Cattle are ruminants, meaning they eat plants. Their special digestive system allows them to break down cellulose found in grasses and other plants for energy production.
Grass is the primary energy source for cattle. Additionally, they will consume grains and other feeds to create what farmers and nutritionists refer to as a total mixed ration (TMR).
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Grass
Grass is the primary food for most cattle. It provides them with a diverse range of essential nutrients, such as water soluble carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, oils and minerals – making it an ideal diet for most animals.
Cattle consume grass and other pasture plants by grazing them, then digesting it in their rumen – the first chamber of their four-part stomach. This helps them consume large volumes of biomass while maintaining a healthy weight; however, milk producing dairy cows may need additional protein supplements for adequate nutritional needs.
The cow uses its tongue to grab a chunk of grass and press its sharp teeth against the top of their mouth (known as the hard palate) in order to cut blades of grass with precision. After chewing in its back throat with an aggressive side-to-side jaw motion, they release the food through its mouth.
Forage
Forage is the foundation of a nutritious diet for livestock. It provides them with an abundant, affordable and natural source of energy.
In an ideal world, livestock would always have access to nutritious forage. Unfortunately, drought conditions can severely restrict what food options are available to animals.
Forage availability is paramount to the health and longevity of livestock. When grazing is limited, supplemental feeding may be necessary to provide a balanced diet for cattle.
Protein supplements can increase a cow’s forage intake and aid with weight gain. They also stimulate rumination, the process by which large particles of forage are rechewed with saliva before being regurgitated and digested. This improves feed digestion, particularly when the cow is eating poor quality hay or pasture.
Minerals
Beef cattle require many minerals (both macro and micro) for proper skeletal development and growth, milk production, body tissue preservation. The larger amounts required of certain minerals are known as major or macro minerals while those needed in smaller amounts are called micro or minor minerals.
Calcium is essential for bone development, and a deficiency can result in rickets or osteomalacia in young steers or bulls. Phosphorus is another essential mineral essential for building strong bones.
Phosphate can be supplied through free choice mineral mixes or the inclusion of a phosphorus source in the complete mixed ration. Calcium also has its own set of sources, from free choice mineral mixes to adding an additional source to your total mixed ration.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds required in minute amounts by the body. They may be fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) or water-soluble B vitamins like thiamin, niacin and folic acid.
Rumen microorganisms produce water-soluble vitamins from food sources in ruminants. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored as fat tissue and livers of these animals.
Beef cattle convert carotene, found in feedstuffs such as green hay, silages and dehydrated alfalfa meal into vitamin A. A deficiency can result in reduced fertility, retained placentas or stillbirths; it may also affect immune function, vision and colostrum quality.
Water
Water is essential to cattle’s daily needs. They use it for body growth and development, lactation, as well as replacing what they lose through excretion in urine, feces, sweat or evaporation from skin or lungs.
When it comes to water for livestock, the amount needed depends on several factors including environmental temperature, the species of livestock and weight. Growing steers and heifers require less per head than mature cows in order to thrive.
Cattle also consume a considerable amount of feed, with much coming from rainfed corn and soy crops. This contributes to the “blue” water footprint; on the other hand, water used for diluting runoff from feed crops, pastures and cattle operations (grey) contributes to this same footprint.
