Feeding and Managing Cows on High Grain Diets Steve Paisley UW Extension Beef Specialist

Feeding and Managing Cows on High Grain Diets

Steve PaisleyUW Extension Beef Specialist

Historical Example of Limit-Feeding Winter Rations

Limit-Feed? Feed Hay?

CURSE

Cull the herd rigorouslyUse alternative feedsRe-sort, analyze, and Ration haySubstituting grain for our foragesEarly weaning

Gerry Kuhl, KSU

Energy Value of Corn vs Hay

Dry, shelled corn:2.60 / bu = $.046 / lb = $93/ton As-fed

86% DM, 1.02 Mcals/lb$.046 ÷ .86 = $.054 / lb DM$.054 ÷ 1.02 Mcal/lb = $.053 / Mcal NEm

Average Hay typically = .55 Mcal / lb, so:an equivalent hay price would have to be:

$.053 X .55 = $.029 / lb DM$.029 X .88 = $.0256 / lb As-fed

= $51 / ton

Relative price/ton for native hay

Corn, Purchase price for Soybean Meal, $/ton

$/bu $140 $160 $180 $200 $220 $240 $260 $280 $300

$1.40 40.32

42.62 44.93 47.24 49.54 51.85 54.15 56.46 58.77

$1.60 43.77

46.08 48.38 50.69 52.99 55.30 57.61 59.91 62.22

$1.80 47.22

49.53 51.84 54.14 56.45 58.75 61.06 63.37 65.67

$2.00 50.68

52.98 55.29 57.60 59.90 62.21 64.51 66.82 69.13

$2.20 54.13

56.44 58.74 61.05 63.36 65.66 67.97 70.27 72.58

$2.40 57.58

59.89 62.20 64.50 66.81 69.11 71.42 73.73 76.03

$2.60 61.04

63.34 65.65 67.96 70.26 72.57 74.87 77.18 79.49

$2.80 64.49

66.80 69.10 71.41 73.72 76.02 78.33 80.63 82.94

$3.00 67.95

70.25 72.56 74.86 77.17 79.48 81.78 84.09 86.39

Formula used: 1 lb of 12% native hay = .4835 lb corn + .1153 lb SBM

Dried Corn Gluten Feed, $/tonPrice comparison based on corn/SBM mix balanced for equal NEm (.94 Mcal/lb) and CP (25%)

Soybean Meal (44%), $/tonCorn, $/bu 180.00$ 200.00$ 220.00$ 240.00$ 260.00$ 280.00$

1.60$ 102.23 109.97 117.71 125.45 133.19 140.931.80$ 106.30 114.04 121.78 129.52 137.26 145.002.00$ 110.37 118.11 125.85 133.59 141.33 149.072.20$ 114.45 122.19 129.93 137.67 145.41 153.152.40$ 118.52 126.26 134.00 141.74 149.48 157.222.60$ 122.59 130.33 138.07 145.81 153.55 161.292.80$ 126.66 134.40 142.14 149.88 157.62 165.363.00$ 130.73 138.47 146.21 153.95 161.69 169.43

Formula used: 1 lb of CGF = .57 lb corn + .387 lb SBM

Distillers Dried Grains + Solubles, $/tonPrice comparison based on corn/SBM mix balanced for equal NEm (.99 Mcal/lb) and CP (25%)


1.60$ 103.43 110.93 118.43 125.93 133.43 140.931.80$ 107.92 115.42 122.92 130.42 137.92 145.422.00$ 112.41 119.91 127.41 134.91 142.41 149.912.20$ 116.90 124.40 131.90 139.40 146.90 154.402.40$ 121.39 128.89 136.39 143.89 151.39 158.892.60$ 125.88 133.38 140.88 148.38 155.88 163.382.80$ 130.37 137.87 145.37 152.87 160.37 167.873.00$ 134.86 142.36 149.86 157.36 164.86 172.36

Formula used: 1 lb of DDGS = .629 lb corn + . 375 lb SBM

Wheat Midds, $/tonPrice comparison based on corn/SBM mix balanced for equal NEm (.85 Mcal/lb) and CP (18.4%)


1.60$ 79.15 84.08 89.01 93.94 98.87 103.801.80$ 83.50 88.43 93.36 98.29 103.22 108.152.00$ 87.84 92.77 97.70 102.63 107.56 112.502.20$ 92.19 97.12 102.05 106.98 111.91 116.842.40$ 96.54 101.47 106.40 111.33 116.26 121.192.60$ 100.88 105.81 110.74 115.67 120.61 125.542.80$ 105.23 110.16 115.09 120.02 124.95 129.883.00$ 109.58 114.51 119.44 124.37 129.30 134.23

Formula used: 1 lb of Midds = .609 lb corn + .246 lb SBM

Beet Pulp, $/tonPrice comparison based on corn/SBM mix balanced for equal NEm (.81 Mcal/lb) and CP (11%): 25% Dry Matter


1.60$ 14.25 14.70 15.16 15.62 16.08 16.531.80$ 15.51 15.97 16.43 16.88 17.34 17.802.00$ 16.78 17.24 17.69 18.15 18.61 19.072.20$ 18.04 18.50 18.96 19.42 19.87 20.332.40$ 19.31 19.77 20.23 20.68 21.14 21.602.60$ 20.58 21.03 21.49 21.95 22.41 22.862.80$ 21.84 22.30 22.76 23.22 23.67 24.133.00$ 23.11 23.57 24.02 24.48 24.94 25.40

Formula used: (DM Basis) 1 lb of beet pulp = .709 lb corn + .091 lb SBM

Alternative Roughages:

Stalks/StoverAmmoniated strawSudan HaysLow quality forages

Limit-Fed Wintering Ration Studies:

Limit-feeding corn to gestating beef cows, Year 1

Item Free-choice hay Limit-fed corn Ration

WS Corn, lb 10.4 Hay (10% CP), lb 32.2 2.6 Supplement*, lb 2.6 Total 32.2 15.6

Feed Cost, $/day 1.50 .77 Animal Performance

No. of cows 41 29 Weight change, lb -31 4.4 Calf Birth Wt, lb 94.6a 103.8b Calf Weaning Wt, lb 631a 674b Conception rate, % 95.1 90

Loerch, 1996

abMeans differ (P<.05) Hay $80/ton, Corn $2.00/bu Supp $150/ton* 36% Protein supplement with 3.6% Ca and 1% Phos (As-fed)** Trial was conducted from November through Mid-April



WS Corn, lb 10.8 Hay (9.5% CP), lb 29.1 1.8 Supplement*, lb 2.6 Total 29.1 15.2

Feed cost, $/day 1.36 .75 Animal Performance

No. of cows 41 29 Weight change, lb -51.7a -117b Calf Birth Wt, lb 95.9 99.4 Calf Weaning Wt, lb 585 590 Conception rate, % 85.4 93.1

Loerch, 1996

abMeans differ (P<.05) Hay $80/ton, Corn $2.00/bu, Supp $150/ton* 36% Supp. with 3.6% Ca, 1% Phos (As-fed) 60 g/lb Monensin** Trial was conducted from November through Mid-April



WS Corn, lb 12.6 Hay (9% CP), lb 29.5 2.2 Supplement*, lb 2.2 Total 29.5 17.0

Feed Cost, $/day 1.37 .81 Animal Performance

No. of cows 41 30 Weight change, lb -136.6a -48.5b Calf Birth Wt, lb 97.2a 105.4b Calf Weaning Wt, lb 628 642 Conception rate, % 73.2c 90.0d

Loerch, 1996

abMeans differ (P<.05) ; cdMeans differ (P<.08)Hay $80/ton, Corn $2.00/bu, Supp $150/ton* 36% Protein supplement with 3.6% Ca and 1% Phos (As-fed)** Trial was conducted from November through Mid-April

Whole shelled corn vs rolled in limit-fed diets

Item Ad-lib hay WS Corn Rolled Corn Ration

Corn, lb 13.4 13.4 Hay (17.5% CP), lb 35.5 9.9 9.9 Total 35.5 23.4 23.4

Animal Performance No. of cows 21/24 21/24 21/24 Weight change, lb,d -.66 -1.10 -.84 Calf gain, lb/d 2.60 2.40 2.53 Calf Weaning Wt, lb 509 500 507 Conception rate, % 97.7 100 97.9

Tjardes et al.1998

Cattle were fed for 62 days (between calving and breeding)

UW Limit-fed Wintering Diet

3.70 lbs

.9 lbsProtein Supp.

11 lbs14 lbsRolled Corn

10 lbs10 lbsMillet Hay

High FatControl

Fat Supp.

-

-

% CP

% TDN

10.28

75.36

9.39

75.15

UW Limit-fed Cow Condition

Breeding wt, BCS avg 60 d postpartum

Mid - weight, BCS avg 19 d postpartum

1333 (5.05)1333 (5.08)

Initial wt, BCS 60 d prior to calving

High FatControl

1330 (5.49)

1274 (5.36)

Calf Performance, UW Study

Item Control

Added Fat

SEM P-Value

Birth Wt. 91.4 92.9 1.66 0.52

Vigor a 1.13

1.21 0.06 0.30

Rectal Temp., °Fb

101.72 101.67 0.09 0.68aVigor score at calving: 1 = alert vigorous, active; 2 = alert, able to stand; 3 = lethargic, unable to stand; 4 = dead at birth.bCalf rectal temperature taken within 24 h after birth.

UW Estrous Synchronization

60 d PostpartumEAZI-BREED CIDR

1 Shot PGF2

Day 13Day 0

InsertCIDR

Day 7

Remove CIDRPGF2 Injection

Heat Detect

and Breed

CIDR

Response to Synchronization

62.09% 1st Service 75 d

67.32% 1st Service 30 d

93.46% Heat Detection

All Cows

(72.03%)

Feeding and Management

Occasionally, limiting intakemay be a good thing!!

Rough guidelines for limit-fed rations based on corn grain Amount to be fed Stage of Production

Corn

38 to 44% Supplement

Long stemmed grass hay

Gestating .75% of BW 2 lbs/day .5% of BW Lactating, avg. milk 1.0% of BW 3 lbs/day .5% of BW Lactating, high milk 1.1% of BW 3.5 lbs/day .5% of BW

OSU Factsheet F-3028

What to ExpectAggressive behavior at the bunkConsume ration in as little as 20 to 30 minutes Lots of “free time” to pace, crib Takes 1 to 2 weeks to “adapt” Increased roughage may help

Variation in weight gains/losses? Hay/concentrate ratio Bunk Space?

Herd ManagementConsider sorting herd into 2 - 3 groups: Bred Yearlings Young and Thin cows Mature Cows in Good Condition Consider limit-feeding just one group

Watch cattle closely May not work for all cows Monitor condition of cows and adjust

accordingly

Feed Management

Work up to limit-fed diet slowly Start with 3-4 lb grain plus free choice

hay Increase grain by no more than 1 lb/day When grain level is reached, begin

removing hay

Ionophores very beneficialConsistent, accurate feeding Good management essential

Balance separately for gestation and lactationHigh Calcium (feedlot) mineralVitamin A?Whole shelled vs ground corn?

Feed Management

Example Limit-Fed Wintering Rations: Corn

Stage of Prod., 1200 lb cow

Feed, lb as-fed

Last 1/3 Preg. Early Lactation

Prairie Hay 9.0 9.0

Rolled Corn 6.0 10.0

Soybean Meal 1.5 3.0

Limestone .1 .2

DDGS

Beet PulpPrairie Hay - Meadow Brome Hay, 14% CP

Example Limit-Fed Wintering Rations: DDGS


Feed, lb as-fed

Last 1/3 Preg. Early Lactation

Prairie Hay 9.0 9.0

Rolled Corn 3.0 5.0

Soybean Meal

Limestone .15 .2

Dry DDGS 4.0 7.0

Beet PulpPrairie Hay - Meadow Brome Hay, 14% CP

Example Limit-Fed Wintering Rations: Beet Pulp


Feed, lb as-fed Last 1/3 Preg. Early Lactation

Prairie Hay 9.0 9.0

Rolled Corn 2.0 6.0

Soybean Meal 1.0 2.5

Limestone/Dical

- / .1 .05 / .1

Dry DDGS

Beet Pulp 18.0 18.0Prairie Hay - Meadow Brome Hay, 14% CPBeet Pulp - 25% Dry Matter

Example Limit-Fed Wintering Rations: Beet Pulp + DDGS


Feed, lb as-fed Last 1/3 Preg. Early Lactation

Prairie Hay 9.0 9.0

Rolled Corn

Soybean Meal

Limestone/Dical

- / .05 .1 / -

Dry DDGS 2.5 6.5

Beet Pulp (25%DM)

19.0 24.0Prairie Hay - Meadow Brome Hay, 14% CPBeet Pulp - 17% Dry Matter

Additonal Questions

Birth weights of calves Birth weights appear to be slightly

increased, but calving difficulty is not affected

Re-breeding No reported effect on subsequent re-

breeding rates

Final thoughts

Cattle will take at least 2 wks to adjust

Work cattle up slowly

Feed extra hay when daily feeding is late/missed

Final thoughtsConsider limit-feeding only part of the herd Sort cattle into groups

Balance rations separately for late gestation

and lactation

Safety of ration: Long-stemmed vs ground hay ionophore processing and amount of grain

Choose the Feeding Program That Fits Your Operation

Documents

Feeding and Managing Cows on High Grain Diets Steve Paisley UW Extension Beef Specialist