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