Chart Developed by Kevin Laurent, UK Beef Associate
Click on the chart for a larger view.
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sample Rations for Beef Cows and Calves
The chart below provides sample rations for beef cows and calves based upon hay quality. It is important to test forages to ensure that cows and calves are receiving the proper nutrition. Many feed dealers will test your forages for free. In addition, farmers may also get their forages tested free of cost through the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service, funding provided by the Adair County Ag Development Council.
Chart Developed by Kevin Laurent, UK Beef Associate
Click on the chart for a larger view.
Chart Developed by Kevin Laurent, UK Beef Associate
Click on the chart for a larger view.
Adding Fat to the Diet Can Improve Reproductive Performance
By:Dr. Les Anderson, Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky
From Off the Hoof
Over the past 15 years, 30 different research trials have been conducted that examine the impact of supplemental fat on reproductive performance of beef and dairy cattle. Fats (or lipids) have been fed before and after calving and during the breeding season. Research on feeding supplemental fat has resulted in varied and inconsistent results as it relates to reproductive efficiency including positive, negative, and no apparent effect.
Several different fat sources have been studied. Plant oils have thus far shown to have the greatest impact on reproduction. Some of the more common sources of plant oils include: sunflower, safflower, whole cottonseed, rice hulls and soybeans. In addition, animal tallow, calcium salts, and fishmeal have also been evaluated.
Dr. Rick Funston, University of Nebraska beef specialist, reviewed the research pertaining to this topic. His conclusions about added fat in cow and heifer diets suggested that some of the improvements reported may be due to the added energy from the fat source. He suggests that until these relationships are better understood, producers are advised to strive for low cost and balanced rations. IF a source of supplemental fat can be added with little or no change in the ration cost, it would be advisable to add it to the ration. Adding fat would be most likely to have a benefit on reproduction with young, marginally thin, growing cows in a year where limited nutrients are available. In other words, two and three year old cows (in a body condition score of 4 or 5) with low quality and/or quantity of roughage available, are most likely to get a boost from adding whole soybeans, whole cottonseeds, safflower, or sunflowers to their diet.
To examine the potential impact of feeding fat on reproductive performance, Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler and I conducted a trial this spring on 160 extremely thin cows. Approximately 30 days before breeding, this herd of cows averaged a body condition score of only 3.5 (1-9 scale) and weighed less than 1000 pounds. About 125 of the cows were fed 25 pounds of wet distillers grain (about 12-13 pounds of WDG on a dry matter basis) while on pasture. The analysis of the WDG indicated a TDN of 89%, CP of 34%, and 10% fat. The remaining cows were not supplemented. Estrus was synchronized in all the cows by inserting a CIDR device for 7 days prior to turning the bulls in. Bulls remained with the cows for 70 days. Pregnancy rate was determined about 110 days after the beginning of the breeding season.
All the cows gained weight throughout the experiment. The cows fed the WDG gained over 100 pounds and more than one body condition score (went from a BCS of 3.5 to a 5). The cows that were not fed WDG also gained weight. Feeding WDG improved pregnancy rate as 85% of cows fed WDG became pregnant while only (60%) of the cows that were not fed WDG. This trial is further evidence of the positive impact of supplementation on rebreeding potential in beef cows. Although we cannot determine in this trial if the fat contained in the WDG was the key component impacting fertility, it seems apparent that feeding WDG for 30 days prior to breeding has the potential to improve the reproductive rate of cows in poor body condition.
From Off the Hoof
Over the past 15 years, 30 different research trials have been conducted that examine the impact of supplemental fat on reproductive performance of beef and dairy cattle. Fats (or lipids) have been fed before and after calving and during the breeding season. Research on feeding supplemental fat has resulted in varied and inconsistent results as it relates to reproductive efficiency including positive, negative, and no apparent effect.
Several different fat sources have been studied. Plant oils have thus far shown to have the greatest impact on reproduction. Some of the more common sources of plant oils include: sunflower, safflower, whole cottonseed, rice hulls and soybeans. In addition, animal tallow, calcium salts, and fishmeal have also been evaluated.
Dr. Rick Funston, University of Nebraska beef specialist, reviewed the research pertaining to this topic. His conclusions about added fat in cow and heifer diets suggested that some of the improvements reported may be due to the added energy from the fat source. He suggests that until these relationships are better understood, producers are advised to strive for low cost and balanced rations. IF a source of supplemental fat can be added with little or no change in the ration cost, it would be advisable to add it to the ration. Adding fat would be most likely to have a benefit on reproduction with young, marginally thin, growing cows in a year where limited nutrients are available. In other words, two and three year old cows (in a body condition score of 4 or 5) with low quality and/or quantity of roughage available, are most likely to get a boost from adding whole soybeans, whole cottonseeds, safflower, or sunflowers to their diet.
To examine the potential impact of feeding fat on reproductive performance, Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler and I conducted a trial this spring on 160 extremely thin cows. Approximately 30 days before breeding, this herd of cows averaged a body condition score of only 3.5 (1-9 scale) and weighed less than 1000 pounds. About 125 of the cows were fed 25 pounds of wet distillers grain (about 12-13 pounds of WDG on a dry matter basis) while on pasture. The analysis of the WDG indicated a TDN of 89%, CP of 34%, and 10% fat. The remaining cows were not supplemented. Estrus was synchronized in all the cows by inserting a CIDR device for 7 days prior to turning the bulls in. Bulls remained with the cows for 70 days. Pregnancy rate was determined about 110 days after the beginning of the breeding season.
All the cows gained weight throughout the experiment. The cows fed the WDG gained over 100 pounds and more than one body condition score (went from a BCS of 3.5 to a 5). The cows that were not fed WDG also gained weight. Feeding WDG improved pregnancy rate as 85% of cows fed WDG became pregnant while only (60%) of the cows that were not fed WDG. This trial is further evidence of the positive impact of supplementation on rebreeding potential in beef cows. Although we cannot determine in this trial if the fat contained in the WDG was the key component impacting fertility, it seems apparent that feeding WDG for 30 days prior to breeding has the potential to improve the reproductive rate of cows in poor body condition.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Balancing Rations for Dairy Herds
Despite the previous two years of drought, plentiful rains this summer have allowed farmers to produce a bumper crop of corn for both silage and grain. Now with corn silage and other forages harvested, dairy producers are turning their attention to planning fall and winter feeding programs. To determine an economical and effective dairy feeding program, there are a few important steps you should follow.
The first element in creating a fall or winter feeding program is testing your available forages for nutrient content. When taking forage samples, be sure to collect a representative sample of the forage being fed. Hay samples should be collected using a hay probe from 20 different bales per field and cutting. Combine samples in a bucket and place a pint size sample in a resealable plastic bag to be sent to a forage testing lab. Corn silage samples should also be collected from multiple sites on the face of a bunker silo or throughout the length of the silage bag. Silage from upright silos should be collected after the silo has been opened unless samples were collected during harvest. It is best to keep your samples out of direct sunlight and avoid prolonged exposure to heat. If you would like to get your forages tested free of cost, give me a call at the Extension Office. Forage testing is being offered as a free service by the Adair County Ag Development Council.
Once you receive the analysis results, forages should be allocated to different cattle based on their quality. The best quality forages should be fed to the early lactation cows, if grouped together. If they are not grouped together, the best quality forages should be fed to the group with the greatest number of early lactation cows.
Forage testing results should also be used to balance rations. With corn prices down from last year, grain mixes designed to complement the quality and type of forages being fed should be more economical this fall. Contracting a year’s supply of grain mix is one way to lock in the price of grain mix over the upcoming months.
Rations should be balanced for the milking herd, as well as the heifers and dry cows. By balancing rations for heifers, feeding is more economical and still enables optimal growth to allow heifers to enter the milking herd around 24 months of age. Well designed and economical feeding programs can also give dry cows a good start to their next lactation and prevent health problems after calving. Ration balancing services are offered by the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service. Rations are balanced based on economics, availability of forages, and production levels.
For more information on forage testing and creating a fall feeding program, contact the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service at 384-2317.
The first element in creating a fall or winter feeding program is testing your available forages for nutrient content. When taking forage samples, be sure to collect a representative sample of the forage being fed. Hay samples should be collected using a hay probe from 20 different bales per field and cutting. Combine samples in a bucket and place a pint size sample in a resealable plastic bag to be sent to a forage testing lab. Corn silage samples should also be collected from multiple sites on the face of a bunker silo or throughout the length of the silage bag. Silage from upright silos should be collected after the silo has been opened unless samples were collected during harvest. It is best to keep your samples out of direct sunlight and avoid prolonged exposure to heat. If you would like to get your forages tested free of cost, give me a call at the Extension Office. Forage testing is being offered as a free service by the Adair County Ag Development Council.
Once you receive the analysis results, forages should be allocated to different cattle based on their quality. The best quality forages should be fed to the early lactation cows, if grouped together. If they are not grouped together, the best quality forages should be fed to the group with the greatest number of early lactation cows.
Forage testing results should also be used to balance rations. With corn prices down from last year, grain mixes designed to complement the quality and type of forages being fed should be more economical this fall. Contracting a year’s supply of grain mix is one way to lock in the price of grain mix over the upcoming months.
Rations should be balanced for the milking herd, as well as the heifers and dry cows. By balancing rations for heifers, feeding is more economical and still enables optimal growth to allow heifers to enter the milking herd around 24 months of age. Well designed and economical feeding programs can also give dry cows a good start to their next lactation and prevent health problems after calving. Ration balancing services are offered by the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service. Rations are balanced based on economics, availability of forages, and production levels.
For more information on forage testing and creating a fall feeding program, contact the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service at 384-2317.
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