Providing a feed supplement to cattle that are grazing in certain areas is expected, and for good reason. Cattle often cannot get enough from just rangelands to meet their nutritional requirements. Producers have many choices when it comes to feeding supplements. However, it is best to be careful when deciding what supplements to use.
Food costs are producers’ most considerable on-farm expense during the year. According to Oklahoma State, nearly 40% of total operating costs are associated with nutrition. If you are experiencing any type of drought conditions, then this expense can be even higher. However, we should still try to cut out every expenditure we can.
The problem with only looking at reducing costs is that it will affect your overall performance. You want to look at them more like investments and try to get the most return possible. It is more important to be efficient than just to be the cheapest. Here are some ways to obtain the most “bang for your buck” when it comes to using the feed.
Look at your forages.
Your forage production is the groundwork for any plan involving your operation. It is the very foundation that you will use to build a successful cattle operation. If you do not have it on lock, anything else you do will not be as efficient as it can be.
You can provide forage to your cattle in many different ways, such as grazing, haymaking, or even silage-making. Whichever way you use it is best to have your forages tested. If you have them tested, you will be able to determine their nutritional value. Many different factors can impact the nutrient content, so doing forage testing over multiple years is a good idea. Testing over numerous years will give you a good ballpark figure to work with when planning your cattle feed supplement needs.
Visual assessment
Though it will not tell you the exact amount provided, a visual assessment can be a helpful tool. Many visual factors can assist you in evaluating the nutrient value of your forages:
- Maturity: The growth stage is the most significant factor in determining nutrient content. A producer can
Courtesy of the Beef Cattle Research Council
determine the plant’s stage of maturity by assessing the bloom or bud stage and stem size. More abundant blooms or mature seed heads, fewer buds, and larger woody stems indicate more mature forage.
- Leafiness: About 2/3 of the protein in forage is in the leaves. The ratio of leaves to stems is more critical with legumes than grass forages.
- Color: Forages that are not bright green may be damaged. Yellowing can indicate overly mature forages.
The critical factor here is that in order to be cost-effective, your feed supplements should complement your forages and not substitute them. There is a big difference between supplemental feeding and substitution feeding. Hi-Pro Feeds has a good video on how to tell the protein content of forages from how they look.
Stage of cattle production
The stage of production that your cattle are in will determine what their nutritional needs will be. A mature cow with no calf will require less than one with a nursing calf. So, it is essential to consider this when deciding on your cattle feed supplement plan.
The cow’s body weight is one of the most critical factors, being the driver of dry matter intake. As the body weight changes, so do the nutrient requirements. If the correct body weight is not used to determine nutrient requirements, cattle can be over- or undernourished.
Results from a study done in Nebraska found that when feed supply is limited or environmental stress is present, moderate-size cows were more efficient than larger ones. Remember that as the animal gets larger, the amount needed to be consumed to meet its needs will also increase.
Choose your cattle feed supplement plan.
Now that you know what nutrients your forages provide and what your cattle need, it is time to choose what feed supplements to use. There are many different types of supplements available to producers. It is essential to pick one that meets the herd’s nutrient requirements at the most economical price. Also, in order to be most cost-effective, begin providing a supplement when you first notice that your forages may be lacking. If you wait too long, getting the cattle back up to where they need to be will cost you more.
When looking at which supplement to use, you will need to compare them correctly. Some feeds may appear cheaper, but in reality, it will require more of it to provide the same amount as another. One way you can get a better comparison is by looking at the cost per pound you select. For example, let us say that you are looking for a protein supplement. What you will do is multiply the Crude Protein percent by 2000lbs, which will give you the amount of protein per ton. Then, you will divide that by what the feed will cost per ton to deliver what the cost will be per pound.
Mineral vitamin needs
An excellent first step in a supplement plan is to provide a good mineral supplement to your cattle year-round. Mineral deficiencies can reduce growth, body condition score, and pregnancy rate. Providing this year-round is an excellent idea because your cattle are already severely deficient when a deficiency is visible. I go into more detail about the importance of minerals in a previous post, “What you don’t know about your mineral can hurt“.
Free-choice access to a mineral supplement containing calcium, salt, phosphorus, and trace minerals is recommended. The consumption of this supplement can vary across different factors like pasture, seasons, and cattle. Still, the average consumption is 2oz per head per day. It may be a good idea to have multiple mineral feeders to give the more timid cattle a chance to get what they need.
Protein supplementation
On the condition of your forages, supplementing for protein may be the next priority that you should consider. Supplementing with protein can increase forage intake and digestibility when forages lack protein. A good indicator of a protein supplement is having a high Crude Protein % such as 20-48%. This type of supplement can be things like range cubes, which usually are 20%. Another choice is soybean meal, which will reach the 48% mark.
Typically, you want to provide a protein supplement if the CP of your forages drops below 7% for dry cows—also, the percentage needed for your particular production stage. If the forage diet contains less than that percent, feeding a protein supplement generally improves cattle’s energy and protein status.
Energy supplementation
The forages may not provide enough energy for your needs. When energy intake is limiting performance, an energy supplement may be the answer. An indicator of an energy supplement contains low crude protein and high energy or “total digestible nutrients.” A good option for an energy supplement is your grains. Corn and milo are the most commonly fed, but oats, wheat, and barley are also suitable.
The cost of energy supplements, like those providing protein, will depend on the supplement, along with quantities purchased and labor. Selecting an energy supplement with a low cost/lb of TDN consumed is a good idea not to break the bank.
