feeding and management of the cow-calf herd

7/31/2019 Feeding and Management of the Cow-Calf Herd

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FEEDING ANDMANAGEMEN

T OF THECOW-CALF

HERD

Unit 15


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Kinds of Feed

Cow-calf feeding programs are based on the use ofroughages

Typical roughages used are Pasture

Hay

Silage

Straw

Corncobs

Other crop residues Roughages provide the cheapest source of energy for

the cow and calf.


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Forages

Graze as much as possible.

If weather does not permit year round grazingthen forage should be harvested and stored for

later use.

Downfall: grazing only recovers 15-30% ofwhat is produced.


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Pasture & Hay

Proper management increases the yield.

Soil should be tested and fertilized

Use rotational grazing to increase carryingcapacity.


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Crop Residues

Helps reduce feed costs

In Northern areas 2 acres of cornstalks willcarry a pregnant cow 80-100 days

Heavy snows will reduce the carrying capacityof cornstalk fields.
http://www.nebkan.com/images/DusterStalks.jpg


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FEEDINGREQUIREMEN

TS


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Feeding Dry Pregnant Cows

Feed enough to keep them in good flesh fromfall 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 someweight during winter


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Overfeeding

Should be avoided.

Results in

Higher cost

Trouble calving

Less milk flow

Higher calf losses


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Feeding Young Cows and Heifers

Require more feed because they are stillgrowing

The amount of feed received is more important

than the kind of feed.


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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.


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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 ofhigh quality hay or additional protiensupplements


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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


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Protien

Blocks, lick tubs and cubes are the mostconvenient ways to feed

Care should be taken to prevent overeating

Overeating can be partially controlled byfeeding plenty of roughage and supplyingplenty of fresh water


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Protein Supplements
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Vitamin A

Only needed when cattle are fed poor qualityroughage

If the cow has been on good summer pasture

enough Vitamin A will be stored in the body toget the animal through several months


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Lactation Rations

Depends on how much the milk cow produces

Heavier milk producers have higherrequirements 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 lactationneeds


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Lactation Rations

Salt and minerals should be provided freechoice

If the roughage is limited or poor quality some

grain should be fed
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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 forrebreeding.
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CREEP

FEEDING


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Creep Feeding Calves

A way of providing calves with extra feed

May be grain, commercial creep feed mix, orroughage

Fed in a feeder that cows can not get into


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Advantages of Creep Feeding

Produces heavier calvesat weaning (30-70 lbs)

Produces higher gradeand more finish atweaning

Calves go on feedlotrations better at weaning

Creates less feedlotstress

Allows cows and calvesto stay on poorer qualitypasture for a longer time
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Good Reasons to Creep Feed

Calves are to be sold atweaning

Calves are to be fed outon 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 growthpotential

Calves were born in thefall

Calves are to be weanedearly (45-90 days)

Calf-feed price ratio isfavorable

Pastures become dry inlate summer

Cows and calves arekept in confinement


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Disadvantages of CreepFeeding

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 comparedto calves that were creep fed before weaning


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Reasons Not To Feed Creep

Calves are to be fed through the winter onroughage

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 bemeasured


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GROWING

RATIONS


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Growing Replacement Heifers

British breeds should gain 1.0-1.25 pound/dayfrom 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 andnot age!

F d F G i R l


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Feed For Growing ReplacementHeifers

Must be palatable

In areas of cold weather nutrient needsincrease 1% for each degree of temperature

below freezing Feed must be increased as heifers grow

Vitamins and minerals should be fed free

choice


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FEEDING

BULLS


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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 pastureto complete growth.

Bulls will continue to grow slowly until about 4

years of age


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Feeds

Hay

Grain

Amount depends on type and quality

Minerals free choice

Feed Vitamin A if ration is mostly corn silage orlimited 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.


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Rate of Growth & Needs

Yearling bulls should be fed to gain 1.5-2lbs/day

2-4 yr old bulls need more energy and protein

in the winter than cows and should be fedaccordingly

Mature bulls in good condition may be fed the

same as the cow herd


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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


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After the Breeding Season

Keep bulls separate from cows

If no place to keep bulls it is safe to run them withsteers


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Before the Breeding Season

If necessary trim hoofs several weeks beforebreeding season begins

Test semen for fertility and disease


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MANAGEMENTOF THE HERD

DURING

BREEDINGSEASON


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Goal

100% calf crop

Observe the herd closely

Check for injured or diseased cows or bulls

Watch to ensure bulls are servicing cows


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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 thebull should be replaced.


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Breeding

No more than 60 days to maintain a shortcalving 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 oldercows


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Conception Rates

Higher for cows that are gaining weight beforeand 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 byHot weather

Injuries


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Artificial Insemination (AI)

Placing the sperm in the female reproductivetract by other than natural means

Breeder uses an inseminating tube to deposit

sperm into the cervix and uterus of the cow


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Disadvantages of AIing

Need a trained inseminator

Requires more time and supervision of theherd

Sterile equipment

Special handling facilities


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BREEDIN

G

HEIFERS


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Size

Most important when breeding yearling heifers

Should weigh 550-750 pounds

Weight should be from growth, not fattening


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Age

Goal is to breed the heifer so she calves at 2years of age

When achieved the result is 1 more calf

produced during a cows lifetime


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2 year old Calving

Lowers production cost

Keeps a higher percent of cows in the herd inproduction

Fewer replacement heifers are needed eachyear to maintain a stable herd size


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Conception Rates for Heifers

Lower for yearling heifers than older cows

Longer calving season

Possibly need more help in calving


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Breeding Heifers

Breed to calve 20-30 days before older cows

Require more feed and should be keptseparate from older cows

Breed for 40-60 days

Pregnancy check 60-90 days later

Sell any heifers that are not pregnant


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CALVING


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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 itcontains nutrients, such as Vitamins A & E, and antibodies thecalf needs

Cow should expel the afterbirth within 12-24 hours aftergiving birth

Keep cows with calves separate from cows that haventcalved

Identify the calf with an ear tag or tattoo

Record the calfs birth weight, calving problems and birthdate for performance records


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CASTRATION AND

DEHORNING


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Castration

Can be done at birth

Several methods

Knife

Burdizzo (fig. 15-6)

Elastor bands
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Pen_sized_stockman.JPG


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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 aftercastration to check for swelling, continuedbleeding and stiffness
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Pen_sized_stockman.JPG


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Burdizzo Castration

Bloodless

Crushes the cords of the testicles

However if the pincers are not applied correctly

the cord may not be crushed completely resultingin a staggy steer later on

No open wound

Good choice in areas where screw worms area problem


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Elastrator Band Castration

Special instrument that places a tight rubberband around the scrotum above the testicles

Cuts of the blood supply to the testicle

This causes the testicle to waste away due to lackof blood

No open wound


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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


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Methods of Dehorning

Chemical Liquids

Caustic sticks

Paste

Spoons Gouges

Tubes

Hot irons

Barnes-Type Clippers

Saws


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BRANDINGANDMARKING

(X)


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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 stateGovernments

SD State Brand Board-located in Pierre


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Common Branding Methods

Hot Irons

Cold Irons

Freeze BrandingHot

Freeze
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:LeftShoulderBrand.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hannoveraner_Brand_0001.jpg


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Hot Iron Brand

Oldest

Most commonly used

http://www.sdbrandboard.com/default.asp


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Branding in SD, 1888
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Freeze Branding

Becoming more common

Uses liquid nitrogen, brass irons and rubbingalcohol

Not a legal method of cattle branding in SD
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Branding

Calves can be thrown to the ground

Calves can be branded in a chute using atable

E C i
http://www.mydhandsales.com/chute%20pictures/calf%20table.jpeg


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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 thefront or behind


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E T i


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Ear Tattooing

Well adapted as a method of markingpurebred cattle

More permanent than ear cutting

Special instrument is used Mark is made with indelible ink

No open wound is left

E T


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Ear Tags

Widely used

Identification number is on the tag

E T i d T tt i
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Ear Tagging and Tattooing

N k Ch i


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Neck Chains

Used when herd owners do not want to usepermanent identification

Usually used by purebred breeders

Not a good choice for cows on brushy range

B i k t T


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Brisket Tags

Tag is placed in the brisket

Hard to Read

Often ripped out because they catch on things
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SELLING,

GROWINGAND

FINISHING

S lli f d l


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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

S lli Y li F d


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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 thensold as yearling feeders in the fall

G i d Fi i hi
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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.

P diti i


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Preconditioning

The process of preparing calves for the stressof 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


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Practices

Castration, dehorning, identification by tattooingor branding

Maintaining health records

Vaccinations

Weaning 4-6 weeks before sale

Training to eat solid feed from a bunk and todrink water from a water tank

Worming and treatment for lice, grubs andmange (if necessary)

Preconditioning


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Preconditioning

Preconditioning adds costs toproduction but is well worth it!

Backgrounding


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Backgrounding

Growing and feeding calves from weaning untilthey 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, asoverly fat calves bring less when going to the

feedlot for finishing.

Summary


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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 bedependant on where you are in the U.S.

Dry, pregnant cows and bulls are fed to preventthem from becoming too fat or too thin

Younger cows and heifers and young bulls thatwill 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


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Summary

Performance records should be used to replace herdcows

Replacement heifers should be bred based on weightnot age

Use fertility testing at the beginning of the breedingseason to achieve a 100% calf crop

4 bulls to 100 cows

Preconditioning of calves should occur when they areyoung

Backgrounding calves is growing calves on roughagesfrom weaning until they are ready for the feedlot

feeding and management of the cow-calf herd

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