Duane A. Lienemann,
UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
December 10, 2010 Edition
We have had that taste of winter and that always signals to me the starting of the third trimester of the spring calving cow. Keeping that in mind, if you are a beef cow-calf producer, it's time to start doing some management strategies to get the most that you can from your cowherd. This week lets look at some steps that we should take in dealing with some good management practices. Now is a good time to finish culling cows. I subscribe to the theory that you should cull in order of priority. I usually suggest that you want to hold them until after the first of the year when cow prices have a tendency to be higher, however you may want to study the markets as they are not too bad right now. I always suggest using the “3-O Rule”. It is a good idea to get rid or the “Open, Old and Ornery” cows. You should also pay particular attention to physical problems like structure, including feet and legs, eyes, teeth. Use those as tiebreakers. Finally, cull out poor producers.
Now let’s look at some feed and nutrition. Until we get a good snow cover, I suggest that producers continue the feeding/grazing programs that were started in October and November. I recommend that cattlemen pay particular attention to supplementing the cows depending upon the average Body Condition Scores (BCS) of the herd. You should supplement to achieve ideal body condition scores at calving. One of the most important nutrients we need to watch is protein. Many times cost is a deciding factor for producers in determining the protein source that they use. I get a lot of questions this time of year on how to figure the cost of protein. Use this formula to compare the basis of cost per pound of crude protein: (Cost of supplement, $/cwt) ÷ (100 x Percent crude protein) = cost per pound of crude protein. Now if you want to compare energy sources, use this formula to compare energy sources on basis of cost per lb of total digestible nutrients: (cost, $/ton ÷ (2,000 x dry matter percent x %TDN in dry matter) = cost per lb of TDN.
Now let’s look at some common sense kind of management practices. Be sure the herd has an adequate water supply. Depending on body size and stage of production, cattle need 5 to 11 gallons per head per day, even in the coldest weather. Provide some protection, such as a windbreak, during severe winter weather to reduce energy requirements. If you haven’t got the cows on a parasite management program it will pay you to at least do a lice management program. Hair is going to be critical as we enter the cold season. Body condition score cows and sort into management groups. Put thin and young cows together and feed accordingly. Don’t make them compete with the experienced running age cows. When feeding forage I suggest that you feed your lowest quality forage to mature dry cows during late fall/early winter (mid gestation) and that you feed medium quality forage to dry cows during late pregnancy. Save your higher quality feedstuffs to be utilized for replacement females, younger cows and thin cows which may lack condition and be more nutritionally stressed.
Last but not least, address environmental concerns as we really get into the cold weather of winter. See to protection from the wind and protection from the cold of the ground if at all possible. Increase the amount of energy 1% for each degree of cold stress (no effect on protein, mineral and vitamin needs). Cold stress involves both wind chill and lower critical temperatures. I have some very good information on how to determine critical temp if you would like it. In order to see to the energy needs of cattle, many producers have turned to feeding distillers grains. Feeding Corn Ethanol By-Products: A new edition of “Feeding Corn Milling Co-Products to Feedlot Cattle,” a popular publication that provides feedlot operators, animal nutritionists and others with the latest research and sound recommendations on feeding corn co-products like distillers grains to cattle, is now available from the Nebraska Corn Board and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The availability and use of corn co-products like distillers grains, which are produced by ethanol plants, has increased significantly since 2007. At the same time, we’ve expanded our knowledge and understanding when it comes to recommendations that are backed by quality research. This new manual mirrors those gains in new knowledge and research to keep cattlemen up to date.
“Feeding Corn Milling Co-Products to Feedlot Cattle” is a 36-page printed publication that is available free by request to the Nebraska Corn Board. Electronic copies are also available for download by simply by going to http://www.nebraskacorn.org/ also find it the UNL’s Beef Education website: http://beef.unl.edu/byprodfeeds/manual_01_00.shtm under the publications section. Most of the research cited in the manual was completed at the University of Nebraska, with portions of that being funded by the Nebraska Corn Board. The beef publication is the second research compilation to be released by the Nebraska Corn Board and UNL this year. The first – “Feeding Corn Milling Co-Products to Forage Fed Cattle” – was published in August as a 24-page printed and electronic publication available at http://www.nebraskacorn.org/ . This is the first printing of the forage manual. This manual is more geared toward the Cow/Calf producer, and I think you will find it a valuable resource if you are contemplating feeding by-product to your cows. Stay warm..
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: www.webster.unl.edu/home
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