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Beef Cattle Nutrition
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A mineral supplementation program should simple, economical, and meet the needs of the cow herd as they change from one phase of production to another, and as they change diets (grazed pastures to harvested forages). These kinds of strategies have a good chance of being implemented. Calcium and P are probably the two minerals that most cow/calf producers should focus on especially when feeding harvested forages and before and during the breeding season. Phosphorus is...
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Choosing from the array of feedstuffs available for feeding and developing bulls can be challenging for many beef cattle producers. The feed industry, popular press, and other cattlemen often offer conflicting advice about feedstuffs or their ingredients. Questions arise about the utilization of specific feeds, anti-quality components of some feeds, and the mineral program that is best. In the final analysis, however, there is no single perfect feedstuff for feeding bulls and all feedstuff...
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Most of the forage grown in Alberta is deficient in several trace minerals. These minerals are so named because they are required in minute or trace amounts. Table I shows the average trace mineral content in some common Alberta grown feedstuffs. The majority of the forages we grow do not contain enough copper, zinc, selenium or manganese to meet the requirements of beef cattle. Trace Elements of Most Concern in...
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High energy feed such as grain corn is most often used in finishing diets, however, other feeds general in combination with corn, or corn products, can also be used. The key is to ensure the ration is balanced to achieve your target rate of gain. Many feedlot operators aim for a gain of 100 lbs./month or an average daily gain of 3 lbs. or better per animal. Listed below are a few sample feedlot rations to review.
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What is vitamin E? Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is required for animal growth, to maintain immune function, animal health, and prevent muscular dystrophy in young calves. Do feeds have adequate amounts of vitamin E? Current research indicates that stored feeds do not contain adequate amounts of vitamin E to meet the animals' requirements. Supplemental vitamin E is required in all rations that contain dry hay,...
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Beef cattle producers in the Western US and Canada compete at an economic disadvantage relative to other regions in North America due to high winter feed costs. Many producers currently feed 1.5 to 2.5 tons of hay to their mature cows during the winter feeding period. This represents costs of 30 to 50% of the gross revenues from the production of one cow per year. Obviously, our ability to compete with other regions of North America may relate to how effective we can reduce winter feed...
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Costs have skyrocketed in most areas of cattle production. One of the big "sticker shock" areas is mineral costs. Feeding a free-choice mineral product at the high end of the cost scale can result in an annual mineral cost that may represent 10% of the value of a calf. The obvious question is whether decreasing mineral costs will have significant effects on production or health.
The choices for mineral supplementation fit into the following major categories, in...
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Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) has sparked broad interest in recent years for reducing cholesterol and risk of certain cancers. In 2000 a study was conducted at the Lethbridge Research Center, in collaboration with Dr. Randall Weselake at the University of Lethbridge. It was one of the first studies to show that levels of this valuable fatty acid can be dramatically increased in the meat component of ruminants. The research found that feeding vegetable oil high in linoleic acid,...
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Producers are always encouraged to have their beef cow feed programs set well in advance of the winter. This is even more important when planning through a challenging time, one that may require extra feed for extra animals due to volatile or weak markets. In times of high feed prices, planning can also help producers manage and potentially reduce overall winter feed costs.
Ration Options This factsheet looks at five...
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Cattle feeding costs are high. Since feed costs can account for 80% of the variable cost of production (about 60% of the total costs), any changes to ration cost can have a huge impact on profitability. This being the case, you need to make sure that you’re feeding the most economical ration that you can. Here are some tips to help you get the best value out of your feeding program. Protein Levels: Overfeeding protein will cost...
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Producers need options for wintering their cattle herds when fibre is in short supply. Feeding cows limited dry matter intake (DMI) rations may be one answer for Alberta's beef cattle herd. U.S research shows that feeding reduced dry matter intake (DMI) rations with corn grain for the beef cow is a possible option to help winter the Alberta cattle herd. The U.S findings are very positive but, Alberta Agriculture wanted to see if these U.S. findings would hold true under Alberta...
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The use of adequate, well-balanced diets can maximize profits - or minimize losses - in a feeding program. An animal's diet must contain the essential nutrients in appropriate amounts and ratios. This paper outlines the nutrients which are basic to good cattle nutrition, and how well Alberta feeds succeed in supplying these nutrients. However, to better understand how feeds are used it is important to understand the digestion process in animals. Digestive systems - In the...
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Forage dry matter intake by mature cows usually decreases during the final 4 to 8 weeks of gestation and then increases dramatically during the first 4 to 8 weeks of lactation. Rapid fetal growth during late pregnancy causes a physical impingement of the rumen. This reduction in ruminal capacity can cause prepartum reduction in forage intake. The rumen recovers its normal volume after calving. The increase in forage intake typical of the postpartum period is driven by milk production. Little...
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One of the best methods to reduce feed costs is through the use of feed additives. Their primary effects are to improve feed efficiency and/or daily gain. Some feed additives have secondary benefits which include reducing the incidence of acidosis, coccidiosis, and grain bloat, while others suppress estrus, reduce liver abscesses, or control foot rot problems. Feed additives can be divided into five general categories: 1) ionophores; 2) antibiotics; 3) estrus suppressants; 4) buffers;...
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High availability in the southern USA has generated much interest in the use of whole cottonseed as a feed ingredient for beef cattle rations. Whole cottonseed is high in energy (TDN), protein, phosphorus, and fiber. The high TDN is mainly due to the high oil/fat content of the whole cottonseed. Composition of whole cottonseed is presented in table 1. Be aware that the nutrient concentrations given in the table are average values and it is strongly suggested that the available source of...
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Ruminally cannulated steers were used in two experiments to study effects of rumen ammonia load on methionine and leucine utilization. All steers were limit-fed a diet based on soybean hulls, received ruminal infusions of volatile fatty acids and abomasal infusions of glucose to provide energy, and received an abomasal infusion containing a mixture of all essential amino acids except methionine in Exp. 1 or leucine in Exp. 2. Treatments were arranged as 3 × 2 factorials and included urea...
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With the current high costs for feed, fuel, and fertilizer, there is a renewed emphasis on utilizing low-cost feedstuffs to put weight on calves. Feedlot operators are looking to place heavier cattle on feed to shorten the finishing period, so it is left to cow/calf producers and backgrounders to determine the best way to put extra pounds on calves prior to entry into the feedlot. In a recent Minnesota Farm Guide article, Dr. Ryon Walker of the U of M Beef Team detailed backgrounding...
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This is an excellent time of year to make sure that your mineral-vitamin program is on target. Adequate mineral-vitamin nutrition is vital in optimizing animal growth, lactation, reproductive function and immune response. As Figure 1 illustrates, clinical sins of mineral deficiencies may only be obvious after the mineral status of an animal has dropped below threshold levels that may have affected response to vaccination, immunity to disease and parasite challenges, growth and...
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Corn gluten feed (CGF) is a co-product from the wet-corn milling industry that manufactures starch, sweeteners, syrup, and oil from corn (Weigel et al). Corn gluten feed is readily available in the southeastern USA and its price has been favorable when compared to other feeds. Corn gluten feed is a good feed for beef cattle; however, producers should be aware of some potential problems with this feedstuff. Utilizing Corn Gluten...
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After salt and supplementation of magnesium oxide in grass tetany areas, mineral supplementation programs can vary. Soils mineral profiles impact mineral profile in the forage and therefore impact the minerals that need supplemented. Also, forage maturity impact mineral composition. The 1996 NRC for Beef Cattle suggests there are at least 17 minerals required by beef cattle. There are minerals that interact with one-another and therefore impact their utilization and these need to be factored...
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