beef cattle

energy requirement in beef cattle

net energy

protein requirement in beef cattle

metabolizable protein (microbial protein and RUP)

mineral requirements in beef cattle

need salt, ca:p, trace minerals, mg in early spring

vitamin requirements in beef cattle

neet fat-soluble, can synthesize b-vitamins with sufficient precursors (dont need b-vitamins)

cow/calf nutrition

begins at the selection of replacement heifers thugh breeding, calving, and weaning the suckline calf at apx. 6-10 months of age or 400-600 lbs

nutrients in beef cattle used for

maintenance and production

maintenance in beef cattle

physiological processes based on mature body weight, physical activity, temperature regulation

production in beef cattle

growth, gestation, lactation

feedstuff selection and quantity is usually driven by:

cost and managing body condition (native grasses, pasture, preserved forages)

sub-stages of beef cow nutrition

calving to breeding - about 90 days (highest nutrient requirement)
breeding to weaning - about 150 days
mid-gestation - about 90 days

pre calving - about 90 days

body condition scoring of beef cattle

scale 1(thin)-9(fat), aim for 5-6 (too fat or too thin causes delayed breeding)

nutrient requirement of calves used for

maintenance and production (only growth)

typical feedstuffs for calves

milk - majority of nutrients for first 2 months (colostrum contains essientials, must be consumed in first 6 hr)
supplement feedstuffs from 1 month to weaning supports growth

longterm impact on cow due to poor nutrition

dystocia (calving difficulty), delayed return to estrus, poor subsequent conception rate

longterm impact on calf due to poor nutrition

poor survivability, lower milk availability = light wening weight, poor muscle/fat deposition

grass tetany in beef cattle

mg deficiency, somtimes caused by high grass k preventing mg absorption

how to prevent grass tetany in beef cattle:

avoid grazing lush, fast-growing pastures, supply high mg mineral premix early in the spring, 30 d prior to grazing

fescue toxicosis in beef cattle

toxins are highest in late spring, symptoms are greated during hot weather (poor dauly gain, abortions, low calf weaning weight)

how to prevent fescue toxicosis

avoid fescue (or at least use endophyte free variety), dilute with clover or alfalfa

stocker/backgrounding nutrition

intermediary stage between weaning from calf/cow production and feedlot

goals of stocker/backgrounding nutrition

‘straighten out’ (group animals into marketing groups of consistent size, type and manage stress from weaning)

add value - optimize IOFC, upcycle low cost forages to protein (stocker) and maximize ADG and set up for feedlot (backgrounding)

stocker calf nutrition

weaned calves graze on native grass pastures with mineral supplement (target moderate growth rate (1.5-2lbs/d), upcycles low quality grasses to protein, goal is to grow frame and add muscle, not fatten)

backgrounding calf nutrition

weaned calves are fed growing ration (forage and concentrate) in drylot or semi-confinement (target growth rate (2-3 lbs/d) with more dietary energy, more control over nutrtion and health than stocker, adapts calves to grain, environment for feedlot transition)

risk managment in beef cattle nutrition

highly variable segment with narrow profit margins (high market volatility in feeder calf prices, variable growth performance, nutrition is one of fe4w controllable factors)

common nutritional disorders in stocker cattle

mineral defiendes (grass tetany), fescue toxicity, bloat, nitrate poisoning

common nutritional disorders in backgrounded cattle

acidosis, bloat, polioencephalomalacia (s toxicity or thiamine deficiency)

feedlot cattle goals

rapid and effcient growth without sacrificing health (maximize adg, optimize f/g, achieve desired yield grade and quality grade (intramuscular fat), maintain rumen health and well-being, lowest cost per unit of gain)

feedlot cattle nutrition

arrive at 975 lbs and fed to slaughter weight of 1500 lbs, takes 120-150 days; ADG = 3.5-4.4 lbs, fed a very high energy diet of grains and preserved forages, such as silage in drylot confinement

feedlot ration

85% grain (best relative energy value usually corn)
10% forage (best relative energy value, usually corn silage)
3% protein supplement (soybean meal, cottonseed meal, urea, DDGS)
1% minerals and vitamins (limestone, monocle p, vitamin premix)
less than 1% feed additives (monensin, tyrosine ,beta-agonists)

bloat in feedlot cattle

ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle

how to prevent bloat

how to prevent ruminal acidosis

step-up programs

liver abscesses in feedlot cattle

how to prevent liver abscesses

feed additives in feedlot cattle

tylosin, monensin, beta agonists

tylosin

monensin

beta agonists