We recently went to some Continuing Education on Nutrition for Beef Cattle and here are some highlights. We gained familiarity with the COWculator software, reviewing hay results and talked a lot about cows.

We believe that nutrition is the foundation of health, from reproductive performance to colostrum production to immunity.


Needed daily by the cow:

  • Water
  • Energy
  • Protein
  • Mineral
  • Shelter
  • Identify supplementation need: Feed costs on average are 40% of total operating costs in a cow-calf operation.
  • Determine the nutrient requirement for the appropriate stage of production.
  • Estimate the amount of nutrients cows will be receiving from forage.
  • Subtract the 1 and 2 and determine if there is an excess or deficiency?
  • Evaluate supplement options.
  • When feeding hay, we recommend having the hay analyzed for nutrient concentration. These tests can range from $20-$100 and can save thousands in feed costs. This will help guide supplementation choices.
  • Harvest times can greatly impact nutrient value
  • Sometimes the nutrient value is so low that the cow physically cannot consume enough hay to meet her requirements.
  • Weigh your hay bales
  • This is important for calculating pounds to feed per day.


Body Condition Score your cattle:

  • Key time for BCS scoring: Brown- off, Weaning, and Calving.
  • Have someone else come and BCS your cows. You see your cows daily.
  • Body Condition Score cattle by age group.
  • Body condition score them at the same time of day.
  • Body condition score chart can be found at Virginia Extension Cooperative.
  • The ideal BCS for an adult cow is 5 and for a first calf heifer is 6.
  • What are some body condition score stressors:
  • Physiological Stress
  • Fetal growth
  • Parturition
  • Lactation
  • Uterine healing
  • Breed back
  • See graph and correlation to BCS from UM Extension.
  • Environmental Stressors
  • Weather
  • Hay and or grass quality?
  • Energy and protein supplements?

If cows and heifers are below Body Condition:

  • In the Fall when calves are weaned/ end of first/second trimester / preg check time is the most cost-effective time to add weight to cows and prepare them for calving.
  • The fetus does 80% of its growth in the last trimester (3 months prior to calving) this is the hardest and most expensive time to try and up that BCS.

Weigh your cattle:
The average cow weight today is 1380 pounds.

Management considerations:

  • Separate the first calf heifers from the mature cows before the last trimester.
  • First calf heifers cannot compete with mature cows.
  • Mature cows will push them off the good hay.
  • Mature cows will overeat and do eat faster.
  • First calf heifers have more challenges
  • Still growing themselves
  • Growing a fetus at the same time
  • Limited stomach space as the fetus grows
  • They will loss BCS because they are being pushed off the better-quality feed.
  • Example, if you are feeding 250 hd, 140 head of first calf heifers and 110 hd of mature cows, 6 bales. Based off cow weight, bale weight and hay results and feeding 2% of their body weight per day, they receive the following.
  • 2 high quality alfalfa
  • 2 CRP bales
  • 2 Barley bales
  • All in one group
  • The first calf heifers are going to be eating the CRP and barley hay while the older cows dominate the Alfalfa.
  • Two separate groups
  • Recommended
  • You will still feed the same amount of hay but in two separate groups to allow the heifers to meet their requirements.

CowPieography:

  • This is one of my favorites!
  • What do the cow pies looks like?
  • Are they stacked high indicating slow digestion and poorer quality forage?
  • Are they too loose indicating too much protein?

Salt and Mineral:

  • Proper mineral and vitamin nutrition contributes to a strong immune system, calf health, and reproductive performance.
  • Mineral needs vary on soil type, antagonism, and are area specific
  • Almost all forages require salt supplementation
  • Spring pasture may require higher magnesium
  • Summer pasture may require higher phosphorus
  • Biggest challenge in our area is copper deficiency

If you have any questions or want to review your feeding and mineral program, please give us a call. Happy New Year!