeframe. Above and beyond the priorities listed above, first and second calvers have additional nutrient requirements for growth, as they are still maturing. Nutritional shortfalls during this critical period can have economic consequences for years to come. Luckily, nutrition can be managed and controlled.

Cow eating feed
Feeding the higher quality forages
to young cows can help reduce
supplementation costs and gives
you the ability to select a supplemental
feed that provides the best value.

At breeding, a cow’s body condition score should be around three (out of five). Body condition at calving and breeding has been shown to impact overall profitability of the herd. Poor body condition at calving results in cows taking longer to cycle, and less successful conceptions occurring early in the breeding season. A young cow that misses a cycle and conceives late in the breeding season will consequently be late in the calving season time after time.

Fortunately, with the right nutritional management, cattle in this phase of production can thrive. Ensuring cattle have adequate protein and energy, in addition to an appropriate mineral program, will set them up for breeding success going forward. Further, the current calf at side will reap the benefits of having a mother with adequate nutrition reserves.

In a typical spring calving scenario, the herd will most likely be out on lush, green pasture at breeding. But what about the remainder of the time leading up to the breeding season? During lactation, cows require approximately 12 per cent crude protein and 65 per cent total digestible nutrients (TDN) in their diet to maintain and slightly increase condition. This is an increase from requirements in late pregnancy, which are nine and 60 per cent, respectively. It is also important to note that while a cow goes through uterine involution, her rumen will slowly return to full capacity and voluntary feed intake tends to be higher during lactation. Therefore, while high-quality forages may meet requirements pre-calving, it is likely that supplemental grain or pellets will be required in the lactation period prior to pasture turnout to meet nutritional requirements without exceeding the physical limitations on dry matter intake per day.

It is often beneficial to manage young females separately from the mature cow herd. This allows for feeding higher quality forages and more strategic supplementation. A nutrient-dense ration helps young cows to return to estrus sooner and maintain their place in the herd. Always test the forages you have for the winter feeding period. Feeding the higher quality forages to young cows can help reduce supplementation costs and gives you the ability to select a supplemental feed that provides the best value based on energy and/or protein requirements.

It is important to remember that those first and second calvers are simply not the same as the mature cows in the herd. Long-term success and longevity in the herd lies in the careful management of these young females from early on.

We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve