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Grasses, Pastures & Hay
Grass-fed Beef Cattle Genetics 101
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<blockquote data-quote="edrsimms" data-source="post: 694401" data-attributes="member: 10970"><p>The Grass-fed cow/calf operation</p><p></p><p>Cow/calf</p><p>The mature beef cow can utilize relatively low quality forage for most of the year as long as her calving is timed so she can put on body fat reserves before calving. Back fat becomes butter fat in the calf's milk and bypasses the rumen where it provides a slow release protein and energy source. The idea that a mature cow needs any supplementation other than forage is ludicrous. A cow's highest nutritional requirement all year is during peak milk production 2-3 months post-calving. If your forage base (availability of high quality forages) coincides with this time of high nutrition then there is no issue. Summer and winter annuals as well as perennial legumes assure success. The right genetics, the right forage base and the ability to manage forage utilization are key.</p><p></p><p>In the Bermuda grass / bahia belt grasses peak in their annual forage growth by the longest day of the year ---June 21 although during a wet Spring this can be extended to July 4th. These same forages while green in March and April are low in DM and growing slowly and can starve an early lactating cow to death. This is where forage utilization and /or manipulation plays a key role in the success for producers calving in the late winter (Feb). The forage chain must be established to compensate for this lack of nutrition. </p><p></p><p>I plan to talk about the forage chain in detail later. </p><p></p><p>Fall calving requires you have in place a forage chain or you have manipulated your forage base with winter annuals and/or perennial cool season legumes. This takes a little more management than the feed bucket and some producers just don't have the understanding of forages or land and forage base to do this effectively. </p><p></p><p>In the fescue belt, fall calving can be done if the producer has a firm grasp of stockpiling. On non-infected fescue, spring calving is better because it returns more to the land base because the cows consumption is in sync with the seasonality of production and this also allows for a higher stocking rate. </p><p></p><p>Plant Physiology</p><p>During the highest nutritional requirement all year a cows forage base must be high in digestibility and high in soluble carbohydrates. This requires an understanding of forages and these distinctions are classified by plant species, stage of growth and level of soil mineralization. Ex: Soil Ca is directly correlated to the soluble carbohydrate level in your grass. </p><p></p><p>Ruminant nutrition--- There are people with Ph.D's that don't fully understand this topic. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Bottom line: </p><p>1. You must have some grass-fed genetics</p><p>2. You must choose a phase of operation that best suits your forage base.</p><p>3. You must fully understand the forage chain</p><p>4. You must fully understand plant physiology</p><p>5. You must somewhat understand ruminant nutrition.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="edrsimms, post: 694401, member: 10970"] The Grass-fed cow/calf operation Cow/calf The mature beef cow can utilize relatively low quality forage for most of the year as long as her calving is timed so she can put on body fat reserves before calving. Back fat becomes butter fat in the calf’s milk and bypasses the rumen where it provides a slow release protein and energy source. The idea that a mature cow needs any supplementation other than forage is ludicrous. A cow’s highest nutritional requirement all year is during peak milk production 2-3 months post-calving. If your forage base (availability of high quality forages) coincides with this time of high nutrition then there is no issue. Summer and winter annuals as well as perennial legumes assure success. The right genetics, the right forage base and the ability to manage forage utilization are key. In the Bermuda grass / bahia belt grasses peak in their annual forage growth by the longest day of the year ---June 21 although during a wet Spring this can be extended to July 4th. These same forages while green in March and April are low in DM and growing slowly and can starve an early lactating cow to death. This is where forage utilization and /or manipulation plays a key role in the success for producers calving in the late winter (Feb). The forage chain must be established to compensate for this lack of nutrition. I plan to talk about the forage chain in detail later. Fall calving requires you have in place a forage chain or you have manipulated your forage base with winter annuals and/or perennial cool season legumes. This takes a little more management than the feed bucket and some producers just don’t have the understanding of forages or land and forage base to do this effectively. In the fescue belt, fall calving can be done if the producer has a firm grasp of stockpiling. On non-infected fescue, spring calving is better because it returns more to the land base because the cows consumption is in sync with the seasonality of production and this also allows for a higher stocking rate. Plant Physiology During the highest nutritional requirement all year a cows forage base must be high in digestibility and high in soluble carbohydrates. This requires an understanding of forages and these distinctions are classified by plant species, stage of growth and level of soil mineralization. Ex: Soil Ca is directly correlated to the soluble carbohydrate level in your grass. Ruminant nutrition--- There are people with Ph.D’s that don’t fully understand this topic. Bottom line: 1. You must have some grass-fed genetics 2. You must choose a phase of operation that best suits your forage base. 3. You must fully understand the forage chain 4. You must fully understand plant physiology 5. You must somewhat understand ruminant nutrition. [/QUOTE]
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