Feeding Cows Before Calving

Comments by James I. Sprague, Livestock Nutritionist

Pasture, Range or Feedlot
I asked one old time rancher when he calved. He answered humorously, "We calve year around, because a late calf is better than no calf at all." But many cattle operations group their calving season. This helps to plan a feeding program if the calving season is planned.
Feeding and supplementing gestating cows is important for cost reasons, longevity of the cow and productivity of the calves. The critical nutrients are the same at the ranch or in the feedlot.

Supplement Only Critical Nutrients

Energy Control
For late winter or spring calving cows, energy managements is fundamental for cost control. One tactic is to have the cows separated into two herds - the average mature cows and the young or thin cows.For the average mature cow, the winter energy requirements are low. The cow may just maintain her weight during the winter period if there is ample forage or feed after calving.However, the thin cows and the particularly the young cows need extra energy in order for these animal to be ready to calve and then breed back. The young cow (two, coming three-years-old) that has weaned her first calf usually will be thin and still growing during the gestation period. This extra energy for thin and young cows can be supplied with either (1) providing a better pasture, (2) feeding a better hay or (3) supplementing with energy and protein.

The Amount of Supplementation
It depends on the quality of the forage that is fed. Feed testing or knowledge of the forages and hays fed are the key considerations. The protein particularly stimulates the rumen microbes to digest the forage.

Our customers and clients have often found their hays very low in protein. We have seen mountain hay as low as three percent crude protein on a dry basis. We suggest at least one pound of a 40 percent supplement (or its equivalent) be fed to cows on mature grass pasture or stalk fields. We like the supplement to be fortified with vitamin A and E.
Phosphorus and trace minerals may be included in the supplement if a free choice mineral supplement is not fed. Cottonseed meal-based supplements contain phosphorus as a natural part of the meal.

High quality alfalfa hay is an outstanding protein supplement for wintering cows and heifers. Alfalfa can be fed as either hay, wafers, range cubes, or silage. The hay provides not only high quality protein, but also an energy source as well as carotene for vitamin A. Alfalfa is also a good source of calcium and phosphorus. Even trace minerals are usually contained in alfalfa hay because the plant harvests its mineral content with roots deep in the soil.
Supplements: pellets, cubes, blocks, liquid.

The strategy is to supplement critical nutrients. The tactics of the form of the supplement isn't as critical as the plan to balance the ration for critical nutrients. Stick to the basics: protein, phosphorus, vitamins A & E and the trace minerals.

Feeding Cows on Stalk Fields
Pasturing cows and replacement heifers on corn or sorghum stubble is an excellent way to control costs and provide an area for the spring calving season. One of the cautions, if the corn field contains considerable down corn from wind or insect damage, digestive acidosis, death-loss and founder may occur. If the field contains down corn, the cows must be adjusted to the grain by feeding a concentrate with grain a few days before they are turned to the corn stalks.

Using silage and hay as a supplemental feed as the stalks diminish from grazing is often a management scheme. One of the successful ways is to feed under an electric fence.

Feed Additives, Rumensein or Bovatec
These two additives give extra energy to high roughage rations and control of coccidiosis. Chlortetracycline or Oxytetracycline may be considered in some cases. Work with your feed supplier, nutritionist and veterinarian for their suggestions for feed additives and the feeding program. ©