Supplementing and Feeding Calves and Stocker Cattle

1. Supplementing and Feeding Calves and Stocker Cattle

2. Discussion Topics • Supplementing vs substituting • Appropriate rate of gain target (not covered in manual) • Winter supplementation • Late-summer supplementation • Feeding programs

3. Supplementationof forage-fed cattle: Supplying a nutrient that is deficient in the forage, resulting in increased forage digestibility, increased forage intake, and (or) improved animal health and performance

4. Supplementation of Forage-Fed Cattle • Nutrients supplemented • Vitamins • Minerals • Protein • Energy* • Amount • Generally fed in small quantities ranging from a few grams to 0.5% of body weight

5. Positive Associative Effect “Feeding” Supplementation Supplementation VS Substitution

6. Drawing the Line Between Supplementation and Feeding • Not well defined and extremely variable depending on many factors • Assuming protein supply is adequate, > .5%of BW feed associated with decline in forage intake • Substitution rate ranges from .5 to 2 lbdecline in forage intake for each 1 lb feed beyond .5% BW

7. Substitution (Feeding) • Advantageous when: • concentrates are inexpensive • land resource is limited (need to increase stocking rate) • forage availability is limited (drought) • harvested forages are expensive relative to concentrates • grazing endophyte infected fescue pastures

8. Substitution (Feeding) • Costly when: • forage quantity is adequate and concentrates are expensive • desired gain can be achieved with high quality forage • occurs without producer’s knowledge (tradition?)

9. Supplementation • Usually a good thing • enhances animal performance • improves resource utilization (forage) • lowers cost of gain due greater energy harvested from cheap forage resource • But not always • accelerated forage use

10. How much should cattle gain during winter or growing period? • Destination • Feed yard after receiving/growing period? • Wheat pasture after receiving/weaning period? • Spring/Summer pasture after dry wintering? • Cost and availability of resources: can you do it cheaper than a commercial yard? • Marketing considerations

11. 60 d 180 d 500 d Influence of Rate of Gain on Body Composition Days to 15% =

12. How does condition influence pasture gain? .3 to .5 lb/d less ADG, lbs Brazle, 1999: Heifers, 602 head with 86 days grazing

13. Summary: Rate of weight gain during winter or growing phase • Fast rate of growing period gain and increased fleshiness reduces grazing rate of gain • Moderate rate of growing period gain (1.25 to 1.75) justified: light cattle, cheap feed, short grazing period, high growth potential

14. Supplementing forage with low protein concentration

15. Protein Requirement Depends on Energy Availability

16. Protein supplementation required for moderate to low rate of gain by forage protein content Forage Protein Content (DM) ADG 4% 6% 8% 10% .5 .6 .4 .25 .1 1.0 .75 .6 .45 .25

17. Late Summer / Fall Supplementation

18. Series of OSU studies to evaluate the effect of protein supplementation for stockers during late-summer grazing

19. Protein Supplement for Stockers Grazing Native Pasture Init. Init. Cont. Sup. Sup. Date Days Wt. ADG ADG Dif. Conv. 7/16 96 580 1.44 1.88 .44 1.8 7/20 56 350 1.35 1.72 .37 2.2 7/20 62 616 1.06 1.39 .33 3.2 8/16 56 490 .83 1.32 .49 2.0 7/16 84 645 .83 1.25 .42 2.9 5/25 84 365 1.48 1.75 .27 3.7 Avg 71 498 1.13 1.51 .37 2.7

20. Influence of supplement price on cost of additional gain

21. Oklahoma Gold 1lb/d 38-40% protein supplement Bovatec, Rumensin or CTC Vitamins and Trace Minerals Expected response = .57 lb / d

22. Oklahoma Super Gold 2.5 lb/d 25% protein supplement Bovatec, Rumensin or CTC Vitamins and Trace Minerals Expected response = .76 lb / d

23. Consider Super Gold When: • Feed prices (energy) are moderate to low • Light calves (< 400 lb) • Faster rate of gain necessary to meet predetermined market weight

24. Feed Additives: Ionophores • Rumensin, Bovatec, (Gainpro) • Increase ADG by .15 to .2 lb. per day • Cost: • 150 mg Rumensin = $.01 to .05 / day • 200 mg Bovatec = $.01 to .05 / day • Added gain is worth $.08 to $.12 / day

25. Summary: Supplementation • Match the supplementation program to the forage type, time of year, and current conditions • Recognize the difference between supplementation and substitution • Supplementing can only be profitable if value of added gain is > cost of added gain • Make certain protein requirement is met, but don’t overfeed protein

26. Winter Feeding

27. Energy Supplementation • Extremely inefficient when protein req. is not met

28. Energy Supplementation • Extremely inefficient when protein req. is not met

29. Energy and Protein Crn, Item None SBM Crn SBM Amt fed, lb 0 8.2 8.2 2.5 ADG, lb. .12 1.7 .64 1.06 Efficiency, lb/lb - 5.2 15.8 2.7 Bodine et al., 2000 Steers: initial weight = 631 lb. Corn, SBM blend = 16% CP (AF)

30. Energy Supplementation • Extremely inefficient when protein req. is not met • Requires more labor, equipment, facilities etc. because feeding rate is considerably higher compared to protein supplementation • Added gain during winter usually means lower gain during spring and summer

31. How much protein to include in feed for cattle consuming low protein forage? Amount Fed .5 .75 1.0 1.25 ----------------Percent of Body Weight-------------- Feed protein, % as fed 25-30 22-25 18-22 15-18 Grain:SBM 50/50 64/36 70/30 80/20 CSM can be substituted for SBM at 5-6% higher inclusion rate.

32. Example feed rations are shown for cattle consuming high quality grass hay (both low and moderate protein) in Table 17.6.

33. Grain and Alfalfa Hay • Highly complementary • Hay:Grain ratio of 60:40 (or about 1% of BW corn or milo and ad lib good quality alfalfa hay) will sustain around 2 lb per day gain • Grain:hay ratio can range from about 30:70 to 70:30

34. Feeding Grain on Grass During Spring / Early Summer

35. Summary • Numerous supplementation and feeding alternatives are available • Producer’s must determine their goal, given their current conditions • Maximize forage use and conversion? • Increase weight gain at least possible cost? • Maintain specific or minimum level of performance?

37. Relationship of Winter to Summer Gain McCollum and Gill