Starting Feedlot Cattle -- Energy Nutrition

Comments by James I. Sprague, Livestock Nutritionist

A Balance of Nutrients and Management
The management, nutritionist and veterinarian want a fast start and a total health program to prevent diseases and digestive upsets. Good nutrition is only part of the scheme.

Palatable Ingredients Are Essential
It doesn't make any difference if a ration is balanced or not, if the ration isn't palatable and acceptable to the cattle, we are dead in the water. Proper preparation of the grain and roughages is fundamental as well as a good mix.

Getting High Energy Without Causing Acidosis
These suggestions are made with caution! One of the management programs that works for our clients is to start calves and yearling cattle on a approximately 50 percent grain level and 50 percent roughage. We calculate the grain content of corn and sorghum silages as part of the grain in the ration. The starting ration may be fed on top of some long hay the first day. We suggest the ration be limited to only 20 to 25 percent of the expected daily consumption. The subsequent daily adjustment is an "art, not a science." We suggest a "clean bunk" each day to keep the feed fresh.

Add Fat to Starting Ration?
Formerly many nutritionists were reluctant to add fat to starting rations. We were cautious because fat additions often added a "touch" of unpalatability to a ration. I personally believe high quality yellow grease is a more palatable fat source than tallow. Adding fat to starting rations is an acceptable way to increase the energy and prevent acidosis at the same time. The fat can replace part of the starch and/or increases the energy in each bite the animal consumes.

One way to get extra fat in a starting ration would be to use a high fat ingredient such as rice bran, extruded whole fat soybeans, roasted soybeans, or whole flax seeds. Whole flax seed was tried successfully at Kansas State University. The handling of whole flax seed is difficult.

Another fat source is a calcium soaps of fatty acids. One of these products is "Mega-Lac" sold by the Arm and Hammer Company.

There are some interesting blended liquid products that contain fat being used at feedlots. One is a mixture of vegetable fat from a soap of fatty acids mixed with molasses. We have found this mixture is an excellent source of energy and a palatable product. Another interesting blend is Mix-30. It is a mixture of four by-products from the fermentation and corn sweetener industry. It will supply considerable fat to a starter or finishing ration.
There are also molasses and fat blends that can be supplied by liquid feed companies.

Finding High Energy Roughages
Sugar beet pulp and soy hulls are two examples of feed ingredients that are digested like roughage but are so well utilized in the rumen that they have high energy. Another excellent starting ingredient is whole de-linted cottonseeds, which supply fat, protein and a palatable roughage. Cottonseed hulls are a very palatable roughage, but very low in energy.
But most feedlots must rely on the roughages from their area. These are alfalfa hay, alfalfa brome hay, grass hays, corn and sorghum silage and alfalfa silage.

We usually limit the corn and sorghum silage to not more than 30 percent of the ration on a wet basis. This is primarily because high levels of corn silage in starting rations have had the reputation of depressing dry matter intake. This may be true or may not be true. Some sorghum silages appear to be more palatable than corn silage. I have speculated this may be due to the sugars that were not fermented to acids during the ensiling process.

Molasses Products Help "Dress" the Ration
Cane and beet molasses not only add quick energy to the ration, but also help hold the fines from separating in the feed bunk. We call this a "dressing of the ration" effect. But some molasses products have low energy and some are not palatable. Dried molasses products can be added to assist in getting a palatable ingredient in the ration.

Starter Pellets Are Recommended
The ration may be feed mill prepared such as a starter pellet from feed manufacturers or manufactured at the farm or feedlot. Starter pellets are readily available and a good tool to use, particularly for hard to start cattle. Antibiotics are often included to help the animal health progra

Questions or comments on this or any article by Dr. Jim Sprague can be directed to him at 625 Grandview Ave., Newton, Kansas, 67114, or call him at (316) 283-8692. ©