Nutrition

Don’t overlook nutritional needs of 2-year-old cows

– Bill Halfman, Agriculture Agent, Monroe County, Wisconsin

If the young cows are left in with the rest of the herd they can be pushed away and not have sufficient access to feed.

A frequently heard recommendation for beef farms is to separate the 2-year-olds and thin cows from the main herd during the winter-feeding period. Three-year-olds may also benefit from being in this group because they are still growing. This is important every year, and likely even more important during years of limited forage resources.

For the first time in their lives, 2-year-old heifers have a lot going on over the spring and summer when they calve for the first time. They are feeding a calf and recovering from calving. They also need to rebreed within 80 to 85 days of calving to get on a 12-month calving interval and remain valuable members of the herd.

Amid all these events, they are still growing themselves. Their rumen capacity is lower than . . .

Continue reading Don’t overlook nutritional needs of 2-year-old cows

How much vomitoxin is too much for feedlot cattle?

– Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University Extension

Fusarium graminearum is one of the most common species responsible for producing vomitoxin.

The weather Michigan experienced in 2023 was quite different from the norm and created an ideal environment for fungi that can produce mycotoxins. In the Thumb region, a lack of rain and drought was experienced during the early summer followed by plenty of rain during late summer months. Weather summary data collected from weather stations in Richville/Frankenmuth and Lapeer areas, reported an average temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, average humidity of 75 to 78%, monthly rainfall of 4.5 to 5.9 inches, and 11 to 13 days of rain in the month of August. The weather conditions experienced were prime for fungal and mold growth during the silking stage of corn development.

Fusarium species of mold prefer temperatures of 69 F or less with a relative humidity over 70%. Fusarium graminearum being one of the most common species responsible for producing vomitoxin and responsible for gibberella ear and stalk rot of corn. Vomitoxin, also known as deoxynivalenol (DON) is a type B trichothecene (i.e., mycotoxin) that can occur in grains such as corn, wheat, barley, oats and rye, as well as others.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set advisory levels for DON concentration allowable in grains allowed for human food consumption or animal feed consumption. The FDA has set advisory levels at . . .

Continue reading How much vomitoxin is too much for feedlot cattle?

Caring for Beef Cattle in Winter Months

– Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension, Perry County (originally published in Ohio Farmer on-line)

To help ensure a successful calving season, Body Condition Scoring has heightened significance in Ohio’s winter care regimen.

Ohio Winters can be a challenge, especially for those with livestock. Here’s a short list of five management tips to keep in mind as we prepare to manage cattle through another Winter.

Nutrition Management for Ohio Winters: Ohio’s varying winter conditions of mud to snow and back to mud, we need to be prepared for proper nutrition management for cattle. There have been numerous research studies that have shown the effects of extreme cold, mud, and wind. Producers will need to monitor and adjust feed regimens by incorporating high-quality forages rich in nutrients. Supplemental feed with a careful balance of protein and energy becomes essential to meet the increased caloric demands during colder months. This strategy ensures that Continue reading Caring for Beef Cattle in Winter Months →

Evaluation of condensed algal residue solubles as an ingredient in cattle finishing diets and the effects on digestibility and fatty acid flow

C. Gibbons, B. M. Boyd, H. C. Wilson,  J. W. Wilson,  K. H. Wilke, G. E. Erickson, and A. K. Watson

Applied Animal Science. 2023. 39:133–145
https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2022-02349

Cattle are tremendous up cyclers, and by-products such as wet distillers grains, sugar beet pulp, soyhulls, cottonseed hulls  and many others and have successfully and economically added to their diets. The marine microalgae production industry is another industry in need of an outlet for a by-product.

Marine microalgae have the ability to harvest sugars and carbon dioxide converting them into metabolites such as n-3 fatty acids. Because of this, marine microalgae have been proposed as a sustainable solution for reducing pressure on wild-caught aquaculture.  Production of algae oil from these algae results in a by-product known as condensed algae residue solubles (CARS).  As production of CARS increases, availability of up cycling increases.

Four hundred and predominately Angus, British crossbred steers were fed for 148 days.  Treatments were designed with 3 inclusion levels of CARS at 0, 2.5, and 5% of the diet.

Carcass-adjusted final Body weight, average daily gain, and feed efficiency increased with CARS inclusion at 2.5% of diet dry matter.  However, feedlot performance decreased when CARS was 5% of diet dry matter.

Sustaining Optimal Body Condition from Fall Calving to Breeding Season in Ohio’s Cattle Farms

– Kate Hornyak, OSU Extension Program Coordinator, Delaware County

Body condition scoring now can help insure a successful calving season next fall.

Maintaining optimal body condition in cattle from fall calving through to the breeding season is pivotal for the success of any beef operation. In Ohio, with its unique climate and agricultural landscape, this task can present unique challenges and opportunities. This article explores comprehensive strategies tailored to Ohio’s environment, helping cattle producers ensure their herds are in peak condition, promoting reproductive success and overall herd vitality.

During the fall, fluctuating temperatures and early frosts can impact the availability and quality of pasture for grazing, necessitating the need for supplementary feeding. Farmers must be vigilant to ensure that cattle have access to adequate nutrition as natural forage sources diminish. Additionally, wet conditions and heavy rainfall can lead to muddy and unsanitary living conditions, increasing the risk of disease and foot problems in cattle.

As winter arrives, the challenges intensify with the onset of freezing temperatures, snow, and ice. Cattle require extra energy to maintain body heat in cold weather, and farmers must Continue reading Sustaining Optimal Body Condition from Fall Calving to Breeding Season in Ohio’s Cattle Farms →

What is the Cost of a Cheap Mineral?

– Dr. Katie VanValin, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

The quality and cost of mineral supplements can vary greatly, and it can be overwhelming trying to make sense of all the numbers and information listed on the feed tag. While I am always a proponent of trying to manage feed costs, I caution producers against exchanging an adequate mineral for a poor-quality mineral. While saving a couple of dollars on a bag of mineral can certainly add up, it is important that the mineral being provided is still adequate to meet the needs of the herd to prevent mineral deficiencies which can become costly!

In the fescue belt, cattle are especially susceptible to selenium deficiency. Symptoms of selenium deficiency include white muscle disease in calves and decreased immune function and growth. Unfortunately, signs of mineral deficiency can be difficult to spot, and often producers may not realize they have an issue until testing is completed as part of a necropsy. Many complications from mineral deficiencies can be avoided all together by Continue reading What is the Cost of a Cheap Mineral? →

Time to Plan a Winter Feeding Program

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (originally published in Ohio Farmer on-line)

Before buying hay, have it analyzed!

As we slide into autumn, harvest season is among us, and it is fairly dry here in Ohio’s cow country. Several folks are beginning to feed hay early, begging the question: Do you have enough hay? If not, what are your plans for winter feed?

Unlike most years the hay season across the southern two-thirds of Ohio was relatively timely. A large percentage of first cutting hay was made three to six weeks ahead of a “normal” schedule. While first cutting hay quality is better on average than the past few years, tonnage was reduced. Second and third cuttings of mixed grass hay were also fairly timely as the weather pattern turned dry in mid-August.

Being short on hay for the winter isn’t a make or break decision as there are several Continue reading Time to Plan a Winter Feeding Program →

Grazing Corn Residue, a Feed Alternative!

– Stan Smith, OSU Extension PA, Fairfield County

Grazing corn crop residue can allow time for pastures to recover and be grazed again later.

Recently (Fastballs, Curveballs and Lessons Learned) I suggested that with 3.5 million acres of corn to harvest in Ohio this fall, for a spring calving cow herd the opportunity is great for extending the grazing season into fall and perhaps even early winter with corn crop residue. Now, as corn harvest approaches, let’s take a closer look at utilizing corn residue.

The opportunities afforded by grazing corn residue are primarily two-fold. Obviously, it offers a feed source at a time when the nutritional needs of spring calving, mature cows that have already weaned calves may be near the lowest of the year. Second is the ability to rest pastures and allow fall regrowth at a time when pastures may be the most stressed.

While corn residue offers a considerable amount of digestible energy and fiber, it’s always good to review the palatability and practicality of utilizing corn residue as a significant feed source. This is especially true as one considers the Continue reading Grazing Corn Residue, a Feed Alternative! →

Keep Forage Nitrate Toxicity in Mind This Year

– Jason Hartschuh, OSU Extension Field Specialist Dairy Management and Precision Livestock

Both corn silage and dry hay may be at risk for high nitrates!

This year has been a weather rollercoaster with multiple spells of drought and flooded conditions. These adverse growing conditions can cause unforeseen challenges with the forages you have stored away. We have had multiple reports of high nitrate levels this year. The first reports of high nitrate levels were in June harvested oats after the early season drought. Recently we have had additional reports of dangerously high nitrate levels in millet hay with the recently dry weather.  Producers have also told us that they are struggling with excessive silo gas coming from corn silage.

Plants readily take up nitrates from the soil, even under cooler conditions.  Once in the plant, nitrate is converted to nitrite, then ammonia, and finally into amino acids and plant protein. Any environmental stress that significantly slows down plant photosynthesis and metabolism can lead to excessive nitrate levels in the plant because the nitrate uptake from the soil will be faster than its metabolism into plant protein. Such stresses include Continue reading Keep Forage Nitrate Toxicity in Mind This Year →

A Hay Test is Worth Every Penny

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

The hay probe can be a cattleman’s best friend!

As hay making season ends and hay feeding season approaches, it is time to remind everyone that feeds hay how important getting a hay test completed is for deciding how to feed your livestock this winter. A hay test will cost you far less than the cost of a single round bale. The results you get back will give you the information you need to decide what type of feed and how much you will need to purchase to keep your animals productive until good pasture is available to graze again.

If you have never done a hay test before, Extension is here to help you. We have tools you can borrow and personnel to help with consultation. Here are Continue reading A Hay Test is Worth Every Penny →