Supplementing and Feeding Calves and Stocker Cattle Discussion

Supplementing and Feeding Calves and Stocker Cattle

Discussion Topics • Supplementing vs substituting • Appropriate rate of gain target (not covered in manual) • Winter supplementation • Late-summer supplementation • Feeding programs

Supplementation of forage-fed cattle: Supplying a nutrient that is deficient in the forage, resulting in increased forage digestibility, increased forage intake, and (or) improved animal health and performance

Supplementation of Forage-Fed Cattle n Nutrients supplemented q. Vitamins q. Minerals q. Protein q. Energy* n Amount q. Generally fed in small quantities ranging from a few grams to 0. 5% of body weight

Supplementation VS Substitution Positive Associative Effect Supplementation “Feeding”

Drawing the Line Between Supplementation and Feeding • Not well defined and extremely variable depending on many factors • Assuming protein supply is adequate, >. 5% of BW feed associated with decline in forage intake • Substitution rate ranges from. 5 to 2 lb decline in forage intake for each 1 lb feed beyond. 5% BW

Substitution (Feeding) n Advantageous when: qconcentrates are inexpensive qland resource is limited (need to increase stocking rate) qforage availability is limited (drought) qharvested forages are expensive relative to concentrates qgrazing endophyte infected fescue pastures

Substitution (Feeding) n Costly when: qforage quantity is adequate and concentrates are expensive qdesired gain can be achieved with high quality forage qoccurs without producer’s knowledge (tradition? )

Supplementation n Usually a good thing qenhances animal performance qimproves resource utilization (forage) qlowers cost of gain due greater energy harvested from cheap forage resource n But not always qaccelerated forage use

How much should cattle gain during winter or growing period? n Destination q. Feed yard after receiving/growing period? q. Wheat pasture after receiving/weaning period? q. Spring/Summer pasture after dry wintering? n Cost and availability of resources: can you do it cheaper than a commercial yard? n Marketing considerations

Influence of Rate of Gain on Body Composition 60 d Days to 15% = 180 d 500 d

How does condition influence pasture gain? ADG, lbs . 3 Brazle, 1999: Heifers, 602 head with 86 days grazing to . 5 lb/ dl es s

Summary: Rate of weight gain during winter or growing phase n Fast rate of growing period gain and increased fleshiness reduces grazing rate of gain n Moderate of growing period gain (1. 25 to 1. 75) justified: light cattle, cheap feed, short grazing period, high growth potential

Supplementing forage with low protein concentration

Protein Requirement Depends on Energy Availability

Protein supplementation required for moderate to low rate of gain by forage protein content ADG Forage Protein Content (DM) 4% 6% 8% 10% . 5 1. 0 . 6. 4. 75. 6 . 25. 45 . 1. 25

Protein Supplementation: Lbs of Feed Required, 1 lb ADG target % Protein Forage Protein Content (DM) In Feed 4% 6% 8% 10% 20 3. 75 3. 0 2. 25 1. 25 25 3. 0 2. 5 1. 75 1. 0 30 2. 5 2. 0 1. 5. 75 40 2. 0 1. 5 1. 0. 5 Value in table = lbs feed (as fed) needed daily to meet protein requirement for 1 lb/day growth (rounded to nearest. 25 lb)

Late Summer / Fall Supplementation

Series of OSU studies to evaluate the effect of protein supplementation for stockers during late-summer grazing

Protein Supplement for Stockers Grazing Native Pasture Init. Cont. Sup. Date Days Wt. ADG Sup. Dif. Conv. 7/16 7/20 8/16 7/16 5/25 Avg . 44. 37. 33. 49. 42. 27. 37 96 56 62 56 84 84 71 580 350 616 490 645 365 498 1. 44 1. 35 1. 06. 83 1. 48 1. 13 1. 88 1. 72 1. 39 1. 32 1. 25 1. 75 1. 51 1. 8 2. 2 3. 2 2. 0 2. 9 3. 7 2. 7

Influence of supplement price on cost of additional gain

Oklahoma Gold n 1 lb/d 38 -40% protein supplement n. Bovatec, Rumensin or CTC n. Vitamins and Trace Minerals n. Expected response =. 57 lb / d

Oklahoma Super Gold n 2. 5 lb/d 25% protein supplement n Bovatec, Rumensin or CTC n Vitamins and Trace Minerals n Expected response =. 76 lb / d

Consider Super Gold When: n Feed prices (energy) are moderate to low n Light calves (< 400 lb) n Faster rate of gain necessary to meet predetermined market weight

If you are going to supplement, include an ionophore! • Rumensin, Bovatec, (Gainpro) • Increase ADG by. 15 to. 2 lb. per day • Cost: *150 mg Rumensin = $. 01 to. 05 / day *200 mg Bovatec = $. 01 to. 05 / day • Added gain is worth $. 08 to $. 12 / day

Summary: Supplementation n Match the supplementation program to the forage type, time of year, and current conditions n Recognize the difference between supplementation and substitution n Supplementing can only be profitable if value of added gain is > cost of added gain n Make certain protein requirement is met, but don’t overfeed protein

Feeding Programs Feeding cattle receiving hay or dormant pasture

Winter Feeding

Energy Supplementation n Extremely inefficient when protein req. is not met

Energy Supplementation n Extremely inefficient when protein req. is not met

Energy and Protein Item Crn, None. SBM Crn SBM Amt fed, lb 0 8. 2 2. 5 ADG, lb. . 12 1. 7. 64 1. 06 Efficiency, lb/lb - 5. 2 15. 8 2. 7 Bodine et al. , 2000 Steers: initial weight = 631 lb. Corn, SBM blend = 16% CP (AF)

Energy Supplementation n Extremely inefficient when protein req. is not met n Requires more labor, equipment, facilities etc. because feeding rate is considerably higher compared to protein supplementation n Added gain during winter usually means lower gain during spring and summer

How much protein to include in feed for cattle consuming low protein forage? Amount Fed --------Percent of Body Weight------- . 5 . 75 1. 0 1. 25 Feed protein, % as fed 25 -30 22 -25 18 -22 15 -18 Grain: SBM 50/50 64/36 70/30 80/20 CSM can be substituted for SBM at 5 -6% higher inclusion rate.

Example feed rations are shown for cattle consuming high quality grass hay (both low and moderate protein) in Table 17. 6.

Grain and Alfalfa Hay n Highly complementary n Hay: Grain ratio of 60: 40 (or about 1% of BW corn or milo and ad lib good quality alfalfa hay) will sustain around 2 lb per day gain n Grain: hay ratio can range from about 30: 70 to 70: 30

Self-Feeding-’s n Difficult to find balance between safety and cost effective rations n Effective fiber sources that flow through feeders are limited and usually expensive per nutrients supplied n Feed intake can be highly variable from day to day and from animal to animal n Intake variability, limited effective fiber source options, and the need to maintain gravity flow all result in higher risk of digestive upset and/or high cost of gain

Self-Feeding+’s n Weight gains of 2 -3 lb per day are common n Feed conversions can range from 6 to 8 lb of feed per lb weight gain, assuming adequate effective fiber n Minimal labor, equipment, and facilities required n Ration examples are shown in Table 17. 8

Other Feeding Alternatives n Silage-based rations q. High equipment and labor requirement q. Close monitoring of nutrient content (moisture in particular) necessary q. Examples in 17. 9 n Limit feeding high concentrate rations q. High equipment and labor requirement q. Can be very efficient q. Low to no roughage required q. Example in 17. 10 and 17. 11

Feeding Grain on Grass During Spring / Early Summer

Influence of grain supplement on early season weight gain KSU, 1992

Influence of grain supplement and corn price on cost of extra gain

Summary n Numerous supplementation and feeding alternatives are available n Producer’s must determine their goal, given their current conditions q. Maximize forage use and conversion? q. Increase weight gain at least possible cost? q. Maintain specific or minimum level of performance?

Relationship of Winter to Summer Gain Mc. Collum and Gill