Angus cattle eat what other beef cattle eat: mostly grass and hay, with free-choice salt and minerals, and sometimes grain or supplements depending on the stage. Angus are a breed, not a different kind of animal, so their digestive needs match any other cow’s.
A ruminant diet
Angus cattle are ruminants with a four-compartment stomach and rely on microbes in the rumen to digest fiber. That is why forage (pasture, hay, or silage) forms the base of the diet. Grain is optional, and too much too fast can make them sick.
Diet by stage
- Calves: milk from the cow first, with creep feed or pasture added as they grow. Weaned calves move to forage plus a protein supplement.
- Cows: pasture in the growing season and hay in winter. Lactating cows need more energy and protein than dry cows.
- Bulls: good forage and a ration kept in good but not fat condition.
- Finishing steers and heifers: a higher-energy diet, often with grain, for a period before slaughter. Grass-finished Angus stay on forage the whole time.
How much do they eat?
Beef cattle eat roughly 2 to 3 percent of their body weight in dry matter daily, depending on size, weather, and production. Water is just as important: adult cattle often drink 10 to 20 gallons a day, more in hot weather.
Common feeds
- Grass and legume pasture
- Hay, silage, baleage, and crop residues such as corn stalks or straw (lower in nutrients, best for dry cows in good condition)
- Protein supplements, such as cubes or tubs
- Free-choice mineral and salt
- Grain for finishing or high-demand periods
More on this topic: Angus cattle nutrition, raising feeder calves, and the best cattle finisher feed.
Bottom Line
Angus cattle thrive on forage, water, and minerals, with extra energy and protein when needs rise. Talk to your veterinarian or extension agent about a feeding plan for your herd. This is general information, not veterinary advice.
