Beef cattle feed on a variety of grasses and hay throughout their lives, often providing enough nutrition to meet their needs in pasture environments with plenty of grass.
However, when roughage is in short supply or expensive to obtain, grain can provide a concentrated and highly digestible source of energy to supplement forage in rations.
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Cost
Feed is often the largest component of livestock production costs, accounting for 60-70% of overall expenses. Therefore, it’s essential that producers make efficient use of their feed resources.
Recent increases in hay and supplement prices have put a strain on many beef cow-calf operations’ budgets. Furthermore, dry pastures and limited supplies of hay have created additional stress for cattle producers.
Due to this, producers must accurately calculate their costs of feeding fodder to beef cattle using the University of Missouri Extension Beef Cow Feed Cost Dashboard.
This program allows producers to enter various inputs, such as feed price, quality and the number of animals in a particular feed group. The results can be used to estimate winter feed costs for beef cows.
Availability
Forgrazing cattle, fodder must be consumed in addition to pasture in order to meet their nutritional requirements. The amount required depends on several factors such as the age of the herd, individual animal requirements and available forage sources.
Fortunately, most forage resources available to beef cattle are easily digestible and nutritious. This is in large part thanks to the rumen, or fourth stomach, of ruminants which contains beneficial bacteria that efficiently break down components in plant material.
Cattle feedstuffs differ in physical and chemical characteristics, each with its own advantages and potential hazards. It is wise to consult a knowledgeable beef-cattle specialist before selecting the feed for your herd.
The nutritional content of feedstuffs varies between animals, making some more palatable than others. For instance, some human food waste such as bakery meal is easily digestible and can be fed freely to beef cattle.
Nutrition
An understanding of ruminant digestive process and nutrition is essential for successful feeding and management, particularly in beef cattle production where feed represents the single largest input cost.
Beef cattle require the correct balance of energy, protein and vitamins to perform at their peak performance and stay healthy. The nutritional needs of a cow may change throughout the year depending on its age, sex, breed, stage of production and environmental elements.
Dry matter intake (DMI) is affected by several factors, including body weight, dietary supplementation level and type, forage quality and feeding schedule. Cattle with larger frame size and heavier body weight have greater DMI potential than smaller-framed or lighter cattle with smaller frames and lighter weights.
Nutrient concentration in forages varies based on location, plant maturity and management practices. This imbalance can result in an imbalance of mineral and vitamin levels which could adversely impact animal health, growth and reproduction.
Safety
Feeding fodder to beef cattle is a safe and efficient way to provide them with nutritious grains and grasses. To guarantee safety, feed must meet dietary requirements while being free from contaminants or disease-causing bacteria.
Many facilities utilize Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventative Controls (HARPC) to avoid the introduction of hazards that could endanger human health or animals. This involves conducting an exhaustive inspection of all equipment used in the feed processing.
Cattle feed contains relatively few biological hazards, but they can have detrimental effects on animal health and production. Examples of such hazards include mold, mycotoxins, and parasites.
Other potential hazards in cattle feed include broken glass, shards of metal and tools/cell phones that could enter the mix and cause harm. Furthermore, various chemical hazards could exist within it too.
