What am I going to Feed my Cattle?

1. What am I going to Feed my Cattle? Mark L. Wahlberg Extension Animal Scientist Virginia Tech

2. So, What happens when it looks like this?

3. Situation for many producers • Hay crop was short, so supply is low • Pasture burned up in summer • Hay was fed, so supply even lower • Cows have been culled down to the “keepers” already • Grass is growing again, but days are getting shorter • Hay is very expensive to buy

4. If this is your farm, you can stop listening now

5. Strategies to Consider • Get more hay • Reduce cattle numbers • Increase grazing before next spring • Substitute other feeds for hay

6. Reasons to cull Reproductive Physical Soundness Productivity Disposition Health Status Benefit of Reducing Match cattle to feed supply Stretch Available Feed Elevate quality of the herd Simplify Management Strategies to ConsiderReduce cattle numbers

7. Strategies to Consider Increase grazing before next spring • REDUCE HAY NEEDS • Stockpile fall pasture • Move cattle to another farm with pasture/hay/crop field • Plant winter annuals or small grains • Encourage early growth for next March/April

8. Strategies to Consider Substitute other feeds for hay • Cows are good Condition Score • Grain + Limit-Fed Hay or Silage • Corn, Barley, Corn Gluten Feed, Soy Hulls, commodity-based manufactured feeds • Cows are Thin and need to Gain Wt • Grain + Self-Fed Hay or Pasture • Same grains as above, just different proportions Other Feeds include Broiler Litter, Gin Trash, Horticultural byproducts

9. Table 2. Nutrient Value of Selected Byproduct Feeds and Grains (Values in this table are expressed on a Dry Matter Basis)

10. Corn Gluten Feed Dry Distillers Wheat Midds

11. Soy Hulls Brewers Grains

12. Relative Feed Value, $/Ton

13. Problems with the Byproducts • Availability (Distillers) • Intake/Palatability (CGF) • Ca:P (all except Soy Hulls) • Lower Protein (Soy Hulls) • Handling/Physical Form (Any that is not pelleted) • Variability in Nutrient Content

14. Advantages of the Byproducts • Most have more protein than is contained in corn, so when used to meet energy need, protein is automatically taken care of (Soy Hulls excepted) • Already been processed, so no grinding needed. • Often available in pellet form

15. Limit Hay + Grain • Cows need a minimum amount of fiber per day – equal to ½% of their body weight in hay • Energy (TDN) is the focal point • Hay TDN = 48% to 65% TDN (DM) • Grain = 75% to 90% TDN (DM) • 1 pound of grain = 1.3 to 1.9 pounds hay • Normal hay intake = 21 to 27 lbs of DM (This is 23 to 30 pounds of hay)

16. Feeding the 1200 pound Dry CowEqual Energy Intake • All the hay/pasture she’ll eat (24 pounds of dry matter) (This is 26 ¾ as fed) • 19 pounds hay (DM) (Hay = 58% TDN) This is 21 as fed • 5 pounds grain + 12 pounds of hay DM This is 5 ½ and 13.3 pounds as fed • 10 pounds grain + 6 pounds of hay DM This is 11 and 6 ¾ as fed ***Note that above amounts do not allow for any feed refusal or waste***

17. Feeding the 1200 pound Cowafter Calving - Equal Energy Intake • All the hay/pasture she’ll eat (28 pounds of dry matter) (This is 31 as fed) • 5 pounds of grain + 21 pounds hay (DM) This is 5 ½ and 23.3 pounds as fed • 10 pounds grain + 14 pounds hay (DM) This is 11 and 14.5 pounds as fed • 15.5 pounds grain+ 6 pounds hay (DM) This is 17.2 and 6.7 pounds as fed Note that no feed wastage is included!!!

18. Manage for Proper BCS at Calving 4 6 5 3

19. High Grain Requires a Different Mineral • High Grain = High Phosphorous, low Calcium • Normal Cow minerals have both in a 2:1 ratio • With high grain, you need more Calcium, and less Phosphorous • Find a mineral that is closer to 20% Ca than 10% Ca

20. Other Supplements or Additives • Rumensin is approved for beef cows, heifers, stockers, and feedlot cattle • 200 mg / hd / day improves feed efficiency by about 10% • This saves 10% of your feed • Bovatec is approved for all of above except cows • 200 mg / hd / day is effective rate for growing cattle

21. Manufactured or Custom Feeds • Figure feeding rate per head per day • Add Limestone for Calcium • Add Rumensin for feed efficiency (200 mg / hd / day) • If formulated properly, same feed may be used for cows as well as young growing cattle.

22. What about my Calves? • Feedlot Areas have abundant feed • Cattle ready for the feedlot are very valuable • Do as good a job as you can using recommended growing programs, such as VQA

23. Poultry Litter Nutrient Content • Dry Matter 75 to 80% • Crude Protein 20 to 30% • (approx 1/2 is NPN) • TDN 45 to 55% • Fiber is high from the bedding • Calcium 1.6 to 2.0% • Phosphorous 1.2 to 1.6%

26. Sources of Broiler Litter • Poultry Hot Line – Becky Barlow (540) 248-6080, 1-800-418-0768 E-mail: rebecca.barlow@rcdnet.net • Brokers – Harrisonburg Area • Dennis StoneburnerGlen Hill Farm8223 Simmers Valley RoadHarrisonburg, VA 22802 Phone: (540) 833-5509Cell: (540) 820-3838Email: stoneburner2004@msn.com

27. Price and Availability • Litter is being spread now for fall fertilizer • Supply is tight – fertilizer, cleanout of houses, new batches of birds • Price = ??? I heard $18 per ton FOB Harrisonburg from broker • May be incentive for transport out of Hburg area beginning October • Make the calls, line up your source now.