Supplementation of Low Quality Forages

1. Norman Suverly WSU Okanogan County Extension Educator Supplementation of Low Quality Forages

2. Introduction • Forage = Beef • The ideal supplement should enhance, not inhibit the animal’s ability to digest forage • Supplement should complement forage quality

3. Basic Beef Nutrition Rumen Stomach (abomasum) Intestines

4. Protein Energy Rumen Function Feed Stomach and Intestines

5. Considerations when supplementing ruminants • Rumen microbes have nutrient requirements • If not met, rumen efficiency is decreased • Feed affects rumen microbes before it affects the animal

6. Examples of low-quality forage • Forages that fall below nutritional levels to provide the necessary animal requirements (<7% CP) • Wheat straw 3.6% CP • Barley straw 4.7% • Grass seed straws 4-12% • Dormant range 2-6%

7. Nutrient content of range forage Percent Influence of season on forage quality, Johnson et al., 1998, NDSU

8. Ruminal Protein Digestibility Percent % of Protein Influence of season on forage quality, Johnson et al., 1998, NDSU

9. Nutrient content of range forages – northern Great Basin Ganskopp and Bohnert 2001, OSU

10. Fiber portion of forage (NDF) Digestibility (TDN) Protein content and protein degradability Forage nutrient content varies with season

11. Energy Corn Wheat Oats Fat Molasses Protein Soybean meal Cottonseed meal Corn gluten meal Feather and blood meal Alfalfa Canola meal Distiller grains Non-protein nitrogen Energy vs. protein supplements

12. Soybean meal Cottonseed meal Corn Gluten meal Canola meal Urea (48% nitrogen) Biuret Type of Protein Supplement Natural Non-Protein Nitrogen • Slowly digested • Provide VFA’s • Quickly digested/dissolved • Provides only nitrogen

13. DIP and UIP of common protein sources

14. Tips for successful protein supplementation • Begin your supplementation before weight loss and body condition loss • Time supplements to facilitate grazing • Supplement form – consider what it is supplying and the cost • Self-feeding vs. hand-feeding • Mineral considerations • Ca, Mg, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Na

15. Price SBM supplement costs $290/ton and provides 40% CP Canola meal costs $160/ton and provides 35% CP SBM is $.15/ton (290/2000) and will cost $.38/lb of protein CM is $.08/ton (160/2000) and will cost $.25/lb of protein

16. H. H. Koster et al. (1996) Kansas State University Effect of Degradable Protein Supplements on Intake and Digestion of Low-Quality Forage by Beef Cows

17. Methods • Cows fed a diet of: • Low-quality forage • 5 levels of ruminally degradable protein • Measured diet digestion parameters

18. Forage Intake (g/kg BW.75) Degradable Protein (grams/day)

19. Forage Digestion (%) Degradable Protein (grams/day)

20. Total Diet Digestion (%) Degradable Protein (grams/day)

21. Implications • Supplementing ruminally degradable protein: • Improved digestion of low-quality forage by 15% • Increased forage intake by 55% • This represents an improvement of forage utilization by the animal

22. D. W. Sanson, D. C. Clanton and I. G. Rush (1990) University of Nebraska Performance of Cows on Native Range When Fed Protein or Corn Supplements

23. Methods • 135 cows grazing native Sandhills winter range • Supplement treatments: • Ear corn • Ear corn + protein supplement • Protein supplement

24. Weight Changes of Cows

25. Implications • Corn supplemented cows lost more weight than protein supplemented cows • Corn supplement decreased forage digestion and intake

26. Using TDN/CP Ratio for Supplement Selection

27. Considerations for using energy supplements • Grain vs. fermentable fiber • Supplementation with grain at 0.4% of BW • Fermentable fiber at .2 to .8 percent • If utilizing low quality forages, no more than 0.5% of body weight (5.5 lbs for 1100 lb cow)

28. Protein to energy ration

29. Using TDN/CP Ratios for Supplement Selection Forage TDN/CP Supplement > 7 Protein < 4 Energy

30. Nutrient requirements of cattle

31. Situation 1 • Forage supply is abundant and protein content of the native range is 5% or less • Should select adequate diet (6.5-7 percent) • Supplement with protein • .5 to 1 lbs/day; >30% • 55 to 70% DIP

32. Situation 2 • Forage supply is limited and protein content below 5 percent • Combination supplement of 20 to 30% CP • Should provide supplemental energy in form of fermentable fiber.

33. Situation 3 • Forage supply is unlimited and protein content of range is above 5 percent • Should select adequate diet (7% or greater) • No intervention needed for a dry cow.

34. Conclusion • Proper supplementation can improve forage digestion and animal performance • Provide supplements that complement forage • Use resources to help determine proper supplementation

35. References • DelCurto, T. and D. Bohnert. Fundamentals of Supplementing Low-Quality Forage. Cattle Producer’s Library. CL317. • Ganskopp D. and D. Bohnert. 2003. Mineral concentration dynamics of 7 northern Great Basin grasses. J. Range Manage. 56: 174-184. • Ganskopp, D. and D. Bohnert. 2001. Nutritional Dynamics of 7 northern Great Basin grasses. J. Range Manage 54:640-647. • Herd, D.B. 2003. Tips on Winter Supplementation of Beef Cattle. http://thecattlemanmagazine.com/issues/2003/1103/winterSupp.asp • Johnson et al. 1998. Influence of season on forage quality. North Dakota State University. • Koster, H.H. et al. 1996. Effect of Degradable Protein Supplements on Intake and Digestion of Low-Quality Forage by Beef Cows. Kansas State University. • Mathis, C.P. 2003. Protein and Energy Supplementation to Beef Cows Grazing New Mexico Rangelands. New Mexico State University, Circular 564. • Mount, D. Supplementing Feed to Grazing Cattle. PowerPoint presentation. http://www.wyorange.net/resources/mount/MountBasicsofSupplementationtoGrazingCattle.ppt • Sanson, D.W., D. C. Clanton and I. G. Rush. 1990. Performance of Cows on Native Range When Fed Protein or Corn Supplements. University of Nebraska.