Formulating a ration for cattle is critical to any successful beef operation. There are times when forages alone will not supply what the cows need for their stage. When it comes that time, you will need to provide a supplement that will fill in the gaps to keep them producing.
Supplements are typically the most significant on-farm expense producers will have all year. Most estimates have it at around 70% of the yearly costs. Some may think the lowest price is the way to go, but that is not usually the best answer. With that high of an expense, it is in your best interest to have your feed be as efficient as possible. Going with the lowest cost could cost you more in the long run.
In order to make it as efficient as possible, you will need to balance both costs and performance. Getting the feed ration right is a delicate balance of providing the best quality and the lowest price possible. You set your cattle up for success when you get the ration right. Here are some things to consider when building your next cattle ration.
Why do I need to develop a cattle ration?
The answer to this is something that you have heard many, many times before. Still, unfortunately, I do have to go over it again. There are times when your forages will only provide some of the nutrients your animals will need for their production stage. Conditions such as droughts or even going into winter can severely affect the quality of the forages. During those times, you will need to provide something extra.
A balanced ration should provide everything the animal needs in the minimal amount provided. This need is where the quality comes into play. If it is low enough in quality, the animal will not be able to eat enough to meet its dietary needs. This fact is especially true when it comes to forages and hay.
When it comes to planning any supplements, it is essential to remember that your forages should be the foundation of any ration program. Forages are more than just a cheaper way of providing nutrients. They are also critical to your cattle’s overall performance. I go over the importance of forages in a previous article, “Everything you need to know about roughages,” if you are interested.
As I mentioned earlier, the plan is to be the most efficient, not just the lowest cost. Because a supplement may be cheaper upfront, you might have to put out more to have the same amount of nutrients needed. This price difference is why, when comparing feeds, you should look at the cost per pound of nutrients, such as protein or energy, in order to get a more accurate comparison.
Forages as a foundation
When it comes to feeding your cattle, forages should always be the foundation of your feeding strategy. Think of forages like the solid base of a building—they provide the essential nutrients that cattle need to stay healthy and productive. Forages like grass, hay, and silage offer a natural source of fiber, energy, and some protein, which cattle need to maintain good rumen function and overall health. They’re a cost-effective option and critical for your herd’s long-term well-being. This solid foundation should reassure you about the health and productivity of your herd.
Supplements, on the other hand, are just that—supplements. They’re meant to fill in the gaps when your forages can’t provide enough of certain nutrients. For example, during droughts or winter months, when the quality of your pasture or hay might drop, you might need to add protein or energy supplements to ensure your cattle are still getting what they need. But no supplement can replace the overall benefits of good-quality forages. Forages provide the right balance of fiber, which supports proper digestion and helps keep cattle healthy.
The goal is to use supplements wisely. They should be seen as a complement to forages, not a replacement. High-quality forages should always be the primary source of nutrition because they help your cattle thrive in a natural and cost-effective way. By focusing on high-quality forages first, you’re setting up your cattle for success. This emphasis on the role of supplements should instill confidence in your feeding plan.
Energy vs Protein
When it comes time to plan out your cattle ration, you need to decide what you will be supplementing for Energy or Protein. Typically, during this time of year, protein is one of the most lacking nutrients. Supplements for energy are usually needed as a replacement for forages during times of drought.
These supplements generally consist of low protein content. A problem with feeding for energy is that the starches can interfere with forage digestion in the rumen. This interference can occur when you are providing a low-quality forage diet. There are supplements available that decrease the potential of something like this happening. These are known as high-fiber energy sources. They will provide the energy you need without affecting the rumen environment. Some examples of this type are soyhulls, wheat middlings, and sugar beet pulp.
Simply put, a protein supplement is any feed that will increase the protein content of the current base diet. Protein supplements are needed to improve the forage digestibility of the microbes in the rumen. A protein supplement could be needed if the cows are eating low-quality forages like in a dormant pasture. Some examples of protein supplements are alfalfa hay, soybean meal, and range cubes. Molasses tubs are also a source of protein. A portion of a tub’s protein could come from non-protein-nitrogen. It is essential to read the feed tags to determine the source of the protein.
Common Types of Supplements and Their Purposes
When it comes to feeding your cattle, sometimes more than forages is needed to meet all their nutritional needs. That’s where supplements come in. Supplements help fill in the gaps by providing specific nutrients that forages might need improvement, especially during certain times of the year or when the quality of your pasture or hay could be better. Here are some of the most common types of supplements and when you might need them. This clarification should make you feel knowledgeable about your options.
Protein Supplements
Protein is one of the most common nutrients that might be lacking in cattle diets, especially when forages are of lower quality, like during the winter or drought conditions. What these supplements do is help improve digestion and promote growth. Common sources include alfalfa hay, soybean meal, or even range cubes. Suppose your cattle are eating poor-quality hay or grazing on dormant pastures. In that case, a protein supplement will help boost their protein intake and improve overall performance.
Energy Supplements
Energy supplements are used when cattle need extra calories, often when they are under stress, such as during calving season or when forages are too low in energy. These supplements help keep cattle strong and active. Energy sources like corn, barley, or soyhulls provide the necessary calories without negatively affecting the rumen. These are especially useful in times of drought or when pasture is limited.
Mineral and Vitamin Supplements
Minerals like salt, calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals are crucial for cattle health. Mineral supplements can fill the gap if your cattle aren’t getting enough of these from their forages. Vitamin supplements, like Vitamin A, are also essential, especially during the winter when sunlight (which helps cattle produce Vitamin D) is limited. Offering free-choice mineral tubs or mixing them into feed can ensure your herd gets what it needs.
Each of these supplements plays a key role, but they should always complement high-quality forages, not replace them. When deciding which supplements to use, always consider your cattle’s specific needs.
Steps to balancing a ration
Now that we have covered the what and the why, we can move on to the how part. In order to correctly balance a ration, you will need to know three things:
- The nutrient requirements of the animal.
- The nutrient content of the feedstuff.
- The calculations to determine the right amount to use.
Nutrient requirements
The nutrient requirements can change depending on the production stage the cattle are in. For example, a steer will have different needs compared to a heifer. A yearling bull will be different from a pregnant cow. You get the idea.
There are many resources available to help you determine what your animal needs. Your local county extension office is one such place.
Now that you know your particular animal needs, we can move on to the next stage.
Nutrient content of feedstuff
Much like finding out the requirements, there are many resources that you can use to find out what the particular commodity you want to use will provide. The resources you find will give you a “ballpark” figure to work with, but if you want to know the exact amount, you will have to get it tested.
The price of this test can depend on what you are testing and what information you want to learn. Typically, it can cost between $10 and $35.
The things that you want to look for are energy, fiber, protein, and minerals.
The energy the feed provides is a pretty overall thing to look for. If the animal is growing (whether itself or a new calf), then the amount of energy is significant. The fiber content of the commodity is beneficial for the animal’s rumen.
Calculating your cattle ration
Now that we have discussed the steps you need to take and what to consider, we should discuss the how. There are many different ways to do this, and the one you choose will depend on several factors. If you want to mix multiple commodities, I recommend the CowCulator from Oklahoma State. If you only plan on mixing two, the Pearson Square method can be a good option.
The Pearson Square method
Step 1 in doing this is to draw a square. Next, you will input the information you want. Put the nutrient you are balancing for in the middle of the square and what percentage the two feeds have in the
square’s upper and lower left corners. The third step is to subtract both feed sources % across the square to the opposite end of the square. The numbers you will get after doing this will be the parts you need for the two feeds.
You can then combine the two numbers together to get the total parts of the feed ration. To get the parts expressed as a percentage, divide the individual parts by the total parts and multiply by 100. Finally, to calculate the pounds of each feed, multiply the percentage of each feed by how many pounds of total feed you will need.
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