Supplementing Feed to Grazing Cattle Dallas Mount Platte County Extension Educator

Introduction Forage = Beef The ideal supplement should enhance or not inhibit the animal’s ability to digest forage Supplement should complement forage quality

Basic Beef Nutrition Rumen Stomach, Intestines

Rumen Function Feed Stomach and Intestines Energy Protein

Considerations When Supplementing Ruminants Rumen microbes have nutrient requirements –If not met, rumen efficiency is decreased Feed affects rumen microbes before it affects the animal

Influence of Season on Forage Quality J. A. Johnson, et al. (1998) North Dakota State University

Nutrient Content of Range Forage Percent

Ruminal Protein Digestibility Percent Percent of Protein

Forage nutrient content varies with season Fiber portion of forage (NDF) Digestibility (TDN)Protein content and protein degradability

Energy vs. Protein Supplements Energy Corn Wheat Oats Fat MolassesProtein Soybean meal Cottonseed meal Corn Gluten meal Feather meal Blood meal

Effect of Degradable Protein Supplements on Intake and Digestion of Low-Quality Forage by Beef Cows H. H. Koster et al. (1996) Kansas State University

Methods Cows fed a diet of: – Low-quality forage –5 levels of ruminally degradable protein Measured diet digestion parameters

Forage Intake (g/kg BW.75 ) Degradable Protein (grams/day)

Forage Digestion (%) Degradable Protein (grams/day)

Total Diet Digestion (%) Degradable Protein (grams/day)

Implications Supplementing ruminally degradable protein: –Improved digestion of low-quality forage by 15% –Increased forage intake by 55% This represents an improvement of forage utilization by the animal

Type of Protein Supplement Natural vs. Non-Protein Nitrogen

Type of Protein Supplement Soybean Meal Cottonseed Meal Corn Gluten Meal Urea (48% nitrogen) Natural Non-Protein Nitrogen Slowly digested Provide BCVFA’s Quickly digested/dissolved Provides only nitrogen

Performance of Cows on Native Range When Fed Protein or Corn Supplements D. W. Sanson, D. C. Clanton and I. G. Rush (1990) University of Nebraska

Methods 135 cows grazing native Sandhills winter range Supplement treatments: –Ear corn –Ear corn + protein supplement –Protein supplement

Weight Changes of Cows

Implications Corn supplemented cows lost more weight than protein supplemented cows Corn supplement decreased forage digestion and intake

Using TDN/CP Ratio for Supplement Selection

CP, %TDN, %TDN/CP Cattle need Dead grass Med quality grass hay Winter annual pasture Cottonseed meal Range cube Corn

Using TDN/CP Ratios for Supplement Selection Forage TDN/CP > 7 < 4 Protein Energy Supplement

Conclusion Proper supplementation can improve forage digestion and animal performance Provide supplements that complement forage Use resources to help determine proper supplementation