Page 16 - MWC 03-11-2021

The Midwest Cattleman · March 11, 2021 · P16
A better way to feed cows for cold weather

In severe storms, you can’t keep up with cows’ actual energy requirements. Here’s the solution.
By Alan Newport
The nature of many beef pro- degrees. Researchers generally of high-quality grass-legume than twice their normal energy
ducers is the morning of every use the rule of thumb that cow hay; she would need 20.5 pounds intake.
new winter storm to rush out energy requirements increase of hay during the cold weather "This amount of energy
and feed the cows something 1% for each degree the cold or event. change is virtually impossible
extra. wind chill is below the 32-degree Further, research says energy to accomplish with feedstuffs
In truth, this may be back- lower critical temperature. requirement for maintenance of available on ranches," Selk says.
ward thinking, says Glenn Selk, In this example, the predicted beef cows with a wet hair coat "In addition, this amount of en-
Oklahoma State University wind chills will average about 4 is much greater. Cows with wet ergy change in the diet of cows
emeritus extension animal sci- degrees F. Therefore, the calcu- hair coats are considered to accustomed to a high-roughage
entist. He notes the major effect lation example for a cow with a have reached their lower criti- diet must be made very gradual-
of cold on the nutrient require- dry winter hair coat would be cal temperature at 59 degrees. ly to avoid severe digestive dis-
ment of cows is an increased done this way. Even worse, their requirements orders. Therefore, the more com-
need for energy. When cattle Step 1: Cow's lower critical change twice as much for each mon-sense approach is a smaller
face extreme cold or even worse temperature is 32 degrees F. degree of change in wind-chill increase in energy requirements
-- cold and wet conditions -- they Step 2: Expected wind-chill factor, meaning their energy during wet cold weather and ex-
really cannot keep up with these from weather reports will be 4 requirement actually increas- tending the increase into more
demands for energy. Therefore, degrees with wind chill. es 2% for each degree below 59 pleasant weather to help regain
Selk says, they should be fed Step 3: Calculate the magni- degrees. To calculate the magni- energy lost during the storm."
better on either side of the storm tude of the cold as the difference tude of the cold when the cow is He adds these calculations
to help overcome the condition between the lower critical tem- wet you would use the above pro- show us it is not feasible to feed
losses they will surely suffer. perature and the wind chill: 32 cess, but use 59 degrees instead a wet, very cold cow enough to
Here's his explanation: To de- - 4 = 28 degrees of 32, and your cow energy re- maintain her current body con-
termine effects of cold weather, Step 4: Energy adjustment is quirements would be multiplied dition, and that underscores the
lower critical temperature for 1% for each degree magnitude of by 2% instead of 1%. This means need for cows to be in good body
beef cows must first be estimat- cold or 28%. those cows facing a 4-degrees condition at the start of winter.
ed. For cows with a dry winter Step 5: Feed cows 128% of wind chill with wet hair coats BEEF
hair coat, the lower critical tem- daily energy amount. This says would need a 110% increase in
perature is considered to be 32 if a cow was to receive 16 pounds energy, which Selk notes is more

FROST SEEDING ther pasture or hay, and it can be IDENTIFY decreased fertility that can be
continued from page 9 grown with several grasses. It can continued from page 11 identified,” Larson says. “In-
be grown effectively in nearly all of juries, illness, and age-related
the lower Midwest and throughout stead of making it in the form of changes can affect the testicles,
gume compatibility for cattle. the South. Forage tests done in Ar- more calves on the ground. feet and legs, or reproductive
• Red clover 6-8 lbs./A and La- kansas and Missouri showed that tract of previously fertile bulls,
Age doesn't always matter.
dino clover 2-3 lbs./A This com- Legend lespedeza had a signifi- Larson recommends that an an- making them unlikely to suc-
bination will support grazing for cant advantage over other variet- nual BSE – for both young and cessfully breed the number of
goats, sheep and cattle. ies of lespedeza. Missouri’s three- mature bulls – include a system- cows needed to result in high re-
Horse owners who have experi- year test had Legend yielding productive efficiency.”
enced cases of slobbers should not over other types by 30- 35 percent. atic examination of the bull’s At the other end of the spec-
feet, legs, penis and prepuce,
frost seed clovers. Perennial grass- According to Larry Sandage, for- testicles, and other reproductive trum, in young bulls, especially
es do not germinate as well as le- mer forage specialist in Arkansas, organs, measurement of scrotal between 1 year and 2 years of
gumes when broadcast. Grass es- “Legend did so well that I would circumference, and microscopic age, Larson says they often fail a
tablishment is best accomplished consider Legend the lespedeza of examination of a semen sample. BSE because of their “age, nutri-
when drilled directly into the sod. choice for northern and parts of “Mature bulls that were suc- tional management or individu-
Editor’s Note: central Arkansas.” cessful breeders the previous al genetic differences.”
Annual lespedeza should not be breeding season may experience Drovers
overlooked as it can be used for ei-