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Supplementing Beef Cows

Supplementing Beef Cows. Steps to Effective Cow Nutrition Program. Determine nutrient requirements. Estimate nutrients available from forage. Determine supplemental needs. Evaluate supplement alternatives. Everyone’s Situation is Different. ansi.okstate.edu.

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Supplementing Beef Cows

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  1. Supplementing Beef Cows

  2. Steps to Effective Cow Nutrition Program • Determine nutrient requirements. • Estimate nutrients available from forage. • Determine supplemental needs. • Evaluate supplement alternatives.

  3. Everyone’s Situation is Different ansi.okstate.edu

  4. Body condition is a key element in nutritional management decisions.

  5. Body Condition Goals At Calving Mature cows 5 2 year olds 6

  6. Steps to Effective Cow Nutrition Program • Determine nutrient requirements. • Determine nutrients available from forage. • Determine supplemental needs. • Do the math. • Monitor the cows. • Evaluate nutrient sources.

  7. Determine Supplemental Needs Do the math! Nutrients from forage - Nutrient requirements Nutrient excess ordeficiency

  8. Supplemental Needs Example • 1,100 lb cows in 3rd trimester • March 15 average calving date • Grazing native range pasture Jan through March

  9. Calculating Supplemental Need • Determine daily protein and TDN (energy) requirement from Table 11.2. • Protein = 1.8 lb/d • TDN = 12.1 lb/d • Estimate protein and TDN concentration in the forage (Table 12.1, Feed number 43). • Protein = 4% • TDN = 49%

  10. Calculating Supplemental Need • Estimate DM intake. • Table 11.1 or 11.2 • 1.8 to 2% of body weight or ? lb? • 22 • Determine daily intake of protein and TDN. • 22 x 0.04 = ? • 22 x 0.49 = ?

  11. Supplemental Need Calculating Supplemental Need • Compare requirement to supply. Protein TDN Required 1.8 lb 12.1 lb Supplied 0.88 lb 10.8 lb Difference 0.92 lb 1.3 lb

  12. Supplement Amount • Divide supplemental need by supplement nutrient concentration to determine appropriate amount of supplement. How many lb of 20 %? .92 / .20 = 4.6 How many lb of 25 %? .92 / .25 = 3.7 How many lb of 38 %? .92 / .38 = 2.4

  13. Supplement Decisions • Once supplement amount needed to fix protein deficiency (if one exists) is determined, compare energy supplied, cost, convenience and other factors.

  14. Supplement Decisions How much TDN will be supplied by each alternative compared to the requirement? Assume all supplements contain 75% TDN. Supplement alternative 20% 25% 38% Lb per day 4.6 3.7 2.4 TDN per day 3.5 2.8 1.8 Sup need 1.3 1.3 1.3 Difference 2.2 1.5 0.5

  15. Supplement Decisions Calculate cost of each supplementation program. Supplement alternative 20% 25% 38% Lb per day 4.6 3.7 2.4 Cost per lb $.087 $.097 $.115 Cost per day $.40 $.36 $.28 Difference over 90 days $4.00 $10.80

  16. Supplementation PrioritiesEvaluate Protein First

  17. Improved Intake and DigestibilityResults in Better Performancea 2 lb / d of 40% No Sup Cow wt change +23 lb -153 lb BCS change -.3 -1.6 Weaning weight 484 448 Steele et al., 2002 aTreatments applied for about 90 days during late gestation

  18. Rule of Thumb: Forage with 8% CP or more fed during mid-gestation will not require a protein supplement. Don’t Purchase Protein Supplement That is Not Needed

  19. Steps to Effective Cow Nutrition Program • Determine nutrient requirements. • Determine nutrients available from forage. • Determine supplemental needs. • Evaluate nutrient sources.

  20. Protein Source

  21. Protein Sources “Natural” or Plant Proteins

  22. Protein Sources Non-protein nitrogen • urea • biuret • uric acid (poultry litter) • ammonium sulfate

  23. Effect of Urea or Natural Protein Supplements on Forage Intake Adapted from Minson, 1990

  24. Non-protein nitrogen as a protein source OSU, 1967

  25. Improving NPN utilization NPN sources are better utilized when: *More mature cattle: > 600 lbs *.5% or more of body weight concentrate is fed *Dietary protein is marginally deficient (1 to 3% gap) *Natural PTN and NPN are blended *Animals allowed access > 1 time/day

  26. Cost VS Convenience • Do your own math. • Only you can decide what the convenience factor is worth.

  27. Interval Feeding • Saves labor and equipment • Every-other-day or 3 days per week (M, W, F) works well • Effective with plant-based protein supplements • Limited to less than 1% of body weight per feeding

  28. Using Small Grains Pasture“Interval or Limit Grazing” • 15 to 30% protein, DM basis. • In one 3 to 4 hr grazing bout, cows consume 2 to 3 lb of protein from forage. • Cows can consume hay or graze winter pasture 1 to 4 days for each 4-hr grazing bout (see Table 16.6).

  29. Summary • Use the logical approach to establish a cost effective program that results in acceptable performance. • This program can be fine tuned or replaced over time when and if necessary. • Changing conditions warrant evaluation of traditional plans and programs.

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