Beef Cattle Nutrition (PART I)

1. Beef Cattle Nutrition (PART I) ANSC 406

2. The Different Feeding Systems FEEDER CALVES VAC-45 COW/CALF DIFFERING BREED TYPE/ ENVIRONMENT FEEDLOT

3. What to Feed and How to Feed PASTURE NATIVE/IMPROVED FEED MILL HAY FIELD

4. The Nature of Beef Cattle Diets • Dependant upon: *The class and type of animal *Your objectives for the animal *Ingredients available to you *Mixing and delivery capabilities

5. Pasture not Available? • A legume or other high quality hay plus minerals • Corn silage at 20 lb per day, plus mineral • Complete diets from a bag are very good, but rarely economical.

6. Rule of Thumb • When do cows need protein supplementation? The general rule of thumb is that protein supplementation should occur when protein levels of forage fall below 7%.

7. Supplementation for Beef Cows • Protein supplements often include CSM and can be in the form of: • Range Cubes • Meal • Liquid • Solids • High quality hay/roughage

8. Supplementation for Beef Cows PROTIEN SUPPLEMENT MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS ROUGHAGE

9. Diets for Beef Cows • Do cows require daily protein supplementation? • No, 2-3 days per week is adequate • Protein supplementation stimulates the intake of low quality forage: • Nitrogen from protein increases microbial population in the rumen • Increased microbes = increased digestion = increased intake

10. Diets for Beef Cows • Calculation Example: • Cow Weight = 1200 lb • Forage consumption at 2% of BW • 1200 lb * .02 = 24 lb/day • From NRC tables you determine your forage is 6% CP • So, CP Intake = 24 lb *.06 = 1.44 lb/day • From NRC table, your cows need 1.88 lb of CP/day

11. Diets for Beef Cows • Calculate Protein Deficiency • 1.88 – 1.44 = .36 lb deficient • Calculate how much protein is required to supply .36 lb per head per day: • If CSM is 41% CP, the calculation is: • .41 * ? Lb CSM = .36 lb • .36/.41 = .88 lb of CSM per head per day

12. Diets for Growing Bulls

13. Diets for Growing Bulls • Objectives for growing bulls: • Feed to obtain about half of their mature weight by 14 – 15 months of age. • Young bulls should gain 2.5 – 3.0 lb per day from weaning to 15 months of age.

14. Diets for Growing Bulls • 40 – 60% concentrate complete mixed free choice diet • A limit fed high concentrate diet • A diet of approximately 20 lb of good quality hay plus 5-7 lb of corn can be used in a less intensive situation • From 15 months to about 3 years of age, bulls should be fed to gain 2 lb per day

15. Diets for Developing Heifers

16. Diets for Developing Heifers • Heifers should be at 65% of mature body weight at 15 months of age • Mature pasture in adequate quantity • Probably need 1 lb per head per day of a 32% CP supp. plus free choice mineral • Limited forage quantity • 2-3 lb of corn, 1 lb of a 32% CP supp and mineral

17. Diets Differ • Formulating diets for beef cows differ greatly from feedlot cattle, weaned calves etc.. • One must make the assumption about nutrient intake from grazing and then supplement to supply the deficit.