Contents
Protein
Protein is an essential element of any animal’s diet. It provides nitrogen that fuels rumen microbes’ growth, proliferation and digestion of forage fiber components. Protein can provide essential nutritional value to animals while helping them stay active throughout their day.
Animals have access to various sources of protein, such as corn, soybean, and fishmeal. Each provides the protein in different proportions and strengths tailored for a particular animal.
There is great potential to enhance livestock production and food security through improved protein feed provision, but further research and development must be conducted. This work must be undertaken both quickly and gradually, with greater collaboration between policy-makers, farmers, and researchers.
The protein content of a diet is determined by crude protein (CP) and urea fermentation potential (UFP). For ruminants, it’s essential to understand CP values for degradable intake protein (DIP) and undegradable intake protein (UIP). DIP provides microbes in the rumen with nitrogen so they can synthesize bacterial crude protein while UIP supplies energy so animals can convert urease into amino acids.
Fiber
When cows consume high-quality forage, rumen microorganisms use plant cell walls (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin), non-starch polysaccharides and lignin to ferment energy. This provides cows with an abundant supply of nutrition.
The type and quality of fiber in a feedstuff determine its ability to promote healthy rumen function and productivity. Beef cattle diets that provide adequate effective fiber levels promote rumen health, improve nutrient intake, digestibility, and pH in the rumen.
Cottonseed hulls are an abundant and beneficial fiber source for beef cattle diets. Other Mississippi-produced high-roughage feedstuffs, like cotton gin trash and cotton gin mote, have also been scientifically proven to improve rumen health when utilized as hay replacers in livestock diets.
Effective neutral detergent fiber (eNDF) is the portion of a forage that stimulates cud chewing (rumination), saliva production, rumen motility and microbial protein yield. It’s essential for ruminants to get enough eNDF in their diets in order to maintain an acidic environment in the rumen.
Vitamins
Vitamins are vital for growth and reproduction, as well as for normal body functioning and immune system support. Without them, one may suffer from poor performance or even death from deficiencies.
Cattle obtain most of their vitamin A from beta-carotene, a pigment in green plants. They convert this pigment to vitamin A in their intestines.
However, cattle that are grazing pasture or eating rations with little to no green grass (corn silage, oat silage or haylage) may suffer from vitamin A deficiencies. Signs of this include loss of appetite, rough hair coat and decreased capacity for weight gain.
Furthermore, younger animals tend to be deficient in vitamin A than older ones due to lower body deposits of this essential nutrient at birth. This could be because their livers have less capacity for converting carotene into vitamin A, making them particularly vulnerable.
Supplementing with preformed vitamin A, either through food or injection, can prevent this deficiency. Injectable vitamin A works more effectively than dietary sources of the same amount.
Minerals
Grazing animals require a range of minerals to stay healthy. Phosphate, calcium, chlorine, magnesium and chromium are just a few. These essential elements contribute to body tissue maintenance, growth and reproduction.
Trace minerals have been known to be effective in preventing certain illnesses, particularly by strengthening the immune system, maintaining healthy bones and teeth, supporting eye health and improving reproductive efficiency.
Finding the ideal mineral supplement for your herd requires reading its label carefully. This will enable you to decide which ones are most likely effective given your individual needs and budget. You should also take into account the size and weight of the animal being fed as well as if they are fed free choice or mixed. Ultimately, remember that mineral supplements must be made from ingredients with high bioavailability.
