Tag: nutrition (Page 5 of 7)

Are protein tubs good for cattle?

are protein tubs good for cattle?Protein tubs have been gaining in popularity here lately with both small and large producers. Smaller producers like the fact it is self-feeding so they do not have to constantly be there. Larger producers like the fact that it requires less labor than say feeding range cubes/

People like the convenience of having a supplement that is designed to be self-fed in the pasture. They can deliver supplemented nutrients that does not require extra labor.

But like with every supplement there are pros and cons to consider when using a protein tub. As a producer you should weigh each option to decide if it will work best for you.

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What does a sulfur block do for cattle?

what does a sulfur block do for cattle?Sulfur salt blocks have generated a love/hate relationship among cattlemen. There are ones who love them and swear by them, then there are others who feel they are a waste of money.

The ones that love them say that it helps with external parasite control. While putting sulfur powder has been shown to help in that area there is no, as far as I’m aware, no evidence that the block does that.

As with everything there are pros and cons to using them. While there is some benefit to feeding sulfur one must also be careful. You need to weigh the options yourself and decide if it could be something that will work for you.

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Grazing Systems: What Types are There?

grazing systems: what types are there?A grazing system, when done correctly, can assist rangeland managers in achieving management objectives. They can both boost production as well as reduce their overhead costs.

Selection of the proper type of system depends on understanding the unique combination of different aspects that go into range management. Things like the topography, soil type, the particular animal involved have to be balanced in order to get the best results.

Whether intended or not if you have animals grazing in a pasture then you already have a grazing system in place. If you are getting the most out of your pasture however is an entirely different story.

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Why do cows need salt?

why do cows need salt?Salt, along with other minerals, are necessary to sustain life in cows. Much like humans they are the essential building blocks for a living being to perform at best.

The interesting thing about salt is that cattle have a natural “urge” for it. This means that unlike the other minerals they will actually seek it out. If they can not find it then they will try to ingest it from other sources, such as tree bark, dirt, and even urine.

As I mentioned earlier salt is very important for the overall function of a cow. Along with aiding with milk production it will assist with other functions. These functions are things like reproduction, blood flow and even sweating, which I think that one should be obvious.

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Creep Feeding: Is it worth it?

creep feeding: is it worth it?Creep feeding can be a very useful tool for producers with young calves. This will improve both your bottom line and your overall profitability.

It can help add a few more pounds on your calves which can translate into more dollars for you come sale time. Also it has been shown to make weaning a little bit less stressful for them.

But like with everything there are pros and cons to using it. It is up to each producer individually to decide if it is something that will work for them or not. Here are some things for you to consider:

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The Calving Nutrition Article of Your Dreams

the calving nutrition article of your dreamsNutrition management of your cow herd is very important during late pregnancy and early lactation. What happens during this time can not only affect your current calf crop but your future one as well. Having the cow’s nutrition needs met can reduce dystocia for the cow and improve the overall performance of the calf.

During this time you can have problems from 2 different directions. First off her nutritional requirements spike as compared to other times of the year. Second, the overall quality of your forage is lower because we have not got to the “spring green up” yet.

It is very critical that you get the nutrition right during this time because if she is lacking it will affect not only the health of the calf but the probability of her getting bred come breeding season.

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Introdution to Balancing a Ration

Introduction to balancing a rationBalancing a ration correctly is one of the most important tools in a producer’s toolbox. Because feed costs are the major cost  producing beef it can make or break an operation. Making the most efficient use of the feed put out is of utmost importance. It can make the difference between you being profitable or taking a loss,

When you balance a ration you are supplying the proper amount as well as proportions of nutrients that the animal will need. The thing to remember is that we are not just providing “feed”. We are supplying what is needed for growth, reproduction and body maintenance.

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6 Tips for Colostrum Replacer

6 tips for colostrum replacerUsing a colostrum replacer or supplement can be a very confusing matter to figure out. Now ideally every one of your new calves will get up and start nursing on their own. Unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world.

There are some times that you will need to provide assistance to the new born to get them on the right foot. This can come in the form of providing a colostrum replacer. If you find yourself in that situation here are 6 tips that can help you get the most effective use out of it.

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5 ways to reduce feed costs

5 ways to reduce feed costsFeed costs remain the single largest expense for any cow producer. Generally this expense can equal up to half of the total yearly cost of raising cattle. And that is on a good year. If you are in a drought condition this total can go up to as high as 70%. With this in mind it is no wonder that feed costs is usually the main factor to determine if an operation will be profitable or not.

In order to keep their heads above water producers are always looking for ways to reduce how much they will spend in feed every year. Though this is an admirable goal one should be careful going for it. Reducing feed costs will do you no good if production ends up suffering. The way to attack this problem is to find ways to balance high cow performance and less feed costs. Here are 5 things that you can look at to do that:

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5 rules for proper hay storage

5 rules for proper hay storageHay season is upon us! As you have probably been aware now is the time of year when everyone is cutting and baling hay. Though many are only focused on just bailing not many are thinking about how to store the hay.

Along with making sure that the forages that you are cutting is of the highest quality. How you store them will also plays a role in how well it will do. How you store your hay can make or break what you are able to get out of it.

To make sure that you will get the most out of your bales here are 5 rules to follow:

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