Livestock Management RANCHING
monitors the protein content of the forage, and has an estimate of forage consumption, the rancher can de- termine whether protein is the factor limiting growth.
Are the heifers familiar with the supplemental feed? If improving a heifer’s body condition via supplemen-
tation is needed, consider the animal’s familiarity with feed ingredients and the delivery forms of nutrition. Streeter says, “If one is raising their own heifers, I
would use a feedstuff and delivery form that heifers were exposed to while on the cow or during the wean- ing period. If they are familiarized with a supplement prior to weaning, one may benefi t from exposing heif- ers during weaning to a feedstuff and supplement form that will be used in the future. By that I mean putting them in a smaller paddock early on, where one can aid cattle in fi nding and consuming the supplement.” He says it is important to train heifers to seek out
the supplement source to improve supplement con- sumption when forage nutrient supplies are dwindling, rather than waiting until forage nutrient resources are already inadequate. Forage resource tends to leach nutrients, not just
protein, but mineral and vitamins as well. He explains, “The time you are most likely to need a supplement may be later, after weaning, and yet at that point it is harder to train cattle to come to a supplement if they have not had prior exposure.” One of the axioms of nutrition is there can be a fi rst
limiting nutrient. Because they are such a signifi cant portion of the ration, protein and energy come to mind fi rst as the limiting nutrients; however, growth can also be limited if daily micronutrient requirements of either the vitamins or minerals are inadequate. From a ruminant perspective, the rumen itself pro-
vides the bulk of the animal’s water soluble vitamins (B-complex). However, vitamin A inadequacies have been asso-
ciated with decreased conception rates and increased age at puberty. Vitamins E and D are also vital to the heifers’ growth
If heifers need supplementation to
improve their body condition scores, make sure they are familiar enough with the supplement feed that they know to eat it.
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September 2015 The Cattleman 63
Sept 10-12, 2015 Fort Worth, TX
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