Central Kentucky’s rolling pastures make it an ideal place to raise beef cattle, sheep, goats and horses—but each season brings unique nutrition and management challenges. Feed too much hay in spring and pastures suffer; misjudge forage quality in winter and body‑condition scores dive. At Hall’s Farm & Feed in Nicholasville, we help producers balance rations and supplies 365 days a year. Below is a season‑by‑season roadmap—packed with Kentucky Extension research—to keep your herd healthy and your feed bill under control.
1. Winter (December – February): Hay Quality, Bale Grazing & Mud Control
Test before you feed
Hay cut late or rained on can run below 9 % crude protein—too low for lactating cows. A $20 forage test from UKY Extension tells you whether to add soybean hulls, distillers’ grain or a 14 % protein tub. Feeding “by the eye” can cost far more in lost calf weight later.
Strategic bale grazing
Setting out round bales on a concrete pad or “bale‑grazing” with temporary poly‑wire keeps tractors off fragile sod and fertilizes poor soils with manure pats. UK field trials show a 30 % savings in diesel and labor when livestock come to the hay instead of vice versa.
Mud management
Place hay rings on high ground or sacrifice lots. Deep mud increases energy needs by up to 20 % and spreads hoof rot. Select solid‑skirt bale rings (in stock at Hall’s) to slash waste by half compared with open‑bottom feeders.
Pro tip: Feed your highest‑quality hay to first‑calf heifers; mature dry cows get middling bales. This “nutrient matching” maximizes every flake.
2. Early Spring (March – April): Pasture Transition & Mineral Tune‑Ups
Kentucky’s cool‑season grasses can jump from 0 to 6 inches in two weeks. Start grazing before the sward looks ready to stay ahead of the flush and maintain a vegetative “grazing wedge”.
| Task | Timing | Why it matters |
| Begin rotational grazing | 3–4 in. height | Prevents seed‑head maturity and keeps protein levels high |
| Delay nitrogen topdress | Until late summer | Too much spring N = stemmy, wasteful growth |
| Offer loose high‑magnesium mineral | 30 days pre‑lush | Guards against grass tetany in lactating cows |
Need a custom mineral? Hall’s blends chelated magnesium, selenium and copper to match local soil tests so your herd avoids deficiency “hot spots.”
3. Late Spring/Early Summer (May – June): Parasite Control & Forage Balancing
As temperatures hit the 80s, watch for barber‑pole worm in small ruminants and coccidiosis in calves. Balanced nutrition bolsters immune response.
- Protein‑energy balance. Fast‑growing fescue may run 18 % protein but just 55 % TDN; supplement with corn gluten feed at 0.5 % BW to meet energy needs.
- Rotate dewormers. Combining FAMACHA scoring with targeted deworming curbs resistance.
Curious whether to aerate pastures? Research shows little yield bump on healthy Kentucky sod; invest instead in better rotation plates.
4. High Summer (July – August): Heat‑Stress Nutrition & Water Management
Humidity and 90 °F afternoons cut feed intake by 10–15 %. Help stock cope:
- Shift feeding times to dawn and dusk.
- Provide at least 2 gal water per 100 lb body weight; warm water lowers intake further.
- Offer buffered loose mineral with sodium bicarb to counter acidosis from reduced forage chewing.
- Add electrolyte tubs for goats and show calves traveling to fairs.
University studies show shade + fresh water reduces cattle respiration rates by 50 % during heat waves. Dairy cows drop milk an average 8 lb/day when heat‑stressed—a reminder that prevention pays.
Hall’s stocks oversized UV‑resistant poly troughs and circulator fans proven to cool holding pens.
5. Early Fall (September – October): Stockpiling Fescue & Body‑Condition Targets
Stockpile strategy
Skip late‑summer mowing and apply 40 lb N/acre in mid‑August. Graze hard in September to set canopy height, then close paddocks until November. Stockpiled tall fescue tests 12 % protein and 60 % TDN deep into December—rivaling medium‑quality hay.
Pre‑weaning creep feeds
Calves convert grain more efficiently now than post‑weaning stress periods. A 16 % calf starter fed at 1 % BW can add 0.3 lb ADG, paying for itself at current wean‑calf prices.
Body‑condition check
Cows should enter winter at BCS 5–6. Thin cows burn stored fat to stay warm; fat cows (BCS 8+) risk calving issues.
6. Holiday Season (November): Emergency Feed Planning & Bale Testing
Ice storms can lock pastures overnight. Maintain a 30‑day emergency hay stash in a separate barn bay. Test each new batch; protein tubs are cheaper insurance than vet bills for malnourished stock.
Need forage fast? Hall’s keeps a rolling list of local hay sellers and can arrange trucking on 24‑hour notice.
7. Balancing Rations with Hall’s Feed Team
Bring your forage test to the counter and we’ll enter numbers into the Pearson Square or advanced software to build custom rations. Whether you finish feeder steers to 1,350 lb or raise Nubian dairy goats, our nutritionists match:
- Protein sources: soybean meal, cottonseed, distillers’ grain
- Energy: cracked corn, barley, beet pulp
- Additives: Rumensin®, Bovatec®, Diamond‑V yeast
We also bag non‑GMO blends for niche markets and 4‑H show diets with medicated options per state guidelines.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much hay do I need per cow?
Average 1,000‑lb beef cows eat 25 – 30 lb dry matter/day in winter. For 120 days, that’s roughly 1.5 tons per head—but test moisture first.
Q: Should I feed round‑bale silage (“balage”)?
Yes, especially for goat or dairy herds needing higher moisture. Balage packs 12–14 % protein and reduces weather loss, but requires plastic wrap and tight storage.
Q: Is a TMR worth it for small beef herds?
If you feed >40 cows, a used vertical mixer can cut labor and improve uniformity, but smaller herds do fine with hand‑mixed commodity blends.
Conclusion: Year‑Round Planning = Profitable Herds
Successful livestock feeding isn’t a single diet—it’s a moving target shaped by Kentucky’s seasons. By testing forage, matching supplements to growth stages and preparing for weather extremes, you’ll safeguard herd health and profit margins.
Visit Hall’s Farm & Feed today for free ration consultations, forage‑testing kits, and a wide selection of minerals, tubs and reliable equipment. With the right plan—and the right partner—you’ll navigate winter mud, spring flush, summer heat and fall stockpiling like a pro.