Page 17 - MWC 04-01-2021s

Don’t let the green grass Fool You The Midwest Cattleman · April 1, 2021 · P17

By Dr. Katie VanValin, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Kentucky
Perhaps it was the full sea- ing from late gestation to lac- enough forage to
son worth of winter weather tation which represents the meet her main-
we got in one-week last month, time when a cow’s mainte- tenance require-
or the above average tempera- nance nutrient requirements ments. If we tried
tures that followed, but either are at their highest through- to improve the
way we are rounding the bend out the production cycle. This BCS of this cow
and spring will be here before is not the time to let cows slip by ¾ of a BCS
we know it. One of the things I into an energy deficit and lose (approximately
love most about spring is that condition. 75 lbs) now that
along with the warmer tem- If cows lose condition fresh forage is
peratures and longer days, during early lactation when only providing opportunity for opportunistic
inevitably comes greener pas- their maintenance nutrient about 70% of her energy re- weeds to encroach. Evaluate
tures. However, the growth we requirements are high, it is quirement. So, in this scenar- the forages in your pasture
see out in our pastures during often difficult to recover that io even if available forage was and let grass growth dictate
the early spring can often be condition prior to breeding. It not the limiting factor, sup- when cows are turned out as
deceiving from a nutrient is a much better plan to en- plementation would still be opposed to a date on the cal-
standpoint. sure cows are in good body needed to improve body con- endar.
The problem that we can condition prior to calving and dition. It can also be helpful The bottom line here is
run into is that there simply maintain adequate condition to manage older or thin cows don’t let spring fever set in
is not enough forage available, through breeding. Research separately from the rest of the early by turning cows out onto
and the forage that is avail- has shown the reproductive herd, allowing them to receive fresh grass that may not meet
able, is high in moisture. When performance is decreased the extra nutrition they re- all the nutritional demands
we turn cows out too early, when cows reach a BCS of 4, quire without overfeeding the of the herd. Continue to eval-
they can exert more energy so it is critical to the perfor- rest of the herd. uate BCS of the herd and
searching for the next mouth- mance and efficiency of the Although it is tempting to allow this to guide nutrition
ful than they are consuming, cow herd that cows maintain turn cows out to grass early, and management decisions
since most of every mouth- a BCS of 5-6. remember that doing so may as mother nature transitions
ful is water. This is especial- For example, a cow in early limit cow performance. This from winter to spring, and
ly critical for spring-calving lactation with a BCS of 4 con- can also cause undue stress cows transition from gesta-
cows. At this time, cows have suming fresh cool-season for- on forages, ultimately hurt- tion to lactation.
either or will be transition- ages would be able to consume ing our stands, and creating

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