What are nutrients? Nutrients are food components that support life Growth Body maintenance Producing milk (lactation) Pregnancy (gestation)

Basic Nutrition

Nutrient Requirements Animals in different stages of life need different combinations of nutrients Environment needs and weather also affect nutrient

Nutrient Composition Different forages and supplements contain different combinations of nutrients Nutrient composition of what the animals are eating must be balanced with their nutrient needs

Determining Nutrition Composition Send samples of forage, hay or feed for analysis Use forage or feed composition tables remember these are only averages Read the label on purchased feeds

Nutrient Analysis Listings Dry matter what s left after all the water is removed. It contains the nutrients. Crude protein a measure of the amount of nitrogen. Proteins are usually 16% nitrogen. Energy Usually shown as TDN, total digestible nutrients. Fiber structural carbohydrates digested in the rumen for energy.

Nutrient Intake Cattle will eat 2 to 3% of their body weight in dry matter every day. That s 20 to 30 pounds of dry matter for a 1000-pound cow. All their nutrient needs must be included in this amount. On average, cattle need 1 gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight daily. Plan for 8 to 18 gallons for a 1000-pound cow, depending on stage of production.

Nutritional needs Water Protein Energy Minerals

Water Animals must have adequate water to live and to have a good appetite. Animals at different stages of life need different amounts of water. Heat and humidity increase the amount needed. Animals should have clean water available at all times

Protein Degradable Broken down by rumen bacteria Provides protein for rumen bacteria Rumen bacteria digested in small intestine Less efficient ByPass Digested in small intestine Bypasses rumen Similar to monogastrics, i.e, humans, pigs More efficient

Energy TDN Total Digestible Nutrients DE Digestible Energy Fiber Digestible in the rumen Indigestible Lignin Mature forages Bermuda

Minerals These are compounds needed for metabolism, immune system function and structural integrity

Mineral Contribution by Forbs Compared to perennial ryegrass Dock P,K, Mg Chickweed P,K, Mg,Na Stinging Nettle P,K, Ca, Mg, Cu Buttercup P,K,Ca, Na,Cu Dandelion K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu Chicory P,K,Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Co Plantain K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu Burnet Ca,Mg Yarrow P,K,Ca,Mg,Cu White Clover Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Co Younie, 2003

Herbal Leys Diversity of Pasture Availability of Minerals Deworming Capabilities

Chemical composition of various plants grazed by livestock(%) Browse type Crude protein TDN Calcium Phosphorous Dandelion 25 81 1.04 0.33 Lamb s Quarter 32 85.6 1.1 0.39 Chicory 19.5 63.5 0.89 0.31 Plantain 19.6 64.4 1.84 0.26 Curly Dock 32.7 77.8 0.83 0.37 Kudzu leaves 23.7 Alfalfa 21 63 1.58 0.37

Form of mineral supplementatio Loose Preferred Block Throw them away Can t eat enough to get what they need Tubs Ingredients Urea

Mineral analyses Cattle trace mineral mix Ca: 2.5-3.5% S: 1% Mn 3000 ppm Zn 2500 ppm Cu 150 ppm I 90 ppm Co 25 ppm Se 10 ppm Assuming ½ oz/hd/da consumption Mineral for goats browsin woody vegetatio Mg: 1.2% S: 1.2% Mn: 3500 ppm Zn: 4000 ppm Cu: 2000 ppm I: 240 ppm Co: 50 ppm Se: 50 ppm

Grazing Management Understand the needs of the animal Match with available forage Leader-follower Cowboy arithmetic Supplement only if needed

Inventory Pastures by Season 100 days 100 days Mar 1 early June Early June mid Sept. Spring Summer 100 days Mid Sept. late Dec. Fall 65 days Late Dec Mar 1 Winter

Pasture Production Inventory Seasonal pasture productivity inventory example Seasonal Productivity Rating* Pasture ID Spring Summer Fall Winter (100 d) (100 d) (100 d) (65 d) #1 - Fescue 4 2 3 #2 - Mixed grass 4 3 1 #3 - Bermuda 1 4 1 #4 - Bahia 1 3 1 Average rating 2.5 3.0 1.5 *0=none,1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=excellent 2 1 0 0 1

Seasonal Forage Production 100 days Small grains Clovers Fescue Orchardgrass Annual ryegrass 100 days Summer annuals Lespedeza 100 days Stockpiled bermudagrass Stockpiled fescue Small grains Clovers Dallisgrass Fescue Crabgrass Orchardgrass Bahiagrass Annual ryegrass Bermudagrass Spring Summer 65 days Fall Winter

#2. Improve Pasture Management Rotational grazing increases forage utilization in pastures compared to continuous grazing. Planned grazing helps improve seasonal pasture growth and weed control. Soil tests improve fertility management.

40% more grazing days with 3 day moves compared to 14 day moves (Gerrish, 1997) Click to edit Master text styles Second level Third level Fourth level Fifth level

Grazing efficiency for 2 grazing methods on stockpiled fescue 2002/04 Grazing Method No. AU Farms Grazing Days/A Strip 28 Continuous 10 83 48 Savings/A U $21.54 $11.50

Stockpiling Forages Bermudagrass Soil test Clean off summer growth by August 1 Apply 50-60 lbs. N in early August Defer grazing until midoctober Strip graze to extend grazing period Grazing period is Oct.Dec. Fescue Soil test Clean off summer growth by mid-august Apply 50-60 lbs. N by mid-september Defer grazing until December Strip graze to extend grazing period Grazing period is Dec.Mar.

Fall Rain Effect on Stockpiled Berm uda Yield (Sept/Oct) What happens if I fertilize and it doesn t rain?????? 10000 September Rain Effect on Stockpiled Fescue DM Yield 8000 5000 7000 4500 6000 4000 4000 3000 2000 3500 5000 3000 4500 4000 2500 2000 1500 1000 1000 0 500 0 Fall Rain Effect on Stockpiled Fescue DM Yield (Sept-Nov) DM Yield (lbs/a) 5000 DM Yield (lbs/a) DM Yield (lbs/a) 9000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 0 2 1000 0.00 500 4 0 0.00 6 1.00 8 2.00 10 Rainfall (in) 3.00 12 14 4.00 16 5.00 6.00 Rainfall (in) 5.00 10.00 15.00 Rainfall (in) 20.00 25.00

Stockpiled Bermudagrass Quality Forage Quality of Stockpiled Bermudagrass - Arkansas 2002-2006 Crude Protein or TDN (%) 70 TDN for 1100-lb lactating cow 60 50 TDN for 1100-lb dry cow 40 30 20 CP for 1100-lb lactating cow 10 0 CP for 1100-lb dry cow October November December Month January February

Stockpiled Fescue Quality CP and TDN of Stockpiled Fescue (2002-2005) 90 CP or TDN (%) 80 TDN 70 60 50 40 Dry cow req's 30 CP 20 10 0 243 273 Oct 303 Nov 333 Dec 363 Jan Month 393 Feb 423 Mar 453

Savings over 4 years of the stockpiled forage demonstrations Stockpiled forage demonstration results bermudagrass 2003-2005 (45 farms) fescue 2002-2005 (45 farms) Savings/AU $13.93 - $23.76 $12.52 - $29.07

Winter Annuals Sod-seeded winter annuals provide late winter to early spring grazing. Cows fed hay and limit grazed 2 days/week Jan-May on rye/ryegrass/wheat pasture maintained BW and BCS as well as cows fed a concentrate-based supplement. (Gunter et al. 2002

Stockpiled forage planning When should N be applied? Bermudagrass? Fescue? How much N should be applied/acre? What will it cost? Urea = $880/ton

Calculating N cost Fertilizer source Urea $/ton %N $880 46 lbs/ $/lb $/acre ton N 920 $0.96 48.00 46% x 2000 lbs = 920 lbs N/ton $880.00/920= $0.96/lb N $0.96 x 50 = $48.00/acre 2000 lbs / 750 lbs per bale = 2.7 bales 2.7 x $35 per bale = $94.5 for enough hay to replace 1 acre of stockpiled forage

But first we have to get past the drought

Questions?