Optimizing Cattle Nutrition at Calving
• Posted in Articles
FEATURED EXPERTS:
- Cory Colburn, Independent Cattle Nutritionist
- Terry Quam, Seed Stock Operator Marda Angus Farms
The key to a successful calving season? Getting nutrition right. When the nutrition requirements of beef and dairy cattle vary throughout the year, meeting those demands at the right time in an economical way is a process that takes care and consistent refining.
No matter where or when calving occurs, nutrition management can be improved by planning for these high-nutrient-demand windows. Optimize your feed program during calving season with these nutrition considerations.
Pre- and Early-Gestation Considerations for Beef Cattle
According to Cory Colburn, an independent cattle nutritionist, beef cattle’s nutrition requirements increase a significant amount during pregnancy.
“Beef cattle can survive and even thrive on a relatively lower-maintenance, lower-nutrition diet than say, dairy cattle,” she says. The need for a high-nutrition diet starts later — at breeding.
“We want to make sure that we’re priming their bodies to be optimally conditioned and supported with vitamins and minerals during the breeding phase,” Colburn says.
Once pregnant, beef cattle’s nutrition needs ramp up considerably. Early in the gestational process, calves are developing vital organs and bones in the womb, and mothers require extra energy to support that growth. That comes in their diets. Colburn warns malnutrition at this stage can cause major problems: “Malnutrition during early pregnancy often leads to calf disorders, and sometimes birth defects or malformations that will create further issues.”
Combatting Nutrition Challenges During Gestation
For both beef and dairy cows during gestation, Colburn pays extra attention to not just cattle’s body condition scores (BCS) but also the amount of protein and energy they’re taking in.
“It’s important to monitor the energy level of diets throughout the pregnancy. That way we can avoid having to increase or decrease weight close to calving,” she says.
If cattle are overweight or over-conditioned, mid- to late-gestation is the prime time to adjust nutrition, but it must be done slowly, cautiously and intentionally.
“If cattle are still gestating and we have time, we can make some adjustments to their diet during pregnancy, but it must be done carefully. If we attempt to add weight too quickly, it can cause metabolic issues in the animals. If we try to take weight off too quickly, it causes the fat to be released into the bloodstream and again increases the chance of metabolic issues,” Colburn says.
This is why it’s critical to keep a pulse on what they’re eating. “If we notice cattle are over-conditioned, then we can quickly make adjustments and cut back on those higher energy feed sources.”
Another common challenge during this key window is pasture management. Depending on the weather, you may need to consider altering your nutrition plan.
“If you have a drier spring or drought conditions where cattle are not getting enough quality grass, they may be getting under-conditioned,” Colburn says. In this case, a supplement can go a long way. “Even in pasture season, don’t be afraid to supplement minerals to animals when pastures are less than adequate,” she advises.
Cow Nutrition During Late Gestation and Calving
Once cattle move into late gestation, nutrition becomes more essential to get right and more difficult to adjust. Around 75% of calves’ weight gain occurs during this last trimester,1 making late-gestation nutrition a large component of calves’ future success. “Birth weight is a direct indicator of how successful calves will be — in size, breeding, you name it,” Colburn says.
She notes that BCS at calving is around 5-6 for beef and around 3-3.5 for dairy cattle, and if BCS aren’t in that range, the consequences are noticeable.
“The biggest impact is how cows handle calving. If an animal is over-conditioned, they’re significantly more likely to have calving issues, which cause stress on both the cow and calf,” Colburn says. “But if we have optimal BCS at calving, we’re more likely to have a smooth, healthy calving, and less likely to have to pull the calf or risk them getting stuck.”
On his seedstock operation in Wisconsin, Terry Quam makes nutrition a top priority during calving.
“BCS and nutrition for cows that are calving is critical. We really pay attention to BCS, ensuring cows keep flesh on them. That tells us we’re feeding properly,” he says.
To produce calves that are as healthy and rigorous as possible from day one, Quam follows a nutrition plan.
“I’m a firm believer in programming — making sure the cow has enough nutrients, protein, minerals and energy available to her in the last 90 days of her pregnancy, so she maintains body weight. We need to feed the calf that’s growing inside. And if she starts lacking for nutrients, the calf will too,” he says.
How Whole Cottonseed Can Help Balance the Ration
Quam relies on whole cottonseed at these times when nutrition is vital to cattle’s success.
“Whether we’re lush in grass or in a drought situation, making sure the energy content is right is critical,” he says. “That’s where whole cottonseed comes in. It has the three things cattle need at this time — fat for energy, fiber and protein.”2
Colburn agrees whole cottonseed is a great option to help support nutrition during this critical phase. She also says, “grass provides sugar and protein to cattle, but if the pasture is inadequate, then whole cottonseed can help provide the missing nutrients cattle need: fat, fiber and protein.”2,3,4
Whole cottonseed is more than just nutritious; it’s also an effective and efficient feed ingredient.2,5
“When we expect an animal to perform (beef or dairy), we need to provide the nutrients they need in the package size of what they eat in a day. Whole cottonseed can supply fat, fiber and protein in one small source,”2 she says.
The flexibility of whole cottonseed is what makes it a valuable part of her recommendations as a nutritionist.
“Whole cottonseed is concentrated, which allows for some flexibility with other ingredients. On the dairy side, it allows us to utilize forages and other concentrates to balance out the ration. With beef cattle, we often add whole cottonseed in with mineral to provide a boost to that mix.”
Tips For Balancing Nutrition with Economics
No doubt, cost is one of the biggest considerations when making feed decisions.
Quam gets it, saying, “Economics are a big factor in what we feed. But they’re not always the biggest factor — we need to look at the whole package. For my operation, that comes down to nutrition, which is what it takes to get healthy, vigorous cattle that are energized and productive.”
When Colburn makes her recommendations, she urges producers to think about the sacrifices of cutting back on strong nutrition.
“We have to ask — ‘what are we missing out on by removing nutrients?’ We know there’s going to be a cost associated with the decision to exclude an ingredient, whether that be decreases in milk production, pregnancy rates or the growth on a calf,” she says. “If production declines, regardless of what we’re trying to achieve, that loss in efficiency has its own cost.”
Quam explains how prioritizing nutrition takes shape on his beef operation.
“We’re very specific about the timing of breeding, aiming for a tight window between calving seasons,” he says. “To achieve this, we need to get the right products into the diet, meaning feed might cost a few cents/lb. more. For us, it’s worth it because we can get more uniformity among animals.”
“When you skimp on diets, you’re going to see the repercussions where it matters: in the hair, with decreased productivity and a decline in energy,” Quam says. “To me, the real lesson is don’t be afraid to try new ingredients, like whole cottonseed, or spend a few extra cents if it’s going to make you more dollars in the end.”
Adding Whole Cottonseed to Your Nutrition Program at Calving
By planning ahead and forward contracting whole cottonseed, you may be able to unlock a better price and minimize operational challenges.
Interested in adding whole cottonseed to your plan? Visit the cottonseed marketplace to connect with sellers near you.
Sources:
1Late Gestation Cow Nutrition, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/tips-and-tricks-sound-late-gestation-cow-nutrition
2Kellogg, D.W., Pennington, J.A., Johnson, Z.B. and Panivivat, R. (2001). Survey of management practices used for the highest producing DHI herds in the United States. J. Dairy. Sci. Vol. 84, Supplement, E120– E127. doi:10.3168/-jds.S0022-0302(01)70206–8.
3Warner, A.L., et al. (2020). Effects of utilizing cotton byproducts in a finishing diet on beef cattle performance, carcass traits, fecal characteristics, and plasma metabolites. Am. Soc. of Anim. Sci. Vol. 98, issue 2, doi:10.1093/jas/skaa038.
4Stewart, L. and Rossi, J. (2010). Using cotton byproducts in beef cattle diets. Bulletin 1311. The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. http://cottonpickin.tamu.edu/General%20Production/Georgia%20Cotton%20Byproducts%20for%20Beef%20Cattle%20B%201311_2.pdf.
5Anderson, M.J., et. al. 1984. Comparison of whole cottonseed, extruded soybeans, or whole sunflower seeds for lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 67(3):569-573. doi: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030284813405.
