– Lawton Stewart, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, UGA
Nutritional requirements change with the stages of reproduction.
As we start 2024, many beef cattle producers are about to start the calving season. Across the state, forage availability is variable. Some places have seen severe drought in late summer/early fall, causing producers to feed more hay and deplete their winter hay supply. Many producers were able to put up plenty of hay. However, we have received several emails and phone calls dealing with hay quality being lower than expected this year. Entering the peak of hay feeding season, here are a few situations we are seeing, and the potential ramifications.
- I will restrict feed in the last trimester to decrease calf birth weights.
- I need more protein to go with my hay.
- There is a tendency to underestimate crude protein and overestimate energy.
I will restrict feed in the last trimester to decrease calf birth weights.
Is this correct? Absolutely! The problem is that is not the only thing it will affect. Recent research has focused on fetal programming. Fetal programming is the concept that maternal stimulus or insult during fetal development has long-term effects on the offspring. One of the most critical aspects of fetal programming involves adequate nutrition, or lack . . .
Continue reading Nutritional Considerations Going into Calving