Published October 11, 2007 11:29 am - Beef protein important to cattle's winter health
Get out the ‘cowculator’
By VERNON SCOGIN, OSU Extension Office
Years ago OSU beef cattle nutritionists reached a conclusion. Protein was the primary factor in beef nutrition of mature cattle under normal, average Oklahoma conditions when sufficient forage was available. This resulted from years of research and observation that mature cattle grazing common grasses and forbs would usually meet their energy needs provided protein met their needs.
The approach also worked for winter feeding for many cows. Mature cattle were able to go through normal winter weather and emerge in spring with acceptable body condition provided daily protein needs were met. While other states in region focused on providing adequate energy feeds, our nutritionists stuck with meeting protein requirements. This became, “Feed the rumen and the rumen will feed the cowâ€.
Where does a cattle producer find protein requirements for beef cattle and can the calculations be easily done by an average person? The answers are many places and yes.
Literally millions of animals are studied to arrive at nutrition requirements that are then placed in charts and tables. Most list protein requirements in two primary ways. Most show both pounds per head per day and percent dry matter in the ration. Many state extension services and trade articles publish the values according to animal size and production phase. Our table publication was F-3009. It is available from our office but is not currently on the OCES Web site. A sister publication ANSI -3010 is available at the courthouse or via the web.
A quick review of the table in it indicates a 1,300 pound cow with average milk production needs 2.25 pounds of protein per day. Performance of a little simple math is all that is needed to balance for protein.
My first choice is always the addition method. We simply add together the amount of protein provided by the feed level provided.
Assume we have that 1,300 pound cows with calf at side. Will four pounds of 20 percent protein feed per head per day plus a full feed of 6 percent native hay meet the protein needs?
Tables indicate cows at this point in life will eat about 2 1/2 percent of their body weight plus or minus a little. The calculation is 1300 x 0.025 = 32.5 pounds of consumption capacity. Therefore, we can assume the cow will eat about 28.5 pounds of hay along with the 4 pounds of 20 percent feed we provide.
The 20percent feed is 20 percent protein by definition and legal regulation. The 20 percent feed provides 4 x 0.2 = 0.8 pounds of protein. The hay provides 28.5 x 0.06 = 1.71 pounds of protein. The total is 0.8 + 1.71 = 2.51 pounds of protein. This exceeds the animal’s requirement of 2.25 pounds slightly. The method is quick and easily done.
What factors may cause problems with this simple method? Everything it seems.
If your hay value is closer to 5 percent protein rather than the quoted 6 value then your total protein consumption for the cow could be slightly below her requirement. A cow that produces more than average amounts of milk will have a protein requirement closer to 2.8 pounds per head per day rather than the amount shown above. If these factors happen together an adequate program can quickly become a wreck.
On the other side what if fescue is available and the cattle only consume about 10 pounds of hay per day. Fescue can test up to 16 percent protein in fall. 15 pounds of fescue can provide over 2 pounds of protein per day. Add in the 10 pounds of 5 percent hay which can contribute another portion of protein. Little or no 20 percent feed may be needed as long as the fescue is available. The bottom line involves having an idea what the cattle actually consume and the level of nutrients in it.
Computer programs can also be very helpful with this task. Many are available and popular in some circles. The use of these sophisticated programs can increase calculation flexibility, assist feed comparison and quickly help make estimate total cost. The really good programs such as OSU’s Cowculator will evaluate energy and estimate weight loss or gain while simultaneously balancing protein levels. Even “heads up†regarding mineral balance is standard with the program. Many forage plants are also in the database so we spend less time looking up book values. However it requires Microsoft Excel to run the spreadsheet based program.
But the additive method works. A few minutes with a note pad and pencil can provide lots of peace of mind this time of year.
Get out the ‘cowculator’
By VERNON SCOGIN, OSU Extension Office
Years ago OSU beef cattle nutritionists reached a conclusion. Protein was the primary factor in beef nutrition of mature cattle under normal, average Oklahoma conditions when sufficient forage was available. This resulted from years of research and observation that mature cattle grazing common grasses and forbs would usually meet their energy needs provided protein met their needs.
The approach also worked for winter feeding for many cows. Mature cattle were able to go through normal winter weather and emerge in spring with acceptable body condition provided daily protein needs were met. While other states in region focused on providing adequate energy feeds, our nutritionists stuck with meeting protein requirements. This became, “Feed the rumen and the rumen will feed the cowâ€.
Where does a cattle producer find protein requirements for beef cattle and can the calculations be easily done by an average person? The answers are many places and yes.
Literally millions of animals are studied to arrive at nutrition requirements that are then placed in charts and tables. Most list protein requirements in two primary ways. Most show both pounds per head per day and percent dry matter in the ration. Many state extension services and trade articles publish the values according to animal size and production phase. Our table publication was F-3009. It is available from our office but is not currently on the OCES Web site. A sister publication ANSI -3010 is available at the courthouse or via the web.
A quick review of the table in it indicates a 1,300 pound cow with average milk production needs 2.25 pounds of protein per day. Performance of a little simple math is all that is needed to balance for protein.
My first choice is always the addition method. We simply add together the amount of protein provided by the feed level provided.
Assume we have that 1,300 pound cows with calf at side. Will four pounds of 20 percent protein feed per head per day plus a full feed of 6 percent native hay meet the protein needs?
Tables indicate cows at this point in life will eat about 2 1/2 percent of their body weight plus or minus a little. The calculation is 1300 x 0.025 = 32.5 pounds of consumption capacity. Therefore, we can assume the cow will eat about 28.5 pounds of hay along with the 4 pounds of 20 percent feed we provide.
The 20percent feed is 20 percent protein by definition and legal regulation. The 20 percent feed provides 4 x 0.2 = 0.8 pounds of protein. The hay provides 28.5 x 0.06 = 1.71 pounds of protein. The total is 0.8 + 1.71 = 2.51 pounds of protein. This exceeds the animal’s requirement of 2.25 pounds slightly. The method is quick and easily done.
What factors may cause problems with this simple method? Everything it seems.
If your hay value is closer to 5 percent protein rather than the quoted 6 value then your total protein consumption for the cow could be slightly below her requirement. A cow that produces more than average amounts of milk will have a protein requirement closer to 2.8 pounds per head per day rather than the amount shown above. If these factors happen together an adequate program can quickly become a wreck.
On the other side what if fescue is available and the cattle only consume about 10 pounds of hay per day. Fescue can test up to 16 percent protein in fall. 15 pounds of fescue can provide over 2 pounds of protein per day. Add in the 10 pounds of 5 percent hay which can contribute another portion of protein. Little or no 20 percent feed may be needed as long as the fescue is available. The bottom line involves having an idea what the cattle actually consume and the level of nutrients in it.
Computer programs can also be very helpful with this task. Many are available and popular in some circles. The use of these sophisticated programs can increase calculation flexibility, assist feed comparison and quickly help make estimate total cost. The really good programs such as OSU’s Cowculator will evaluate energy and estimate weight loss or gain while simultaneously balancing protein levels. Even “heads up†regarding mineral balance is standard with the program. Many forage plants are also in the database so we spend less time looking up book values. However it requires Microsoft Excel to run the spreadsheet based program.
But the additive method works. A few minutes with a note pad and pencil can provide lots of peace of mind this time of year.
