Page 34 - MWC 2-3-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 3, 2022 · P34
Winter Supplementation of Beef Calves – When Supplementation Doesn’t Pay

By Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management
Spring born calves are ing forage, the calves that mented 2.3 pounds of DDGS pounds), successfully main-
often weaned in the fall, sup- were not supplemented on targeting 1.5 pounds/d gain, taining that weight advan-
plemented through the win- dormant range experienced regardless if DDGS was tage through all three phases
ter at a low rate of gain, and compensatory gain and had priced high or low if calves of production. The economic
then graze summer grass, a similar ending body weight were kept through a high analysis determined that the
taking advantage of com- to the calves supplemented quality forage grazing phase. most profitable steers were
pensatory gain until feedlot with 1.1 pound of DDGS (625 If calves were sold after win- the ones gaining 1.5 pounds/d
entry. Many producers as- pounds for both treatments). ter grazing, supplementing on dormant winter range re-
sume providing minimal pro- Those non-supplemented with 3.4 pounds of DDGS re- gardless of whether DDGS
tein supplementation to tar- calves compensated 100% sulted in the best economic was priced low or high.
get approximately 1.0 pound/ compared to the low supple- analysis. These study results sug-
day gain during the winter mentation level. However, In a meta-analysis of six gest that targeting win-
is the most economical sys- they only compensated 38% studies, 500-pound calves ter gain of 1.5 pounds/day
tem. However, research data and 46% compared with the were supplemented to tar- is most likely to result in
would suggest this assump- two higher levels of supple- get a winter rate of gain of added body weight that is
tion is not the most economi- mentation and those calves 0.5 or 1.5 pounds/d. After maintained throughout sub-
cal management system. maintained a weight advan- summer grazing, the calves sequent phases including
A study evaluating feeding tage of 653 and 656 pounds, supplemented to target the summer grazing and feedlot
450-pound steers 0, 1.1, 2.3, respectively. Therefore, the low rate of winter gain only finishing and can be an eco-
or 3.4 pounds of dried dis- producer who spent money compensated 37% (weigh- nomical practice. More im-
tillers grains (DDGS)/d (dry to achieve only 1 pound/day ing 768 pounds) resulting portantly, these data suggest
matter basis) while the calves gain on dormant range lost in the calves targeted for a that spending money to sup-
grazed dormant native range money after grazing better higher winter rate of gain plement cattle at a low rate of
reported a linear gain re- quality forage because those being heavier at feedlot gain and having that weight
sponse of 0.60, 1.06, 1.41, and calves weighed the same as entry (weighing 840 pounds). advantage lost in subsequent
1.72 pounds/day, respective- the group that did not incur Subsequently, the calves tar- phases is costly to producers.
ly. However, when the calves supplement expense. Supple- geted for high gain in the
were subsequently allowed ment expense was optimal winter were heavier at har-
to graze high quality grow- when calves were supple- vest (1307 pounds vs. 1230

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