Fall Feeding Guide

Dealing with drought You can’t control the weather, but you can take steps to safeguard your herd.

rought can affect the health of both animals and It’s absolutely critical that you supply enough water land. Dr. Charles Stoltenow is a veterinarian at for to drink, even if you have to haul water to the DNorth Dakota State University. He recommends . using supplemental feed. Stoltenow advises against letting animals drink out of “We want to make that range or last as dug outs or streams that are starting to dry up. “All the long as possible,” he says. “And that means we don’t let salts and minerals become more and more concentrated continually graze.” Stoltenow suggests letting as the water dries up,” he says. This can lead to nitrate or cattle graze for a while, then removing them from the cynobacteria poisoning. pasture and providing supplemental feed. Foot rot can also occur when cattle wallow in the During a drought, alone don’t provide ad- mud. Their feet soften up, the mud dries, and they de- equate energy, protein, and trace minerals. Cattle can velop cracks in their hooves. Fence off muddy areas and develop what’s called dust or pasture pneumonia. keep cattle out until normal water levels return. 15 tips for keeping cows healthy during a drought

Monitor body condition and supplement feed as needed to 1 score at least moderate condition.

Avoid overgrazing, and employ 2rotational to save . Creep-feed calves to create 3near-normal weaning weights. Early-wean calves to take the 4pressure off cows and pastures. Manage poisonous plants in 5 pastures and fields. Pregnancy-check and market Do you have enough hay? 6 cull cows early to save feed costs. Inventory hay and other feed to Provided by Purina 7make sure you’re set for winter. ith many producers having Place bales on crushed rock, a concrete Analyze feeds for nutrient to feed hay early this year pad, or wood pallets, if possible. If you 8 profiles to help determine W because of the drought, can’t avoid storing hay bales on the supplemental feed needs. there are some real concerns about the ground, pick a well-drained area, pref- hay supply this winter. Even though erably with sandy soil. Use alternative feeds to you may have stored what you think • Storing bales near the top of a 9 supplement and stretch forages. will be enough hay to carry your herd sloping area reduces the amount of through, conditions like a particularly water flowing around them. Bale rows Limit hay access if possible harsh winter could cause you to fall should run up and down a sloping area 10 to stretch supplies. short before spring. to avoid trapping surface water. If you think your hay supplies will • Store hay in a sunny location with Limit-feed a high-concentrate be inadequate and you need to obtain a southern exposure. Never store un- 11 diet to make forages last. more, you can contact your university der trees or other shady areas where Extension service or other sources for drying can be slow. Graze crop residues and stockpiled forages to reduce finding more hay, or finding suitable • Bale rows should run north-to- 12 harvested feed needs. strategies for stretching your hay sup- south rather than east-to-west. ply. State agricultural departments in Visit your local Purina Retailer to Use drought-stressed major cattle-producing areas also pro- learn more about Purina cattle feed- corn, green chop, or vide listings of where additional hay ing programs that help you best utilize 13 for grazing. might be available for purchase. your forages. Due to factors outside of Land Make sure cattle have access Storing hay O’Lakes Purina Feed’s control and be- to a clean, cool water supply. Hay is such a hot commodity, so you cause of market uncertainties, individ- 14 don’t want to lose any due to poor stor- ual results to be obtained, including but Moisten the soil around age methods. Follow these tips to keep not limited to financial performance, ground rods of electric fences your hay in good shape: profits, losses, or otherwise, cannot 15 to keep cattle in their place. • Soil contact with hay is the biggest be predicted or guaranteed by Land source of spoilage in hay stored outside. O’Lakes Purina Feed. You know it’s a passion.

Your lifestyle is driven by it. Your goals refl ect it. Your herd demandsds iit.t.

PURINA® CATTLE FEED PRODUCTS are created with the same passion: • Quality nutrition • Performance • Convenience • Peace of mind

At the LongView Animal Nutrition Center, our continuous research helps us create products that offer the optimum feed to producers like you.

We share your passion! Talk with your Purina cattle feed representative today for expert advice or visit www.LivingTheCountryLife.com/animals/purina to learn more.

LOL108_PrintAd.indd 1 2/13/12 4:07 PM Estimating cattle rate-of-gain

If your cattle aren’t gaining weight, they’re losing value. Calculate their daily rate-of-gain to be sure they’re eating properly, and your production goals are being met. Learn how to make a good estimate without a scale.

hether you’re raising a you’re feeding corn silage or kind of of course, to use a scale. Many small small herd of cattle to sell or a moderate energy growing ration, 2 cattle producers don’t have that ability, W to use as for your own pounds a day would be typical. Cattle but Loy says there are other options to table, it’s important the animals grow that are fed on concentrates such as calculate the rate of gain. One is to use at an economical rate. a finishing or ration, most of the energy value of the feed. Extension beef specialist Dan Loy at those are going to be gaining over 3 “Basically, we know from the net en- Iowa State University says if growing pounds a day.” ergy system how many calories it re- cattle aren’t gaining weight, they’re not quires to put on a pound of gain,” says adding value. Feed is 60% to 70% of the No-scale weighing Loy. “You can use the net energy of the cost of production, so the faster cattle It’s important to monitor changes feedstuffs, weigh what is being fed, and grow, the more likely the producer will in diet. Forage quality can vary during then calculate the rate-of-gain. The see a profit when they go to market. the year, and if it’s in poor condition, good news is that there are computer The expected daily rate-of-gain de- the animals might not gain any weight. programs available with calculators pends on what you’re feeding and what This can be compounded with envi- that can help producers do this.” your goals are. ronmental factors such as heat or cold By knowing the starting weight of stress. You should also expect some a calf and the desired end weight, you Weight = value variation from animal to animal, as can calculate the gain needed each day “If they’re primarily on forage, 1 to 2 body type and feed consumption will to get it ready for market. pounds a day for grazing and stocker differ. cattle would be typical,” says Loy. “If The easiest way to track weight is, Alternative feeds for fall here are several options to consider when planning Tan alternative feed program, according to R. Baird LeValley, Colorado State University Extension livestock and range agent. The goal is to rebreed cows while maintaining calving intervals, maintain pounds of calf produced per cow, and minimize feed cost per pound of calf sold. Grain is not always practical to feed, but it can take the pressure off your hay supply. Substitute 1 pound of grain or other concentrate feed for 2 pounds of Before feeding, conduct a nutritional analysis and test hay or 3 pounds of grass hay. for nitrates in annual forages including . Also, Remember, some roughage is needed to maintain ru- test for prussic acid levels in sorghums, sudans, and men function. As a rule of thumb, cows should receive -sudan varieties. at least 0.5% of their body weight as roughage (90% dry Cottonseed hulls are low in protein (3.5%), but equal matter basis). A 1,200-pound cow should receive at least in energy to late-cut grass hay. They should be fed with 6 pounds of roughage per day. 2 to 3 pounds of 30% to 40% all-natural protein supple- Cows should be slowly adapted to high-grain feeding. ment and mineral. You might begin with 2 to 3 pounds of whole shelled hulls range from 10% to 16% crude protein. corn per head, per day, and free-choice roughage. Then, Soyhulls can be fed without additional forage, however, increase the grain by 1 pound per day, and reduce the the digestible energy is increased when fed with hay in a hay by 2 pounds each day until the final ration is at- 2-to-1 ratio. tained. Make sure plenty of bunk space is provided so Wheat middlings are a good source of protein (18%) all cows can eat at the same time, and feed twice daily. and energy. It is best to mix at least 5 pounds of forage Once the cows are switched over to the limit-fed, grain- with the wheat middlings. based ration, observe their body condition, and adjust Corn feed is a by-product of the corn wet the grain as needed to maintain adequate condition. milling industry and is available in wet or dry form. It is high in protein (25%) and should be fed at a rate of 0.5% Other options of body weight with a forage source. Alternative feedstuffs used to decrease the depen- A calcium-phosphorus mineral mixture and salt dency on hay include harvested cornstalks, millet hay, should be available to cows at all times, especially when wheat , sorghum-sudan, cottonseed hulls, soybean utilizing any alternative feeds. Vitamin A may also need hulls, wheat middlings, and corn gluten feed. to be supplemented.

Save money on hay by feeding to reduce waste

In most areas of the country, feeding cattle with large round bales is the most economical way to go. If you put out a one-day supply for the herd in a feeding ring or rack, you’ll only have around 5% wastage. If you put out a four-day supply with no rack around it, the cattle will waste about a third of the hay. If you like to roll hay out so it’s loose on the ground, make sure that you only roll out what they can eat in one day. Small square bales are easier to store and handle, but because of the demand for them by horse owners and others, they’re also more expensive. Cow-calf chore Top 4 weaning checklist

October: ❏ Evaluate cows’ body condition tips for fall score (BCS) at weaning. ❏ Develop winter nutrition Provided by Purina program to have cows at BCS of 6 at calving to enhance hen it’s time to wean Check for and control parasites to rebreeding performance. calves, it’s up to you to 3 protect the calves’ immune systems. ❏ Start supplemental feed for Wmanage their diet and bulls on dry grass, according surroundings to ensure they grow Vaccinate your calves. Work with a to age and condition. as they should. Follow these tips to 4 veterinarian to develop vaccine pro- help the success of your weaning tocols for your operation. November: program: ❏ If fall calving, make sure Visit your local Purina Retailer to lactating cows have a BCS of Reduce the stress of your calves. Be learn more about Purina cattle feeding at least 5.5. 1 sure to perform dehorning and cas- programs for weaning calves. ❏ Treat cattle for lice if needed. tration before weaning begins, and keep ❏ If spring calving, check weaned them hydrated throughout. Due to factors outside of Land O’Lakes calves regularly to make sure Purina Feed’s control and because of they’re gaining. Pay close attention to the nutri- market uncertainties, individual results ❏ If culling of spring calves isn’t 2 tion the calves receive in their diets. to be obtained, including but not limited complete, finish it now. When forage is limited, wean calves ear- to financial performance, profits, losses, ❏ Attend livestock and forage ly to maintain their high rate of growth, or otherwise, cannot be predicted or guar- production meetings offered and provide them with high-quality anteed by Land O’Lakes Purina Feed. through Extension. feed.