beef cattle nutrition

• Body condition scores of 1, 5, and 9

Beef Cow/Calf Producers

• Cows

  • Dry, pregnant

  • Lactating beef cows

• Weaned calves

  • Replacement heifers

  • Feeders calves

    • Sell at weaning

    • Wintering for cheap gains

    • Preconditioning (vaccinations, bunk-broke, etc)

  • Feedlot cattle

    • Growing

    • Finishing

Beef Cow Rations

• Forage based

  • Pasture

  • Corn silage

  • Hays

    • Legumes

    • Grass

    • Grass – legume mixes

  • Crop residue

    • Cornstalks

    • Soybean hay

    • Peanut vine hay

Beef Cow Rations

• Typically use TDN values for energy measurement or can use ME to evaluate ration energy

• CP supplied by forage with some SBM and NPN

• Minerals and vitamins are fed free-choice

Beef Cow Ration (Dry, Pregnant)

• DMI = 1.5-2.5% BW

• TDN = 50-65%: >8-13 lb/day

• CP = 7-9%; >1.1-1.7 lb/day

• Corn silage: CP=8%, TDN=70%

• Grass hay: CP=9-11%, TDN=57%

• Pasture: CP=10-15%, TDN=66%

• Corn stalks: CP=6%, TDN=50%

Beef Cow Ration (Lactating)

• DMI = 2.0-3.5% BW

• TDN = 55-68%; >10.5-16 lb/day

• CP = 9.5-12.5%; >1.8-2.9 lb/day

• Corn grain: CP=10%, TDN=89%

• SBM: CP=44%, TDN=84%

• Corn gluten: CP=22%, TDN=80%

Seasonal Feeding of Beef Cows

• Spring:

  • Forages = pasture, corn silage, hay

  • Energy = if needed: corn, gluten, oats, barley

  • Protein = if needed: SBM, urea

  • Mineral = free-choice

    • 2:1 Ca:P

    • High Mg

  • Cattle are susceptible to grass tetany:

    • Muscle tremors, lack of Mg (?)

• Summer:

  • Forages = pasture, hay (if drought exists)

  • Energy = pasture

  • Protein = pasture

  • Mineral = free-choice

    • 2:1 Ca:P

• Fall:

  • Forages = stockpiled pasture, hay, crop residue, small grains, corn silage (when  needed)

  • Energy = forages

  • Protein = forages

  • Mineral = free-choice

    • 2:1 Ca:P

    • High Mg early

• Winter:

  • Forages = corn silage, hay, crop residue

  • Energy = corn, gluten, oats, barley

  • Protein = SBM, NPN

  • Mineral = free-choice

    • 2:1 Ca:P

  • “Cold stress”

    • 18^oF – lower critical temperature (T_LC)

    • Rule of thumb: “for every 1^o below T_LC, increase the feed 1%”

      • Example: 0^oF = 18% increase

Nursing Calves

• Calf needs met by cow’s milk

• Supplemental feeds

  • Pasture

  • Creep grazing

  • Creep feeding

    • Grain mix at 18% CP

      • 85% grain (corn, oats, barley)

      • 10% SBM (protein supplements)

      • 5% molasses

Heifer Replacements

• Goal:

  • Breeding size and weight: 15 months

•  Weaning – breeding:

  • ADG: 1.1-1.7 lb/d

  • From 500 to 750 lbs

• Breeding-calving:

  • ADG: 1.00-1.25 lb/d

  • Calving weight: 750-1100 lbs

• TDN: 55-60%; 5.3-7.2 lb TDN/day

• CP: 12-14%; 1.1-1.3 lb CP/day

• Forages: corn silage, pasture, hay

• Supplemental energy and protein: grain and SBM

• Mineral and vitamins:

  • Free-choice

  • Force-fed with grain mix

Feedlot Cattle Nutrition (Fed Cattle)

Feeder Cattle

• Backgrounding systems

  • Wintering (stockers)

    • Fed to gain 0.5-1.5 lb/d

    • Stockpiled fescue pasture, crop residues, or hay

    • Go to feedlot at 600-750 lbs

  • Preconditioning

    • Vaccination, nutrition, and management program

    • Minimal gains on highly palatable feeds

    • Lasts 30-45 days

      • Bunk-broke, fountain waterers

Feedlot Cattle Nutrition

• Phase systems

  • Growing-finishing program

    • Grow calves (450-750 lbs) with ADG 1.8-2.3 lb/d

      • Goal: growth, not fattening

    • Finish calves (750-market weight) with ADG 3.0-4.0 lb/d

  • Finishing program

    • Heavy feeder cattle (yearlings) to finish weights (750-1550 lbs)

  • 90% concentrate diets

  • Highest NE_m and NE_g

Growing Phase

• TMR-type rations

  • Corn silage or equivalent

  • Grain

  • Protein – natural form

    • 12-14% CP

  • Vitamins and minerals

Finishing Phase

• TMR-type rations

  • Corn silage

  • Grain

  • Protein

    • 9-12%

    • Urea an option

  • Vitamins and minerals

Growing-Finishing Phase

• Additives

  • Monensin (rumensin)

  • Lasalocid sodium (bovatec)

    • Improves F/G (feed efficiency)

    • Reduces feedlot bloat

    • Reduces rumen acidosis

    • 200-350 mg/d

  • Tylosin (tylan)

  • MGA to heifers (melengestrol acetate)

  • Beta-agonists

• Implants

  • Hormone combinations

  • Increases ADG 10-15%

  • F/G improved

  • Lowers carcass fat

    • Marbling reduced

    • Lower quality grades