The cow feed dilemma: Do I find more feed, or reduce the need?

Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension (originally published in Ohio Farmer on-line)

Do I find more feed, or reduce cow numbers? Photo: Ted Wiseman

In the face of what has become a drought of historical proportion throughout much of the state, cattlemen are enjoying fed cattle, calf, and cull cow prices that range in the vicinity of historical highs. Facing a drought induced shortage of quality feed, the resulting dilemma Ohio cattlemen face is whether to find the feed necessary to maintain the herd, or reduce herd size and the potential for another substantial payday next year?

To put it more succinctly, over the years it seems any time I’ve had conversation about a feed shortage, friend and former colleague Ed Vollborn responded by simply saying, “Increase the feed or reduce the need.”

Sounds simple enough but there’s lots to consider. It begins by looking at opportunities for increasing the feed.

While many have been feeding hay since mid-summer, for the time being that needs to continue . . . keep the gates closed! Hurricane Helene offered relief that has allowed pastures to break dormancy and generate modest regrowth. Allowing cows to immediately graze this regrowth does not result in more total forage growth this time of year and could reduce early spring growth.

Allow pastures to stockpile as much as possible this fall before grazing. This results in plants storing up sugars and carbohydrates before the winter months while generating the same if not more total forage growth. The stockpiled forage that accumulates during this fall recovery period can be grazed after plants have gone dormant. Many pasture plants have not photosynthesized in weeks or even months . . . allow them ample time for recovery.

If vacant fields remain available as a result of fall harvested crops perhaps seeding a cover such as cereal rye or triticale may still offer some winter grazing opportunities and could be available again for early spring grazing until pastures are ready for turn out.

During times of pasture and hay shortage, alternative feed also enters the conversation. While precipitation resulting from Helene has begun to rejuvenate pasture, it also damaged many soybeans resulting in heavy discounts or even rejection of damaged beans at local elevators. In the absence of a viable cash market, beans may become a source of protein when included in beef cattle rations.

If supplemented properly straw can be fed to dry cows in mid gestation. Grazing crop residue such as corn fodder is also an option while cows are in mid-gestation.

If we fail in efforts to increase the feed sufficiently or affordably, the solution turns to reducing the need. A few alternatives remain available for consideration yet this fall.

Perhaps the most obvious opportunity to save feed is to pregnancy check the females in the herd and cull any that are open. Pregnancy checking and culling early not only saves feed, but also allows open cows to be sold into a stronger cull market before the cows culled at a more traditional time in late fall flood the market.

Additional considerations when determining if she should stay in the herd or be culled might include teat and udder conformation, disposition, cow condition and general health of the cow. When each pound of a cull cow is worth $1.00+, any condition that prevents a cow from sustaining weight is cause for economic concern.

The check list for developing a culling strategy may change in priority over time but will always include breeding status, productivity of the calf at side (or past calves), cow soundness (structure, teats, udder, etc.), immediate health concerns, cow age and cow temperament.

If not already accomplished, weaning the 2024 calf crop as soon as possible will reduce whole herd feed requirements. Lactating cows require as much as 2/3 more feed than dry, gestating cows. At the same time, weaned calves will more efficiently utilize feed than their non-weaned contemporaries, often converting at a rate of 3 to 5 pounds of feed into one pound of gain. An additional benefit to early weaning that is particularly beneficial for retained ownership calves is the acceleration of the growth curve and increased marbling potential in the calf.

The reality is, the inventory of quality forages across Ohio and the Midwest is very short, and we will all agree it’s impossible to starve a profit into a cow. Today we still have options . . . we can either find some creative ways to increase the feed, or we must reduce the need!