Beef Cattle Nutrition Fast Start Training Dec. 11, 2015 Overview Industry segments and business opportunities Nutritional considerations Metabolic diseases R. Tom Bass, II, DVM, PhD Renaissance Nutrition, Inc. Industry Segments Cow-calf Greatest business potential Stocker/backgrounder Similar nutritional approach as for cow-calf Feedlot Large-scale, integrated, consultant controlled Purebred Economics may not be a primary consideration 2010 U.S. Beef Cattle Numbers 31.7 million mama cows 27.5 million calves under 500 lb 22 million weaned cattle destined for slaughter 4.4 million replacement heifers 2015 U.S. Beef Cow Numbers 29.7 million mama cows Top 10 states: TX(4.18 million) - MT (1.51 million) OK (1.90 million) - KS (1.48 million) MO(1.88 million) - KY (1.01 million) NB(1.77 million) - IA (920K) SD(1.63 million) - FL (916K) Top 10 states comprise 58% of the nation s herd Top 20 states have 82% (includes ND, TN, AR, CO, WY, AL, VA, CA, OR, GA) Business considerations Expect lower margins vs. dairy business, but also less time investment Greater likelihood of product vs. program sales Economic considerations: cost/hd/day, feed cost/lb gain, feed:gain ratio, cost per bag 1/5
Cow-Calf Comments Generation of annual calf crop with minimal feed inputs beyond forage Mineral program predominantly or entirely based on free-choice products Lower nutrient supplementation vs. dairy Convenience sometimes preferred over lower cost Cow BCS an important consideration Is there any magic in that bag of mineral??? Mineral Mineral Requirements of Beef Cattle (1996 Beef NRC) Growing Cows/Heifers Cattle Gestating Lactating Calcium, % 0.40 0.80 0.17 0.27 0.30 0.60 Phosphorus, % 0.22 0.50 0.17 0.22 0.22 0.39 Magnesium, % 0.10 0.12 0.20 Potassium, % 0.60 0.60 0.60 Sodium, % 0.06 0.08 0.06 0.08 0.10 Sulfur, % 0.15 0.15 0.15 Iron, ppm 50 50 50 Zinc, ppm 30 30 30 Manganese, ppm 20 40 40 Copper, ppm 10 10 10 Selenium, ppm 0.1 0.1 0.1 Cobalt, ppm 0.1 0.1 0.1 Iodine, ppm 0.5 0.5 0.5 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle (adapted from 1996 Beef NRC) Production Stage Crude Protein, % TDN, % NE-m, Mcal/lb Brood cow, early lact. 11-13% 60-65% 0.62-0.68 Brood cow, mid-late lact. 10-8% 58-52% 0.54-0.58 Brood cow, post-weaning 6.5 7.5% 46 50% 0.40 0.45 Brood cow, pre-calving 8.5 9% 53 56% 0.50 0.54 Repl. heifer, 7-12 mos. 10 8% 55 51% 0.54-0.50 Repl. Heifer, 12-18 mos. 8-7.5% 51 54% 0.50-0.47 Repl. Heifer, 18-24 mos. 7.5 10% 55 59% 0.48-0.55 Herd bull, maint. 6-7% 48-50% 0.46-0.48 Thin Cows Photo courtesy Dr. John Currin, VMRCVM Photo courtesy Dr. John Currin, VMRCVM 2/5
Used to describe relative fatness or body fat reserves 1 through 9 numbering system 1= very thin 9= very fat Beware gut fill & fuzzy hair coats!! BCS 1, 2 & 3 are too thin Very poor performance and require great investment to return to production BCS 4 are borderline for cows at weaning, too thin pre-calving (too thin for heifers any time) BCS 5 & 6 are optimum (heifers need to be closer to 6) BCS 7 are OK production-wise, but are (were) potentially more expensive to feed BCS 8 & 9 are too fat - production & economics suffer Relationship Between BCS and % of Herd in Heat Calving Body % of Cows Showing Heat Condition 60 Days 90 Days 1-4 (thin) 46% 66% 5-6 (moderate) 91% 97% 7-9 (fat) 89% 100% Cows thinner than BCS 5 take longer to breed back Cows fatter than BCS 5 are more expensive to feed Metabolic Diseases Grass Tetany Grass (& winter) tetany Agroceriosis Most common in late pregnant, spring calving cows Polioencephalomalacia Primarily a feedlot or backgrounder problem Thiamine deficiency and/or excess S intake 3/5
Hypomagnesemia Clinical signs: Overreact to stimuli, possibly aggressive behavior, may separate themselves from the herd Alert downers that try to get up, or show evidence of struggling Muscle twitches, spasms, convulsions, death Hypomagnesemia Mg + homeostasis almost completely dependent on daily Mg + absorption from the ration Solubility of Mg + source & rumen ph can influence absorption Potassium and nitrogen (protein) are antagonistic and limit Mg absorption Greater risk for cows grazing lush pasture _AND_ lactating Nutritional Strategies (Spring calving herd) Fall f/c pasture (stockpiled?) until gone Good quality grass hay Supplemental energy if summer was droughty? f/c TM salt or low- Mag mineral Winter Good quality hay f/c Supplemental energy Corn silage, corn grain, byproduct feeds Use only as needed for BCS mgt. f/c TM salt or low-mag mineral f/c Hi-Mag ( 10%) mineral beginning 1 month prior to the start of the calving season Nutritional Strategies (Spring calving herd) Spring Until pasture is available: Good quality hay f/c Supplemental energy Corn silage, corn grain, byproduct feeds Use only as needed for BCS mgt. Supplemental protein? f/c Hi-Mag ( 10%) mineral Summer f/c pasture Good quality grass hay f/c low-mag mineral or TM salt beginning in late July or August Stocker considerations Feedlot Considerations Smaller scale cow-calf production scenario and goals Goal is inexpensive frame growth based on pasture/grazing Backgrounding very similar, except cattle are confined and/or fed stored forages 4/5
Feedlot Considerations Grower Smaller cattle Frame growth with some condition gain Moderate ADG, moderate concentrate feeding Ionophores & implants extremely profitable Finisher Larger cattle (800-900 + lb) Pack on the pounds Heavy concentrate feeding Ionophores & implants extremely profitable Feed bunk mgt. very important Grower Ration Specs Finisher Ration Specs Questions? 5/5