When winter approaches and forage quality deteriorates, cubes can be an effective tool to keep your cattle healthy. They’re specifically designed to supplement poor-grade forages that cows cannot readily consume from the ground.
Range cubes, when fed to cattle on pasture, provide essential proteins, energy, vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients. Not only that but they help maintain body condition as well as increase stored energy reserves.
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Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for ruminants to support growth, health and reproduction. It aids in the production of cellular energy as well as protein synthesis within the body.
Protein plays a significant role in maintaining muscle and bone mass. Cows that do not receive enough protein from their diet tend to become overweight, less productive, and unhealthy.
Producers have several supplemental sources of protein to choose from. Some are naturally occurring proteins and others contain non-protein nitrogen compounds like urea.
Typically, the crude protein concentration of a feedstuff is calculated by multiplying its nitrogen content by 6.25.
A high CP value may indicate a protein shortage in one’s diet, while a low value may not indicate such an issue.
Protein concentration in forages varies based on species, soil nutrients and forage maturity. As forages become older and nitrogen fertilizer levels decline, crude protein content typically decreases.
Minerals
Beef cattle require at least seventeen minerals for healthy growth and reproduction. These can be divided into macrominerals (also known as macrominerals) and microminerals (trace minerals).
Major or macro mineral groups include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine and sulfur. Micro or minor mineral groups include iron, zinc, manganese, copper iodine cobalt and selenium.
Cattle must receive adequate levels of these minerals for optimal immune function, growth and reproduction. The amount needed depends on several factors including age, size, sex, physiological state and level of performance.
Nutritional deficiencies in animals can have devastating effects on their health and performance. They may even contribute to unnoticed production losses that could otherwise go undetected, but which can be prevented with proper supplementation.
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential for normal growth and reproduction as well as cell maintenance in skin and body cavities. Cattle can get their daily serving of Vitamin A through green, leafy forages as well as through injections or supplementation with carotene in either forage or feed. Vitamins also play a major role in wound healing and tissue repair.
The B-vitamin complex includes thiamin, biotin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid and vitamin B12. Microbes in rumen of ruminants are able to synthesize these vitamins without need for supplementation.
Cobalt is also essential for rumen bacteria to produce vitamin B12. A lack of cobalt in the diet can lead to deficiency of this B vitamin, leading to decreased weight gain, anemia, abnormal increases in red blood cell hemoglobin, weakness and brittle nails.
For optimal dietary supplementation, taking a quality complete mineral supplement is the most reliable way to ensure adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Sometimes, adding dry molasses to the supplement or moving its feeder closer to water can be enough to correct excessive or inadequate intake.
Energy
Cattle require energy for all bodily functions, from growth and reproduction to lactation. They also need it during times of drought or when grazing low quality forage.
Hay is often the most cost-effective energy source, but supplementation may be necessary when cattle are fed a diet deficient in both protein and energy.
Energy supplements are commonly made with high-starch grains such as corn, grain sorghum, wheat or barley or fat sources like oilseeds or animal/vegetable oils. Unfortunately, the starch content of these sources lowers rumen pH and inhibits forage intake and digestion – ultimately decreasing ration nutrient value.
Fortunately, some energy supplements are designed with high-protein and fiber sources that provide additional energy without negatively affecting rumen health or efficiency. Examples include fibrous byproducts like soybean hulls, wheat middlings and beet pulp that can be included into regular forage rations at rates up to 0.8% of body weight without reducing feed intake or digestibility.
