Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Unit 15
Kinds of Feed
Cow-calf feeding programs are based on the use of roughages Typical roughages used are
Roughages provide the cheapest source of energy for the cow and calf.
Forages
Graze as much as possible. If weather does not permit year round grazing then forage should be harvested and stored for later use. Downfall: grazing only recovers 15-30% of what is produced.
Proper management increases the yield. Soil should be tested and fertilized Use rotational grazing to increase carrying capacity.
Crop Residues
Helps reduce feed costs In Northern areas 2 acres of cornstalks will carry a pregnant cow 80-100 days Heavy snows will reduce the carrying capacity of cornstalk fields.
FEEDING REQUIREMEN TS
Feed enough to keep them in good flesh from fall to spring calving Cows of normal weight should not loose less than 10% of their body weight Thin cows should be fed enough to gain some weight during winter
Overfeeding
Require more feed because they are still growing The amount of feed received is more important than the kind of feed.
Energy Needs
Vary according to
Size
Condition Age
Weather
During cold weather increase feed or energy intake by 1% for each degree of cold stress.
Generally need a 10-15% increase in protien Especially so if hay is being fed Can be achieved with an extra 2 pound/hd of high quality hay or additional protien supplements
Minerals
A good mixture to use is one part trace mineral salt and one part dicalcium phosphate
Protien
Blocks, lick tubs and cubes are the most convenient ways to feed Care should be taken to prevent overeating Overeating can be partially controlled by feeding plenty of roughage and supplying plenty of fresh water
Protein Supplements
Vitamin A
Only needed when cattle are fed poor quality roughage If the cow has been on good summer pasture enough Vitamin A will be stored in the body to get the animal through several months
Lactation Rations
Depends on how much the milk cow produces Heavier milk producers have higher requirements than average or low milk producers Protein requirements for lactation are 160-268% greater than for dry cows Energy 36-38% Calcium and phosphorous 100-250% Vitamin A 18-88% High quality pasture can usually meet lactation needs
Lactation Rations
Salt and minerals should be provided free choice If the roughage is limited or poor quality some grain should be fed
Require more feed Heifers are still growing and developing They need to regain weight lost from calving & produce milk for their calf Heifers also need to be in good condition for rebreeding.
CREEP FEEDING
A way of providing calves with extra feed May be grain, commercial creep feed mix, or roughage Fed in a feeder that cows can not get into
Produces heavier calves at weaning (30-70 lbs) Produces higher grade and more finish at weaning Calves go on feedlot rations better at weaning Creates less feedlot stress Allows cows and calves to stay on poorer quality pasture for a longer time
Calves are to be sold at weaning Calves are to be fed out on high-energy rations Cows are milking poorly Calves are from 1st calf heifers Calves were born late in the season Calves have above average inherited growth potential
Calves were born in the fall Calves are to be weaned early (45-90 days) Calf-feed price ratio is favorable Pastures become dry in late summer Cows and calves are kept in confinement
When production testing, it is harder to detect differences in inherited gaining ability Replacement heifers become to fat Non-creep-fed calves usually make faster and more economical gains after weaning compared to calves that were creep fed before weaning
Calves are to be fed through the winter on roughage Cows are above average milk producers The calf-feed ratio is poor Calves are on good pasture Heifers are to be kept for replacements The milk production of the dam is to be measured
GROWING RATIONS
British breeds should gain 1.0-1.25 pound/day from weaning to breeding Larger breeds should gain 1.25-1.75 pound/day Heifers should reach puberty at 12-14 months
Generally heifers reach puberty when they have attained 65% of their mature weight
Must be palatable In areas of cold weather nutrient needs increase 1% for each degree of temperature below freezing Feed must be increased as heifers grow Vitamins and minerals should be fed free choice
FEEDING BULLS
Wean at 6-8 months of age Feed high energy rations for about 5 months Avoid fattening Allow full feed until spring then put on pasture to complete growth.
Bulls
Feeds
Hay Grain
Minerals free choice Feed Vitamin A if ration is mostly corn silage or limited hay May be self fed or hand fed
When self feeding use plenty of roughage to keep bulls from getting to fat or going off their feed.
Yearling bulls should be fed to gain 1.5-2 lbs/day 2-4 yr old bulls need more energy and protein in the winter than cows and should be fed accordingly Mature bulls in good condition may be fed the same as the cow herd
Loose weight Must be fed to regain that weight Give additional feed 6-8 weeks before the start of the next breeding season Bulls that are too fat or too thin have poor fertility They should be in medium flesh and have plenty of exercise
If necessary trim hoofs several weeks before breeding season begins Test semen for fertility and disease
Goal
100% calf crop Observe the herd closely Check for injured or diseased cows or bulls Watch to ensure bulls are servicing cows
Range conditions
If a high number of cows remain inbred then the bull should be replaced.
Breeding
No more than 60 days to maintain a short calving season (40-60 days) Begin breeding 20-25 days after half the calves are born
This
allows for a 2nd and even third heat cycle for cows that do not settle the first time.
Conception Rates
Higher for cows that are gaining weight before and during the breeding season Cows that are too fat or too thin are poor breeders Pregnancy check 60-90 days after breeding Sell any open cows Conception Rates can be lowered by
Hot
weather Injuries
Placing the sperm in the female reproductive tract by other than natural means Breeder uses an inseminating tube to deposit sperm into the cervix and uterus of the cow
Disadvantages of AIing
Need a trained inseminator Requires more time and supervision of the herd Sterile equipment Special handling facilities
BREEDIN G HEIFERS
Size
Most important when breeding yearling heifers Should weigh 550-750 pounds Weight should be from growth, not fattening
Age
Goal is to breed the heifer so she calves at 2 years of age When achieved the result is 1 more calf produced during a cows lifetime
Lowers production cost Keeps a higher percent of cows in the herd in production Fewer replacement heifers are needed each year to maintain a stable herd size
Lower for yearling heifers than older cows Longer calving season Possibly need more help in calving
Breeding Heifers
Breed to calve 20-30 days before older cows Require more feed and should be kept separate from older cows Breed for 40-60 days Pregnancy check 60-90 days later Sell any heifers that are not pregnant
CALVING
Make sure it breathes May be necessary to clean the mucus from the mouth and nose Calf should nurse shortly after birth
The cows first milk, called colostrums, is very important as it contains nutrients, such as Vitamins A & E, and antibodies the calf needs
Cow should expel the afterbirth within 12-24 hours after giving birth Keep cows with calves separate from cows that havent calved Identify the calf with an ear tag or tattoo Record the calfs birth weight, calving problems and birth date for performance records
Castration
Knife Castration
Most widely used Should only be done during a time of year when flies are not a problem Calves should not be more than 3-4 months old Results in an open wound
Wound should be treated with iodine Calves should be check several days after castration to check for swelling, continued bleeding and stiffness
Burdizzo Castration
if the pincers are not applied correctly the cord may not be crushed completely resulting in a staggy steer later on
No open wound Good choice in areas where screw worms are a problem
Special instrument that places a tight rubber band around the scrotum above the testicles Cuts of the blood supply to the testicle
This
No open wound
Dehorning
calves bring less Dehorned calves require less space at the feed bunk and on trucks Less risk of injury with dehorned calves
Calves should be dehorned at a young age If possible do not dehorn during fly season
Methods of Dehorning
Chemical
Hot
Freeze
Freeze Branding
Becoming more common Uses liquid nitrogen, brass irons and rubbing alcohol Not a legal method of cattle branding in SD
Branding
Calves can be thrown to the ground Calves can be branded in a chute using a table
Ear Cutting
Almost as common as branding Recorded in brand records Protected by law One or both ears may be cut Cutting is done so that it may be seen from the front or behind
Ear Tattooing
Well adapted as a method of marking purebred cattle More permanent than ear cutting Special instrument is used Mark is made with indelible ink No open wound is left
Ear Tags
Neck Chains
Used when herd owners do not want to use permanent identification Usually used by purebred breeders Not a good choice for cows on brushy range
Brisket Tags
Tag is placed in the brisket Hard to Read Often ripped out because they catch on things
Calves weigh 650-750 pounds Use mostly roughage as feed If calves are born in fall they are weaned in spring and fed on pasture for the summer then sold as yearling feeders in the fall
Grow calve on roughage Finish for 4-6 months in the feedlot Corn silage or grain and roughage are used for the wintering ration When the animals are on pasture no or little grain is fed Animals then go to the feedlot and grain feeding begins.
Preconditioning
The process of preparing calves for the stress of being moved to the feedlot Most procedures involved in preconditioning are accepted as good management practices Accomplished before the calves leave the farm or ranch
Practices
Castration, dehorning, identification by tattooing or branding Maintaining health records Vaccinations Weaning 4-6 weeks before sale Training to eat solid feed from a bunk and to drink water from a water tank Worming and treatment for lice, grubs and mange (if necessary)
Backgrounding
Growing and feeding calves from weaning until they are ready to enter the feedlot Done primarily with roughage ration Calves are fed 120-150 days Expected daily gains of 1.5-2.0 pounds Calves must be kept from getting too fat, as overly fat calves bring less when going to the feedlot for finishing.
Summary
Dry, pregnant cows and bulls are fed to prevent them from becoming too fat or too thin Younger cows and heifers and young bulls that will be kept for breeding require more feed So do cows nursing calves All should be fed salt and minerals free choice Creep feeding may or may not be profitable
Summary
Performance records should be used to replace herd cows Replacement heifers should be bred based on weight not age Use fertility testing at the beginning of the breeding season to achieve a 100% calf crop 4 bulls to 100 cows Preconditioning of calves should occur when they are young Backgrounding calves is growing calves on roughages from weaning until they are ready for the feedlot