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Alternative Feeding Strategies For Cows And Calves Due To
Drought-Related Forage Shortages
7/23/2002
Ron F. Meyer
Area Extension Agent
(Agronomy)
Colorado State University Extension
Golden Plains
Area |
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This paper concentrates on early-weaned calves and feeding
high-grain rations to cows to survive the drought. Let’s look at some of
the key questions being asked by cattlemen and review what information is
available.
1. Should I consider alternative feeding systems or simply
sell the cows?
That’s a decision many cattlemen have been
wrestling with the last two to three months. Some have already made the
decision to liquidate cows, while others have sought out grass in neighboring
states. Sill others are feeding hay or grain to stretch sparse pastures. Pond
water is low or dried up in many areas. The reasonably strong cull cow market
has made it attractive to liquidate some of the cows, alleviating some grazing
pressure.
The hard part of selling cows is that many producers have made
great progress in improving the genetics of their cow herds. Liquidating the
cow herd at this time is an extremely hard alternative to accept. Before a
final decision is made, take a strong look at the economics of some of the
following alternative feeding programs. For those producers eligible for
drought disaster support through the emergency feed assistance program, some
very reasonable grain feeding programs can be put together to maintain cow
herds.
The kind of drought conditions we’ve faced make these
decisions difficult, but it’s also important to keep in mind that at some
point in time, it will rain. Producers need to be in a position to take
advantage of the economic opportunities in the cattle industry down the
road.
2. In many cases, cow/calf pairs now being sold are split and
sold separately. Should I keep the calves?
Reports indicate that
many early-weaned calves are selling for $250 to $350. One alternative that
producers might consider is to sell some cows and retain the calves, which have
a considerably lower daily feed requirement. Early-weaned calves perform
extremely well and since many of these calves are already weighing 200 pounds,
it’s important to keep in mind that the price being received for these
calves is in the range of 90¢ to $1.25 a pound. Since these calves are
very efficient converters of feed to gain, there may be some excellent profit
potential in feeding the calves until normal weaning time.
If only a
portion of the calves are kept, an option would be to keep the heifers with the
intent that these would become future cow replacements in the operation. This
allows a producer to take advantage of the genetic progress that has occurred
without having to restock the operation with cattle of possibly lower genetic
potential.
3. Why early wean beef calves?
Early weaning of
beef calves has several attributes that make it very practical, particularly
when feed resources are limited. First, it reduces the nutritional requirements
of the cow by approximately 40%. Secondly, it is more efficient to feed the
calf directly than to supply extra feed to the cow so that she will provide
adequate nutrition for the calf. Thirdly, removing the nutritional strain of
nursing the calf will greatly improve rebreeding. Research trials indicate that
rebreeding will be improved by 10-25%. Additionally, cows should breed much
earlier in the breeding season resulting in heavier calves next
year.
4. How early can calves be weaned?
As evidenced by
the common practice of weaning at birth in the dairy industry, calves can be
weaned at any age. However, the earlier they are weaned, the greater the
potential for problems. A logical time to wean is near the start of the
breeding season when the calves are 45-80 days old, in order to take advantage
of improved rebreeding. It may be wise to delay weaning of late-born calves
which may be only a few days old at the start of the breeding
season.
5. How will early-weaned calves perform?
A review of
research on early weaning indicates that with good management early-weaned
calves will weigh the same or heavier in the fall than calves that are weaned
at the normal time. This is logical when one considers that after the
early-weaned calves recover from the initial stress of weaning, they usually
have access to better nutrition than their mates still on the cow, particularly
late in the grazing season. Early-weaned calves are very efficient feed
converters, generally requiring only 4 to 6 lbs. of feed per lb. of gain.
Table 1 shows the average daily gain of calves either early-weaned,
creep fed or not creep fed.
|
Table 1. Average Daily Gain of Calves
in a Kansas State University trial evaluating early weaning, creep feeding or
non-creep feeding of drylotted cows. |
|
Breed Type |
Not Creep Fed |
Early-weaned |
Creep Fed |
| |
(lbs./day) |
|
Commercial |
1.00 |
2.41 |
2.35 |
|
Simmental |
1.17 |
2.77 |
2.59 |
6. How should
early-weaned calves be managed?
Based on numerous research trials, the
following management practices should reduce problems and result in good
performance in early-weaned calves:
1. Reduce stress on the calves as
much as possible by:
- Offering a highly palatable creep feed for a couple of
weeks before weaning.
- Keeping pen size small at weaning to reduce fence
walking. However, very close confinement may increase health problems.
- Sorting calves into separate pens based on size and
age.
- Reducing dust in the pens by spreading straw or "watering
down" the pen frequently.
- Providing adequate air movement – don’t confine
early-weaned calves in a closed building.
- Making sure that clean water is available at all times.
Early-weaned calves may not have learned to drink water, which may necessitate
providing running water to attract them until they learn to drink.
- Penning calves out of sight and hearing range of their
mothers.
2. Provide a high quality,
very palatable ration and manage the feeding system to maximize intake
by:
- Providing adequate bunk space.
- Placing bunks or self feeders so that calves will run
into them as they "walk the fence" looking for their mothers.
- Placing newly weaned calves with a few older calves that
know how to eat from bunks.
- Minimizing dust in the ration by coarsely processing
grains and using wet molasses.
7. What type of ration
works best with early-weaned calves?
Since an early-weaned calf
doesn’t have a fully functional rumen, it should be treated initially as a
monogastric and fed a high concentrate ration. Again, ration palatability is of
the utmost importance. Rations used at weaning should meet the following
criteria.
|
Table 2. Nutrient requirements of 2- to
6-month-old beef calves. |
|
Nutrient |
Level in Ration |
| |
% |
|
Crude Protein |
16 |
|
TDN |
70 |
|
Calcium |
0.50 |
|
Phosphorus |
0.35 |
|
Trace Mineralized Salt |
0.50 |
|
Vitamin A |
2000IU/lb. |
Additionally, roughage
content (preferably high quality ground alfalfa hay, dehydrated alfalfa or
sun-cured pellets) of the milled ration should be restricted to 20% initially,
and 5% wet or dry molasses added to improve palatability. In some cases, free
choice roughage may be offered along with the concentrate ration, especially
during the first few days after weaning. This roughage especially during the
first few days after weaning. This roughage should be either alfalfa, brome or
other high quality hay.
After the calves are readily consuming the
ration, the protein level can be reduced to 15%. Additionally, the percentage
of roughage can be increased to reduce the possibility of excess condition on
the calves. This may be particularly desirable on heifers that may be retained
for replacements.
8. What are some typical rations for early-weaned
calves?
The rations in Table 3 have been used in early weaning
research trials and are provided as examples. These diets illustrate that a
variety of feedstuffs can be used with early-weaned calves depending on local
supply and cost, so long as the mixture is highly nutritious and palatable. In
general, the milled ration will contain 60-70% grain, 10-20% roughage and
protein, vitamin and mineral supplements. Many commercial creep and starter
feeds will meet these specifications.
|
Table 3. Example rations for
early-weaned beef calves*. |
|
|
Ration |
|
Ingredient |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| |
(% of Ration) |
|
Corn |
37 |
50 |
|
64 |
56.5 |
50 |
|
Oats |
27 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
Milo |
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
Soybean Meal, 44% CP |
15 |
20 |
4.5 |
20 |
17 |
12 |
|
Wheat Bran |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alfalfa Hay, ground |
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
|
|
Dehy Alfalfa Pellets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cottonseed Hulls |
5 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
33 |
|
Molasses |
5 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Trace Mineral Salt |
0.5 |
|
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Dicalcium Phosphate |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limestone |
|
|
|
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Pre-Mix |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
Potassium Chloride |
|
|
|
|
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
* Source of Rations
- Used in Missouri early weaning trials.
- Used in Iowa trials with access to alfalfa and/or
brome hay plus equal parts of trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate.
- Used in Kansas trials. Pre-mix contained 77%
rolled milo, 10% trace minerals, 6% Aurofac-10, and 6.7% Vitamin A premix.
- Used as a starter in Oklahoma, trials with 1 lb. of
Vitamin A (30,000 IU/gm) and l lb. of Deccox pre- mix added per ton of feed;
fed for 14 days.
- Used in Oklahoma research after starter ration;
Deccox pre-mix reduced to 0.8 lb/ton; fed from 14 days to 6 weeks after
weaning.
- Used in Oklahoma research after 6 weeks
postweaning; Vitamin A reduced to 0.5 lb/ton.
Other typical rations for early-weaned calves can
be found in the Great Plains Beef Cattle Handbook fact sheet GPE-1670 available
from your local extension office. |
9. What type of health
program should be used on early-weaned calves?
Since early-weaned calves
are usually too young to develop strong immunity through vaccination, the key
to preventing health problems is providing a clean environment and adequate
nutrition. However, they should receive a 7-way Blackleg vaccination to prevent
enterotoxemia which can occur with high-grain feeding. Consult your local
veterinarian for his suggestions on other vaccines and medications. Routine
management chores like castrating, dehorning and vaccinating should be done
well in advance of early weaning rather than further stressing the calves at
weaning time.
Observe the calves closely, especially during the first
couple of weeks, so that any scouring or other health problems can be treated
immediately.
10. Should an antibiotic be included in the ration for
early-weaned calves?
The addition of 20 to 30 mg Aureomycin or
Terramycin per pound of feed is an excellent way to reduce health problems and
improve performance of early-weaned calves.
11. We traditionally run
cows on grass. One of the alternatives this year appears to be high grain, low
roughage diets for maintaining cows. Can we maintain cows on this type of
ration? Definitely.
In many cases, the best alternative for cow/calf
producers is to utilize a limit-fed, high grain diet fed in drylot or
semi-confinement. The most expensive nutrient for a cow is energy (TDN). The
following table indicates the nutritional requirements and typical rations for
beef cows—either a fall or spring calving cow where the calf has been
weaned or a lactating cow producing 14 to 16 pounds of milk per day (calves
should be creep-fed). The initial reaction of many people evaluating these
diets is that cows will not survive on that small amount of feed. But,
it’s important to keep in mind that grain is a very concentrated energy
source with 10 pounds of grain supplying the energy equivalent of 15-20 pounds
of hay.
Cows should be slowly adapted to high feeding, just like feedlot
cattle. A suggested practice is to begin with 2 to 3 pounds on whole shelled
corn per head and free-choice roughage. Then, increase the grain by 1 pound per
day, and reduce the hay by 2 pounds each day, until the final ration is
attained. Make sure plenty of bunk space is provided so all cows can eat at the
same time. Once the cows are switched over to the limit-fed, grain-based
ration, observe their body condition (fleshiness) over time and adjust the
grain as needed to maintain adequate condition.
Obviously, the rations
shown in Table 4 represent fairly high levels of grain feeding in order
to minimize the amount of scarce forage used. However, the proportions of grain
and roughage can be used depending on the forage supply, so long as the ration
is formulated to meet the cow’s nutrient requirements.
|
Table 4. Possible high-grain rations
for dry and lactating cows. |
|
Dry Cows – 1,050
lbs.* |
Lactating Cows – 1,050
lbs.* |
|
1. Requirements:
TDN – 9.2 lbs.
Protein – 1.3 lbs.
Phosphorus – 16 grams
Calcium – 16 grams
Vitamin A – 25,000 IU |
1. Requirements
TDN – 13 lbs.
Protein – 2.3 lbs.
Phosphorus – 24 grams
Calcium – 32 grams
Vitamin A – 40,000 IU |
|
2. Possible Ration:
Corn – 10 lbs.
Hay** - 3 lbs.
Soybean Meal – 0.5 lbs.
Free Choice Mineral (high calcium type with Vitamin
A) |
2. Possible Ration:
Corn – 13 lbs.
Hay** - 4 lbs.
Soybean Meal – 2.0 lbs.
Free Choice Mineral (high calcium type with Vitamin
A) |
|
* For each 100 lbs. increase in body weight, increase
TDN by 0.7 lbs. and protein by 0.1 lbs. per day.
** Assumes average- to
poor-quality grass hay, or crop residues. If good alfalfa hay is fed, no
supplemental protein is needed by dry cows and lactating cows would need only
1.0 lbs. of soybean meal or equivalent. |
12. In formulating a cow
diet, could I use cheaper sources of protein like urea?
Traditionally,
we have not recommended the use of urea in beef cow rations because they are
ordinarily maintained on high forage diets which often lack sufficient energy
to allow efficient utilization of urea. Keep in mind, however that the feedlot
industry routinely uses urea as a predominant protein source.
The high
grain diets that might be used for cows are very similar to feedlot rations
(about 70-90% concentrate), which should allow the cow to utilize urea very
effectively. Note that only a small amount of supplemental protein is needed in
the dry cow diet when average to poor hay is fed, while the lactating cow
requires a considerable amount of supplemental protein. It would appear that
urea could be used very effectively in either case.
In making the
substitution, keep in mind that urea is a very concentrated source of nitrogen
with a crude protein equivalent of 282%. Thus, .10 pound of urea supplies the
same amount of protein (nitrogen) as approximately .6 lbs. of soybean meal. A
commercial "feedlot" supplement containing 50-70% of its protein from urea
could be used, and should be substantially cheaper than soybean
meal.
13. Will these grain diets require a change in mineral
supplementation?
Yes. Keep in mind that typical forage-based cow diets
are often deficient in phosphorus. In contrast, calcium becomes the limiting
mineral in feedlot diets because of the low calcium and high phosphorus content
of grains. In these high grain cow diets, a typical "feedlot" mineral mix with
a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 3 to 4:1 would work quite well. For example, a
mixture of equal parts limestone, dicalcium phosphate and trace mineralized
salt would produce an adequate free choice mineral containing about 20% calcium
and 6% phosphorus. Add about 300,000 IU of Vitamin A per pound of mineral mix
to satisfy this vitamin requirement.
14. In high grain rations, would
the inclusion of an ionophore such as Rumensin be economically
advantageous.
Rumensin was officially cleared for use with beef cows in
December, 1988. At the rate of about 200 mg per head daily, research indicates
that cows on a maintenance type program required about 10% less feed to
maintain themselves. In this year’s situation, that could be very
important economically. What about lactating cows? Unfortunately, little
research exists on feeding Rumensin to lactating beef cows. However, it appears
advantageous to include Rumensin since it will be fairly easy to feed and
should only cost about 1.5 to 2¢/head/day. Based on limited research
available, a small reduction in the amount of grain fed should be possible
without any reduction in performance when Rumensin is fed. Rumensin is also
beneficial in reducing acidosis and bloat, which can occur on high grain
rations.
15. Are there other alternatives that I need to be thinking
about?
One alternative that producers need to take a hard look at is
maximum utilization of whatever crop aftermath will be available this summer
and fall. Admittedly, with the wheat crop already lost or production greatly
reduced in many areas, the amount of wheat straw is going to be very limited.
However, if a producer has access to wheat straw, ammoniation of stra wmay be a
great way to maintain the cows exists on the use of ammoniated crop residue
showing that it is equal to native grass hay in feed value. As short as
producers are for feed, don’t overlook the excellent potential of crop
residues.
Also, this may be a good time to start looking around for
irrigated corn or milo stalk fields to contract for fall and winter grazing.
Maintaining the cows during the summer on a high grain diet as outlined above,
and then going to irrigated stalks might give producers an opportunity to
maintain their cowherd.
The two most logical forms of alternative feed
supplies are grains and crop residues. But, producers also might take advantage
of by-products form the grain and alcohol industries. Often these grain
by-products have excellent nutritional value and could work very nicely as a
cheaper source of energy. Light- weight grain, wheat midds, grain dust, grain
and oilseed screenings, brewery by-products, etc., could become very economical
feedstuffs for cows and calves.
Source: Tim L. Stanton, CSU Extension
Feed Specialist |
Page Created and Maintained by: Perry D. Brewer, Area
Extension Agent (Technology Education/Youth)
1/16/2003 |
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