Angus cattle are fed like other beef cattle: good forage first, then extra protein, energy and minerals for the stage of production. Their needs change a lot between a dry cow, a cow about to calve, and a cow nursing a calf. This guide lays out what to feed and when.
The basics: forage is the foundation
Pasture, hay and haylage should make up most of an Angus cow’s diet. Extension guidance says a beef cow eats roughly 1.75 to 2.5 percent of her body weight in dry matter per day, depending on her stage, with more intake during lactation. Forage quality matters as much as quantity, so test your hay if you can.
Nutrient needs by stage
- Mid-gestation (dry cow). Needs are lowest. Decent pasture or hay and a free-choice mineral are often enough.
- Late gestation. About two-thirds of calf growth happens in the last third of pregnancy, so protein and energy needs rise. Cows that lose condition now often struggle to rebreed.
- Early lactation. This is the hardest stage. Energy needs run roughly 50 percent above those of a dry cow, and protein needs nearly double. Peak milk puts the heaviest load on the cow.
- Growing calves and heifers. They eat less feed for their size, so the diet must be more concentrated in protein and energy.
Oklahoma State University extension gives 7.5 percent crude protein in the diet as a minimum for beef cattle, with higher levels for lactating and growing animals.
Minerals, salt and water
Offer a free-choice beef mineral with salt, matched to your region’s soils and forage. Calcium and phosphorus matter most for lactating cows. Some regions are low in selenium, copper or zinc. Avoid minerals made for other species, because sheep minerals can be dangerously low or high in some elements for cattle. Fresh water must always be available.
Body condition scoring
Check your cows’ condition at weaning, before calving and at breeding. Cows in moderate condition at calving rebreed more reliably. If cows are thin, increase feed gradually before they reach late gestation, not after.
Feeding tips
- Test hay for protein and energy, then supplement only the gap.
- Make feed changes slowly to protect the rumen.
- Provide enough bunk space so timid cows eat too. Our guide to cattle feed bunk design explains how.
- Use stage-specific groups when you can, so heifers and thin cows get more.
Related reading
See what Angus cattle eat and our best feed for a nursing cow.
Bottom Line
Feed Angus cattle quality forage, then adjust protein, energy and minerals for stage of production, especially late gestation and early lactation. A local extension agent or large-animal vet can help build a ration for your herd and region.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
