corn to
meet TDN needs, but it would be short of CP. If you choose to supplement
with corn, the answer would be to provide an additional protein source
like supplement blocks, soybean meal or cottonseed meal to meet protein
requirements.
Let’s
assume you are looking at corn gluten. To meet the protein shortage, you
would feed 11.6 pounds per cow per day (2.1 pounds short/.18% CP = 11.6
pounds). This amount would also provide 8.35 pounds of TDN (11.6 pounds
X .72% TDN = 8.35 pounds). In this example, a producer could easily feed
11.6 pounds of gluten with 10 pounds of hay to meet the CP and TDN
requirements at a cost that will not break the bank.
Let’s
now consider soyhulls as a supplement. To meet the CP shortage, you
would need to feed 22 pounds of soyhulls per cow (2.1 pounds short/.095%
CP = 22.1 pounds). Fed at this rate, you would see nutritional disorders
like milk fever and bloat. While 22 pounds of soyhulls will more than
meet the TDN requirement of your herd, it is unpractical to feed
soyhulls at this rate. If you chose soyhulls to supplement your hay, you
would need to consider an additional CP source so you could feed less
hulls.
The
final example we will consider is 13% with Bovatec. To meet the CP
shortage, you would need to feed 16 pounds of 13% Cattle Feed (2.1
pounds short/.135% CP = 16). This 16 pounds will also provide 10.88
pounds of TDN (16 pounds X .68% TDN = 10.88 pounds).
Also,
with each of the previous examples, you would need to provide a free
choice complete mineral. The complete cattle feed will meet the mineral
needs of your cattle, but it is always a good idea to provide minerals
on a free choice basis.
I
hope through these examples you can see some of the considerations to be
taken into account before selecting a supplemental feed. You must
consider the total cost of your program as well as considering the
practicality of the program (it’s not practical to feed 22 pounds of
soyhulls per day). I hope these examples will provide some food for
thought as we enter the last 45 days of winter feeding season.
If
you are short on hay and would like for me to look at your feeding
situation to determine your best options, please feel free to call me at
256-947-7886 or e-mail me at [email protected].
Jimmy
Hughes is AFC’s animal nutritionist. |