When looking for ways to improve the health of your cattle, there are many different things you can do. Some of them include feeding them high protein cattle cubes. These cubes are designed to provide a high level of protein to your animals, as well as other nutrients that they may not get from other types of feeds. You may be surprised at how much these cubes can help your animals.
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Metabolizable protein
Ruminant protein nutrition is an important component of achieving animal productivity. Cattle and sheep must receive sufficient amounts of metabolizable protein (MP) to support their growth, development and production. Various types of protein supplements are available. They include range cubes, liquid supplements, protein blocks, and commodity co-product feedstuffs. However, the cost per unit of protein must be considered when purchasing protein supplements.
The dietary requirements for protein vary from animal to animal, from stage of production to expected performance. For example, cattle require higher crude protein intake during lactation. Protein supplementation is necessary to meet these requirements.
The protein content of forages and hays depends on the age and maturity of the forage. Cool-season forages tend to contain higher crude protein levels. In addition to forages, beef producers may need to supplement hay or other sources of supplemental protein.
Avoid urea poisoning
When feeding cattle a diet with a high protein content, such as range cubes, it is important to avoid urea poisoning. Urea can be a valuable source of energy for ruminants, but it can also be toxic. To reduce the risk of urea toxicity, it is important to weigh the feed accurately and mix it properly.
Typical signs of urea toxicity include trembling, polyuria, tetany, and forced rapid breathing. If left untreated, urea poisoning can result in death.
Most cases of urea toxicity involve poor feed preparation. In addition to errors in diet formulation, other factors contribute to urea toxicity. For instance, if a cattle diet contains a high proportion of fibre, it limits the ability of urea to be utilized.
Sources of protein in feedstuffs
Protein is a key nutrient that cattle need for many different functions. It is important for the production of milk and to recondition the reproductive tract after calving.
Cattle require more protein in their diets as the animals gain weight. In general, they need more crude protein and less forage than lighter animals.
Forage-based diets contain crude protein and can be supplemented with supplemental protein. There are a variety of ways to add protein to a beef cattle diet.
High quality forages are good sources of supplemental protein. They include cool-season forages and vegetative legumes. Adding protein can increase forage digestion and help ensure that the cattle are getting enough of this critical nutrient.
Oil crops are also good sources of protein. Soy accounts for 42 percent of the protein in oil crops, while other oilcrops such as rapeseed, sunflower seeds, and cotton seeds provide the remaining protein.
Feeding high protein cattle cubes
One of the most useful and convenient ways to provide high-quality nutrition to cattle is through the use of high protein range cubes. These are specially designed to help beef cattle eat more forage and to improve digestion. A variety of types of range cubes are available, so you’ll need to know which ones are best suited for your operation.
Range cubes come in a variety of sizes, and they’re often mixed with other supplementary products such as distillers grains, field peas, and soybeans. You’ll want to read the label carefully and follow the directions for the most efficient and effective usage.
The best high protein range cubes are formulated to provide the most balanced nutrition in every bite. A small percentage of the cubes are ground for easy consumption, which helps reduce competition among your herd.
