1. Livestock Nutrition Support Offered by County Extension Offices
Dana Zook
Area Livestock Specialist
Enid, OK

2. Livestock Nutrition Support
Added Nutrition accounts for 40% of total operating costs in beef operations
Variety of Livestock Species
Cattle
Small Ruminants
Poultry
Equine
Added Nutrition accounts for 40% of total operating costs for beef producers in general – harvested hay, concentrate feeds, blended feeds, cubes, mineral supplements
The assistance we offer if mostly focused on cattle but the expanding small ruminant side and backyard poultry has produced a lot of questions from producers young and old

3. Livestock Nutrition Identifying livestock needs
Interpreting Forage Analysis
Supplementation
Total Diet Formulation
Feed Ingredient Comparison

4. Identifying Livestock Needs
Stage of Production
Define Nutrient Requirements
Chart of goats…chart of cattle

5. Forage Analysis Interpretation
Standing Forage
Harvested Forage
Recommendations of when to harvest how to sample according to forage – standing or harvested
Would encourage producers to strive for a representative sample
Most county offices can offer the use of a forage probe for ease and accuracy of sampling

6. Balancing Nutrient Supply with Nutrient Requirements
Overfeeding
Expensive
Underfeeding
Reduced Pregnancy Rates
Lower Birth or Weaning Rates
Less pounds to sell
Inefficient production
Underfeeding – ignoring a substantial deficiency – reduce pregnancy rates, lower calf weights - less pounds to sell at sale time - inefficient production

7. Evaluating Supplement Alternatives
Economical Supplementation
Supplements analyzed base on price nutrient need of cows
Habitual Supplementation
Same supplement fed regardless of price changes

8. Determining Supplemental Need
Animal Nutrient Requirements
Subtract
Value Forage/Hay
= Nutrient Excess or Deficiency
What are the supplemental needs?
Definition of Supplementation – Many operations are considered a forage production enterprise but there are time during the year that the natural forage resource does not provide adequate nutrients to meet the nutrition needs of a particular breed of livestock – this is where supplementation comes into play. With supplementation, nutrients are being supplied to complement a forage resource, supplying either protein or energy to fulfill a nutritional need.

9. Determining Supplemental Need
March Calving Cow (1200 lbs.)
Based on 24 lbs. DMI
Late Gestation (Dec. – Feb.)
Dormant Native Range (4% CP, 49% TDN)
Crude Protein TDN
Requirement lbs lbs.
Forage Value lb lbs.
Deficiency lb lbs.
What are your supplement options?
Without supplementation, these cows would be deficient in both energy and protein --- and would be expected to loose considerable body condition before calving.
Assuming our 1200 lb cow is in good body condition, we will supplement her with a good quality protein supplement

10. Supplement Options How do we decide? Supplement Cost/unit 20% Cubes
$250
38% Cubes
$300
18% Tub poured(125#)
$62*
25% Tub cooked(200#)
104*
Liquid Feed 14%
$260
Liquid Feed 20%
$240
Alfalfa 18-20%
$100
How do we decide?
These are the supplement option I chose to compare today----there may be others for your operation and some of these may not necessarily work for your operation
Grinding hay under 18% (12-18%)
Ask the audience how they would decide?
- How do they decide ?
-What factors are your decision based on?
Do you price it soley by the ton? By the lb. of feed? By lb. of protein? Is DM included

11. The Comparison $0.39 per lb. CP $0.62 per lb. CP 38% Cubes 20% Cubes
38% Protein
$300/ton
760 lbs. CP/ton
$0.39 per lb. CP
($300/760 lb.)
20% Protein
$250/ton
400 lbs. CP/ton
$0.62 per lb. CP
($250/400 lb.)
Which would you choose?

12. Supplement Options Supplement Cost/lb. Protein As-Is DM
DM basis
20% Cubes
$0.62
88%
$0.71
38% Cubes
$0.39
$0.44
Alfalfa 18-20%
$0.26
$0.29
18% Tub (125#)
$2.75
75%
$3.67
25% Tub cooked (200#)
$2.08
85%
$2.44
Liquid Feed 14%
$0.92
50%
$1.85
Liquid Feed 20%
$0.60
46%
$1.30
As I said, its important to compare apples to apples. How do the feeds in yellow compare to the feeds in orange? ---they have higher moisture content or lower DM
Explain DM here

13. Balancing Rations Animals in a dry-lot or grass trap environment
Total diet being prepared for them
Preconditioning Calves
Butcher Beef
Semi-Confinement Cows
Many other situations
All other rations where we provide a balanced ration for livestock….some examples are

14. Tools OSU COW-culator OSU Ration Calculator
OSU Ration Calculator
Forage Supplementation Calculator
Forage Nitrate Calculator
Mineral Use Calculator
Many other tools utilized to help target the nutrition to the needs of the clientele

15. Thank you!
Dana Zook
Area Livestock Specialist
Enid, OK