BEEF RATIONS
Brood cows and stockers in the southeast
I. Breeding Herd
A. Cows
- a live calf from each cow each year should be the goal. Approximatelty 285 days/ year the cow is pregnant, which leaves ~80 days to recover from calving, come into heat, and conceive. First calf heifers may take longer, therefore may need to breed 20 days earlier.
Nutrition has a large impact on breeding. Critical needs are from 30 days before calving to 70 days after calving. ==>
100 day needs = needs of the other 265 days
1. Summer
- Early to mid is adequate innutrients provided by forages
- Late summer is usually characterized by periods of drought = poor quality forage
- spring calving herd - ¯ weaning weights
-fall calving herd - sell weaned calves before this time??
2. Winter
- Forage quantity is lacking
- Use of low-cost feedstuffs
a) hay
b) silage
c) by-products
- molasses
- broiler litter = excreta, bedding, spilled feed, & feathers
- Broiler Litter
A. Selling of Broiler Litter
- governed by individual states
- MS
B. Feeding to Cattle
1. Public perception - organic grown veggies
2. Nutritional Value - Highly variable
- amount of dirt (soil)
- # of broods between cleaning
a) moisture - 12 % too dusty; 25% flows poorly
b) energy - low (50% TDN)
c) CP ~25%; NPN, other, insoluble
d) CF ~25%; but particle size is small
e) Ash (10-50%)
best index
bucket of water
C. Processing and Storing Broiler Litter
to eradicate pathogenic bacteria
- heat (140 to 150 oF) 60 to 65.5 oC
- composting
- deepstacking
- ensiling
D. Advantages
1. Inexpensive
2. Abundant
3. High in CP
E. Disadvantages
1. Highly variable in ash
2. Public perception
3. Abusive on equipment
B. Calf Crop
1. Ration consists of dam’s milk plus pasture or forage that cows are fed
2. Creep Feeding
a. providing additional feed (usually energy) in such a way that only calves get it
b. Advantages Disadvantages
- ¯ weaning weight - higher feed costs
- cow weight loss
c. Greatest response when pasture is limiting
d. Minimizes stress and shrink at weaning
e. Question: Does producer keep or sell calves??
3. Preconditioning - preparing the feeder calf for feedlot adaptation before it leaves the production site.
a. Necessary
(1) Wean and start on grain no less than 30 days prior to sale, adjust to feed bunks and water troughs (ration similar to feedlot)
(2) Castrate, dehorn, and treat for grubs & worms no less than 3 weeks before sale
(3) Vaccinate for IBR, Parainfluenza, Pastruella spp., and Clostridial Spp. 3 weeks before sale
b. Optional
4. Should bring $3 to $5 / cwt more to recover costs of preconditioning