Following weaning, calves are
biologically ready for a rapid growth and development period.
be minerals. However, Hutcheson says that many times the available mineral supplements are over-consumed; in particular, the consumption of those that are only needed in trace amounts can exceed requirements. To improve gains for calves grazing with cows, pro-
ducers can employ a creep feeding system that is not accessible to the cows. If summer forage is adequate, cows may only need a mineral supplement. The calves themselves may not need supplementation
during May and June, during which time Hutcheson says growing forages will normally support optimum gains for both stockers and cows with calves. The rest of the grazing season, though, pastures will have adequate protein for cows, but will be more than likely defi cient in protein for growing calves or stockers. “Do you change supplements monthly or not? The cost
of labor many times does not allow for monthly changes; therefore, a compromise has to be established,” he says.
Feeding supplements daily is a labor-intensive propo-
sition. An alternative is to use liquids, blocks, or tubs containing ingredients that limit intake. If only minerals are needed, these can be fed loose
with wind and rain protection, in blocks, or incorporated with the supplements that you’re feeding. Byproducts such as wheat mids and soybean hulls
work well as supplementation and can be fed daily or 3 days a week. However, when supplements are fed free- choice, it’s diffi cult to control the intake and a product with a feed limiter should be considered. When supplements are fed free-choice, the stockers
or calves will eat them in preference to going out and foraging and the producer will not get the full benefi t of the pasture. Hutcheson says, “We like to supplement them between
0.75 and 1 percent of their body weight with some pro- tein and some energy. Early in the season it would be mostly energy, but later in the season we would have both protein and energy.” Forages for stocker cattle grazing do not always allow
the animals to achieve their genetic potential for growth. This can be the case with both warm- and cool-season grasses. Hutcheson says protein from grazing small
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SG2015-02-2
August 2015 The Cattleman 55
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