Feed & Nutrition

Wanted: One young female bovine that can produce a heavy weaned calf, can rebreed within 80 days of calving, can maintain a body condition score of 5 or more on minimal feed, is easy to handle and stays in all the fences.

When traditional feeds are in short supply or expensive, there are some non-traditional feeds that can be used, according to David Bohnert, a beef extension specialist and ruminant nutritionist at Oregon State University (Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center at Burns, Oregon).

Feed costs have been in an increasing pattern since 2007. The cattle industry has been slowly adapting to these new economics.

Concerned with forage quality, particularly over late-made first cutting hay, an Ohio State University Extension specialist said farmers need to diligently manage livestock nutrition needs this fall and winter.

High supplemental feed costs, and in some areas persistent drought, should motivate producers to evaluate their feed resources and management plans heading into the fall and winter months.

An inexpensive hay test can offer the best guidance as to how much supplemental feed is required for a beef cattle herd, and at the same time, save ranchers money, according to a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.