FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE COW-CALF HERDUnit 15

Kinds of Feed

Cow-calf feeding programs are based on the use of roughages

Typical roughages used are Pasture Hay Silage Straw Corncobs Other crop residues

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.

Pasture & Hay

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 REQUIREMENTS

Feeding Dry Pregnant Cows

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

Should be avoided. Results in

Higher cost Trouble calving Less milk flow Higher calf losses

Feeding Young Cows and Heifers 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.

Last 30-45 Days of Pregnancy

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

Should be fed free choice Mineral mixes should include

Calcium Phosphorus Salt Any trace minerals that are known to be deficient If grass tetany is a problem then magnesium

oxide should be included in the mix 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

Lactation Rations for 1st Calf Heifers 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

Creep Feeding Calves

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

Advantages of Creep Feeding 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

Good Reasons to Creep Feed 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

Disadvantages of Creep Feeding Calves are well fed after weaning,

the weight advantage from creep feeding is lost 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

Reasons Not To Feed Creep

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

Growing Replacement Heifers 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 English breeds- 550-625 lbs Larger breeds- 675-750 lbs

Heifers need to be bred according to weight and not age!

Feed For Growing Replacement Heifers 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

Growing Young 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 will continue to grow slowly until

about 4 years of age

Feeds

Hay Grain

Amount depends on type and quality 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.

Rate of Growth & Needs

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

After the Breeding Season

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

After the Breeding Season

Keep bulls separate from cows If no place to keep bulls it is safe to run

them with steers

Before the Breeding Season

If necessary trim hoofs several weeks before breeding season begins

Test semen for fertility and disease

MANAGEMENT OF THE HERD DURING BREEDING SEASON

Goal

100% calf crop Observe the herd closely Check for injured or diseased cows or

bulls Watch to ensure bulls are servicing cows

Number of Bulls to Run

Young bulls can easily service 20-25 cows Mature bulls

Estrus-synchronized cows-25 Non synchronized cows- 35-40

Range conditions 4 bulls per 100 cows

I have 300 cows. How many bulls do I need?

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.

Breed yearling heifers 20 days before older cows

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

Artificial Insemination (AI)

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

BREEDING 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 cow’s lifetime

2 year old Calving

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

Conception Rates for Heifers 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

After the Calf is Born

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 haven’t calved

Identify the calf with an ear tag or tattoo Record the calf’s birth weight, calving problems

and birth date for performance records

CASTRATION AND

DEHORNING

Castration

Can be done at birth Several methods

Knife Burdizzo (fig. 15-6) Elastor bands

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

This increase the danger of infection and bleeding

Wound should be treated with iodine Calves should be check several days after

castration to check for swelling, continued bleeding and stiffness

Burdizzo Castration

Bloodless Crushes the cords of the testicles

However 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

Elastrator Band Castration

Special instrument that places a tight rubber band around the scrotum above the testicles

Cuts of the blood supply to the testicle This causes the testicle to waste away due

to lack of blood No open wound

Dehorning

Several reason for dehorning Horned 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 Liquids Caustic sticks Paste

Spoons Gouges Tubes Hot irons Barnes-Type Clippers Saws

BRANDING AND

MARKING (X)

Branding and Marking

Common in larger herds Required by law in some western states

W. SD requires, E. SD does not. Brands recorded by county and state

Governments SD State Brand Board-located in Pierre

Common Branding Methods

Hot Irons Cold Irons Freeze Branding

Hot

Freeze

Hot Iron Brand

Oldest Most commonly used http://www.sdbrandboard.com/

default.asp

Branding in SD, 1888

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

Widely used Identification number is on the tag

Ear Tagging and Tattooing

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

SELLING, GROWING AND FINISHING

Selling feeder calves

Calves are born in the spring Weigh about 400-500 pounds

Heifer calves will weigh about 5% less than steers

Calves are sold in the fall as feeder calves

Selling Yearling Feeders

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

Growing and Finishing

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)

Preconditioning

Preconditioning adds costs to production but is

well worth it!

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

Feeding programs are based on roughages Summer pasture and fall/winter silage and hay is

common The types of pasture, silage and hay is going to be

dependant on where you are in the U.S. 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