Feed options for cattle producers with dry pastures

Even with the snow and rain this week, parts of the southern Prairies are still really dry. You never want a drought, but for cattlemen desperate for some nice green pasture to give them a break on feed costs, bone dry pastures are a bloody disaster. I got an article today from North Dakota State University on alternative feed products in the face of drought and high grain costs.

Here it is: 

NDSU research results have shown that cows can be fed a wide variety of feeds that, if properly balanced for a cow's genetic potential, will support satisfactory reproductive performance, good cow condition and healthy calves.

"More responsibility falls on the manager to formulate diets to match respective gestation or lactation needs when cows are pen-fed versus allowing cows to graze," says Vern Anderson, animal scientist with the NDSU research center in Carrington.

Some of the feeds used successfully in balancing diets for lactating cows included small-grain straws (wheat, oats, barley) and several oilseed meals (canola, sunflower, linseed), screenings of all kinds (wheat, sunflower, pea, flax, barley), coproduct feeds (soy hulls, barley malt pellets, wheat midds, oat hulls, potato processing waste, distillers grains, corn gluten feed or beet pulp).

Conventional grains, such as corn, peas and barley, may be priced out of the market based on their nutritional value. Anderson says coproduct feeds may be preferred to grains because they contain more protein and fibre and the starch from grains will reduce forage digestibility to some degree. For optimum forage digestion, Anderson suggests limiting grain to 4 pounds per day. Each producer's situation is different, so local adaptation and feed cost assessment is critical.

"It may be more economical to 'limit feed' cows by providing them a restricted amount of a nutrient-dense feed, such as barley malt or soy hulls," Anderson says. "Cows will do fine on limited amounts of grain or coproduct feeds provided each cow gets its share. Forage is certainly the mainstay, but cows can get along on less than a full stomach if the nutrients are there, but it takes a better fence."

There are some concerns of vitamin and mineral nutrition with the extensive use of coproducts. Anderson recommends a vitamin A supplement that easily and inexpensively can be injected or added as a dry supplement to the feed. Extra calcium also may be needed to balance higher phosphorus levels, so a micro-mineral supplement is recommended. Palatability issues are not common, but can be avoided by mixing questionable feeds with other ingredients.

"Although the research in integrating crops and cows was not conducted as a drought strategy, our experience with drylot cows provides good basic information on how cattle producers can manage cows and early wean calves," Anderson says.

The Carrington Research Extension Center originally used the study for economic conditions in North Dakota. Only 16 per cent to 18 per cent of agricultural income is attributed to livestock in North Dakota. Surrounding states realize more than 40 per cent of agricultural income from livestock enterprises. Virtually all available rangeland is grazed, so increased cow numbers must be supported with crop biomass, Anderson says. The economic effects of increased cow/calf production based on cropping system biomass and the use of more coproducts in-state could be substantial, Anderson notes.

"The livestock sector has the potential for significant growth that could enhance producer returns as well as the overall economy of North Dakota," Anderson says, "While feeding calves after weaning is a major emphasis area, cows should not be ignored in terms of capturing value from feeds and forages. Drylot cows are much more common in other states where pastures have been converted to cropland."

He reminds producers that cow health and condition should be evaluated continually and beef cattle specialists and consultants should be contacted if producers have questions on feeds or strategies for feeding.