Target High-Quality Feeds to When Cows Need it Most

BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Cattle producers managing through this year's drought should save their best feeds for when the cows' nutritional requirements are the greatest, a South Dakota State University specialist said.

Don Boggs, head of the SDSU Department of Animal and Range Sciences, said that means using the best quality feeds after calving, when cows are lactating; moderate quality feeds in the period leading up to calving; and the lower quality feeds after calves have been weaned. Producers considering selling higher quality hay and replacing it with CRP hay or other lower quality forages need to recognize the cow's requirements for higher quality feeds during portions of the production year, Boggs said.

"When the cow is lactating, she obviously has her highest requirements because she's feeding not only herself but the calf. That period from calving to getting her bred back is the most critical time period that the cow faces. If you're in a spring or winter calving program where you are feeding that cow harvested feed following calving, saving your very best quality feed until that time frame is certainly something we recommend."

Boggs added that would also be the most critical period to bring in grain supplements or additional feed if necessary to meet the cow's requirements for energy, protein, vitamins and minerals.

"The second most critical time frame is the 60 days prior to calving. Most of the fetal growth occurs in the last 60 days of the pregnancy. We want to take care of the cow because she's also starting to take care of the calf growing inside of her; plus, it is very difficult to add weight or condition once the cow starts lactating."

Cows at that stage should get the second-best feed producers have on hand, Boggs said. But producers should monitor carefully to be sure that moderate quality feeds are providing what the cow needs."

Also during that time frame, with some of the CRP hay and the lower quality, really dried-out hays that are being harvested, checking vitamin A and vitamin E levels and possibly supplementing those two vitamins during that last 60 days could have a nice impact as far as helping the cow go through calving, providing better quality colostrum and then also helping in the breedback."

The time to use poorer quality feeds, Boggs said, is after calves are weaned in the period leading up to the 60 days before calving.

"It's really a period where if cows are in decent shape, you can really rough them through on lower quality feeds. Here again, though, if you're needing to add some condition back to the cows, you may want to look at different, low-cost ways to add some weight at that time when her requirements are the lowest."

Boggs said while it may be enticing to capitalize now on high prices for better quality feeds, producers may end up paying more in the future for either supplemental feeds to meet cow requirements or through reduced reproductive performance. This will certainly be a year for all cattlemen to analyze their feedstuffs and balance diets to meet, but not exceed, nutrient requirements.

Feeds that are high in nitrates also need to be targeted in their use. Pregnant animals are susceptible to abortions from high-nitrate feeds. Whenever possible target higher nitrate feeds to non-pregnant animals, such as replacement heifers, stocker/finisher cattle or even cows following calving. It is critical that high-nitrate feeds be tested and then blended with other feeds to attain acceptable nitrate levels for the class of cattle being fed.

Contact: Don Boggs, (605) 688-5166

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Lance Nixon, Editor
AgBio Communications Unit
South Dakota State University
ACC, Box 2231, Rm 200
Brookings, SD 57007
Telephone: (605) 688-4653
Lance_Nixon@sdstate.edu